• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Get to Know SouthBites General Manager and Head Barista Denise Caballero

August 27, 2019 by Brittany Ballard Leave a Comment

SouthBites Coffee Shop Austin
Inside SouthBites (Credit: SouthBites)

Come March, the excitement of South by Southwest Conference & Festivals will take over Austin. Behind all our fun is a team of specialists and volunteers who make everything come together. This happens at the new SXSW Center on Lavaca Street, where the general public can enjoy SouthBites year-round.

What Is SouthBites?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SouthBites Coffee Bar & Cafe (@southbitesatx) on Jul 29, 2019 at 5:50am PDT

Step into the lobby of SXSW Center and you’ll find yourself in a chic, open space with trendy seating areas and changing LED lights. With free WiFi, it’s a great place for co-working or just hanging out during your lunch break.

To the right of the entrance is the cafe and coffee bar, SouthBites. Since there’s no kitchen, all food items are easy to grab and go. You’ll find sandwiches, salads, weekly soup, breakfast tacos, pastries, and more.

SouthBites offers vegan, vegetarian, and protein options, too. Additionally, there is a full coffee menu, including espresso and matcha lattes (my new favorite coffee choice). 

SouthBites is operated by a trio of champions: 

  • Brent Schumacher, founder and executive chief of Pink Avocado Catering
  • Quirino Silva, previously the culinary operations director of Flyrite Chicken
  • Denise Caballero, previously with Alabama-based coffee chain Revelator in New Orleans

The cafe’s name used to belong to the food truck park that operated during SXSW. When the founding team learned the name SouthBites was available, they knew it was the perfect choice for their project. 

Introducing Denise Caballero

Denise Caballero General Manager and Head Barista at SouthBites
Denise Caballero is general manager and head barista at SouthBites (Credit: SouthBites)

Schumacher had been friends with Caballero for about 20 years when he started working on SouthBites. It didn’t take him long to realize his friend would be the perfect person to head the beverage program at the cafe. 

Caballero’s love for coffee began as a child. Her grandparents used to give her coffee milk, and she loved the taste and smell of it. As she grew older, she became more interested in coffee and cafes. Internet cafes were big in cities like Seattle and Portland, but she didn’t often see them back home. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SouthBites Coffee Bar & Cafe (@southbitesatx) on Jun 27, 2019 at 6:33am PDT

She moved from Austin to New Orleans in 2007, where she took a series of odd jobs before landing a position at a small cafe. She loved the fast pace and high volume of work in the cafe, and was overjoyed when she was taught how to work with coffee. Through a variety of positions, Caballero learned how to roast, package, and eventually make coffee for customers. 

From Crafting to Teaching

SXSW Coffee Shop in Austin
Caballero works with each SouthBites barista to make sure they are trained properly (Credit: SouthBites)

One of Caballero’s most memorable moments in her coffee career happened when she was first learning to make coffee. A lawyer who came into the cafe every day for his morning coffee always asked her to make his drink. The man’s daughter, who worked in the building, told Caballero her father looked forward to having her coffee every morning. This experience helped Caballero gain confidence in what she was doing.

As she grew in the field, she realized she wanted to share her passion with others, training baristas to make delicious coffee drinks. When she got the call to join the SouthBites team as general manager and head barista, it was the perfect transition into that type of role.

Caballero moved back to Austin and started with SouthBites at the end of June 2019. Only one of the baristas had worked in coffee before, so Caballero has helped open the eyes of those just learning the art of coffee-making. 

“What I wanted to do–it’s happening right now,” Caballero told me with gratitude. 

Coffee and To-go Food in Downtown Austin
SouthBites sells a variety of beverages, from drip coffee to cold brew, as well as to-go food items (Credit: SouthBites)

Everyone learns differently, so Caballero gives each team member time to hone their craft. If they need daily one-on-ones, then she’s there for them. She encourages everyone to take notes and make their own cheat sheets to help them learn. 

I’m excited to see what Caballero develops on the beverage menu for SouthBites. She crafted a delicious drink for me, made of lemonade, hibiscus tea, and sparkling water. With her quick thinking, willingness to try new things, and experience in coffee, I’m sure only good things are on the way.

SouthBites is currently open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

1400 Lavaca St. #130 — Website


@theAustinot wants to know:

What drink do you want to order first at SouthBites?

Filed Under: Drink, Food & Drink Tagged With: coffee shops, downtown, sxsw

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week | martin luther king day austin - MLK Jr Service Week

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of January 16, 2023 include MLK Day Food Drive, UMLAUF After Dark: Lunar New Year, and more!

Things to do in Austin this weekend with kids | KIds Night Out at Anderson Mill

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Kids Night Out, Comedy Match Live, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Kids Night Out – Movie Star Party, Comedy Match Live ComedySportz Austin, Second Saturdays are […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend | Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks

10 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks, Warehouse District 10k, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of January 13 which include Crafting Workshop: Intro to Alcohol Inks, Warehouse District 10k, Off Script!, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. Deal Alert […]

Austin’s New Year: Fireworks from Afar

Austin New Years Eve 2023 fireworks guide – NYE party start time, entertainment line up, parking tips & more!

Are you ready to say goodbye to 2022? What better way to ring in the New Year than with fireworks at Austin’s biggest and official New Year party! This beloved, annual Austin event draws thousands of people including locals as well as visitors from neighboring towns in the Central Texas area. If you are googling […]

Johnson City Christmas Lights Spectacular 2022 - What to expect at this lighting event in Texas

Johnson City Christmas Lights Spectacular 2022 – A beloved Texas lighting event!

Come one, come all to celebrate the Johnson City Lights Spectacular 33rd Season! Johnson City is an area close to Fredericksburg, TX. Every Christmas holiday for the last 33 years, Johnson City transforms from a slow-paced, presidential hometown nestled on the banks of the Pedernales River, into a bright beacon of light — like a […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of January 16, 2023 include MLK Day Food Drive, UMLAUF After Dark: Lunar New Year, and more!
  • Romantic Restaurants Austin – Top 10 best date night restaurants near you
  • Healthy Food Austin – Your comprehensive guide to health friendly restaurants, cafes, and more!
  • MLK Austin Texas – Your Guide to Martin Luther King Weekend 2023 Activities, Events, and Celebrations!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of January 13, 2023 include Kids Night Out, Comedy Match Live, and more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • Romantic Restaurants Austin – Top 10 best date night restaurants near you
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • Guide to Bat Season in Austin
  • 7 Outstanding Fine Artists in Austin to Know and Appreciate
  • Dance the Night Away With Austin’s Top Cover Bands

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz