AI knew this coffee shop by name. Asked who's best, it named someone else.
We ran the full report for a real coffee shop in Austin, TX on October 29, 2026 and hid its name, website and street address. The answers quoted below are the models' own words, shortened to fit.
Download the full sample report (PDF)
The result
38 answers came back to the questions customers ask. The models named the shop in 0 of them and recommended it in 0.
| Model | Answers | Named | Recommended | Website linked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic's Claude | 13 | 0 of 13 | 0 of 13 | 0 of 13 |
| OpenAI model 1 | 13 | 0 of 13 | 0 of 13 | 0 of 13 |
| OpenAI model 2 | 12 | 0 of 12 | 0 of 12 | 0 of 12 |
How it works names the two OpenAI models.
Asked about the shop by name, the models knew it. 14 of 16 answers described this shop, for example:
[name hidden] is a specialty coffee roaster and café originally founded in Austin, Texas. (Anthropic's Claude)
[name hidden] is a coffee roaster and café in Austin, Texas, located at [address hidden] in East Austin. (OpenAI model 1)
[name hidden] is an Austin, Texas–based coffee roaster and café. (OpenAI model 2)
So the models know the shop. In this run, they did not name it when a customer asked who's best.
How often the competitors we listed came up
On the form you can list up to five competitors, and the report counts how often each one comes up. For this sample we listed five well-known Austin coffee shops.
| Competitor | Answers that named it |
|---|---|
| Desnudo Coffee | 11 |
| Fleet Coffee | 9 |
| Terrible Love | 9 |
| Houndstooth Coffee | 6 |
| Mozart's Coffee Roasters | 6 |
What the answers said
Three of the 38 answers, with the businesses they named marked.
"Best" is subjective, but a few Austin coffee shops consistently rise to the top across local guides and reviews:
Highly-recommended standouts:
- Houndstooth Coffee – Often cited as a pioneer, it's "One of the OGs in third-wave coffee, with baristas…
- Fleet Coffee Co. – A trailer-based shop in East Austin that's "brought innovative brewing methods to a…
- Terrible Love Coffee – A beloved Hyde Park spot described as the "Iconic Hyde Park coffee shop in a…
- Radio Coffee & Beer – Notable for its longevity and acclaim, having been "voted Austin's best coffee shop…
- Mercado Sin Nombre – A unique East Austin concept, a "Mexico City-inspired café celebrating heirloom corn…
- Greater Goods Coffee – Another top-rated local roaster with a 4.9★ rating.
The first question in the set. Claude named six coffee shops, and the sample shop was not one of them.
I’d recommend Desnudo Coffee—especially if you enjoy specialty coffee or inventive lattes. They source beans from small, family-owned farms in Colombia and make distinctive syrups like brown sugar miso and shoyu butterscotch.
- What I’d order: The Brown Sugar Miso latte, which combines espresso, your choice of milk, and a…
- Where I’d go: 1904 S Lamar Blvd for an indoor spot to sit and linger, or the East Austin trailer at…
- Plan for a morning visit: South Lamar is open daily 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; East Austin closes at 2…
What part of Austin will you be in—and are you looking for great coffee, somewhere to work, or a relaxed hangout?
A direct recommendation, with an address and a drink to order. This kind of answer sends a customer out the door.
Try Barrett’s Coffee in North Austin—a low-key neighborhood roaster with a relaxed feel and house-roasted coffee. It’s at 713 W. St. Johns Ave. and is listed as open daily, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
If you go, ask what’s fresh for espresso or pour-over.
A question that invites small independent shops like the sample shop. All three models named someone else.
The sites the models cited
The models cited these sites most often when they answered. A listing, a review or an article about you on them gives the models something to find, so start here.
| Site | Times cited |
|---|---|
| theinfatuation.com | 9 |
| tripadvisor.com | 9 |
| austintexas.org | 8 |
| austintexasthings.com | 7 |
| yelp.com | 7 |
| mycoffeeexplorer.com | 5 |
| restaurantji.com | 5 |
| listworld.com | 4 |
| postcard.inc | 4 |
| atxvisit.com | 3 |
Questions where the shop did not come up
- What coffee shop in Austin, TX should I try this weekend? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- What is a hidden gem coffee shop in Austin, TX? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- What is the best coffee shop in Austin, TX? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- What is the most popular coffee shop in Austin, TX right now? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX do locals love? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX has the best atmosphere? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX has the best reviews? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX is best for a first visit? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX is the best value for the money? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX is worth the hype? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX would you recommend? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which new coffee shop in Austin, TX is worth trying? (missed in 3 of 3 answers)
- Which coffee shop in Austin, TX has the friendliest staff? (missed in 2 of 2 answers)
Also in the PDF
- Results for each model, with how many answers came back
- A fix kit of draft files with the shop's details for its website
- The method and its limits, including how answers change from run to run
What does AI say about your business?
The free check puts three of these questions about your business to one OpenAI model, in about a minute. The full report puts all of them to three AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic, for $49.