Craft coffee shops abound in Fort Worth, some just steps of each other in certain districts. Cowtown loves its caffeine, as witnessed by the diverse lineup of coffee destinations in town open at all hours. Some serve as places of solitude while others provide a place of community – one even offers a podcast rental space.

Of the countless options for a locally brewed cup of Joe, only one will win the wildcard category of Best Coffee Shop at the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Find out who triumphs during our big tasting event and awards ceremony, Wednesday, April 23 at the 4 Eleven (411 S. Main St.). Guests will enjoy an evening full of chef-prepared bites and specialty drinks before a short-and-sweet trophy presentation hosted by chef Jon Bonnell.

Early Bird tickets are still on sale for a discounted rate of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP, which includes early entry, valet parking, and a dedicated bar. Prices will go up soon, and tickets will sell out.

Read up on all of the nominees in our special editorial series and then grab your tickets to celebrate. Here are the contenders for Best Coffee Shop, in alphabetical order:

Avoca Coffee Roasters
The pioneering craft coffee roastery and bar kicked off an artisanal coffee craze when it was founded in 2011 by Fort Worth natives Garold LaRue and Jimmy Story. The duo presented locals with a new educational experience with respect to bean sourcing, roasting methods, and preparation techniques. (Pour-overs became all the rage.) Today under new ownership, Avoca still has cred as a leader in the local coffee shop community with three locations in Fort Worth (including its flagship location at 1311 W. Magnolia Ave. ) and beans in stores across the state.

Casa Azul Coffee
Before this boutique coffee shop opened in Northside Fort Worth (300 W. Central Ave.) in 2021, coffee options between downtown and the Stockyards were notably absent. Owner and coffee lover Joseph Landeros and his wife, Anette, left their careers to take a chance on the business and have since built a loyal customer base for their Latin-influenced coffee beverages. Specialty drinks include the Churro Latte, made with Mexican cajeta, and the Cuban espresso.

Gregorys Coffee
The nearly 20-year-old New York-based chain found its way to Texas last year with a kiosk location inside North East Mall. But don’t mistake Gregorys for a corporate turn-and-burn coffee shop. This is the sole location in North Texas, and it replaced a Starbucks to the delight of craft coffee lovers. Reviews rave about welcoming and efficient service, a modern yet cozy atmosphere, and rich brews that balance strength and smoothness. Drinks range from espresso to matcha and teas to nitro cold brews and smoothies. Gregorys is also noted nationwide for making fresh coffee every 30 minutes, baking pastries in-house daily, and pouring latte art.

JoJo Baklava Cafe & Sweets
Opened in Keller in December, this family-owned cafe and coffee shop (9500 Ray White Rd.) comes husband-and-wife duo Rames and Elaria Sedhom, who showcase the flavors of their native Egypt. Sweet treats are big here, from croissants and cakes to rice pudding and multiple variations of baklava. The coffee program offers unique offerings include Turkish coffee warmed with a sand heater, as well as matcha latte and pistachio ice cream espresso. Traditional espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes are popular paired with breakfast items, as are boba teas with the younger crowd.

La La Land Kind Café
This Dallas-based chain opened its first Fort Worth location (5733 Camp Bowie Blvd.) in February to the delight of its loyal fans, as witnessed by the long drive-through lines. But it’s not just the coffee that’s drawing crowds – it’s La La Land Kind Café’s mission of making kindness a priority. This includes providing job opportunities to youth who’ve aged out of the foster system, they say. Signature drinks are as vibrant as the staff’s smiling faces and include popular iced options like the Strawberry Fields made with beetroot and organic matcha, and the Banana Chai Latte dusted with cinnamon.

Low Doubt Bar
Open daily from 4 pm-2 am, this coffee shop’s hours match more with those of a nightclub. That’s because Low Doubt Bar (112 St. Louis Ave.) is a nightclub. The spinoff of live music venue Tulips is now moonlighting as a specialty coffee bar geared toward those with third shift hours or those looking for a pick me up before a late night out. Making use of Tulips’ former espresso machine used during the pandemic, Low Doubt is sourcing coffee from North Carolina-based roaster Counter Culture Coffee. The menu includes double shot espresso, Americano, cortado, macchiato, con pana, cold brew, and bottomless drip coffee. Prices range from $2-$3.50. The espresso machine also allows for high quality spiked coffee cocktails, like the Mexican carajilo, Irish coffee, and espresso martini.

Match Point Coffee
This tennis-themed coffee destination opened last fall (3618 W. 7th St.) by Fort Worth resident and former collegiate tennis player Scott Keenan, who partnered with his Australian pal and coffee lover Kristian Willems on the business. The duo has since built a following for their friendly service, welcoming environment, and themed events like coffee shop speed dating and pop-up markets. Match Point offers all the traditional coffee beverages along with unique drinks like sparkling Americanos and Melbourne Magic, made with double ristretto and steamed milk. There’s a podcast rental space, too.

Race Street Coffee
On a struggling street that’s seen numerous locally owned businesses fail, this beloved neighborhood coffee bar (3021 Race St.) stands a beacon of hope. Owned by Aaron Latchaw, a resident of the nearby Oakhurst neighborhood, Race Street Coffee is thriving with loyal customers after opening in a former bail bonds building in 2019. Latchaw’s positive attitude is contagious and trickles down through his amiable staff. Popular concoctions include the Von Riverside, made with espresso, milk, and vanilla syrup, and the Purple Rain, made with lavender syrup. The coffee shop is also popular for its rotating display of work by local artists (including elementary school art clubs) and sustainability practices, such as providing biodegradable products, giving discounts for bringing your own cup, and using sales to fund environmental projects.

Vagabond Coffee Bar
This mobile coffee shop is true to its name, travelling the streets of Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie in a restored 1979 Peugeot J7 van from France to serve craft coffee beverages at various locations around town. Opened in 2022 by husband-and-wife team John-Wesley and Alyx Gericke, Vagabond Coffee Bar (like many creative entrepreneurial endeavors) was born during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers can follow the van’s schedule via social media, or even book it themselves for private events. A wide-ranging menu includes cold brews and chai drinks along with Italian sodas and mocktails in addition to traditional coffee beverages.

White Rhino Coffee
A Dallas-based craft coffee pioneer that dates back to 2007 opened its Fort Worth location in 2021 in South Fort Worth (1201 8th Ave.). Fans flock for creamy lattes with fancy foam art, cold brews, matcha drinks, hot chocolate, and hot and iced teas. Breakfast items include breakfast sandwiches, breakfast tacos, and avocado toast. Locations have since opened in Arlington and Mansfield, making White Rhino a Tarrant-wide destination for coffee lovers.

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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored by The Yuengling Company, Still Austin Whiskey, PicMe Events, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Fort Worth Food and Wine Foundation.