Polyphonic Coffee, previously called Parakeet Coffee, offers locally-sourced coffee, tea and baked goods to South Austin.

The shop partners with local roasters Proud Mary and Wild Gift Coffee, as well as bakery Texas French Bread, in an effort to support local vendors.

The gist

The shop opened in November 2024 under the name Parakeet Coffee, before the team realized that another business was already operating under Parakeet. The owner, Joe Kaulbach, renamed the business to Polyphonic Coffee this Spring to rectify the issue.

What’s in a name?


Polyphonic is a musical term for when many voices join simultaneously in a piece of music. Kaulbach said the new name represents both Austin’s music history as the live music capital of the world, as well as the collaboration of the coffee industry.

“It relates to the coffee grower and the roaster, and the barista and the customer,” Kaulbach said. “We’re all singing different voices in the song of coffee.”

What’s next

The team is working to launch a new website in a few months, where customers will be able to buy beans online.