17 of Denvers Best Coffee Shops

With a strong coffee culture, plus coffee shops and roasters galore, Denver is definitely a great city for coffee lovers. And while it’s easy to find a better-than-average cup of coffee in this city, we wanted to highlight the truly exceptional places in the mile-high city: the ones that work the hardest to source their beans ethically; the ones where the baristas are warm and hospitable as they pour the perfect rosette design over your latte; the ones with the best environment to relax, work, meet or just have coffee. We’ve narrowed it down to these 17 picks in Denver and the surrounding suburbs, arranged in alphabetical order.

Editor’s Note: This is a live list of the best coffee shops that was last updated on December 1, 2021. Did we miss your Favourite? email us at [email protected].

Reading: Best denver coffee

blue sparrow coffee

design buffs will delight in coffee industry veteran jeffrey knott’s friendly blue sparrow cafes. (Knott is also behind the equally gorgeous Queens Elevator, a bar and cafe in the nearby central building, and the impressive Platte Street cocktail bar, Room for Milly.) In the backyard of Blake Location, a handsome hand-scrawled menu, gray tile, and dark wood tables create a beautiful backdrop for Blue Sparrow’s simple food and drink menu. Instead of pour-overs or manual brews, Blue Sparrow chooses to focus on serving great drip brews from featured rotating roasters, making this a perfect place to grab a nice cuppa in a hurry. House-made chai sprinkled with nutmeg and perfect matcha lattes round out the offerings.

The cafe also recently launched its single-use initiative to encourage customers to reduce waste; charges a fee of $0.10 per single-use cup, and all proceeds go to a fund that supports the company’s other sustainability goals.

drink: sträva craft coffee on tap cbd nitro iced coffee eat: black box bakery cakes delivered fresh daily; look out for the specialty cruffins and strawberry croissants on the weekends. alcoholic beverage? no 3070 blake st., #180; 1615 Platte Street, Suite 135

corvus coffee roasters

Since opening its first store in 2012, corvus coffee roasters have always focused on developing direct, personal business relationships with coffee farmers. That mission is evident at the original Broadway location, where bar-style seating gives you a front-row view of the grilling action. But if you want to see the team roasting small batches of interesting beans, including highly sought-after small-batch selections from Corvus’ new exotic and reserve lines, you’ll need to head to the year-old Littleton location.

there, in addition to roasting coffee, corvus is also home to the fox & Cuervo Bakery, an artisan bakery that produces naturally leavened breads and pastries using in-house ground Colorado heirloom grains. luckily for denverites, fox & crow’s pastries and breads, plus river bear charcuterie baguette breakfast sandwiches and sandos, are available at all corvus locations.

drink: limited-run geshas and heirloom ciders from the exotic and reserve lines are almost always sold out before roasting (though you’ll occasionally find them available to try in-house via pour over) . If you’re looking to get your hands on some coveted ounces of these beans, sign up for the corvus newsletter or subscription service. alcohol? not 1740s. Broadway, Denver; 4925s. newport street, denver; 5846s. wadsworth boulevard, suite 3500, littleton; arvada location will open in early 2022

cream cafe

cream has been a larimer street stalwart for fantastic drinks (made with beans sourced from over 20 rotary roasters across the country), comfort food and baking goods, and laid-back vibes since it opened in 2009. Whether you drink your perfectly brewed espresso neat or in a vanilla latte sweetened with homemade syrup, crema delivers a top-notch beverage. We prefer to visit the original and independent location on larimer street, where you can enjoy your pork belly banh mi and cold beer on the patio. note: crema offers wi-fi but no power outlets, so if you think your work session will drag on, you may want to caffeinate elsewhere.

drink: drip to stay (with free refills!) eat: the legendary sweet potato waffle or the quiche of the day alcoholic drink? n° larimer street 2862; Denver Central Market, 2669 Larimer St.

