Houndstooth Coffee
1878 Sylvan Ave E150, Dallas, TX 75208
With seven locations in Austin and Dallas, Houndstooth Coffee invites you to weave yourself into the social fabric of their highly refined coffee culture, and we recommend you accept this invitation for an elevated coffee experience. Houndstooth was founded by brothers, Sean and Paul Henry - using a John Prine lyric from Six O’clock News - the kids with two first names. Sean conceived of this enterprise while sipping coffee on the shores of Lake Austin as he drew inspiration from farmer/poet/environmentalist Wendell Barry. In my view, their coffeehouse spills forth that inspiration from a simple décor that overflows with both natural light and goodwill.
Coffee:
My cortado was excellent both in its flavor and execution. The temperature and consistency and flavor. It used their Timepiece espresso roast, a blend from Brazil, Ethopia and Columbia that fulfilled its description of carmel lusciousness with a kiss of fruit. I also picked up a tasty vein of chocolate. My drip used their FoxTrot roast, a Latin American blend for brewed coffee that was exceptionally smooth and chocolaty with a mellow citrus aftertaste. Sister company, TWEED, functions as their in-house roastery.
Barista:
Upon entry I was warmly greeted by the barista who asked me, What kind of coffee do you like. What a great question! Much better than, what would you like, this greeting was like a coffee sommelier offering out their expertise to align their offering with my specific preferences. And I must say, they absolutely nailed it. I’d have been happy buying a few bags of eithers of the blends they served up. As our drinks were prepared, the barista also served up a pleasant and informative chat on their nearby, in-house roastery, named Tweed. The Houndstooth baristas are valued craftsman who are provided ongoing training, health insurance, and a corporate match for retirement savings. This commitment to their baristas shines through in attentive and engaging customer service.
Vibe:
An architecturally striking design with clean décor and abundant natural light makes for a compelling space that is both sleek and comfortable. The space is mostly done mostly in whites, with a splash of grey. The serving station is in the middle of the space offering 360 views of all activities. This feature is very much in synch with their clean, well-lit interior and underlines a culture of straight forward, no nonsense honesty. They had outdoor space in the front and back, your choice of sunny or shady. I enjoyed a gluten free apple donut that visually hooked me (my wife agreed, saying it was a cute donut) and followed up with a delightful flavor and texture. I only wish I’d have ordered two! Merch is compelling and includes both apparel and coffee accessories.
Make You Better
A larger bakery case with more of a commitment to food items, including some savory options, would be a nice, and I always like drip as a coffee option.
With exceptional barista engagement, a variety of excellent coffees, and an award-winning interior design, Houndstooth is a three-tool player, offering an outstanding coffee experience. With confidence, I’ll make a point of checking out any of their other stores in Dallas and Austin.
~ Clyde <3
