Minuti Coffee

I found this place today while wondering around downtown. The café area is a little cramped but modern with a masculine feel, do to all of the wood. Sitting on the patio is a good choice, but it lacks day lighting since it is all under a roof. I got a sexy Cubano, which is a Cubano with cinnamon. I loved it. Next time I’m in downtown I will definitely stop here instead of the big chain coffee shop. I knock a star off due to the dark shaded patio.

I came here for a late night snack on Saturday and tried the pistachio muffin. It tasted great and was a pretty big size and reasonably priced at around $ 2.75. The server was very polite and attentive too. I also love the ambiance of this place, it is cozy and welcoming but also feels upscale and modern at the same time.

Maybe it was just a bad day… but the coffee was mediocre, not to mention overpriced, and the people who work there (today, anyway) were snobs. And people think LA is pretentious? Not impressed.

Great little café. It’s very nice and cozy.
We were here with friends by chance, but we were satisfied. There are delicious food and good service.
I will come here more than once.

Cute little shop with nice décor, nice music selection and a comfortable ambiance. Came with a friend to check it out since it was raining and pretty chilly we said «why not?», as soon as you come in you get this modern European feel. Pretty casual crowd. We ordered two mochas with two Madeleine’s for 9.00 $. I fell in love with this little shop. I would definitely be coming back. Awesome little perk is they have free wifi and ICECREAM!

Stopped by before going out drinking needing caffeine and a bathroom.
No bathroom here but the barista told me to use the place opens next to them called «the rice» apartments. So you have to sneak in and use their restroom. Even though there’s a big sign that says no public restroom…
I ordered the pumpkin pie latte and my boyfriend ordered the hazelnut hot chocolate.
The pumpkin pie is very similar to Starbucks pumpkin spice but has a very nutmeg flavor.
The hazelnut latte taste exactly like a melted Ferrero rocher. They even out nuts on top!
The sign says that they have three sizes but the barista said they only have one…
We ordered the cinnamon scone that was really good, especially considering it was 7 at night.
They have a great seating area outside and serve a small selection of alcohol.
Would try again.

The downtown district of Houston, Texas can easily be described as a randomly arranged Bouillabaisse of prohibition era high rises, semi-​exclusiclve, watering holes, and overly-​friendly psychological neuters. For those of us whom enjoy frolicking through this consommé of kerfufflery on foot, take note that Minuti Coffee is amongst the best locations to get a sampling of every flavorful sight and sound the neighborhood has to offer.
The Rice Hotel, which has long since been converted into a 312 unit apartment house known as The Rice Lofts, is a 1913 construction. Listed on the national register of historic places, this magestic structure is also home to a handfull of ground level eateries, including Minuti Coffee.
This location proves to be perfect for supporting the classic Italian ambiance that Minuti strives to replicate. The true style of Modena comes alive with an interior featuring crystal chandeliers, warm wooden accents, and booths made of none other than supple Italian leather. Depending on the day, there’s even a young, muscular barista waiting to offer a friendly greeting and superb customer service. He looks like he might also have roots in Modena, Italy, but I’ve never gotten around to asking him.
Coffee drinkers in search of genuine Italian kick will not be disappointed either. Molinari coffee, the sister company of Minuti, is the Modena-​based coffee manufacturer whom supplies the U.S. chain with their rich, bold array of blends. Admittedly, I tend to veer towards sweeter, ice blended drinks whenever I visit. However, the espressos I’ve occasionally ordered here have provided sufficient energy boosts, without the harsh bitterness I’ve encountered from less competent coffee houses in the area.
Customers may choose to drink and dine indoors, or sit in the covered (smoking optional) terrace; which is fully equipped with padded benches, glass top tables, and topiaries wrapped in L.E.D. lighting. Electrical outlets are a bit sparce, but free Wi-​Fi is accessible to all, with pass code provided at the bottom of your receipt.
Located in a bustling section of downtown, Minuti is hardly the quietest coffee house in Houston. But, if you’re interested in sitting back, watching the valet drivers service residents of The Lofts, and enjoying the frequent peppering of freelance photographers who surface at sunset to capture their latest muse, you’ll enjoy Minuti as much as I always do.

