Image via Complex Original
Denver is a sunny town, a mile above sea level, and in close proximity to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. It’s also an active town, and in order to bike, climb, or take a drive this winter to your favorite skiing destination, you’ll need a little bit of fuel for your body’s engine. Lucky for the locals, Denver is filled with great coffee shops, all with unique blends, techniques and some of the best beans the world has to offer. So grab a cup and head out to our favorite coffee shops in the Colorado capital.
Crema
Address: 2862 Larimer St.
Website: cremacoffeehouse.net
According to the folks at Crema, the shop is named after the “lovely layer of thickly effervescent foam that defines well-crafted espresso.” That might sound ridiculous, but hell, if you’re that passionate about coffee, chances are you’re going to make a good, strong drink. Located just down the street from the Larimer Lounge, Crema features a revolving list of beans from roasters like Dogwood, Stumptown, and Novo. Variety is the spice of life, right?
Black Eye Coffee
Address: 3408 Navajo St.
Website: drinkblackeye.com
If you live on the north side, Black Eye Coffee might already be a daily stop. The shop is out in the Highlands neighborhood, where they serve pour over coffee from Boulder’s Boxcar Roaster. Enjoy it at the large wood bar with a sweet snack from Denver’s Trompeau Bakery.
Fluid Coffee Bar
Address: 501 E 19th Ave.
Website: fluidcoffeebar.com
For those of you who might not work in an office, a quiet coffee shop is not always the best place to host a meeting of the minds. Fluid Coffee has a motto of “Meet. Work. Relax.” They have meeting spaces that you can reserve, which is a good place to discuss business as usual while you sip coffee from local Denver roasters, Novo.
Hooked on Colfax
Address: 3213 E Colfax Ave.
Website: hookedoncolfax.com
Let’s face it, when 5 o’clock rolls around, sometimes another cup of coffee is not what the doctor ordered. What you really want is your first cocktail of the evening. At Hooked on Colfax, located in Denver’s Bluebird District, you can sip coffee during the day and drink wine and choose from a Colorado-only list of beers at night. And if you get there early enough, they have some wildly delicious housemade baked goods and egg sandwiches.
Purple Door Coffee
Address: 2962 Welton St.
Website: purpledoorcoffee.com
There’s a lot more going on at Purple Door than great coffee and a fancy decor. Opened in April of 2013, Purple Door employs homeless youth and young adults who are working to exit homelessness. So the next time you wake up and want a little dash of philanthropy in your morning routine, head over to Five Points neighborhood for a hot cortado.
Happy Coffee
Address: 1 S Broadway
Website: happycoffeeco.com
Scott Taylor opened up a Happy Coffee drive-thru window in his bike workshop, Salvagetti, and after a short while, expanded to a full store front. Happy Coffee makes some of the best coffee in Denver, paying close to attention to picking the best beans and employing the best baristas. It’s all about the coffee at Happy—the machinery, the process, the water—and trust us, you’ll notice the difference.
Boxcar Coffee Roasters
Address: 3350 Brighton Blvd.
Website: boxcarcoffeeroasters.com
Boxcar started in Boulder in 2010 by Vajra and Cara Rich. They opened a Denver an off the beaten path outpost on the north side earlier this year and use a special brewing method to bring the Mile-High City one of the best cups in the Rockies. It’s called “The Boilermakr” and takes into account Colorado’s high elevation and low boiling temperature. We call it cowboy coffee and there ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Little Owl Coffee
Address: 1555 Blake St.
Website: littleowlcoffee.com
Little Owl Coffee is located in the swanky area of LoDo (that’s Lower Downtown for those not living in Denver), right among the luxury apartments that have taken over the oldest part of the city. The Little Owl might be small—there are only eight seats—but makes up for size in the decor and high quality brew. And like the Italian coffee bars they’re trying to replicate, Little Owl serves a small glass of sparkling water with every drink. Nice, right?
Stella's Coffee Haus
Address: 1476 S Pearl St.
Website: stellascoffee.com
Stopping at Stella’s to enjoy a cup of coffee on the patio is a great way to take advantage of Denver’s 300-plus days of sunshine a year. Stella’s, located inside an old Victorian house, has been around Platte Park since the early ’90s. And if you feel like staying outside as the sun goes down and the chill starts in, Stella’s has an outdoor fire pit for you to cozy up to with that book, laptop, or Kindle. Your choice.
Pablo's Coffee
Address: 630 E 6th Ave.
Website: pabloscoffee.com
Pablo’s, located on the southwest side of the city, is always crowded. And it’s not because of the Wi-Fi. (Pablo’s doesn't have it.) Simply put, Pablo’s makes great coffee and provides a great space for people to hang out and stick around for hours on end. They source the best beans from all over the world and roast them in small batches, making for one of tastiest cups of Joe in the city.
