Oguzhan Guragac said he has traveled the world taking pictures of coffee shops and brewing his idea of the perfect nook in which to enjoy a cup of joe. In May 2017, he found a spot on Louetta Road in Spring and opened Barbarossa Coffee. The name refers to the Ottoman Admiral Redbeard, and it is a nod to Guragac’s years as a Turkish naval officer.

Barbarossa Coffee is a 1,290-square-foot shop where java aficionados can select from 20 different single-source coffee beans and one of five brewing processes to create their morning brews.

“This experience is one of a kind here in Houston,” said owner Guragac, a Spring resident whose customers call him “coffeeman.”

The shop includes handmade nautical decor, and it features both sweet and savory dishes on the food menu. Among the sweet dishes are Belgian waffles, which come in classic and chocolate varieties. Also available are Biscoff macarons and Barbarossa espresso-laced tiramisu, which are made by his wife, a pastry chef. The savory menu features bruschettas—breakfast, avocado, caprese and lox. And the health-minded flock to smoothie bowls topped with fruit, nuts and seeds.

“In the summer, the Vibrant Greens smoothie bowl is a refreshing vegan dish,” Guragac said.

He said he expects to swap out new dishes over the next few months but will always offer four bruschetta options on the menu.

Guragac said most of his customers come for the coffee, but almost half of them also have breakfast or a snack in the shop.

Barbarossa Coffee employs five different brewing methods. Starting in June, Cuban and Vietnamese brewing methods will be added. Guragac trains the baristas and manages every aspect of the shop. Since September 2017, he has also taught two-hour brewing workshops there.

“I plan to open a coffee school after I build two or three more Barbarossa Coffee shops in Houston,” Guragac said.

Barbarossa Coffee
9222 Louetta Road, Ste. 106, Spring
832-480-4213
www.barbarossacoffee.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.