Beyond Cowboys and Coffee: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas with Edison Coffee Co

Dec 1

Today’s Filter features Brooke Ledbetter and Miranda Plourde of Edison Coffee Co in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas, USA. I’ve lived and traveled around the world, but it’s this slice of prairie along the Trinity River that I’ve called home longer than anywhere else, so I was excited to read Brooke and Miranda’s take on what they do for fun around here.

Texas looms large in the popular imagination of many places in our world, and the cowboy archetype is a big part of that. You’ll see plenty of ponies and cowboy hats and boots when you visit Dallas/Fort Worth, of course, but read Brooke and Miranda’s Filter to find some favorites of baristas who actually live there.

Filter: What do you like to do for fun around Dallas/Fort Worth?
Brooke: I love going to all the coffee shops in the area, but I imagine that's a given! Otherwise, I really like going to new restaurants or a good spot for drinks. I'm really into craft finding a good holistic experience, so whether that is a good atmosphere or a dish or drink that is to die for. For example, Greenville Avenue Pizza Company offers an incredible slice, but if you judge it by the divey atmosphere, you'll miss out. On the other hand, just down the street, you've got Leelas that has fantastic, original cocktails and a fabulous aesthetic, especially if you go during one of their pop-ups where they go all out for the theme. My friends and I also go to a lot of concerts too and we make it a habit to try a new place none of us have had for dinner beforehand. That's how I discovered the umami brussel sprouts at The Henry.

When it's not blazing hot, I also like to go kayaking or stand up paddle boarding at Lake Grapevine or White Rock Lake. That's the one downside of Dallas—if you can come in the spring or late fall/early winter, the weather is way more bearable. There are times in the summer when the only activities that are enjoyable are indoors. Even the lake won't save you. If you come in the fall, the Dallas Arboretum is a beautiful place to spend a day and they do a Pumpkin Village with a different theme each year.

Miranda: Honestly, I always gravitate towards a few categories for non-food related fun things to do. First is art: While the Metroplex has an incredible amount of museums, galleries, and public art to take in, my all-time favorite art museum is still the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Second is music: I highly recommend going to see live jazz at Scat in Fort Worth or Revelers Hall in Bishop Arts. Lastly, local plant shops: my all-time favorite is True Leaf Studio in Denton, but some honorable mentions are Paper and Leaves in Waxahachie and Grow in Fort Worth.

Edison coffee company Dallas Texas USA. — Photos courtesy of Edison Coffee

Filter: What are your favorite spots we haven’t heard of?
Brooke: There is a bar in Highland Village closer to where I live called the Grotto. It's the patio bar of an Italian steakhouse. It's not an Instagrammable spot and the drinks may be too heavily poured depending on your bartender, but to me it's a fun spot because the staff is all really nice and it's the only place open past 10 out here in the suburbs! But for real, it has become a typical meeting spot for me and my friends out here and it's a bit like the Cheers of Highland Village. Otherwise, I would say Royal China in Dallas is a must hit spot, and Thai Square in Denton. Also, Tacos La Banqueta—there's two locations and they are the BEST street tacos in town!

Miranda: For food, definitely go to Komodo Loco in Denton for the best bao buns. Pascall is my favorite cocktail bar to meet a friend, go on a date, or spend some time with myself and a good book. Lastly, I highly recommend Lounge Here for an incredible meal or just for drinks and dessert.

True Leaf Studio is definitely a hidden gem. Go for the plants, but stay for the fun markets and events they often host! Recycled Books and Oak Street Draft House are my other favorite spots.

Filter: If your best friend from overseas came to visit, where would you be sure to take them?
Brooke: Man, there's so many places, but it would be almost exclusively food and drink related. I would definitely take them to the Manhattan Project Brewery. The beer is phenomenal, but the hidden gem is their fried chicken! I would also take them to La Reunion or Wayward Coffee Co. in the Bishop Arts district of Dallas and then walk them around the area to see all the cool shops, get a drink at Tejas, browse the little book store tucked away up there, and finish at The Salty which has the best specialty donuts around. The other place I might show them are some of my favorite spots in Fort Worth—Grow plant shop, Salsa Limón for tacos, and Thompson's Bar which looks like an old library but has creative bartenders that come up with original cocktails all year round.