coffee dandy lion

question: how to make a traditional coffee shop even better? answer: combine it with a plant store. Tucked away in an unassuming building on 38th Avenue in Park Hill, walking inside Dandy Lion transports you into a beautifully crafted, relaxing world of caffeine and botanicals. Co-owner Duc Huynh (also the brains behind Vinh Xuong Bakery) uses local blueberry roasting beans to whip up perfect cortados, lavender floral lattes, and slow-drip Kyoto-style iced coffee. Quirky design touches, from moss under the espresso bar to a high-tech vestaboard screen, encourage lingering. That’s especially true if you’re a plant fanatic, as Duc’s wife and co-owner, Dominique Huynh, creates magical plant displays. Marvel at her fanciful terrariums and pick up some new plants in the retail area.

drink: ollie’s sweet and spicy drink (named for the owners’ son), a blend of iced chai, toffee nut syrup, and macadamia milk eat: rebel bread cakes alcohol: beer and wine 5225 e. 38th avenue

blueberry roasters

There’s a lot to love about Huckleberry’s pair of Denver cafes, from the cheery, modern design to the always-nice employees. But some of Huckleberry’s home roasted beans have been in the news lately. after winning the u.s. roasters championship, shelby williamson of huckleberry became the first woman to represent the united states. at the world coffee roasting championship in taiwan. huckleberry also won roast magazine‘s 2021 macro roaster of the year. That level of expertise is evident in Huckleberry’s line of single-origin offerings and blends, from boutique selections like the natural Ethiopia Chelbesa fruit bomb to the Good Food award-winning Phantom Limb blend. Of Huckleberry’s two Denver outposts, we like to take out-of-towners to the Dairy Block location next to the Maven Hotel lobby, where there’s plenty of spread out seating and a great view of people. pro tip for alternative milk fans: huckleberry does not charge extra for oat milk.

Drink: Seasonal Rosemary Lavender Latte Eat: Both locations serve toasties, pastries, and campfire breakfast burritos Alcohol? no 1850 wazee street; 4301 pecos street

toaster company jubilee.

one of denver’s best roasters is based in north aurora. jubilee roasters have the ability to bring out the most complex and balanced flavor of their carefully selected beans, just like you’ll get with a sip of espresso. the cozy aurora store is backed by a warehouse that owner peter wanberg converted into art studios for local creatives. that creative energy infuses the coffee, as does sunlight and fresh air coming through garage doors. Jubilee’s “be a good neighbor” spirit shines through in the friendly staff and affordable $2 drip coffee.

drink: the only & one: a double shot of espresso divided into a macchiato and a straight espresso, so you can savor coffee with and without milk. Eat: breakfast burritos, tostadas, sandwiches, home-baked pastries Alcoholic beverage: no 1452 kenton st, aurora, 1075 park ave. w. package 110

lekker coffee

A mother-daughter team is behind this bright, cheerful and spacious brown rhino. The name, an Afrikaans slang word meaning “tasty” or “fantastic,” and Pat Milbery’s rhino mural of So-gnar Creative hint at the store’s broader mission. after spending a summer volunteering at the wild rhino sanctuary in south africa, her daughter kara finkelstein became passionate about rhino conservation, and 10 percent of the proceeds from the cafe are donated to caring for wild rhinos . while coffee’s philanthropic focus may be global, sourcing is local. Lekker’s commitment to the community is evident in the variety of locally sourced products, from Novo coffee beans to single-use breakfast burritos and Black Box Bakery pastries. Bonus: If you’re in a hurry, grab your coffee to go from the takeout window.

drink: the horchata latte eat: black box cakes, pandemic donuts, little man ice cream, and unique breakfast burritos alcoholic: oh yes. local beer, wine and cocktails (cold martinis!) 3460 larimer st., denver

logan’s house coffee company

Originally conceived as a coffee delivery service in 2015, Logan House has now switched to a traditional coffee shop model. With locations in the Stanley Market of Aurora and Inner Catalyst, a wellness-focused co-working space in the Rino neighborhood, Logan House will expand to 15th and Arapahoe and Lowry in the coming months. The airy yet homey Cafe Aurora at Stanley Market is spacious enough that there are almost always open spots for working on a laptop or for casual gatherings. Or, if you’re looking to grab a quick espresso while you shop, grab a spot at the oval-shaped coffee bar and watch the baristas at work. The roast portfolio includes single-origin light roasts as well as dark roast bean blends, meaning everyone can find something they like.

