Siphon Coffee — Restaurant in Houston

I was super excited to try this place. I came all the way from Canada to try this specialty coffee shop, but what a disappointment.

I wish I had listened to the other reviews regarding customer service. I want to start off by saying that I choose to visit specialty coffee shops over franchises. I have 10 years of coffee experience. I'm a regular at dialing in espresso and cupping.

When I arrived, I let the cashier know that it was my first time, and I'm excited to try this place. He informed me that pastries are 50%off and that the kitchen closes at 3 pm and that I should come earlier next time. It's not exactly welcoming or informative, but I'll go ahead. He didn't inform me that this was a siphon coffee specialty or where the beans come from.

I ordered 2 drinks and 4 food items, and my total plus tip came up to $40. I ordered their siphon, which costs $10. I inquired about beans and whether we can choose which beans we want to be used for our drink. The cashier wasn't able to answer, so he asked the barista. Barista took a bag of beans and said, "This is what we use." It said Mexican single origin. We asked about notes, and he pointed towards the bag. Which said notes of "baker's chocolate, brown sugar and caramel". I was surprised that barista wasn't able to tell us directly. We had to read it ourselves.

When we were called out for our food, I was sitting on the patio. I had 3 trays of food, which I picked up, and the door knob to the patio is a push down handle. I struggled to carry the trays of food and pushed the knob down with my elbow. There was nobody there who helped me or supported me. Despite the counter to pick up food located right in front of the door to the patio.

Then, when the siphon coffee was ready, I watched the barista pour himself coffee that I paid for in an espresso cup to sample and say out loud, "Let me just try it. Yup, it tastes good. " He then helped himself and poured some more. I am super confused. Is this normal practice around here? Does a chef sample your food before serving it to you? I had to carry siphon coffee by myself to the patio with zero assistance. It is boiling hot, and help would have been appreciated.

Once I poured myself a glass, it was obvious that the taste was off. I have had siphon coffee before, and it tasted nothing like this. The coffee was bitter, over extracted, and burnt tasting. It was undrinkable. I asked my friend to try it and she agreed, the taste was off. There weren't any notes of caramel or chocolate. I went inside to inquire about a change of coffee. It wasn't any better. I went a second time and asked for a refund. It didn't feel right to pay for $10 coffee that I didn't drink or enjoy. When I informed the barista, he said it must have been the beans, and it was a bad batch. Regardless of where the coffee comes from, barista should know how to dial in coffee.

I regret spending money here and tipping when nothing was worth it. The bathrooms are dirty, and the soap dispenser is empty. It doesn't look like they attend to their customers on the patio. Customer service, professionalism, quality, and friendliness are missing. I do not recommend it at all. You can be the judge and see what I...

I used to come here all the time when I was a teenager. When I moved back to Houston a few months ago after 5+ years away, I was excited to return. The first time I returned, the service at the counter was not very good and my ham and swiss croissant was cold in the middle. I have come back a few times since, hoping that they were just having an off day the first time. Now that I’ve visited a few more times, I can confirm that this place has really gone downhill. The prices have gone up while the quality of the drinks have gone down. Last time I went, I ordered an undertow which was $4 and some change on the menu but ended up being $6 once I asked for oatmilk and caramel syrup. I thought that was strange because one would think the syrup and milk would be included in the price of the undertow. Anyway, I could tell the barista didn’t even know how to make one properly. What was supposed to be a layered drink turned in to a lukewarm cup of espresso and oatmilk. The food tasted good but it was cold in the middle as usual. Other than that, the staff in general is not very friendly or welcoming. More often than not, the employee taking my order makes it seem like I’m such a bother for coming in to order something. And I can recall one occasion where I asked a barista to remake my latte because I could barely taste the caramel syrup. She remade it but clearly had a bad attitude about it. I tried the latte she remade and it tasted the same as the first. I didn’t ask her to make a third one because she did not seem to care if I enjoyed my drink or not. It’s sad to see a business that I used to go to every weekend decline in this way. I’m not sure if they’re under new management or what but the service has...

It was one of those Houston Fridays where the sky is a clear blue canvas, not a single cloud in sight. The kind of day that almost guides you somewhere without needing a reason. I felt it in my heart to stop by Siphon Coffee, one of my fav shops in Houston. I arrived around 5:30, right in that golden hour when the day begins to wind down and the energy in the room softens.

The space felt like a sanctuary, calm yet alive. The way the light poured through the windows, touching every corner with a soft glow. Around me were people in quiet focus: one person writing, another sketching, a few deep in conversation that didn’t need volume to speak. There was something poetic about it, a rhythm of thought and expression filling the air.

The staff carried that same energy. Warm, grounded, and welcoming. They managed the room like artists, tending to details without disrupting the peace. When they spoke, it wasn’t just service... it was connection. They listened, they shared, they smiled with intention. It reminded me that hospitality, at its best, is an art form.

I had my cup, sat with my thoughts, and finished the last few tasks of my week. The music blended perfectly with the moment, enough to inspire, never to distract. The walls around me told stories through art, color, and placement. Everything felt intentional, like every piece of the shop was designed for reflection, creation, and communion.

To anyone in Houston or passing through, this is a place worth experiencing. Come here to write, to think, to meet someone special, or simply to be still. The atmosphere is diverse, the spirit is kind, and the aesthetic carries the beauty of Houston’s...