Kick Butt Coffee Closed In Triangle; Still Kickin On Airport

In the words of Douglas Adams: “Don’t panic.” Kick Butt Coffee is not closed for good. It just left The Triangle and went back to its roots.

Kick Butt Coffee’s empty space in The Triangle stands out like a missing tooth. The coffee shop’s here-today-gone-tomorrow departure has left a lot of people scratching their heads: “Is the business gone forever?”

Thankfully, the answer is no. Kick Butt Coffee’s Triangle location is gone, due to unfortunate financial circumstances. However, their Airport Blvd. location remains all the more kickin’.

I first wandered into the doors of Kick Butt Coffee on Airport almost three years ago. I was in the throes of a hard night’s studying and needed some caffeine to keep the motor running. So I hopped in my car and just drove because, let’s face it, throw a rock in Austin and you’ll probably hit a coffee shop.

Lucky for me, my rock landed in the parking lot of Kick Butt Coffee.

Instantly I realized it was my kind of place. To this day, it remains my go-to for good drinks, a good atmosphere, and good people.

Now, you gotta know one thing about me: I know my kung fu joints. When I was eight years old, I left my karate class as a bonafide yellow belt. My mom said she pulled me out because my sensei was afraid of my skills.

So let’s just say I know my way around a pair of nunchaku (yeah, I used the original name). I spent countless hours in front of my television, attempting to recreate Bruce Lee’s flawless technique.

The flying scissor kick was my ultimate finishing move.

So I knew I had entered a special place as soon as I opened the door to Kick Butt.

Kick Butt Coffee and Cocktail Bar lives up to its name. Most of the shop is right out of a 1970’s martial arts flick. You can order the Ying Yang Chocolate Cake, the Return Of The Dragon Sandwich, or the Bruce Lee “Cha-Cha” Chicken. The list goes on and on.

Fact: Kick Butt Coffee contains as many ways to kill you as it does styles of coffee.

Martial arts movies play silently overhead as people enjoy their drinks. Other patrons finger through the many Chuck Norris- or ninja-themed collectables.

Add the array of weapons hanging from its walls, and Kick Butt Coffee earns its place among Austin’s most unique hangouts.

Plus, the coffee is delicious. Every bean is organically grown and fair trade. Go ahead – try to sell ’em some artificially-enhanced “Soylent Green” type coffee beans and see what happens. They won’t buy it.

Thomas Gohring, the owner, is probably too busy in the Andes Mountains, loading burlap sacks of the finest Arabica onto a couple of burros anyway.

An incredibly astute and good-looking blogger once referred to Mr. Gohring as “the Juan Valdez of Austin.”

… I guess.

Okay, I don’t know how they get their delectable coffee. But I do know it’s worth tasting. Kick Butt Coffee roasts their coffee beans using their secret signature method. And I can tell.

Ever since my first night at Kick Butt, I make a point to spend time there whenever possible. It is a great place for students to cozy up and read.

But there’s another reason why Kick Butt Coffee remains awesome. The shop hosts many open mic nights for musicians and comedians. Both seasoned artists like MT Hellton and newbies share the stage every week. The types of shows vary, so be sure to check ahead if you’re interested in performing.

At the end of the day, I think you should spend some time at the original Kick Butt Coffee. It is located at 5775 Airport Boulevard.

Austinot Dusty asks:
What is your favorite drink at Kick Butt Coffee?

(Photos courtesy of John Fischer, Dustin Vegas, Jason Armstrong, and Cafe de Columbia, respectively.)