Miranda: I would absolutely take them to the State Fair. It is not only incredibly Texan, but a very American thing to do.

Filter: What touristy things in Dallas/Fort Worth are worth the hype?
Brooke: Well, I want to say the Reunion tour, but sadly the restaurant in the ball was a casualty of Covid. I'm still holding out hope that a new restaurant will eventually open there. It's the typical tourist spot and the food there was decent, but nothing to write home about, but sitting up there and having the restaurant rotate so you get a 360-degree view of the city from above is pretty sweet. This may sound silly but the skyline itself is also worth the hype to me. Lastly, the State Fair. Not everyone agrees with me on this, but if you can go on a weekday when it's not as crowded and later in the season when the weather has cooled, I really enjoy eating my weight in fried creations and walking around the different exhibits.

Miranda: Reunion Tower. Going to a Rangers baseball game at Globe Life Field. The Dallas Museum of Art and the Perot.

Filter: What do you like to do to escape the city?
Brooke: Denton is my go to when I want to get away but don't have time to drive far. The BEST spot in Denton is the Recycled Book Store. It’s a huge multi-level resale bookstore in an old opera house on the square and it has a ton of winding rooms and hidden pockets. I had gone for years before I had found all the sections. Then we'd get a burger at Barley and Board or a bahn mi at the Pickled Carrot truck and hide away in Paschal Bar, Denton's not so secret "speakeasy" bar overlooking the square.

If you have time to go further out, Turner Falls is a close nature spot with some good trails and scenery!

Miranda: Going on walks at nature preserves with my husband is a pretty common pastime. We would mostly go to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve since it's a nice little 2 mile loop with lots of trails within.

Filter: What's one other coffee shop there that you really admire, and what about them stands out to you?
Brooke: Wayward Coffee. Their staff and owners are really cool people and they do hospitality really well. Their original location is my favorite, it's a bit cozier and it's in a fun spot and I love all the plants they have! Besides that, their coffee is fantastic as well!

Miranda: Native Coffee in Addison!! They do an incredible job bringing very high quality coffee to the community in an accessible way. This is consistently where I choose to when I’m not working and want a crazy experimental coffee on their slow bar.

Filter: Is there anything you'd like to add about what you love about Dallas/Fort Worth?
Brooke: Maria's in Fort Worth is fantastic, my tattoo artist has a studio/plant shop in Denton called True Leaf Studio that is amazing. Also, I love having two big city hubs within driving distance that are so different from one another. Both offer individual neighborhoods that have their own unique flair and draw, so there's always a lot you can explore!

Filter: Could you share about what you do at Edison Coffee Co?
Brooke: I am the Head Trainer at Edison currently, and am just returning to the company after a couple of years away to pursue real estate. I'm still doing that, but I missed the coffee game and have always loved being a part of the Edison team, so when [the owners] J and Melanie approached me, it was an easy yes. Before that, I had worked at Edison for a cumulative 7 years. I've worn many hats and loved them all, but the thing that keeps me coming back to Edison is the people and the culture. There is a purpose to the work greater than just serving coffee, but in blessing and encouraging people. I hope that translates to our customers, because we love what we do and I love being part of this team!

Miranda: I am the Wholesale Manager, Events Coordinator, and occasional Barista Trainer! I started out as a barista and wholesale rep in the summer of 2022 after about 4 years of barista experience at various cafes. My job changed pretty drastically after the fire last October, but I have remained thankful for the opportunities to continue to grow within Edison and in the industry at large. I care deeply for the humanity and authenticity in coffee to be represented and I think our owners definitely prioritize that. This begins with honoring and sharing the hard work of our producers all the way to the effort and detail that goes into our partnerships with cafe owners and baristas! I think it all comes down to being approachable and never losing the excitement to learn and pass on that knowledge in an industry that can feel intimidating at times.
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Edison Coffee

Joshua Owens

Beyond Cowboys and Coffee: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas with Edison Coffee Co

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