Ideal spot for a morning or afternoon coffee retreat! The staff was friendly, prices were ideal, ambiance consisted of a lot of dark tones (red & black). Overall it was relaxing for me and I was able to get a lot done while working here. There are only a few tables and chairs inside (seats about 20), however, there was a large spacious seating area outside where you can take your pets. Expect to pay around $ 7-​$ 8 for coffee for two. Internet service was free and fast! Music inside was a bit loud so you may need to take your calls outside.
I’ve posted panoramic photos of the interior and exterior to help you get a visual of what your walking into.

The sexy cubano is very smooth and has just the right amount of spice. Their baked goods are fresh and tasty.
The staff is pretty friendly and the space is really cool. I love the outdoor seating, even though it can get noisy.
I’m not from around here, and so maybe this is normal, but the smoking is pretty obnoxious. It’s far too close to a food venue and interferes with the whole coffee experience.

I heard a lot about Minuti but all my friends have gone to the location in Sugarland which I assumed would be very similar to this one but it was a huge let down!
Service-​the girl at the counter was nice enough but didn’t suggest any creative drink options when we stated we couldn’t have anything hazelnut flavored because of a nut allergy. Which is why we ended up with Chai and Vanilla instead of the cool concoctions I heard about previously.
Chai latte-​no taste of chai! It tasted like a cup of warm milk. An expensive cup of warm milk.
Vanilla latte-​okay, but nothing I would waste time telling my friends about.
Pros-​it is a convenient location easy to walk to in downtown, and they have an outdoor patio.

Been here a few times and it is always consistent. The nice thing is that the team here are friendly.
They have the typical coffee shop flair, and they have a nice outdoor sitting area, comfortable chairs.
When in this part of town I beeline right over here for coffee

Stellar. I’ll cut to the chase: the espresso here is top-​notch. It is robust, bursting in flavor, and silky smooth with no hint of bitterness. Esposa had her usual latte while I predictably had my cappuccino. A 3-​minute walk from an «okay» coffee shop at our hotel, this was markedly better. Okay, now the rest. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with comfy outdoor seating where pets are welcomed. Inside has a nice selection of pastries and, of course, java. The staff were nice. We bought 2 bags o’ beans to take home, grind, and make our own espresso. Minuti Coffee is OUTSTANDING. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Good music. Nice décor. Italian style roasted coffee, or so thy claim. My mocha was tasty, but no latte art :(. Four star for the mocha. Service was great. Wifi sadly was too slow for a bandwidth test. If the wifi worked, this could be a good work location.

Truly European! After living in France, I still struggle to adjust to American coffee shop etiquette. The espresso is delicious — with lots of sugar of course, the space is small, and the patio allows SMOKING! This is shocking to many, but it reminds me of Europe and it’s absolutely delightful. The total patio space may be actually larger than the indoor space.
The reason I can’t give 5 stars is because of the food options. I ordered the oatmeal and it was just weird and off. I asked the lady to put some more hot water in the oatmeal and she kindly did, which made it much better! Another personal complaint — no vegetarian breakfast or sandwhich options … I suppose it’s another truly European quality, but it was kinda a bummer when I forgot to pack a lunch and had to settle with weird oatmeal or a cookie.
Also — wifi isn’t great, but I’d say that makes sense considering the size of the store and nature of the usual customers — in and out downtown employees.
I will be back here for many more shots of espresso and cups of coffee!

I stopped by to chill and read a book today, and ordered a Vietnamese coffee and a mini bundt cake.
The bundt cake was pretty good, basically what you’d expect: a brown sugary, dense cake covered in a glaze and a crumble. The coffee was wayyyy too sweet. They filled the cup half full with coffee and way more condensed milk than was needed. I couldn’t even finish the drink. Paired with the bundt cake, it was just too heavy.
The store itself is hip and comfortable, though tiny on the inside. They do have a very cool lounging area outside, but if you want to get work done, there are only 5 or so good seats. They also play some pretty funky music, but it fits the overall vibe.
My friend recommended this place, so I’d be willing to give it another try and order something else.

