Boomtown Coffee — Restaurant in Houston

What mixed emotions I feel about this place… Although I appreciate the casual approach to this neighborhood coffee shop, I often leave wanting a more consistent drink and experience.

Atmosphere = * Parking is limited on the curb, but (TIP) a parking lot across the street allows free parking for customers any time.

The front patio is inviting, but often really crowded so finding a spot here might be hard.

The interior is also really welcoming with tables and more casual seating arrangements to choose from. Order food or a drink from the counter at the back. Local art is featured on the walls and available for sale. Games for the kids are displayed on a bookcase with literature from local businesses.

The restroom, located in the back hall, is generally very clean.

Service = ½* The staff is generally pretty friendly; the baristas have always willing to explain a menu item or make a recommendation. On several visits, I’ve found that the “relaxed” style of service can be frustrating – when you’re waiting at the front of the line to order for more than a minute, when you’re waiting for a drink that you’ve already ordered that was never made, etc.

Food = * I can speak only for the drinks here…

Any iced toddy (coffee concentrate) combination that I’ve tried is good. The five dollar mocha and other specialty drinks are delicious!

Value = ½ * Although I hate to admit paying too much for coffee, you do here. I began frequenting Boomtown, ordering an iced toddy with almond milk every day for a few weeks. Some days, I was charged $3.50, the menu price. Other days, I was charged as much as $4.25 for the same item. I asked a staff member about the difference in price and was told that there is additional charge for syrup, but not for milk substitutes; apparently, some servers apply this charge and some don’t. Assuming you will pay $3.50 for a 12 ounce iced coffee beverage, or $4.00 to $5.00 for a specialty drink, your money is spent more wisely...

Their iced coffee drinks are simply fantastic. The Crüd is a cold brew coffee that is lightly sweetened and served with a touch of cream. It is my favorite drink there as it really highlights the fantastic flavor of their coffee beans and is still great on a hot summer day. There is another drink (unfortunately, I can't think of the name) that is espresso shaken over ice with orange bitters and ginger that is also quite nice. And the Undertow, which is layered hot coffee and cold cream is a very unique experience as well.

The only hot drink that I've had is the flat white. You can choose between the house blend and a single-source varietal for the coffee. Unfortunately, the ristretto isn't quite as strong it is in my favorite flat whites in Berlin and Copenhagen, leading to a weaker coffee flavor.

Although I haven't gotten any of their flavored lattes, they flavors look interesting (like maple) and you have the option of scaling the amount of flavor from 1 to 5, so you don't have to worry about it being too sweet.

The food that I've had there is good cafe food. They also carry (amongst other high end soft drinks) delicious Main Root Blueberry Soda.

The music selection is great, the art is interesting, and there is a decent amount of comfortable seating. Unfortunately, the WiFi is a bit spotty, which can be annoying if you are trying to get work done.

Update: Since today was a surprisingly cold August day in Houston (only 77 at 1 p.m.?!?!?), I decided to try a flavored hot latte. The white chocolate spice consists of white chocolate, hazelnut, and nutmeg, and is dusted with coffee grounds. I got a 2 (out of 5) for sweetness, which was the perfect amount for me. It...

I'm going to take some responsibility here for this review in that I can't give a negative review in areas for which I'm likely not their target market. However, in just simply reading their reviews by people who are likely looking for what they are offering, it seems they might be dropping the ball there too. Since my first visit years ago (which was great), this place has become more about social identity and less about coffee. And that's okay, if that's what you're looking for. I was actually looking for a cool coffee spot in the city with excellent coffee that wasn't Starbucks. FOR ME, and possibly me only, this place was neither. I wish I'd have known this prior to scheduling my recent business meeting there. It was a total flop. I don't mind supporting unique businesses with eccentric vibes and passionate people, but this place could take more care in actually making EVERYONE feel included, their customer service, and their product. I get it, it's in the Heights, but we are still Houston. I had the Johnny Cash, which was okay, but it is ironic because I think Johnny Cash would be embarrased to see his name on that menu. I am going to go on a limb and say that many and most Johnny Cash fans would agree with me, but once again, I'm likely not their target market, so that is why I gave them 3 stars and will not return. They should consider changing the name from Boomtown Coffee to Bluetown Coffee. A name like that would support their motives and existence and would properly align them with their target audience. Peace be...