Best Fort Worth Coffee Shops {According to a Local}

When M and I get the chance to travel, we typically rely on Yelp and recommendations from friends on Facebook to find some hidden gems in any given locale. One of our first searches? Legit coffee shop. These are easier to come by in, say, areas like the Pacific Northwest, Austin, major metro cities, etc. And now that I'm preggers and off caffeine for at least a few more months, it's even more crucial to find decent coffee shops on the road. Decaf offerings in most mediocre stops are sad at best, so my options are limited unless we find a place with a decent menu and barista expertise. (These are the places that when I ask for decaf cold brew--which has eluded me to this day--know to offer up a decaf iced espresso instead. They don't suggest hot decaf coffee over ice. And yes, this suggestion has been made. I can't.)

When we're home in Fort Worth, we typically enjoy coffee at home. It doesn't hurt that Hubs is an amazing barista, and we have plenty of fun machines and gadgets with which to work. However, we still like to venture out for a good cup o' joe on the weekends, and we love buying freshly roasted beans from some of our local favorites. (After all, best technique and best gadgets in the work don't mean much if you're work with crap beans.)

So without further ado, I present to you...

My Top 3 Fort Worth Coffee Shops

Avoca Coffee Roasters {1311 W. Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth 76104}

We noticed Avoca before it even opened in 2011 because of its convenient location right across the street from one of our favorite Fort Worth restaurants, Spiral Diner. Both are located in the charming Historical Fairmont district, and I think Avoca has been busy since they opened their doors. The first time we tried it, I loved the ambiance and beautiful wood tables, but the coffee was just OK. We chalked it up to early-day growing pains, and they are now our regular stop to restock on decaf beans. (Their decaf De Silva is so ridiculously good. Like, best decaf ever. And I hesitate to share that because they're already getting harder to come by. Soooooo, please don't take all my beans y'all.) The New Orleans Style is my go-to when drinking in, and they recently opened a smaller location off of Foch Street (in the bustling West 7th area), which should be great for mid-day coffee stops since their flagship location on Magnolia is always bumping.

Buon Giorno {915 Florence Street, Fort Worth 76102} 

BG will always have a special place in my heart because (1) M introduced me to this adorable cafe and roaster, and (2) it was my first taste of quality coffee that could be consumed without a ridiculous amount of sugar or cream. Their cappuccinos are consistently smooth and creamy, and I definitely have a weakness for their vegetarian quiches. This spot is located near downtown Fort Worth, and their roaster is in Grapevine (which is also a cute shop). This is where I often meet friends or colleagues to hang out for a few hours because it's cozy and a bit easier to find a table than others on this list. They're open late too, which is awesome when we're craving an evening coffee date. We even bought beans here for our wedding, both to serve and to fill the apothecary jars that we gave out as favors. (Just enough for French Press for two!)

Craftwork Coffee Co. {4731 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth 76107} 

The only shop on this list that doesn't roast their own beans (though they source some absolute winners, such as Tweed out of Dallas), Craftwork came onto our radar earlier this year because they're located just a few blocks away, right off the charming old bricks of Camp Bowie. This place is a really smart concept: they serve awesome coffee, as well as offer private and shared workspaces that can be rented out full- or part-time. Their business model is really solid, which is great because we want them to stick around! Their machine is absolutely beautiful (M has a crush on it, and I'm OK with that), and their decaf almond milk cappuccinos are hands-down the best I've ever had in a coffee shop. (The only rival? Capp a la Mikey. For serious.) The owners are super nice and regularly working behind the bar. Solid new addition, and we love having them in the neighborhood.

So if you find yourself in our neck of the woods, be it as a visitor or a Funky Town resident yourself, I highly recommend these Fort Worth, TX coffee shops. There are certainly plenty to choose from, and we're spoiled in that respect big time. Cheers, friends!

Do you have a favorite coffee spot in Fort Worth? Do share!