Dichotomy Coffee and Spirits

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Dichotomy Coffee and Spirits
Location: Waco, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Prior to 2017, I am not sure if I ever passed through Waco. I distinctly remember driving through Texas with my family well over a decade ago and seeing a sign that said something to the effect of "Entering Waco City Limits." But then again, in tracing past family road trips on a map, I don't recall ever passing close to Waco. Since it's not something that keeps me up at night, I am content to leave it all a mystery (though I would like to figure it out one day).

Regardless of whether I had passed through before, I definitely had not experienced Waco prior to a recent Texas trip. Known (to me) as a small city in Texas currently experiencing a revival in culture and popularity, I purposefully made it a stop on a small road trip from Dallas to Houston. I had my coffee hopes all but dashed when I found myself delayed to a late evening arrival, but fortunately I found a coffee establishment that also boasts a thriving bar scene (and hence some late hours), a place of grand repute called Dichotomy. 

The venue is spacious, with the coffee side of the bar up front and the spirits towards the back. There's seating on both sides, with the lights getting dimmer and more intimate as you move back towards a large sprawling seating area. Interestingly, despite the clear dichotomous division of the two bars, there was a tremendous unity in the overall atmosphere where only the drink in someone's hand told patrons apart. 

With a few hours of driving still ahead of me before sunrise, I had my eyes set purely on the coffee. The same folks behind Dichotomy also roast their own coffee right down the road under the brand Apex Coffee Roasters. After some lively banter with the baristas, I decided on an espresso of a Costa Rican and a pourover of an Ethiopian. The espresso, pulled short with brown crema, sung of cocoa, ginger, kale, light cola and a little cilantro, proving sweet, rich and bumping. The pourover also knocked off my socks, with super sweet notes of blueberry muffin, chex mix, chocolate chips, raspberry and rose tea in a smooth, light body. 

Needless to say, Dichotomy made for an excellent first impression of lovely Waco. If you happen to be passing through or sticking around, definitely stop by Dichotomy for a cup of coffee or maybe something stronger. 

These wonderful folks made this visit possible in part. Make sure to check them out!