This Campus-Area Coffee Shop Is Tucked Inside a Laundromat

Spin cycles and sweet treats collide at BRB Coffee, where pistachio-cardamom and rosewater-tahini lattes are served near neatly folded stacks of clothing. The Shabo family—brothers Youssef and Rony, their mother Tima, and sister Laila—have converted part of this campus-area SpinCycle Washateria into a plant-filled cafe powered by community. “When I was a student, I’d come here to do my laundry and sit on those metal benches,” says Youssef, a UT architecture grad. “I knew the space could be more inviting.” He and his brother rebuilt the washateria themselves, even retrofitting old dryers with neon lights into the coffee counter. The menu highlights beans from Medici Roasting alongside savory pies and pastries, including baklava made by Tima. Options range from Turkmen potato-mushroom and spinach-green onion pies to Afghan chicken and beef samosas. Customers can browse the propagation wall where neighbors swap cuttings, or convene for chess clubs, standup comedy, and live music. “Everything we offer has come from the community,” Youssef says. “We’re just giving the space back to them.” instagram.com/brbcoffee_atx