More coffee LOUNGE than coffee SHOP, 2 Rivers Coffee has this Mamasaur feeling at home…
Thank you, 2 Rivers Coffee, for filling the void Nathan and I have felt for 3 years now.
(In a hurry? You can take your joe to go by clicking this quick-review link!)
Since moving to New Braunfels back in 2021, Nathan and I have missed virtually nothing about the Tulsa, OK we left behind. Well, I mean, we miss the friends we made there, obviously. But the place that immediately springs to mind as a loss: DoubleShot Coffee.
It’s hard to summarize what a marvel DoubleShot Coffee was to us. Definitely a place that made you want to stay a while. Comfortably loitering with a foamy cappuccino and a book. Sipping espressos after sneaking my hubby away from work for a 20 minute coffee date. An outing we frequently enjoyed…
(Ahhh…the spontaneity that a toddler-free life afforded.)
But this review is NOT about DoubleShot.
This review is about 2 Rivers Coffee.
Close, But No Cigar
I’ve also recently been to and written about other local coffee establishments. They all have something special to offer that keeps them on our list of go-tos. Gruene Coffee Haus is the place for taking in some sunshine with their ample outdoor seating. The Pastry Corner is unbeatable for their Danishes. And if we want a great slice of pie: 2Tarts.
But no other place we’ve been has come even remotely close to having that same level of cozy invitation, the beckon to linger that DoubleShot had…
Until, at last, 2 Rivers Coffee…
Sure, you sit and linger long enough at the other coffee shops for convenience sake. But, at 2 Rivers Coffee, we want to take our time. We want to sit and savor and relish the atmosphere. Stop for a minute and breathe it all in.
Good Vibes Only at 2 Rivers Coffee
At 2 Rivers Coffee, you look around to see charming grannies knitting away communally. (Wholesome, much?!) You see the green, leafy plants everywhere you look and realize that they’re REAL PLANTS!!! (Most of them, anyway, like 90% of them (?) and I love it!) It feels so fresh.
There are countless, creative uses of media that really develop this nostalgic-70s, earthy, grounded, funky, chill vibe. Ambient, often lo-fi, music that’s the perfect acoustic balance of immersive and unassuming. You can enjoy the rich, relaxing tunes while still being able to carry on a conversation with your date.
The personal touches here really strike me, and I don’t think 2 Rivers Coffee would be the same without them. The “magazine” menu. A projector playing ads for the coffee drinks on offer (of which there are many). Polaroids of the employees living their best lives. Even the simple fact that the interior of the coffee shop is referred to as the “lobby”.
Lobby. A waiting room. Clever. It’s definitely a place to sit and enjoy the wait.
Speedy Service
But there’s honestly not much waiting involved. At least, that hasn’t been our experience. Granted, between Nathan and I, we’ve only been able to visit about 3 times (so far). However, every time we’ve patronized 2 Rivers Coffee, there’s been virtually no line to stand in. No long, exasperating wait.
That’s not to say that this place isn’t popular. It’s always been busy when we’ve visited. We’ve just always had our order taken super promptly and haven’t had a queue to stand in before doing so. Maybe it’s different during the touristy season?
Anyway, once our order has been taken, it’s always expeditiously ready. I think the longest we’ve had to wait was for a pour-over, which stands to reason, and it was still available in 10-15 minutes.
As I said, we’ve been so taken in by the warm, authentic atmosphere that we’ve not really even keyed in to wait time.
2 Rivers Coffee is a place to come and slow down. Or to get some peaceful, solitary time of caffeinated productivity, as so many other patrons do. Or even to share a table with familiar friends for a good, ol’-fashioned knitting sesh.
It’s not about suffering the wait; it’s about taking the time.
Coffee, Cinnamon, and Kolaches
The Coffee.
From the first sip, I fell in love.
The 2 Rivers Coffee Black and Mild.
I’d say that I have no words, but I’m a writer. I have all the best words.
Even in the heat of summer, I typically will always opt for a hot coffee. But the Black and Mild has effortlessly transformed me into a cold brew convert. It is, hands-down, zero-competition, the BEST COFFEE DRINK I HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO CONSUME.
In the words of 2 Rivers Coffee: “The BLACK and MILD: …a tiramisu cold foam shaken espresso with cinnamon and served in a smoked coupe glass. Remember, pinky up.”
Seems like they have all the best words, too.
The second I saw the word “tiramisu”, I knew I had to have it. I’ve always been a sucker for the Italian, espresso-soaked “pick me up”. The titillating Black and Mild absolutely did just that. Never before has a non-alcoholic drink brought me so much joy.
The coffee, in general, at 2 Rivers Coffee is fresh, robust, top-tier, organic quality that you can taste. And savor. It should be. The beans are freshly roasted locally in NBTX by Friday Coffee Roasters. And 2 Rivers Coffee has their own specialty blend created by FCR that can be bought on-site.
The Cinnamon.
To be more apt, the FLAVOR. The abundant use of cinnamon, for instance, is SO APPRECIATED.
