Paper Co. Coffee Bar — Restaurant in Houston

⭐ One Star – And that feels generous. If you’re looking for a coffee shop that will welcome you with warmth, kindness, or—bare minimum—basic human decency, Paper Co Cafe is not it.

Let me set the scene: I walk in, very pregnant, with my business partners—three women, all professionals, just looking for a quiet corner to meet and grab a coffee. The moment we walked in, the energy was off. No greeting, no smile, not even a “how can I help you?” Instead, when I asked a simple question about an item in the case, I was met with a snippy “check the menu.” When I followed up—because, plot twist, it wasn’t on the menu—I was shut down again, as if I were asking for something outrageous. You know those cafes where the staff act like you’re inconveniencing them by simply existing? That.

Strike one.

We asked for iced water. Not fancy, not sparkling, not chilled from the Alps. Just iced water. First we’re told there’s a water station, but when we ask if it has ice, we get a dismissive “No.” Only for her to show up with a cup of ice moments later, expecting us to Frankenstein it together ourselves. Again—attitude, no courtesy, no effort.

Strike two.

The noise was unbearable. It sounded like someone next door was doing a live mic check for a garage concert. Every word blared through the wall. We were trying to conduct client calls, and between the yelling, loud music, and chaotic environment, it was almost comical—if it weren’t so frustrating. It’s like trying to work inside a blender.

Strike three.

When I asked whether the tea cake I ordered was supposed to be served ice-cold from the refrigerator (because it certainly tasted like it had been forgotten in the back of one), she looked me dead in the face and… turned around. No answer. Nothing. Just complete disregard. And to top it all off, 15 minutes before they close, while I’m mid-call with a client, she interrupts me not once, but twice, to ask if I plan to “box it up or toss it.” I politely motioned that I’m on the phone, only for her to keep talking until I had to say, “Ma’am, I’m on a call.” Her response? “Well, this is a public space.” What does that even mean?

By 3:55 PM—5 minutes before closing—we were literally standing outside in the rain, lights off, garage closed, trying to find another place to go. There was no grace, no “hey take your time,” not even a fake smile. Just get out.

Oh—and one of our team members had a coffee that tasted exactly like warm milk. When she mentioned it, the same woman grabbed the drink and walked away. No apology, no replacement, no explanation. Just another silent slap in the face.

We were there barely an hour. Spent good money. Left with cold cake, watery coffee, and the aftertaste of disrespect.

If you’re hoping to get work done, have a thoughtful meeting, or just be treated like a human being—go literally anywhere else. A gas station coffee would have come with more warmth.

To say we won’t be back is an understatement. We left feeling disrespected, disregarded, and deeply...

If you love drinking coffee from inside a random warehouse used as a church under a highway overlooking Downtown Houston, Paper Co. Cafe will be your ultimate fantasy. I came here on a late Sunday because I was getting my car repaired nearby and this was the closest coffee shop to chill and wait at. I had to walk across the train tracks towards a sketch building under the highway, and it didn't occur to me until I got closer that this was the actual coffee shop itself. I only saw a blue door above a walking ramp that lead inside a ghetto warehouse. However, when I got inside, it was like night and day.

It had a nice interior, industrial style with plenty of space and tables to get work done. I walked up to the front and really didn't want coffee, so I ordered the Chai Latté ($3.25). I noticed they had other loose leaf teas available as well. Looking around, this coffee shop was inside of Ecclesia Church, which was a bit weird to me since I love to sin and felt like an unwelcome guest. I probably wouldn't come back here for coffee unless I was nearby, but it was nice for what it was and an interesting experience while waiting for my car to be done. They do roast their own coffee beans which is a plus.

What I ordered: -Chai Latté ($3.25)

Pros: -Although I didn't drive, it looks like plenty of parking in their private lot -Industrial style with unique atmosphere as it's literally inside of a warehouse used as a church -Plenty of tables to get work done -Beautiful view of Downtown Houston outside

Cons: -Chai was dog crap (I'm Indian, shut up), but I will try the coffee or other...

Thus far, Paper Co has provided me with the best coffee out of all the coffee shops in Houston that I've been to. After trying their cortado (the first I had ever had based on the barista's recommendation), I liked it so much that it sent me on a mission to try as many cortados at as many coffee shops as I could to see who had the best one. After going to over a dozen places, and continuing to go over a year later, I have yet to find a place with a better cortado. Paper Co's is rich, flavorful, creamy, and chocolatey. They never fail to serve it hot and to the brim, both features that are often lacking at many other places. While Paper Co does provide the best cortado, it isn't necessarily my favorite place to go overall. Some issues are the difficulty to get here, the significant lack of outlets preventing me from sticking around to do work, and the fact that not all of the drinks are necessarily good. Here is where I am a bit more biased because I don't like their Vietnamese coffee at all, but I've never been to a non-Vietnamese place where I enjoyed the Vietnamese coffee. I would still come here, of course, not only for the cortado but also because I like the large, open atmosphere (it's basically just a big warehouse). I would, and do, highly recommend Paper Co to any...