Texas EXpresso: Gourmet Food and Unique Drinks On UT Campus

Looking for a UT coffee shop that goes beyond basic brews and pastries? Texas EXpresso is a standout spot near campus, offering everything from gourmet sandwiches and fresh salads to inventive drinks. Whether you’re grabbing breakfast before class or winding down with a midday treat, this café delivers quality, variety, and unbeatable value.

Food

At Texas EXpresso, you can find anything on their menu from gourmet sandwiches to gelato. Their variety is part of what makes them my favorite UT coffee shop, and no matter what category of the menu you’re looking at, you’re sure to find delicious and quality options.

Their sandwiches, like the caprese spinach and turkey club, come at a satisfying size and with a side of a pickle spear. Often, they are toasted to perfection and served as a melt, which crisps up the bread and adds a satisfying crunch.

With these, you can also add a side of Deep River chips, a severely underrated snack brand with a commitment to using fewer ingredients than big consumer corporations. Other sides include a fruit cup, potato salad, and a soup cup, which is often on a seasonal rotation.

Texas EXpresso also serves fresh salads, a flavorful choice for people who might not be quite hungry enough for a sandwich yet. Their Chicken Caesar Salad is packed with protein from juicy grilled chicken breast, then loaded with crunchy Romaine lettuce and creamy dressing, making it a perfect pick for students looking for a clean and quick meal between classes.

My favorite time to stop by this café is easily breakfast. Their kolaches are an unbeatable price at $2.75 each, and the price absolutely does not mean that the quality is low. The bread is extremely soft and chewy with a perfectly firm link of sausage in the middle. The jalapeño cheddar is my go-to because of the added heat from the peppers and sharpness from the melty cheese.

Beyond kolaches, their baked goods like muffins and bagels shine for their price, flavor, and variety. With bagel options like rosemary sea salt, cinnamon raisin, and sesame seed among classics like plain, whole wheat, and everything, there’s a bagel for every palate here. Muffins like triple berry, chocolate, blueberry, and banana nut have a delightfully dense crumb with a moist texture that can’t be topped.

When I’m looking for a midday indulgence after a hard class, a meal from Texas EXpresso gives me the boost I need to get through the rest of the school day.

Drinks

Though the food is amazing, most people who come in are only stopping for one of their drinks. One of my favorite things about Texas EXpresso is the unique flavors like rose matcha that they come up with, all while staying within a price range that ensures everyone can enjoy one of their beverages.

Texas EXpresso selects flavorful grounds to use in their signature coffee drinks, adding unique notes to the coffee itself that complement their many different syrups. Some of their syrups include raspberry, cherry, and white chocolate, which are perfect for adventurous drinkers looking to try something new while they sit in the restaurant and study.

For coffee fans who like to stick to the familiar or first-time visitors looking to try a new shop’s spin on their comfortable favorites, try their chocolate, caramel, or strawberry syrups. If you’re trying to cut calories but not flavor, they have sugar-free versions of their chocolate and vanilla. You won’t be able to taste a difference!

This café definitely caters to the newer market of matcha lovers. You can purchase a sweet but not-too-sweet, earthy matcha latte and add in a flavored syrup for an uptick of $0.75. I personally love their matcha because I am still adjusting to the unique flavor of the powder, and Texas EXpresso’s matcha is not overbearingly grassy while still not being super sweet.

They also often put out exclusive seasonal matcha drinks, all of which are worth a try so you don’t miss out on them before they go away!

My favorite drink to get at Texas EXpresso is undoubtedly their iced chai. It has a more authentic and powerful flavor than the Starbucks option while remaining in a lower price range. It truly tastes like something that I would pay much more than $5 for, which makes me feel like I’m sipping on a gourmet drink while I listen to lectures.

Adding in one pump of white chocolate syrup is something that I’ve occasionally indulged in when I wanted to switch things up but still enjoy my regular order—if you’re a fan of unsweetened matcha and strong coffee, this might be too sweet for you, but as an occasional treat I love it!

Beyond the drinks on their menu, Texas EXpresso also offers free black coffee and water to the public.

Final Thoughts

Texas EXpresso is more than just a coffee shop for students and alumni. It’s a full-service café that delivers on flavor, variety, and value. From savory kolaches and gourmet sandwiches to refreshing matcha lattes and bold iced chai, every item feels thoughtfully crafted. Whether you’re a UT student looking for a quick bite between classes or a coffee lover chasing unique flavors, this spot has something for you.

If you haven’t tried Texas EXpresso yet, make it your next stop for breakfast, lunch, or a midday pick-me-up!