When I was 17, I composed my very first piano solo. At 19, I drank my first cup of coffee. Now, two decades later, coffee has become one of my main inspirations for creating music. It may sound strange to say that a simple beverage fuels my creativity, but for me, coffee represents ritual, connection, and the spark of new ideas.
Why Coffee?
During the height of the pandemic, I discovered a local Austin group called Central Texas Composers (CTC). This community of musicians met weekly at Genuine Joe's Coffeehouse in North Austin, a cozy spot known for its comfy chairs, quirky décor, and endless flow of espresso. We gathered to share works-in-progress, exchange ideas, and encourage one another to keep writing, even when the world felt heavy and uncertain. And yes, the caffeine (and breakfast tacos) certainly helped!
Those weekly meetups became a lifeline. The consistency gave us accountability: every week, we had a reason to show up with something new, whether it was a fully written score or just a musical fragment we wanted feedback on. Over the years, our small but mighty group has created some truly remarkable performances and collaborations, including:
- High Strung – a piano and violin collaboration highlighting new chamber music.
- Curses – an innovative project pairing commissioned poems from Typewriter Rodeo with original musical interpretations.
- Bow'd Up – a recent event that featured the world premiere of five brand-new string quartets, showcasing the depth and diversity of Austin's composing talent.
Each performance felt like a celebration not just of music, but of the friendships and shared creative energy that made it possible.
The Power of Gathering
Being a composer can be lonely work. We spend hours in solitude, scribbling notes on staff paper or tinkering at a keyboard. But gathering weekly in a welcoming space changes everything. The café becomes more than just a building; it becomes a creative incubator, a place where inspiration feels contagious. There's something about hearing someone else's music-in-progress that makes you want to rush home and write more of your own.
Our Current Creative Home
For 2025, our coffee shop of choice has been Malone Specialty Coffee in Round Rock. The staff and their hospitality make every visit feel like coming home. The menu never disappoints with hearty breakfast sandwiches, fresh pastries, and coffee drinks that range from bold to adventurous. My personal favorite is their in-house dirty chai, a perfect mix of spice and espresso that wakes up the senses and keeps the conversation flowing. The little touches, like their punch card that rewards you with a free drink, remind us that this is a place that values community just as much as we do.
Coffee, Creativity, and Community
For the Central Texas Composers, coffee shops are not just a backdrop, they are part of the creative process. Without them, many of our projects might never have been written, rehearsed, or performed. A cup of coffee may seem small, but in the right space, shared with the right people, it becomes fuel for collaboration and a catalyst for music that might otherwise stay locked away in a notebook.
Coffee has become more than a drink for me, it's a ritual that says, it's time to create. And every time I sit down at a table with my fellow composers, I'm reminded that inspiration is not just something you wait for. Sometimes, you order it with oat milk and a shot of espresso.
