Fleet Coffee

Fleet Coffee opened in March 2016 in a single triangular room in East Austin. Patrick Pierce and Loren Perkins, two friends who had worked in coffee since the mid-2000s, wanted to show Austin what excellent espresso, coffee and signature drinks looked like when served with real hospitality; Patrick became sole owner in 2018. The slogan is “We make coffee. Sometimes people like it.” and an armadillo is the mascot.

Fleet roasts the majority of its coffee in-house and also pours Sweet Bloom, the Denver roaster it counts as a friend. The house blend, House Rules, is on the bar at all times while seasonal single origins rotate through, bought direct where possible or through small importers. Syrups and sauces are made from scratch for a menu of espresso drinks, pour-overs and signature drinks. Bakeries, taco makers and other local vendors supply the food.

Webberville is the stripped-down original, with the David’s Doughie’s bagel trailer parked out front. Manor Road, open since July 2023, was Fleet’s first trailer, parked beside the bar The Long Goodbye and the taquería La Santa Barbacha, with greenery, mister fans and a patch of astroturf for children. Congress Avenue is a walk-up window downtown with minimal seating inside and a patio for watching the avenue. The newest, off Rainey Street, is an old bungalow shared again with La Santa Barbacha, with outdoor seating among hundreds of plants under old trees.

Photograph: Fleet Coffee