About Medici Roasting
Medici Roasting is an Austin, Texas specialty coffee roaster founded in 2006 in the Clarksville district, widely described as Austin's original specialty coffee shop. The company operates multiple cafes across the city and runs its roasting production at Springdale General in East Austin, having grown over nearly two decades into an established neighborhood institution.
About
Long before East Austin's creative corridors filled with studios and maker spaces, Medici Roasting had already spent years becoming part of the fabric of Austin's neighborhoods. Founded in 2006 on West Lynn in the Clarksville district, Medici built its identity as what it calls Austin's original specialty coffee shop — a gathering place that took root in one of the city's most storied residential neighborhoods and grew from there. The founders met while attending the University of Texas at Austin, and that local connection has shaped the company ever since.
Today Medici operates cafes across the city, each embedded in its own corner of Austin. The original West Lynn location in Old West Austin remains the anchor — described by the company itself as the neighborhood's living room. The West Campus cafe on Guadalupe has long served the university crowd along the Drag. South Lamar brings the brand to Zilker, while The Domain extends it to North Austin's retail corridor, and an outpost at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport greets travelers at the gate.
The roasting operation lives in East Austin at Springdale General, a mixed-use development of studios, artists, and local makers where production and community share the same address. The cafe there is known for high ceilings, open-concept layout, abundant natural light, and outdoor seating in the surrounding courtyard — a setting that draws long work sessions alongside quick coffee stops. Reviewer impressions reflect what the space suggests: a place that takes coffee seriously without losing the ease of a neighborhood hangout.
Nearly two decades in, Medici has moved well past the scrappy single-shop phase and into something closer to civic institution. For coffee travelers in Austin, it offers what its longevity has earned: a specialty coffee experience that is both genuinely rooted in the city and genuinely worth seeking out.
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Coffee & Beans Review
Medici is a verified in-house roaster operating its production facility at Springdale General in East Austin. The company positions itself as a specialty coffee roaster, and customer impressions bear that out — one reviewer described the single-origin pour-overs as on par with top national roasters, singling out a Peruvian coffee for its purple fruit character and precision in extraction. That kind of language points to a program that leans toward clarity and craft over comfort-blend approachability.
Beyond the pour-over bar, the cafes carry a drink menu that extends well past espresso. The matcha latte has earned its own following, with multiple reviewers calling it among the best they have had. Hot chocolate and hibiscus tea appear in reviews alongside breakfast tacos that have been called above average — enough range to hold a table for a full morning. The Springdale location in particular draws people for long sessions, with solid WiFi and seating to match.
Medici sells roasted coffee beans for retail purchase, with the Springdale roastery serving as the natural hub for bean buyers visiting in person. The company also highlights sustainable packaging as part of its product positioning. Confirm online availability before ordering remotely, as stock can vary.
Coffee at a Glance
- Roaster status
- PR Enriched
- Roasting style
- In-house specialty roaster
- Best coffee drinks
- Single-origin pourover, Matcha latte, Hot chocolate
- Best buying path
- In store
- Online beans
- Check availability
- Specialty transparency
- Limited
What regulars say
Real reviews from Google — not ours, not paid.
★★★★★“This coffee is pretty good. I ordered the vanilla latte with almond milk, and it was the right amount of sweetness for me. They offer different seating options, whether you need to work or just chatting with friends. If you're in the Austin area, you should definitely check out this coffee shop; it's totally with it”
— Ally B., via Google
★★★★★“Officially my new fave spot. My third time in a row and the baristas were again so genuine, it made me hop on here to say so. Great drinks, high ceilings, and lots of sunlight don't hurt either. But it's the warmth of the staff that makes me want to come here when I'm choosing where to go. Cheers to that”
— Mich, via Google
★★★★★“I came to work in the common area on my laptop. This is a great place for that! You can sit inside the coffee shop area, or in the common area, or outside. There are a lot of windows and light, and the staff was very friendly. I had an iced tea and it was freshly brewed just for me. It was very good!”
— MotionMechanic, via Google
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Medici Roasting located in Austin?+
Medici operates multiple Austin locations: the original cafe on West Lynn in Clarksville, a West Campus location on Guadalupe near UT Austin, a South Lamar cafe in Zilker, a location at The Domain in North Austin, an outpost at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the East Austin roasting facility and cafe at Springdale General on Springdale Road.
What makes Medici Roasting distinctive in Austin's coffee scene?+
Medici calls itself Austin's original specialty coffee shop, with roots going back to 2006 in the West Lynn neighborhood. It operates its own roasting facility in East Austin at Springdale General and has maintained a multi-location neighborhood presence across the city for nearly two decades — a longevity that sets it apart in a market that has grown significantly since its founding.
Where does Medici roast its coffee?+
Medici roasts in-house at its facility at Springdale General, a mixed-use creative development in East Austin shared with local studios and makers. The roastery is co-located with a cafe, making it possible to visit the production side of the operation in person.
Can I buy Medici coffee beans to take home?+
Yes. Medici sells roasted coffee beans for retail purchase. The Springdale General location, which houses the roasting facility, is a natural starting point for bean buyers. Check online availability before ordering if you are not visiting in person, as stock can vary.
What drinks is Medici known for?+
Customer reviews point to the single-origin pour-overs as a standout, with one Peruvian offering drawing particular praise for its fruit character and extraction quality. The matcha latte has also earned a strong following. Hot chocolate and hibiscus tea round out the non-espresso options, and the breakfast tacos at the Springdale location have been called above average.
What is the atmosphere like at Medici's Springdale location?+
The Springdale General cafe is known for high ceilings, an open-concept layout, abundant natural light, and ample seating both inside and in the surrounding outdoor courtyard. The location sits within a creative development shared with local studios and artists, giving it a distinct East Austin character — more maker-district energy than the living-room warmth of the original West Lynn shop.
Citations & Press
Third-party coverage and sources for Medici Roasting.
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