Redbud Roasters

Leeeeeerrrrve this place! (That means love this place a lot)
We had the cold brew with added espresso, delicious.
We got freshly roasted beans to go as well.
The barista was fantastic, so friendly and knowledgable.
We will definitely be back!

Hold on to your hats people, Brown has some serious competition for my caffeine dollars! If you had told me that I was going to get real old fashioned hand pulled espresso on the square in San Marcos, I would have been intrigued, but still mildly skeptical. But this place is the real deal!
The hand pump truly brings out the skills of the barista who now works with the complexity of coaxing the best flavor out of the coffee without acridity, and these guys have a fabulous one. This espresso had the creamy mouthfeel that is rarely found in coffee shops these days (and yes the kind of bean and roast matters, but still). The espresso was a sheer delightful expression of the coffee blend roasted till its deepest darkest character was revealed. A gorgeous crema topped a wonderfully toasty decoction with aromas of bitter almonds that faded into a floral finish. The artfully pulled espresso is complemented by very well made Cubano’s and flat whites (that rival the ones I had in Australia).
I had thought about not writing about this place in case .they become too popular and my wait times increase, but they are too good to not be on your radar, especially if you are a coffee lover.

Redbud Roasters is a small establishment with only a few employees in a small, older building but don’t let that keep you from trying this wonderful coffee shop! I have been to most (if not all) of the coffee shop locations here in San Marcos and the only consistency I have found between the shops is inconsistency in coffee products (especially espresso products). Many shops employ students who are not fully trained in understanding the subtle nuances between roasts and the preparation that goes into crafting many of the espresso based beverages that the shops offer. Unlike those shops, the owner here is almost always in house and happy to discuss all things coffee. The employees are kind and well trained meaning your coffee or espresso is always going to be of the best quality. The owner roasts his beans in house and is happy to explain all of the roasts and differences between them and sells them at a very competitive price. And if that’s not enough this shop always has a supply of «Tamale Addiction» tamales which can typically only be purchased at the farmers market (or sometimes on campus) so if you love a good tamale or haven’t tried them go pick a few up. Redbud roasters is now my go to coffee shop in San Marcos!

The best coffee in San Marcos! The baristas are knowledgeable and friendly and the coffee is roasted in house. While this store doesn’t have much to offer in way of seating it makes up for it by offering a great cup of coffee or espresso every time.

Being a fan of good espresso, and roasting my own beans at home, it is increasingly difficult to get a good cup of coffee when traveling. Often, you have to settle for some local coffee shop with low turn on their beans. That means stale, bitter espresso that is nothing more than a caffeine fix. Even worse, is having to settle for the burnt cup of campfire sticks which is the big mega-​chain.
Redbud Roasters is a shining city on the hill of coffee beans. These guys know what they are doing, and treat every step right. They roast their own on site. They use a wonderful machine with a lever pull. The result is a rich, thick, excellent cup of espresso.
On top of that, they sell their roasted beans and green beans. Since I roast my own, I picked up a few pounds of green beans. They are already proving to be superior to the other online source of beans I was using. If you love coffee, or want to get hooked on what a real cup of espresso should taste like, you must visit these guys.

Love the coffee! It’s hard to get a light roast just perfect, but Austin knows how to do it.

Redbud Roasters is king. I love this coffee. (I repeat, I LOVE THIS COFFEE). My husband and I try a new blend everytime and are never dissatisfied. We mostly drink our coffee at home but dropping into the store is nice as well. It’s not the fanciest shop but for this kind of coffee, it bothers us not.

Their fresh roasted coffee beans are the best I’ve ever had (and I’ve tried a lot beans over the years). My favorite is the Colombian medium roast, it makes amazing coffee.

Redbud has the best coffee in San Marcos. The owner, Austin, will make you the best cappuccino or latte you’ve ever had on his little Italian Pavoni espresso machine. Or get his coffee beans that he roasts right there in the shop (excellent aromatherapy).

Having followed Redbud Roasters for several years since I first met Austin at a campus farmer’s market, I was excited at the news of a standalone shop. Though I knew they also opened a truck at The Hitch, the very limited hours were not conducie for a visit.
However, now that the dust is settled and the shop is now open, I decided to pay a visit. Not only are they the only shop that roasts in house, they also have plenty of toys to use to make coffee. If you’re the type of person who prefers a coffee made by aeropress, French press, or pour over, Redbud has all three. In my case, I went with a pour over. This is a rarity in San Marcos coffeeshops: I know two only two other coffee shops use them.
My barista was very knowledgeable about the coffee he prepared for me, and explained the roasts in great detail. San Marcos locals should know that not only are Redbud’s roasts high-​quality, diverse, and flavorful, but they’re all very affordable, ranging from $ 10 to $ 15 a pound. In the end, I got exactly what I wanted: a quality cup of coffee at an affordable price.
That being said, there are a few things to note: Redbud’s shop is not pretty. Hopefully this is only because of the recency of their opening, but as for now, the grey walls aren’t exactly inspiring. On top of that, the grade of equipment still leaves much to be desired. I saw a manual-​lever espresso machine on the back table under repair, and I would love to see that used in the future, as that will provide some-​high quality shots. I’d also love to see a more diverse number of pour over cones, like a Hario V60, Kalita Wave, or that classic of pourovers, the Chemex. Any of them would be welcome, though the Melitta they use is still suitable for a great cup of coffee.
They are also, unfortunately, on the lower end of the Square. Being one of the furthest-​south businesses on LBJ, you might miss Redbud, but once you do find it, it will definitely fill the hole left by the departure of the Coffee Pot.
While I wish Redbud the best and will definitely return for more coffee, both by the cup and by the pound, I really hope their environment continues to grow and get a little more polish. This company deserves a great shop to go with their great product.