Remember when Dallas-Fort Worth wasn’t packed with coffee shops? No? Only in the past five years have we seen a serious boom in coffee culture, where consumers are going out of their way to visit independently-owned shops. Some of these shops have comfy atmospheres that offer a work-from-home option; others just serve great coffee.
If you love the buzz of a new coffee shop, here are four new shops in North Texas worth a visit:
Black Coffee
Mia Moss says she loves drinking coffee from independent coffee shops but found herself driving 15 miles from her home in East Fort Worth to find a shop she liked. So she opened her own, called Black Coffee, in East Fort Worth just across the street from the Texas Wesleyan University campus. The shop is in a funky shaped building that used to be the Poly Grill, a diner that “already had history” in the neighborhood, Moss says.
“We had so many people come in and tell us how they remember coming in and eating breakfast there. And now they see it as something new, which is really good for our area.”
Moss named the shop Black Coffee for two reasons: It’s in honor of her grandfather, who would make coffee on weekend mornings, black, and the smell would waft through the house. She also named it Black Coffee because she’s a black business owner blazing her own path. She’s taken barista classes twice from Bellissimo Coffee Advisors in Portland.
One of the most popular drinks is the red eye, which is a cup of drip coffee with an added shot of espresso. (Moss renamed it the Black Eye.) Black Coffee’s honey lavender latte is also popular.
1417 Vaughn Blvd., Fort Worth.
Stella Nova
This place is bursting with personality. An art installation on one wall, called “Student Neighbors,” depicts representations of students from the 14 public and private schools in the neighborhood, says John Kennedy, a partner in the company.
Love these tiny @SMU “wall people” @MyStellaNova in Snider Plaza pic.twitter.com/4SFzaXua6H
— SMU Law Dean of Students (@sbyeager) January 25, 2020
A neon sign around the corner, which says “Find time to thank the people who make a difference in your life,” is a truncated quote from John F. Kennedy, John Kennedy notes. (There’s no relation.)
Inside the bathrooms, Kennedy and his team have hung large concert posters from local shows. Perhaps one of the most interesting is a Grateful Dead poster from a show in the late ’60s at McFarlin Auditorium on SMU’s campus. “Tickets were $3, $4 and $5,” Kennedy says.
The original Stella Nova, in Norman, Okla., is a few major intersections from the University of Oklahoma campus. The newest Stella Nova is walking distance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, in Snider Plaza. It’s the brand’s fifth shop, with more on the way.
Lattes are the most popular item here. Stella Nova sells food from local shops, like breakfast tacos and chicken-salad croissants.
6604 Snider Plaza, Dallas.
The Coffee Shop at Bonton Farms
Take a look at a map of South Dallas and it’s clear: South Dallas is a food desert. It’s also one of Dallas’ poorest neighborhoods. Bonton Farms founder Daron Babcock pledged to help his neighborhood when he opened his farm in 2014 and his restaurant in 2018. Now, in early 2020, the property has a new coffee shop. It’s one of the only independent coffee shops in South Dallas, beyond two in the Cedars.
“We have a deeper mission than just business,” Babcock says. “We’re trying to be a part of developing economy, healing our community and bringing people out to be able to sit down and relax and get to know each other. There’s no greater way to do that than food, but maybe second to that is over a cup of coffee.” While you’re there, go see the baby goats.
6911 Bexar St., Dallas.
151 Coffee
151 Coffee is all about convenience and good vibes. The drive-thru-only shop lives by the motto, “it’s a good day to have a good day,” and plans to bring good days to D-FW caffeine lovers at six new locations expected to open later this year. 151 Coffee just celebrated the grand opening of its Plano location in late January.
Other than coffee, 151 sells Monster-infused energy drinks, milkshakes, Italian soda and specialty kids’ drinks like hot caramel cider.
The original 151 Coffee opened in Flower Mound in 2017. The company was founded and funded by Mark Wattles, one of the four entrepreneurs behind a steakhouse and seafood restaurant called Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Wattles has plans to make 151 Coffee his next chain project and hopes to open 20 stores next year.
The newest 151 Coffee is at 1151 Preston Road (near Plano Parkway), Plano. Other shops are in North Richland Hills and Flower Mound. Coming-soon locations will be in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lewisville and more. For details, visit 151coffee.com.
Bonus: 1418 Coffeehouse’s new coffee on the go
1418 Coffeehouse in downtown Plano is not a new coffee shop. But in late 2019, the company added a new “mobile espresso service” that can serve coffees at weddings, conventions and other events. Call 214-738-5664, ext. 2, for details.
