What is your mission, vision and/or values?
In the coffee community, abbreviations are common, and Trianon is no exception. Some of our most loyal Trianoners occasionally referred to the café simply as the “Tri” (pronounced “tree”)—and recently, we have found our philosophy being inspired by that idea of a tree. A tree offers a cool sheltering spot for people to rest and recharge. Throughout history, especially in Texas, trees have represented symbolic meeting locations and places for community members to come together. A tree can provide sustenance. A tree can provide comfort. We want to be the tree - the “Tri” - for our own community by offering great coffee, tea, and snacks in a cozy, inviting space.
Beyond our own community, we support coffee producing communities around the world by selecting direct, fair trade coffee beans from reputable suppliers and sometimes the farmers themselves. This is nothing new for Trianon; it’s simply part of how we source the best tasting coffee. By investing in producers who invest in their own local communities (eg, infrastructure, education programs, clinics) we ensure a reliable supply of delicious coffee for years to come. We’re proud of the traceability of all of our beans.
Our expertly curated selection includes single origin organic coffees, specialty blends, and limited
microlots. We roast over 30 kinds of coffee and use premium ingredients in our food and drinks. We are locally owned, independent, family-friendly, and community oriented, with a focus on service, quality, and education.
How did you get to where you are today?
Trianon Coffee is a family business. When its founders Edmond and Norma Bazerghi opened Trianon in 1985, it was the second coffee roaster in Austin and the first coffee shop to serve its own fresh roasted coffee. It quickly became a center for the Westlake community. When they retired, Edmond’s long-time apprentice, Charles Emile Lauriat, took over roasting the beans. Through the years, Charles carried on the tradition of expertly curated beans and hand-crafted coffees while his partner, Stacy, worked in the tech industry. Things took an abrupt turn in 2017 when Trianon was forced to suddenly move from its original location of over 30 years. That’s when Stacy and Charles stepped up to become co-owners and move the cafe to its new home--keeping the tradition of Trianon alive. After a year of agonizing rebuilding from scratch and finally opening our new location in 2019, Trianon was hit hard yet again less than a year and a half later by COVID restrictions. We at Trianon are grateful to our loyal community who rallied to support their local favorite. We wouldn’t be here today without our community.
What makes your shop unique?
We roast over 30 varieties of coffee! In a town where many of the coffee shops are trying to deliver the same type of experience, we try to stand out. We cater to any type of coffee love: we have a coffee for everyone. In our coffee shop, we serve four (4) types of espresso every day for lattes and espresso drinks. Customers can also choose from over 30 different coffees for a pour over or flash brew cold coffee. We carry rare premium coffees like Jamaica Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Ka'u, and Colombian Gesha. Though most of our coffees are roasted light to medium, we also offer traditional dark roasts, and we have the best selection of decaf in Austin. Trianon Coffee has been roasting coffee in small batches since 1985. It is the oldest coffee shop in Austin to roast and serve its own coffee.
What is your shop best for?
Study Space, Client Meetings, Day Dates, Self-care, quiet space for journaling etc., Patio Hangouts, Group Meetup’s, Dog Approved, Coffee Education, Tasting a wide variety of coffees
Meet the Team:
It’s hard to match our team’s combined knowledge, experience, and passion for creating exceptional coffee experiences. We count ourselves very lucky to have assembled such a team of coffee superheroes.
Owners: Stacy Dyer and Charles Lauriat
Team leaders: Kihong Kim, Vicki Gori, Gabby Duhon
Additional Thoughts and Thanks:
We have been humbled and honored by the outpouring of support this community has
shown Trianon Coffee recently. When we originally found out we would not be able to stay in our original location of over 30 years, it was a shock. We weren’t sure what it meant for the future of Trianon in Westlake. Now, looking back, it may have been the greatest opportunity Trianon ever received. Our new location has more meeting spaces and an expanded kitchen. Unfortunately, the last two years have been full of even more hardships, including unprecedented ice storms and a pandemic. With so many iconic Austin businesses being forced to close, we are grateful for any opportunity to say THANK YOU to each and every person who has supported us. We look forward to being a part of this community for many years to come.
Answers provided by Charles Emile Lauriat, Co-Owner of Trianon Coffee
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