Cavo Coffee — Restaurant in West University Place

After giving the original Cavo a second chance and being quite impressed with the changes they've made, I decided to check out their new location, which is a bit more convenient for me. Unfortunately, my experience was a bit mediocre. If things stay the way they are, I am not likely to come back. I'd rather check out other places, including the other Cavo location.

The coffee: I learned today that a coffee that is under-extracted will end up being more acidic, whereas one that is over-extracted will have overpowering bitterness. These profiles can also be affected by the temperature that the coffee was brewed at, among other things. Anyway, the reason I looked this up is because despite serving the same coffee (I think they both serve Amaya), the coffee here tasted completely different. Regardless of why, the cortado I got was very noticeably acidic. It bit my tongue, and just had a very sour, fruity taste. This is in stark contrast to the bitter, more chocolatey cortado I had at the other Cavo a week ago. The drink was also very light-bodied, which surprised me. They use the vero glasses, which is a plus, but their presentation was pretty lacking.

The shop: The location is convenient in terms of distance, but inconvenient due to the construction and traffic around the area. I did not have trouble finding parking though, so that's a plus. I like the decor, which has a rustic feel with a modern twist. The large windows provide ample natural lighting. I don't like that most of the tables are very small (except for one long table), and it isn't that easy to find an outlet. It has a very open feel. The people working there were friendly, in a way you would expect from your average coffee shop.

Overall: Twenty minutes after drinking my cortado, I can still feel the lingering acidity. It just isn't my favorite. If I were going by what Yelp describes 2 stars (meh, I've had better), that's what I would give this place. To me 3 stars is just very average. Nothing special here. Maybe I'll come back in a few months to see how they've improved, but as is, I would recommend going elsewhere (even if elsewhere just means the other...

I believe this is a newer location for Cavo. The interior is nice. It has a pleasant aesthetic, and a decent number of seats for a place it's size. Additionally, the types of seating are varied. They have high chairs, booth seating, regular tables and a few armchairs for reading. There is free parking.

The coffee was very good, but be prepared to pay for it. Coffee averages $5-7 a cup for anything other than drip. They appear to specialize in slow brewing methods and single origin beans. You can get a V60, siphons, or even an aeropress (which I don't see at shops in Houston often). I had the aeropress, and it was great, but again it wasn't cheap. My drink was $5 and my 12oz mug was just under half full.

My wife had their loose leaf tea, and it was good as well. They have several different teas, both caffeinated and decaf. The tea was $4.50, but it was a whole pot that made several cups. In fact, my wife and I could've split the tea.

Overall, a great location, even if priced high. Space is good. They have a number of good brewing methods, and the coffee is well-prepared. Come here for quality,...

Are you looking for immaculate vibes? Are you looking for knowledgeable and incredible queer friendly staff? Are you looking for coffee so good it will make your heart sing? Then come to Cavo. No fuss, no muss, and the only a-holes here are of the Volvo/tennis skirt variety.

Good news, they don’t work here!

Bad news, they do like good coffee apparently.

Whether it’s the incredible coffee roasted by Viv or the incredible service of William, Peter, Sol and the gang—when you’re here, people take time to make you a perfect cup. This is the place where you can ask questions and be adventurous via barista’s choice.

I’ll be real, the corn cookies are best when Valentina pulls them right out of the oven, but warming them is a close second.

Also, don’t be cheap. This coffee is excellent and the food is made to order (besides the baked goodies, but again Valentina will make sure your cookie is delicious.)

I almost didn’t want to write this review, because I don’t want you there.

But, as a good deed, I’ll tell you the...