Figure 8 Coffee
1111 Chicon, Austin, Texas
Figure 8 Coffee,
I don't remember the day I found you, in 2014? I remember wanting to make my drive up I-35, as early as I could make it. Toting my Field Notes and work with me, whatever that’s meant for my 8 years here in Austin, Texas.
Mumbling my order before caffeine, making faces more friendly every order until I found my standard working go-to: two iced coffees, black, to-go. Flash brewed, my preferred method for iced coffee, taught to me by Ryan when I asked questions, years ago, now editor's secret. I grew into my corner spot, perched for espresso shots each time I could belly up to the copper bar. Squeezing myself in; we squeeze each other in good morning hugs, too (pre and post pandemic). When I order a shot, I tell my best baristas buds to pick their choice—fig offers two espresso options daily. All beans are roasted in-house by both owners, Kathleen Carmichael and Ryan Hall, more than five days a week. All in-house coffee knowledge filled with deep love from each person on the team. I always practice my best listening ears here, where I heard and learned about Dorothy Ashby’s Afro-Harping, and too many tracks and artists to archive fully, ever.
All are welcome here to “have fun, be yourself.” This space has allowed me to work and slowly grow through many versions of myself—entry level Austinite, calligrapher, hand-letterer, lil biz runner, blogger x8, ads girl, Book Reader, Club starter, self-proclaimed Austin’s Top Talent Musician/Artists personal cheerleader, unemployed, and being a writer. Sometimes I check in close to daily. I’m a consistent weekly regular. Holding space for me to be. A special thank you to Kathleen and my figgie friends for keeping this house a true safe space for me, and others, all these years. You are teaching me about all art, my community, what it feels like to be human, ongoing, and be my weird in Austin, Texas, w/ my forever favorite coffee in the city.
All I want to do is wake up and go get coffee. I’ll write by hand in my notebook for a few minutes, pretend to read, and talk to every stranger sitting beside me until we’re new friends.
1111 Chicon, I <3 you, infinity,
Love,
Colore’