Anderson’s Coffee Company: Austin’s Original Coffee Pioneer Since 1972
Long before Austin became known as a tech hub or food destination, before the city’s famous “Keep Austin Weird” slogan existed, there was a small coffee roaster quietly revolutionizing how Texans thought about their morning cup. In 1972, when specialty coffee was virtually unknown in the Lone Star State, Jamie Anderson opened the doors to Anderson’s Coffee Company in a tucked-away spot on a narrow, quaint side street in the middle of Austin. More than five decades later, this family-owned business remains one of Austin’s most treasured institutions.
From Politics to Perfect Coffee
Jamie Anderson’s path to coffee greatness began in an unlikely place—the world of Texas politics. After studying journalism in college, Anderson worked on various political campaigns, including serving as press secretary for Sissy Farenthold’s Texas gubernatorial campaign. When that campaign ended in defeat, Anderson found himself at a career crossroads, needing something new to pursue.
The inspiration came from an unlikely source: a small coffee shop called Georgetown Coffee in Washington, DC. Walking in to Georgetown Coffee was very exciting. There were these great aromas. And of course being right in the middle of Georgetown, there was a frenetic amount of business. Add to this the atmosphere of Georgetown, all combined, it was different from anything I’d ever experienced. I guess that was the seed of it. But my career in politics needed to end before I was ready to try opening a coffee store.
Learning from the Master
What makes Anderson’s Coffee Company’s origin story truly remarkable is the mentorship that shaped its foundation. Jamie Anderson learned the basics of roasting coffee from the venerable Alfred Peet of Peet’s Coffee & Tea in Berkeley, California—the man widely considered the father of good coffee in America. “Peet was the father of good coffee in this country,” says Jamie.
In fact, Anderson’s Coffee started out by reselling Peet’s coffee until the volume became too high and it became a bother for Peet’s coffee. Alfred Peet generously helped Jamie find a roaster so that he could roast coffee locally. This wasn’t just a business transaction—it was a passing of the torch from the pioneer of American specialty coffee to a dedicated student who would carry that legacy to Texas.
Pioneering Coffee Culture in Texas
When Anderson opened his doors in 1972, the specialty coffee landscape in Texas was virtually barren. As far as I knew – that was basically it for good coffee in Texas. There was one coffee store in Houston over in “The Quadrangle,” another in Dallas, and Dakota Coffee Company in San Angelo. Anderson’s Coffee Company became one of the first businesses to introduce Texans to what really good coffee could taste like.
Starting without any business experience (“I had absolutely no business experience. None.”), Anderson relied on his passion for quality and his commitment to the craft that Peet had taught him. Originally when I started roasting in the warehouse in downtown Austin, I’d roast at night. We were roasting at night and having numerous visits from the fire department about smoke, which is not fun.
The Craft Behind the Cup
Today, Anderson’s Coffee Company operates from their location at 1601 W. 38th St. in Jefferson Square, where coffee is roasted fresh in small quantities, corresponding to daily demand. But learning the basics from Mr. Peet was just the beginning. “There’s a lot of creativity in roasting and blending coffee. Nobody does it exactly the same.” Anderson’s does it right, people who love good coffee agree on that, but this company does not rest on its laurels.
The company’s commitment to quality extends beyond just roasting techniques. Anderson personally attends to the process of buying quality beans. This is another part of the coffee business which is ongoing and where nothing can be taken for granted. It involves frequent coffee tastings, roasting samples of beans before buying in quantity, and finding the very best importers. “You’d be surprised,” says Jamie, “how limited the supply of really fine coffee is.”
More Than Just Coffee
Anderson’s Coffee Company isn’t just about beans—it’s a complete coffee resource for serious enthusiasts. The store carries an impressive selection of brewing equipment, from Italian stovetop pots and French presses to Chemex brewers and burr grinders. They also stock quality packaged teas, specialty jams and preserves, and sweet treats that complement their coffee offerings.
What sets them apart is their personalized service. This is not a coffee shop to sit and sip; it’s the best place in Austin to buy your supplies for doing this at home. They roast their own beans and grind them to your specifications or the recommendation for your equipment. The staff’s expertise ensures that customers get exactly what they need for their home brewing setup.
A National Following Built on Word of Mouth
The quality of Anderson’s coffee speaks for itself, creating a loyal following that extends far beyond Austin’s city limits. Since word of mouth praise (word of taste?) is still the most potent form of advertising, today coffee drinkers all over the country order their beans from Anderson’s: New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado, California, you name it; out of town and out of state orders are taken every day at the store in Jefferson Square.
Regular customers include people who have been buying Anderson’s coffee for decades. I live in Austin, and this has been the source of my favorite coffee for almost 40 years. Friendly and personal staff, but the important thing is the extraordinary coffee. Even customers who move away continue to have their coffee shipped because they can’t find anything comparable elsewhere.
Austin Institution with a Personal Touch
Over 50 years later, Jamie Anderson is still there every day, personally overseeing the operation and maintaining the standards that made Anderson’s Coffee Company legendary. The business has become deeply woven into Austin’s cultural fabric—an ad in the personals column of The Austin Chronicle once summed up the affection locals feel: “Me, vivacious vixen, 31, beautiful blonde… independent. Love Anderson’s coffee, dining out, slumming in, rainy days.”
Famous Austin residents have been regular customers too. Doug Sahm, the legendary musician, came in every day he was in town, always wanting to talk about baseball and Austin’s growing traffic problems. One memorable morning, Doug came in wearing his pajamas, house shoes, and a night robe, prompting Anderson to later say, “I think Doug kinda considers this store to be an extension of his house.”
The Value of Quality
Despite offering superior quality to mass-market chains, Anderson’s Coffee Company proves that excellence doesn’t have to come at a premium price. The cool thing is that quality doesn’t cost more. The beans are fresher than Starbuck’s, but they are also cheaper. This commitment to accessibility has helped build their devoted customer base over the decades.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
Anderson’s Coffee Company represents everything we celebrate about American small business: innovation, quality, perseverance, and genuine care for customers. From Jamie Anderson’s leap of faith in 1972 to today’s continued operation, this business has remained true to its founding principles while adapting to serve coffee lovers nationwide.
Visit Anderson’s Coffee Company:
Address: 1601 W. 38th St., #2, Austin, TX 78731
Phone: (512) 453-1533
Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Closed Sunday
Website: andersonscoffee.com
Email: orders@andersonscoffee.com
In a world of corporate coffee chains and fleeting trends, Anderson’s Coffee Company stands as a testament to the enduring power of craftsmanship, personal service, and unwavering commitment to quality. For over five decades, they’ve been proving that when you do something with passion and integrity, customers will find you—and they’ll keep coming back for generations.
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