In San Antonio, the Rosella Coffee Brand Goes Big at the Rand

Rosella at the Rand. Photo by Jessica Giesey, courtesy of Rosella Coffee.

San Antonio’s Rosella Coffee, which has sustained success since opening its first location in 2014, has gone even bigger with its second location, opening inside the historic Rand building downtown.

Inside the high-ceilinged 2,859-square-foot space, Rosella at the Rand further expands the company’s scope, offering a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar, in addition to the coffee company’s core coffee offerings.

Rosella at the Rand. Photo by Jessica Giesey, courtesy of Rosella Coffee.

“Our Rosella brand was built with an initial focus on brewing and serving specialty coffee, and with Rosella at the Rand we wanted to take it to the next level,” Rosella Coffee Co-Owner Tom Schleuning told Daily Coffee News after the opening. “Instead of being only recognized as a coffee shop for a morning espresso, cold brew or pastries, we’re breaking coffee traditions by becoming a go-to spot for a boozy brunch, laid-back happy hour or upscale dinner.”

Of course coffee, too, is a big part of the program. Coffees are roasted on Diedrich IR-12s by Austin Roasting Company FounderJess Haynie before arriving to the new Rosella at the Rand, where Mythos Clima Pro grinders and a Modbar await them for espresso. Mahlkonig EK43s provide the grind for Curtis G4 ThermoPro batch brews and Curtis Seraphim pourovers. In addition to a traditional espresso drinks menu, Rosella offers several syrups made in-house, along with iced coffee and the Frozella, an espresso-based frozen coffee drink.

Rosella at the Rand. Photo by Jessica Giesey, courtesy of Rosella Coffee.

Shifting over to cocktails, Rosella is offering its take on classics like the Tom Collins and the Old Fashioned, while experimenting with some original concepts, such as the House Rosella OG OF, which is a combination of bourbon, orange bitters and coffee syrup.

Examples of dinner menu items include staples such as steak frites or the house burger, with sides such as house-made olives, a pretzel croissant with beer cheese or crispy kale chips. Brunch includes familiar items such as huevos rancheros, avocado toast or mascarpone and berries on brioche, along with a selection of fresh-made sandwiches and salads.

Rosella at the Rand. Photo by Jessica Giesey, courtesy of Rosella Coffee.

All of this happens within the beautifully redesigned Rand space — done in concert with New Braunfels, Texas-based TADA (Total Art Design & Architecture). As big an endeavor the opening of Rosella number two may have been, it is only the beginning for the company’s immediate expansion plans.

“We are actually in a big growth period this year,” former KSAT Anchorman and Rosella Coffee Co-Owner Charles Gonzalez told DCN. “We have plans to open grab-and-go locations inside two H-E-B grocery stores soon, as well as another coffee/bar concept in the Southtown area of the city.”

Rosella at the Rand. Photo by Jessica Giesey, courtesy of Rosella Coffee.

Rosella at the Rand is now open at 114 E. Houston Street in downtown San Antonio.