by Annette F
It seems the coffee revolution has finally come to Central Texas, especially in Bell county. There are small, artisan coffee shops popping up all around the Temple and Belton area and local residents are drinking it in. If you happen to find yourself in Central Texas and are looking for a little pick-me-up with great coffee we’ve got you covered.
Of course, you will find the ever-present Starbucks, but if you are looking for a coffee shop with local flare that’s what we’re focusing on here. Today we will review the best coffee shops in the Temple/Belton area.
Sly Fox Coffeehouse
Sly Fox is located in the heart of downtown Belton. It is a cozy coffee shop in a converted train car at the Texas train depot. They are a faith-based business with the goal of creating a warm environment that encourages you to spend the afternoon with coffee and a good book. Just across the patio is the Warm Cookie Company so you can enjoy handcrafted coffee with a cookie fresh from the oven. Your taste buds will thank you.
The barista was friendly and the converted train car was very inviting. I ordered an Americano and though the espresso blend was a bit sharp for my tastebuds, it was overall a nice cup of joe.
Suite D 201 North East Street, Belton, Tx
Walk-in only, no drive through
Black Rifle Coffee
Black Rifle Coffee prides itself on being a Veteran owned company. This is a National franchise that is committed to supporting veterans, law enforcement, and first responders.
Not only do they source high-quality beans, but the green beans are shipped directly from the farm of origin to their own roasting facilities. They also have a coffee subscription service for their regular roasts as well as an exclusive coffee subscription with limited supply roasts from world-class micro-lots.
Black Rifle Coffee serves the usual assortment of cold and hot coffee drinks as well as a strong coffee called jet fuel. They have an assortment of breakfast pastries as well as a few sandwiches and salads. The location in Temple, TX has comfortable indoor seating and drive-through service. If you like strong, bold coffee, this is the spot for you.
111 North General Bruce Temple, TX
https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/pages/temple-retail
Indoor seating and drive-through.
Peggy’s coffee house
Peggy’s is located in the Temple mall, right next to the movie theater. You can buy a pick-me-up at the coffee house and enjoy it during the movie. Peggy’s serves a wide range of coffee and rich espresso drinks as well as specialty coffee like death wish coffee and whiskey barrel coffee. For non-coffee lovers, they have fruit smoothies, Italian cream soda, lemonade hot chocolate, a variety of teas, and specialty flavors for blended beverages. Peggy’s menu features Uncle Joes in house specials with a handful of traditional grilled sandwiches.
3111 South 31st Street Temple, Tx
https://peggyscoffeehouse.com/
walk-in only, no drive through
Atrium coffee co.
Atrium serves fresh coffee with locally roasted beans from Austin Tx. They also have a wide selection of cold beverages to enjoy in the Texas sun. They have an outdoor patio seating with a walk-up service window.
4235 S. 31st ST. Temple, TX
https://www.facebook.com/atriumcoffeecompany
Drive-through and outdoor seating only
Dutch Bros coffee
Dutch Bros coffee started as a pushcart business in Grants Pass Oregon when two brothers left the dairy business to serve espresso and make connections in their community. They pride themselves on philanthropy, sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion to create a better future for their employees and customers.
In addition to hand-crafted hot and cold coffee and espresso drinks, they serve up tea, lemonade, and their signature dutch soda made with sparkling soda water infused with your favorite flavor.
They have two locations in Temple:
6520 W Adams AVE. Temple, TX
201 N General Bruce Drive Temple, Tx
Drive-through only
AR.U.SHA Coffee Co.
This is a uniquely Texas coffee shop that specializes in coffee, tea, and tacos. Located in historic Belton, with easy access to Mary Hardin-Baylor, this is an eclectic hotspot boasting over 100 exotic loose-leaf teas and in-house roasted coffee. The setting invites you to eat, drink and stay a while with plenty of comfortable seating and an inviting atmosphere. BUT…what really makes AR.U.SHA memorable is the handcrafted tacos available all day, every day.
125 N. East Street Belton, Tx
https://www.arushascoffeeco.com
Walk-in only, no drive through
First Street Roasters
Located in downtown Temple, First Street Roasters caters to the genuine coffee lover. This is a straight-up coffee house that features house-roasted coffee with a variety of flavor shots and milk and milk alternative choices. In addition, they offer brick oven house-made pastries and quiche as well as a few grab-and-go items. You are welcome to sit and stay awhile and take advantage of the free wi-fi while you enjoy the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans. You can also leave with a bag of their signature coffee beans.
110 S. 1st Street Temple. Tx
https://firststreetroasters.com
Walk-in only, no drive-through
1914 Coffee House
The 1914 coffee house is located in the heart of Temple Texas. They invite you to enjoy coffee, an endless variety of specialty drinks, and seasonal offerings in an atmosphere that feels like home. This is in fact a historic home converted into a neighborhood coffee house. There are comfortable, overstuffed couches and chairs with nooks and crannies to settle in for the day. There is also a quintessential southern front porch where you can enjoy your coffee while you watch the world go by.
It is a family-friendly destination that caters to more than just the hardcore coffee drinker. In addition to coffee 1914 serves its signature cruffin, a cross between a muffin and a croissant, which is a must-try pastry. They also have a variety of other delectables.
1617 W. Avenue R Temple, Tx
Walk-in only, no drive-through
Ignite Coffee
Ignite coffee is a small drive-up coffee shop with a philosophy of positivity and excellent coffee. They strive to provide a positive attitude, a spirit of service, and a culture of accountability and respect. Their menu features regular coffee, espresso-based drinks, frozen espresso, and cold brew coffee. They have a wide selection of syrups and non-dairy additions for your favorite coffee beverages.
When I stopped by the line was long, fueling my anticipation of a great cup of coffee and I wasn’t disappointed. I found the espresso to be creamy and smooth.
44 S. Pea Ridge Rd Temple, Tx
Drive-through only, no walk-in.
Rushin River Coffee
This is a small family-owned coffee truck located in rural Bell county, more precisely in the small town of Moody. They offer drive-up service only and have a wide selection of hot and cold coffee as well as slushy non-coffee beverages. The barista was friendly and so helpful (this was my first time trying to find this little food truck) and the espresso I ordered was piping hot and had a smooth, mellow flavor.
505 Ave D, Moody, TX
https://www.facebook.com/RushinRiverCoffeeCo
Drive-through only.
Summer Moon Coffee
This is a new addition to the Temple coffee scene. Summer Moon coffee crafts all of its coffee beverages with beans that are roasted in Austin Texas. They hand roast small batches of 100% organic premium coffee beans over seasoned Texas post oak. They boast a signature “moon milk” which is a sweet cream that accompanies all their espresso-based drinks.
I ordered an Americano and not only was the espresso rich and smooth, the service was fast and friendly.
Summer Moon has two locations. There is a brick-and-mortar location in Temple and a coffee trailer in Belton, not far from Belton lake. The coffee trailer has pet-friendly outdoor seating.
7075 W Adams Ave Suite 130, Temple, TX
111 Sparta Rd, Belton, TX
Walk-in and drive-through at the Temple location