The American coffee shop has evolved over the years to embody an image we millennials would call “hipster,” but in the evolutionary process of adding vintage furniture, local artwork, indie rock playing softly in the background and baristas required to have a minimum of three tattoos, I think the true purpose of coffee shops was lost.
The purpose of coffee shops is simple: make great coffee that makes the world love coffee. And in my four years living in Houston I have only found one place that upholds this standard and even surpasses it, if only because the baristas (who are also the owners) know more about coffee than I thought humanly possible.
Fix Coffee Bar, located in Montrose at 415 Westheimer, serves up everything from Nitro cold brews to seasonal lattes, and you won’t go wrong with any choice from their extensive menu.
When I first visited Fix, I was prepared to enter the quaint shop, waltz over the hardwood floors and order a Flat White, my go-to for new coffee places because it’s difficult mess up espresso and milk. But as I stood at the counter and listened to Gary Freeman, the owner of Fix, explain to me in under two minutes the origins of coffee beans and the processes used to craft coffee, I realized this was no run-of-the-mill, hipster hot-spot.
At Fix, coffee is celebrated, and that is exactly why owners Gary and Karee Freeman opened the café in the coffee-centric Montrose region. Educating people like myself on what Aeropress is (it’s a form of brewing where the grounds are pressed slowly through a tube to extract maximum flavor) is simply a plus for the Freemans.
Fix coffee features various brewing methods for customers to try. | Photo by Karis Johnson
After listening to Gary explain the three different processes of washing the coffee beans and which flavors to expect from each, my friends and I had no choice but to try all three. As a generous addition, we were given nine espresso cups to taste and test each of the three coffee blends without mixing the flavors. I was in awe as I sipped each different wash and tasted the varying cherry, chocolate and nutty hints that were found in the coffees.
The best part? This entire experience cost us around $7.
If your interest is piqued in what else there is to know about the seemingly hundreds of ways to drink and enjoy caffeine, don’t worry: the Freemans’ knowledge on java is free if you ask. I’ve visited a total of three times in the last month, and I’ve learned something new every time.
The atmosphere is just as lovely to experience, as their large windows let in natural light that falls on their accent wall made of hardwood bricks. Long benches and tables offer plenty of seating for groups or study sessions, and they also offer wall outlets for charging your laptop if you plan to be there a while.
The coffee they supply is Java Pura roasters sourced from all over the world, and they also offer a variety of herbal and black teas if coffee isn’t your
favorite (although that might change after one or two visits to Fix).
So, if you’ve been looking for a coffee shop that serves up more than pleather couches and Indie rock, look no farther. Fix Coffee Bar is dedicated to creating and serving excellent coffee, and that’s enough to make me come back for more.
Fix Coffeebar, 415 Westheimer near Taft, 832-807-4562, fixhtx.com
Hours: Mon.-Thur. 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
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