Meh, nothing too special here. Not sure what qualified the average 4 star rating because I found the interior and coffee/​pastries to be uninspiring.
Food and drink had no noteworthy qualities. What was noteworthy though was the fact that the outdoor seating was bigger than the indoor seating. Was that on purpose? It’s dark inside and moodily painted. The coffeeshop is attached to a lot of other businesses so there’s a door with an eye-​sore for a sign saying do not enter because it’s attached to some really fancy office complex or hotel? Unsure, because of course, I heeded the sign and didn’t enter… At least through that side of that specific door. Curiously, I somehow found myself on the other side of that door because I needed to use the restroom and minuti does not have one of its own. Super inconvenient. Thus, I went through a maze of alternative entrances to find a restroom and surprisingly later found myself crossing the «do not enter» door from the other side. Oops!
Not the best study spot either. Wifi is sloooooow and there’s only one outlet in the very small establishment. Too poorly lit to read inside too. How is this place surviving in houston’s awesome coffeeshop scene?

This was a true gem in downtown Houston. I just stopped in to escape the rain and get a quick espresso before an Astros game, but I was blown away by how cute and good Minuit was. Staff were great and prepared my drink fast, even offering a water without me asking. The espresso was pulled nicely, and the interior of the tiny shop was very European in nature. I am jealous of all the office workers who can just head here anytime for a caffeine fix. Good job Minuiti!

I can appreciate a Houston coffee chain trying to break into the (near-​nonexistent) Downtown coffee scene — Minuti is pretty good at what it does.
I came in the afternoon for a quick meeting, and since I got there earlier than my counterpart, I had a chance to chat with the barista on what to get.
I’m a fan of chai lattes, and I needed some caffeine, so the barista suggested a dirty chai — my first one! The flavor of espresso wasn’t too overbearing, and it complemented the chai pretty well.
My big issue with Minuti is that it’s a super tiny space. I’m pretty sure the max capacity is like, 20 people, but from what I can tell, most people grab their coffee to-​go anyway. If you work near Minuti, it’s not a bad spot to stop in for your cup of joe!
Side note, almost everybody who works here is kind of… charming? Attractive? Certainly makes ordering coffee a little bit easier.

I am a coffe and chai drinker. I have had both drinks at many places. In comparison to other establishments, Minuti is by far superior to all others.
I have no clue what they do to their Chai but it is the best in the city. It totally rocks.
Everyone that works there is always kind. I typically stop in after taking the dogs for a walk. One on my dogs does not like it in there (not sure why) so I have to hold her. The other one has no issues. They always say hi to my fur babies.
What is super cool is this place is connected to my building. This is something I will truly miss when we move. It will be very sad. But since the historical charm has literally been ripped out of the interior of the building and replaced with a bland generic décor it is time for a change. Not to mention the price that the new «cough cough» the newly renovated units (that have no washer or dryers in them) are so over priced it is crazy and not worth it whatsoever.
We will be able to come visit Minuti. Granted we will no longer be welcomed in the lobby since we will not be residents, but we can sit and enjoy our drinks or walk over to our home bar.
Minuti keep doing what you are doing. You offer really great coffee.
100 Halley puppies doing a jig with tails wagging!

For: people who want to kick back and chat it up with friends while feeling cool for being downtown at a place with a nice ambiance.
Not For: people looking to study or coffee snobs.
First let’s talk ambiance. Minuti has an amazing ambiance. Its cozy with cool contemporary design but vintage big bandish music. I love the outer door seating and it’s parked in a great location under the New Orleans style balcony off the metro. It’s definitely geared to hanging out rather than working.
However, the coffee quality is definitely sub-​par. If you don’t really care and just want something to sip on while feeling cool and enjoying the environment, you’re golden. But if the thought of weak espresso really grinds your gears look to honeymoon café as a downtown alternative.
Favorite Drink: Chai Latte — definitely their best drink!
Tips: Parking is a nightmare downtown. Take the metro.