Located 20 minutes from the UTSA Main Campus, What’s Brewing is a local San Antonio business putting their own unique spin on the everyday coffee shop. They house over 50 pinball machines that visitors can play with, creating a lively environment. Its menu has all the classics one will know and love, made from their special blends. From coffee to pastries and sandwiches, there is sure to be something for everyone.
What’s Brewing is San Antonio’s longest-running coffee roaster, being in business since 1979. In the back of the establishment, guests can see their manufacturing, as the space is shared with their warehouse and production area. According to their website, What’s Brewing aims to “maintain the tradition of freshly roasting and careful curation of green beans” through their production process.
The pinball machines are affordable, ranging from 25 cents to a dollar. There are so many that anyone can find something worthy of playing. Longtime customer Ben Jacobson says that his favorite pinball machine that they have is their “Twilight Zone” machine, and customer Sammy Pitts says that her machine of choice is the “Guardians of the Galaxy” one. It is definitely a noisier coffee shop, as there is a lot going on, so for those who need silence in order to get work done, it is not recommended. For someone who needs background noise, this is a great spot. It is also a nice hangout spot as people can mess around with the machines while enjoying a beverage or pastry. There are two locations, the main one located at 138 W Rhapsody Dr., and the second location at 12054 Blanco Rd., which solely serves as a drive-thru, and thus only features their drinks and foods.
What’s Brewing is an innovative space that combines two seemingly irrelevant things: pinball and coffee. The ability to see the roasting process through the windows is especially intriguing and shows how transparent they are about their products. It is new, interesting and funky.
