KICK BUTT COFFEE

Kick Butt Coffee is one of Austin's great hidden gems, a coffee shop on Airport Boulevard that doubles as a legitimate music venue in ways that catch most people off guard. The place opened in 2008 and shares a building with Master Gohring's Tai Chi and Kung Fu studio, which has been there since 1996. That combination alone tells you this is not your typical strip mall situation. The back room hosts live music regularly, featuring punk, hardcore, metal, acoustic, and just about anything else that local promoters want to put on. The shows are all ages, which makes Kick Butt one of the few venues in Austin where underage music fans can actually see live bands in a proper setting. The coffee is solid, the espresso drinks are well-made, and the atmosphere is the kind of casual and welcoming that Austin does best. During the day it functions as a neighborhood coffee shop where people work on laptops and grab pastries. At night, the back room transforms into a sweaty, loud, fantastic little venue. The dual identity works because neither side feels like a compromise. Kick Butt Coffee proves that you do not need a liquor license and a location on Red River to be an important part of Austin's music ecosystem. If you have teenagers who love music, or if you are an adult who appreciates a good punk show with your pour-over, this is your place.