The “full-throated shout” of cinnamon (we’re friends now if you caught the Frasier reference) and smoked cinnamon stick garnish adorning the Black and Mild is pleasing, both aesthetically and palatably. It’s a posh, classy drink, and it KNOWS it. And it tastes so, so, so, SOOO good!
Each time I’ve gotten it, I’ve had to shamefully suck the last of the tiramisu cold foam off of the smoked cinnamon stick. It’s THAT good. Too luscious and yummy to waste a drop. Just DON’T LOOK AT ME!
Nathan and I also recently shared a cinnamon roll here. We consider ourselves to be somewhat a pair of cinnamon roll aficionados. I have to say that I am absolutely a 2 Rivers Coffee cinnamon roll enthusiast!
The prevailing flavor in these baked pastries is a resplendent and predominant cinnamon. Unlike so many gratuitously saccharine poser-pastries, these cinnamon rolls are the real deal. Emphasis on the CINNAMON.
The Kolaches.
The baked goods. The availability of legit, Czech kolaches. AND 2 Rivers Coffee bakes all of their delicious, delectable treats IN-HOUSE. FROM SCRATCH. WITHOUT High Fructose Corn Syrup to boot!
Color me impressed.
We’ve had the CINNAMON roll (as previously described), a strawberry cream cheese kolache, and a blueberry muffin. As an aspiring part-time food critic, I found myself fairly hard-up for negative commentary.
The cinnamon roll tasted properly of cinnamon; I could actually taste the blueberries (typically a subtle flavor drowned out in the presence of sugar) in this melt-in-your-mouth, fluffy muffin; and the soft, puffy, delightfully doughy, fruit kolache?
Okay, nothing, in my humble opinion, can really outrank Little Czech Stop’s kolaches out in West, TX. But… the facts that these are also homemade and far more accessible are definite pluses in favor of 2 Rivers Coffee kolaches.
It’s nice to have the option. Especially when they taste so good!
Home, Not TOO Sweet, Home
I feel I’ve made my position on 2 Rivers Coffee quite clear. TAKE MY MONEY!!!
Obviously, no place is going to be perfect, but it feels as though they offer exactly the immersive atmosphere that Nathan and I have been yearning for with so many bonuses. Like my all-time favorite coffee drink of all time. Yes, I wrote it twice ON PURPOSE. Redundant redundancy in case you missed how much I love the Black and Mild.
I’ll briefly mention the imperfections so that we can just get that out of the way. Plastic cutlery, bleh. However, even though the “plating” is single-use, it’s a very sturdy, (what I can only assume is that plant-fiber, eco-friendly, biodegradable material), to-go container.
The biggest drawback of 2 Rivers Coffee is simply location. And not just the travel time to get there (Loop 337). Granted, that does factor in, as it’s a bit further than downtown NBTX or Gruene for us. More than that, though, is the fact that it’s nothing to look at from outside.
There’s no outdoor seating. It shares a strip mall with a couple other small businesses, but there’s not much to see in the area. No real reason to mill about outside like there is at some place downtown.
That’s something to consider, too, if 2 Rivers Coffee does get hopping during the on-season…
Limited indoor seating. With no outdoor seating.
I counter those cons with more context.
2 Rivers Coffee touts a speedy drive thru. The establishment also has a posted rule about requiring a purchase for loitering patrons. I also greatly appreciate the fact that reservations are an option for parties of 4 or more looking to book the large table in the lobby.
People aren’t just pointlessly packing in without a reason to be there or a purchase allowing them to be.
All in all, small gripes, as most of my gripes usually are. They aren’t even so much a reflection on 2 Rivers Coffee as an establishment. Just things to consider. But also up for consideration:
The way they support the local talents and 2 Rivers Coffee regulars by selling their books or magazines in the on-site shop.
The way that the 2 Rivers Coffee aesthetic oozes personality, the way it overflows with warm authenticity and approachability.
And the way that they make the best damn coffee drink I’ve ever tasted.
Thank you, again, 2 Rivers Coffee. I think we’ll stay a while…
Order Up: 2 Rivers Coffee
Pros
The BLACK AND MILD. Exceptionally robust, organic, locally-sourced coffee beans. Variety of menu offerings. Homemade in-house baked goods. CZECH KOLACHES. Cinnamon rolls that taste like CINNAMON. Emphasis on flavor and quality. NO High Fructose Corn Syrup. Speedy service.
Authentic personality in every thoughtfully creative use of the space. Clever acoustic dampening. Lush, well-cared for, REAL plants. Price point is comparable to competitors. Drive-thru. Support of local talent/community-outreach. They sell vinyl records here! Fast wi-fi in the lobby.
Business hours that make 2 Rivers Coffee super accessible to busy parents looking for a quick, serene escape: 6 AM-8 PM!
Cons
Location, location, location. Wish they were more convenient to us, but they’re worth the drive. No outdoor seating. Limited indoor seating (but 2 Rivers Coffee does offer reservations for parties of 4 or more).