09/05/2026
Not too long ago, San Angelo was a coffee desert. When we opened in 2021, there were a couple of sbux and a couple of small, independent shops. That’s it.
Fast-forward to 2026 and we’ve come a long way baby! Sure, we’ve added some chain coffee places, but we’ve expanded local shops too and the coffee culture here has grown enough that we can all be successful.
You’ll never hear me talk mess about chain coffee shops. I absolutely believe in supporting small, local businesses, but the truth is that those places employ and support local students, moms & dads, sons and daughters. And the other truth is, they have their place.
The Bearded Barista is not always the best choice for convenience and speed. We’ve decided to prioritize comfort and quality, and don’t apologize for that. Other shops have set their own priorities and that’s cool because, sometimes, speed and convenience is more important.
We will always support local businesses and that means even the “evil” chain stores. We’re not threatened by them because we’re not truly in competition with them. We will never compromise who we are or what we do. We will continue to be local, family-owned, and home-grown.
At the end of the day, we’re just proud to be a part of watching the coffee culture grow here and in whatever way we can, we will contribute to that positive growth. Thanks San Angelo for five stellar years and many more to come. The future, it seems, will be caffeinated :)
