Co-owners Michaela Kovaric and Michael Kelton say they found inspiration in 1920s-style European coffee shops when they opened the Stellar Cafe on April 28 in San Marcos.
Kovaric said the coffee shop, on North LBJ Drive, is designed to complement its next-door neighbor, the Stratosphere Lounge, a hookah bar owned by Kelton.
Stellar Cafe patrons can enjoy premium coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, teas and other specialty beverages, and soon the coffee shop will feature art shows, live music, baked goods and eventually an adjoining outdoor deck behind both businesses.
Kovaric said she and Kelton talked about opening a coffee shop for a while, but the time never seemed right. That changed when the yogurt and bubble tea shop Twist & Shout closed last winter.
"When we found out the business here for the last two years was leaving, it piqued our interest to put our coffee shop right next door to the Stratosphere Lounge," Kovaric said. "Then we found out the Coffee Pot was leaving as well, which would be perfect timing as long as we were able to get the funding. So we went for it in February and opened two months later."
The Coffee Pot, on East Hopkins Street, closed in January.
Stellar Cafe has a bar section and enough tables and chairs to seat about 30 people, but Kovaric said she plans to get more furniture so more customers can have a nice place to relax or study.
"Places like Wake the Dead, Tantra and Jo On the Go are great, but for me—I went to school here as well—they weren't quite the places I wanted to spend time studying," Kovaric said. "They're meeting places that are loud half the time, so we wanted to bring a different atmosphere where a variety of people could come and feel comfortable."
Kovaric said Stellar Cafe is emphasizing a healthy, more natural way of drinking teas and coffee by offering beverages such as the Red Espresso, a tea product from Africa containing no caffeine, and five times the antioxidants found in green tea.
And with their natural products, Kovaric and Kelton are taking a scientific approach to making and serving their beverages.
"We try to make sure we have quick and consistent service. We time our espresso shots and make sure our temperatures are specific with our tea, brewing coffee and steaming milk," Kovaric said. "It's more scientific than just, 'Here, here's your coffee. Go.' If I get the same drink, I want it to taste the same every single time. So I want my customers to have that."
Kovaric and Kelton also plan to expand their menu by partnering with a local baker.
"We did a lot of research on our coffee and teas in order to get premium products—the best we could find," Kovaric said. "We haven't decided on a baker. But, just like our beverages, we want to make sure it's top of the line and that we can get consistent product."
Kovaric hopes to begin monthly art shows this July, which will be all-day events where artists can display and sell their work at Stellar Cafe and the Stratosphere Lounge.
As a Texas State graduate with a degree in art history, Kovaric said she wants to invite student artists from the university to bring their works.
"We will be doing it by portfolio. Not just anyone can come in and put their stuff up," Kovaric said. "As a photographer and painter I have a little bit higher standard. We also want it to fit the vibe of the place. "
Once the coffee shop really gets going, customers can expect to see art displayed on a regular basis. They can expect some live music as well.
"Michael is a musician, so we'll do some acoustic things here, but that's a little bit down the line," Kovaric said. "We're definitely trying to pull in where there is that loss from the Coffee Pot closing, and hopefully people will like it and like our product."