The Yellow Cup — Restaurant in Houston

I tried this place in search for a cozy spot that has light food/snacks, beverages, and a restroom available, to do some focused studying. Below is my detailed experience:

Not much and very small parking spaces. I was nervous as I watched different people drive in reckless and park too close next to other vehicles. Definitely a risk of getting your car dinged by careless individuals.

This establishment lacked a full staff the day I visited, however, it was not extremely busy in the afternoon during the weekday. There was only one worker and my first impression was that he was not customer friendly, because I was not greeted as I walked through the door, even though I smiled and direct eye contact was made. Nor was I greeted once I was next in line to have my order taken. Sadly, I’m pretty used to poor customer service at many Houston restaurants, and know it’s an issue of poor management and lack of training to develop good to excellent customer service skills. Once I started asking questions though, the barista opened up a little and demonstrated kindness.

Furthermore, your order is not taken until the previous order has been completed. When it is your turn, expect at least ten to fifteen minutes for your order to be complete. This wasn’t a big issue for me, but I wanted to note that for those who may be on a tight schedule and are looking for quicker-paced servicing. The food is very flavorful (the barista informed that they receive deliveries from some place called Cake and Bake). I ordered the almond croissant and chicken and egg quiche. However, the beverage was not flavorful (I had the hot chocolate). If I visit again, I will specify to use almond milk and ask if there are any syrups available to enhance the flavor.

Regarding the ambience, the café is smaller than what I perceived originally from the photos online. It wasn’t that many people and pretty quiet - no obnoxious loud conversations. Out of the three tables available, only two are closest to the outlets, but if you have an extremely long charger, it should reach the third table. There is a window section with bar stools, which may become uncomfortable for some after sitting for a long period working or studying. There are also a few outdoor tables and chairs, and an indoor restroom.

Lastly, this café closes at 4:30 PM, which is really early to me. It’s an okay café to grab a coffee, bite to eat, and sit with friends. However, this is not one of the best cafés to read or study, unless you don’t mind loud music. The overall playlist was annoying (I had to put on headphones and play...

I was looking for a cute, little independent coffeehouse to sip some Joe and do some work. Lo and behold, the Yellow Cup comes in to save the day. It was only 20 minutes from my hotel, right underneath the Elan Memorial Park apartment complex.

The coffee shop is bright, airy, and clean. There is a white and yellow theme that resonates throughout the shop. The space isn't huge, but there are a number of round and bar tables. They serve both coffee and tea. Brewed fresh, there is their signature drip, French press, immersion brew, Hario V60, and Chemex for two. They also serve espresso drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, flat whites, and americanos, in addition to other drinks such as chai lattes and hot chocolate. If you want something cold, they also offer iced tea, cold brew, and iced lattes. Additionally, they serve Bellocq Tea Atelier loose leaf tea, a tea purveyor from Brooklyn. There are also some pastries to purchase for your caffeine accompaniment.

I initially ordered the Black Tea No. 47 Queen's Guard ($4), a black tea that is blended with rose and lavender. Informing me upfront that they will steep the tea for four minutes, they brought a wooden tray with the tea brewed in a Rishi Tea borosilicate glass teapot and a ceramic mug. They then poured the tea into the mug and told me that if I wanted more water to let them know. I really liked the tea I chose. It is a perfect afternoon tea that is well-balanced and feels incredibly elegant to sip. Later on, I asked for more water and they even brought me a new mug. The service here is top notch.

After an hour, I decided to order a latte ($4.75) as well. It came with a tiny pastry as an accoutrement. I wish I had the chance to try their Chemex (my preferred method of brewing coffee) and some of their other drinks too, but I was well caffeinated.

I would definitely come back here if I was in Houston again. Thanks Yellow Cup for your...

Coffee shops seem to be pretty rare on Washington Avenue. There are a few, and I always wished there were more of them! Luckily, the Yellow Cup answered my wish and opened up at the start of summer 2018 below a residential complex at the end of Washington Avenue. They have a private parking lot out front with plenty of spaces and lots of street parking on the side streets behind the complex. There is a really modern and minimalist feel when you walk inside. It's beautifully white with funny coffee quotes in the walls. There are plenty of tables and chairs to lounge out as well.

My girlfriend and I went on a late Saturday afternoon. We met with the owner, David C., and he handed us some menus. The menus had a welcoming message with some deep quotes explaining the concept behind the Yellow Cup. It basically comes down to the philosophy of living life in the present moment.

We ordered a Chai Latte with soy milk for $5.25 and a Flavored Latte with homemade chocolate for $5.25. The chai was good and had many flavors in it that I am not typically used to. My girlfriend enjoyed her mocha; she said it was sweet, but wishes it was more "chocolatey."

Overall, I am happy David C. opened up his coffee shop concept on Washington Avenue. I loved the modern interior and our drinks were good. They offer free Wi-Fi if you're trying to get some work done with plenty of tables and seats. Our drinks were good as well. Welcome to the...