Spring Comes Early in Fort Worth with the New Ostara Coffee Roasters Cafe

Inside the new Ostara Coffee Roasters cafe in Fort Worth. Courtesy photo.

A never-ending spring has sprung in Fort Worth, Texas, where women-owned Ostara Coffee Roasters‘ first brick-and-mortar location is now open for business.

Named for the Pagan holiday that celebrates the spring equinox, Ostara sought to bring the outside into the new 1,500-square-foot cafe.

“Since we’re operating out of a renovated mechanic’s warehouse from the 1920s, we focused on bringing in natural elements and textures, including linen paper-style lanterns, and lots of plants,” Natalie Willard, Ostara Coffee Roasters co-founder, told Daily Coffee News.

Additionally, the shop’s menu blooms beyond the two-year-old company’s cold-brew-focused beginnings.

Photo by Proxii Media, courtesy of Ostara Coffee Roasters.

Espresso crafted on a Slayer Steam LP espresso machine and drip coffees are prepared atop a white oak bar that was designed and built with help from Brother Sister Design. Green glazed terracotta tiles on the bar boast the color “Primavera,” while expansive white walls offer gallery space for art and design pieces by local artists.

The cold brew that continues to be a major focus for Ostara is produced weekly in a 2 bbl fermenter at HopFusion Ale Works, the new cafe’s neighbor. With the exception of drinks that incorporate a honey syrup, all Ostara beverages in bottles and at the cafe are vegan by default, with oat milk as the standard and almond as an alternative.

An expanded menu of vegan foods is soon to build upon the introductory daily selection of locally baked pastries. The shop also serves pre-made tacos in pink tortillas made by Cafecito FW, whose exclusive Cafecito de Olla Bottled Cold Brew Latte has been made by Ostara since last year.

The beans at the root of Ostara have to this point been roasted on a San Franciscan SF6 roaster in a separate facility. This month, in a 500-square-foot space opposite the new espresso counter, Ostara fired up a new 25-pound-capacity San Franciscan SF25.

Photo by Proxii Media, courtesy of Ostara Coffee Roasters.

“Installing our 25-pound machine will both allow us to free up some time right now to increase cold brew production, and also give us the capacity to grow our roasting program and move into some larger retailers,” Willard told DCN. “We’re a two-woman operation, including all production and coffee-shop duties, but as we grow we’d love to visit farms and partner directly with the people producing the beans themselves.”

Roasting will occur in full view of customers inside the shop, while next door the cold brew operation will double production. The cafe will also be expanding with a 1,600-square-foot patio opening in the coming months. 

Courtesy photo.

Said Willard, “We’ll be opening in the spring for the spring equinox — Ostara!”

Ostara Coffee Roasters is located at 208 E Broadway Ave. in Fort Worth. Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here. For all the latest coffee industry news, subscribe to the DCN newsletter.