One of the best parts of writing for the Houston Press is participating in its iconic, annual Best of Houston® series. Way before the world knew what “influencers” were, the Press was an original tastemaker, introducing locals and the world to the creative Houstonians who’ve made the city an award-worthy culinary mecca, a hip shopping destination and a place for inventive artists and entertainers to thrill eager, adventurous audiences.
One of my favorite categories of the usual bunch is “Best Coffee.” My dedication to all things java-related dates back to the early 1980s. I was introduced to bean juice by my pal Mike Grisaffe, our shift leader at Mr. Gatti’s. After long hours making pies and drinking free beer from the restaurant’s kegs (allegedly), we’d wind up at a diner called Champ’s over on Gessner in southwest Houston. The place is long gone now but back then it was open all night and once, while wolfing down omelets at 2 a.m., Mike asked if I wanted a cup of coffee. I was 18 and had never had a cup. I drank my first that night and can count on your hands and mine the days I’ve missed a cup since.
Champ’s wasn’t the only place to find the good stuff back then, but today our mug runneth over with all sorts of spots to find a good hot or iced coffee. When our team collectively looks at this column, we’re looking for things besides what tastes great when served to us. The ambience and versatility of a place is key and how it fits with Houston’s story is imperative. Honestly, it makes judging this Best Of category so difficult, which, for coffee lovers and proud Houstonians, is a nice problem to have.
Since I take my role in this process seriously – and particularly since I take my coffee seriously (and, also black, if it’s hot and probably something with crumbled pistachios, a tinge of coconut or cinnamon and piloncillo, if iced) – I’m going to be diligent in my own research of the subject for 2026’s Best of Houston® installment. To do that, I’ll periodically be asking friends and Houston notables to share their favorite coffee shops, places I’ll be able to recall with some knowledge when it’s go-time. And, since no cafecito is complete without some chisme, I’ll be getting coffee and the tea from my hand-chosen company.
This opening installment allows me to ease into things with a family member, my nephew Isaiah, who is our family’s next, great coffee aficionado. Isaiah has a fancy espresso machine in his humble abode, one of the very few luxuries he allows himself as a public school teacher, whose income is predominantly put back into his classroom, or may be reserved for the next tattoo he’ll get (he has a few) or race he’ll run.
When I asked Isaiah for “the cheese,” he wasn’t all that forthcoming. He may have heard some good gossip about a certain tia of ours, or maybe had some dirt on coworkers or neighbors, but he’s not really that guy. The best he could summon was the latest cute thing his adorable niece (my grandniece) is up to these days. He’s far more inclined to discuss social activism, our Mexican heritage, why footwork is as important as a stiff jab in boxing (he’s a boxer) and especially why public schools are still the best vehicle to drive poor and immigrant students toward whatever is left of the American Dream.
And, of course, he is very vocal about coffee, the subject at hand. When I asked for his three favorite coffee spots, he enthusiastically gushed, “My time to shine.” He sent written notes about his selections before we settled on one to try together.
His first choice was XELA Coffee Roasters, a “recently closed shop on Canal, but looking for a Heights location. Sources its beans from Central American farms they visit, roasts them locally and has a craft drink menu. All drinks made with oat milk, do with that what you will. Best drinks on the menu are Kirby Stardust, the Mocca and a killer Thai matcha.”
XELA’s IG page indicates they did find space at 1606 White Oak. During their time on Canal, the shop was struck by a car, a white Cadillac whose driver and inhabitants bailed after the accident. That never happened at Champ’s, so XELA is already far more interesting.
Isaiah also enjoys Coffee Fellows, a global chain which has multiple Houston locations, in locales like Katy and Bellaire. He favors the “comfortable and productive-feeling workspace” of Coffee Fellows, as well as the “delicious coffee. The snickerdoodle shaken espresso is delicious and not too sweet. The Nutella macchiato is also solid.”
Finally, he added Siphon Coffee, a Montrose spot we visited based on his recommendations, which described it as “a good spot to slow down and reset.” Never a bad thing. “Playful drinks like snickerdoodle lattes and cereal milk lattes are juxtaposed by menu items like Golden Milk Latte,” he added. “Chill indoor seating with adequate workspace or comfortable outdoor seating at their booths along the side offer a space that functions as either productive or social depending on your needs.”
The day we stopped by Siphon (701 W. Alabama), our needs were getting a good iced coffee and enjoying the moment and it was mission accomplished on both objectives. We tried an iced Golden Milk Latte, our interest piqued by the turmeric and ginger notes of the drink, with an espresso shot added for oomph. It was a beautiful spring afternoon in Houston, so we sat outdoors, marveling at how lucky we are to live in a culturally rich city which doesn’t skimp on good coffees.
Our visit confirmed my nephew’s pitch. Siphon features craft coffees and wine and beer, making it part of the nice hybrid of coffee and hooch spots popping up all over these days. There’s a 2-for-1 happy hour, Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. til close, though the drinks are all very affordable. The spot also features a kitchen serving burgers, quesadillas, breakfast croissants and more.
The space is open and inviting, blending a rustic lodge feel with lots of natural light thanks to many oversized windows. There’s cool, neon Rolling Stones tongue art on the wall, a bunch of dope merch and whole bean to-go coffees like, “Still Drippin’” a definite nod to H-town rap and a blend of milk chocolate, orange peel and toffee.
Sipping a turmeric and ginger infused iced latte in the cool breeze and warm sunshine of a spring afternoon in Houston is a long way from drip poured by a graveyard shift waitress in a diner. It makes me excited to see where else this fact-finding journey will take me with folks I trust because they trust coffee. And, it made me wonder about Isaiah’s own coffee origin story.
“My first coffee experience was when I would brew these industrial-style pots at a community center,” he said. “I would use pre-ground Katz coffee and the smell and the sound of drip coffee just reminded me of home. I would make a habit of having a cup of coffee each shift to carry the energy throughout. That ritual sent me on a path to try different beans, roasts, brewing methods and recipes for the better part of my life.”