Finding good coffee in American airports is becoming easier and easier these days. There’s a Cartel Coffee Lab in the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serving some seriously good coffee, the Stumptown in the Portland International Airport is hands down the most beautiful airport cafe I’ve ever seen, and even though they are serving more of their “crowd pleaser” coffees, the La Colombe offerings at the Philadelphia International Airport are far superior to what you’d expect to find in an airport coffee urn otherwise.
But what about we kind souls who pick up our weary sojourners friends from the airport? What do we get while wait on your now twice-delayed touch down? Sure, a warm hug from a dear friend is nice, but that won’t keep me warm in the middle of the night. We want coffee. So it’s good news for those currently circling the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, there’s an Austin Java that just opened in the cell phone lot.
Austin Java is a bit of an institution. Back before the specialty coffee boom that has turned ATX into a must-visit coffee city, Austin Java was one of the best cups in town (and Metro. RIP). I myself have spent more than my fair share of time at the AuJa—a thing I used to call it and I don’t really remember why—cramming for finals or fueling up for a trip to Barton Springs. And now they are bringing their brand of fast casual coffee to the Austin cellphone lot, which means maybe I’ll start using it instead of aimlessly circling and parking curbside before being told to move and circle again.
Per Austin Food Magazine, this newest Austin Java—the sixth location for the nearly 25-year-old business—will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a “concentration on accessibility;” “guests have a plethora of ways to place on the go orders including a drive thru, online, inside the cafe as well as an outdoor window for grab and go.” Think things like breakfast bowls and because this is Texas, migas bowls and breakfast tacos. Austin Java will also be offering beer, wine, and cocktails for those especially aggrieved flight picker uppers.
I gotta say, coffee and waiting for someone’s flight to land has to be the least exciting iteration of the “Coffee And…” cafe model, but it may also be the most crucial. Just imagine: you’ve just stepped off your flight to Austin, you’re tired, you’re hungry, you just want to be done with the day. Then your friend shows up with a hot cup of coffee and a few breakfast tacos with your name on them. That sets the new standard as the only way I want to be picked up from the airport. And really, it’s the only way I would want to pick someone up too. Just have your passenger Square you for the damage, because they definitely should be paying.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via PE.com