-Exploring Breakfast

something that sets you apart from someone else,” said Kenny Gambone, owner of Mary’s Cafe. And,for Mary’s, that special item is on the menu: Belgian sugar waffles bursting with flavor and sweetness. Whether cafes serve meals like this all day, or mostly in the morning, the food within cafes usually consists of a breakfast-like meal, pastries, or a quick snack, along with a cup of coffee.

Another thing that sets these eateries apart from other types of restaurants is the sources they use. As Gambone said, breakfast restaurants “are bringing in a lot of their ingredients from big distribution centers, where it’s a little bit more mass marketed.” The ingredients behind cafe meals in Austin are much more locally sourced, resulting in authentic meals throughout the menu.

Not only do cafes offer unique food, they also have a distinct space. Cafes offer an environment that can be utilized for a variety of things, whether the customer is studying, grabbing a quick bite to eat, hanging out, or just enjoying a nice meal. Maddy Lamb, a barista at Epoch Coffee, said that cafe environments are usually friendlier and more original than other restaurants. Bela Castaño, a customer at both Epoch Coffee and Mary’s Cafe, described cafes as “a short hangout space” that is cozy and brief.

So, different cafes have a lot in common, but what sets them apart? Through looking at specific cafes in Austin: Epoch Coffee, Mary’s Cafe, and Brentwood Social House, the unique characteristics are brought to light.

Since cafes offer so much in their spaces, their demographics are bound to contrast. In Epoch Coffee, the clientele varies significantly. According to