Enoch's Wine and Coffee House (file photo)

There’s something about coffee that most people can’t resist; maybe it’s the warm hug in a mug, the ritual that kick-starts the day, or the steady companion through long hours.

For those who live for that daily cup, Tyler’s first-ever Coffee Crawl this Saturday offers an opportunity to indulge while enjoying the city’s multitude of shops. Through this caffeinated journey, participants can sample brews from local cafés, discover new favorites, and immerse themselves in the city’s coffee scene.

“The Coffee Crawl in Tyler offers an exciting opportunity for visitors and residents to explore our vibrant coffee scene while supporting local businesses,” said Sheridan Cobb, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Visit Tyler.

Coffee lovers will spend 30 minutes at each shop, enjoy a drink or snack, then head to the next location. Each shop will feature a special Coffee Crawl menu with exclusive pricing for event participants. The coffee crawl will take place at the following times: 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., 7 a.m. to noon, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It’s not just about enjoying great coffee; it’s about discovering unique blends, connecting with passionate baristas, and experiencing handcrafted menus that showcase the creativity of our community,” Cobb said.

Spearheaded by Big Shot Coffee House, the event hopes to draw coffee enthusiasts from near and far, showcasing Tyler’s thriving coffee scene while supporting local businesses and fostering a sense of community among fellow coffee lovers.

“The enthusiasm for coffee is greater than I think people think it is for Tyler/East Texas,” said Lydia Baskin, owner of Big Shot Coffee House. “We have developed a very strong presence in coffee culture that is underrated in the greater coffee world.”

The concept of a coffee crawl is modeled after a ‘bar crawl,’ where participants visit several bars in a single outing. The aim is to sample a variety of establishments and price points, all while enjoying the experience with a group of like-minded individuals.

“Since we are doing coffee shops, we will be driving from one shop to the next and the specific objective here would be to support locally owned coffee shops in a town saturated with chains during the slowest time of the year,” Baskin said.

Cobb added, “Events like this not only drive foot traffic to small businesses and boost the local economy but also allow participants to uncover coffee shops they may not have visited before. Each shop offers its own unique atmosphere and flavors, making the experience both diverse and memorable. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or simply love a good cup, this event is a win for both the community and the economy.”

The Coffee Crawl was sparked by a conversation in an online forum for coffee shop owners when someone asked for advice on the best way to drive business during a slow month.

“A woman named Sophia Smith responded saying that she had hosted one from her shop and it was a great success,” Baskin said. “So I took the idea and ran with it. I first asked the other coffee shops if they would be okay participating and after everyone agreed, I got the ball rolling.”

To streamline the experience, Baskin asked each participating shop to design a special ‘crawl menu’ with discounted options to encourage quick service and make it easy for participants to sample each location. The goal, she said, is to keep things simple and affordable, while encouraging participants to explore the unique offerings at each stop.

“The point being to keep the focus of the orders simple and sweet and the price affordable as people will be encouraged to spend a little money at each shop and this will add up,” she added.

Baskin also emphasized to the coffee shops they needed to be properly staffed throughout the crawl, with a reminder to participants that this isn’t a time to overwhelm employees with questions about every product. “That can come later once the day is wrapped and they can visit the shop again on their own time,” she said.

Since it’s Baskin’s first Coffee Crawl, she’s hoping the event will run smoothly with participants being mindful of each shop’s timing and respecting the group’s schedule as they move from café to café.

Big Shot Coffee House, which celebrated its fourth anniversary on Jan. 2, will kick off the event at their location at 16700 FM 2493 #1600 in Tyler.

“The name Big Shot comes from my dad after we were brainstorming and I explained to him how I had to name the shop right as this was my big shot at success and he thought that would make a great name,” Baskin said. “We borrowed heavily from the WWII propaganda poster Rosie the Riveter as my inspiration for the design and concept of the shop. All the baristas wear coveralls as part of the uniform.”

After spending some time at the host location, participants will then proceed to Crema Coffee Co. (2251 Three Lakes Pkwy #107 in Tyler), Likewise Coffee (2459 Mosaic Way Suite A in Tyler), Foundry Coffee House (202 S Broadway Avenue in Tyler), Brady’s Coffee (309 W Rusk Street in Tyler), and finally Enoch’s Wine and Coffee House (3979 University Boulevard in Tyler).

“Most people consider the East Coast or the West Coast as having the strongest foundation for coffee growth and they do, but I challenge any of their locals to try our Affogato or the Foundry’s cortado and any of Crema’s seasonal menu drinks,” Baskin said.

Baskin hopes the event will strengthen the coffee community by connecting participants with fellow coffee lovers and encouraging them to support local shops. She wants attendees to recognize the many local options available and discover one near them.

“The focus is to add visibility to local business and to boost sales during the slowest time of year,” she said. “I’m hoping the result will be a stronger coffee community and that people will eagerly await the next one.”