Drink: 18-hour cold brew in warmer months; Fall Spiced Lattes in the cooler months Eat: Homemade pastries (try the coffee cake with cinnamon brown butter frosting), pastries from la fillette bakery, and homemade breakfast burritos Alcoholic Beverages: The Stanley Market location has a full bar, with beer, wine, and mixed drinks. stanley market, 2501 dallas st., aurora, catalyst rino, 3517 e. brighton blvd.

lost coffee roastery and cafeteria

lost has come a long way from its roots as a coffee cart. The independent operation has grown to three metro area locations in Aurora, Castle Rock and Littleton. We’re partial to Lost Coffee’s Littleton location, located in a converted gas station. The old gas station canopy now shades a large patio, and inside, the spare little cafe contains only a few tables, hanging plants, the Blue Slayer Steam LPX espresso machine, and the roasting operation. lost takes special care to ensure that everyone involved in the beans supply chain, from the farmers to those who grind and wash the coffee, are paid fairly. Lost’s roasts range from single-origin selections to the crowd-pleasing pre-dawn dark roast.

drink: the honey cut, which is sweetened with coffee flower honey harvested on the same farm as the guatemala stone party beans eat: breakfast burritos a bonfire, open sandwiches, and pastries spirits: no 1190 w. littleton blvd., littleton; Úrsula street 200 north. #30, dawn; 390w perry street, castle rock

cafeteria prodigy

More than just a coffee shop, the elyria-swansea prodigy is actually a non-profit organization that provides educational barista apprenticeship programs to youth in Northeast Denver. apprentices hone their barista and customer service skills under the social enterprise model, while the neighborhood gets a vibrant gathering space and a world-class craft cafe. The easy-to-find shop is adorned with bright murals and features garage doors that open onto a large patio. Locally roasted Allegro Coffee Roasters beans are brewed into delicious batch brews and seasonal lattes.

Drink: the not-too-sweet white mocha Eat: moxie restaurant waffles, breakfast burritos and sandwiches, and pastries alcoholic: not 3801e. avenue 40

queen city collective cafe

Started in 2017 by Scott brothers, Luke and Eric Byington, Queen City Collective was inspired by Eric and Scott’s work with the Elias Fund, a non-profit organization based in Zimbabwe. the brothers leveraged their experiences with coffee farmers in africa to create their own brand of ethically sourced beans, creating a “made by her” program aimed at highlighting and giving back to women coffee farmers. You can find their beans in stores across the city and also in their own cafes at Baker (in a space shared with Novel Strand Brewing Co.), Five Points, and, in a few months, Wheat Ridge. (Queen City also has a coffee cart inside the Mission Ballroom, where attendees can enjoy coffee and mocktails.) in-house bakery breakfast treats and sandwiches, pandemic donuts. drink: the dark star, a mix of nitro cold brew and Mexican coke eat: a brown butter donut from Pandemic Donuts alcoholic drink: novelty drinks are available at the baker’s location 305 w. 1st avenue; 2962 welton street.

pencil & box

good coffee? check. extra friendly baristas? check. fresh and hot liege waffles so delicious it’s worth driving through town? check. vinyl tunes? Also Check Since opening in June 2020 in a newly renovated building, this store has quickly become a local Wheat Ridge favorite. Drinks are made with Queen City Collective Beans and house-made syrups, and there are plenty of options for the whole family, too, like Italian sodas and artisanal hot chocolates. The intentionality behind the entire operation is best demonstrated by the turntable: staff encourage customers to bring their own albums to play, and there’s a mini vinyl shop in the back to browse. whatever you do, don’t miss out on authentic belgian waffles from liege. These yeast- and pearl-sugar delights are made hot and fresh in an imported waffle iron and are so good, we couldn’t imagine ordering them with the optional toppings for browning lilies. drink: a chagaccino, which is a latte infused with a blend of antioxidant-packed chaga mushrooms, raw cocoa, and cinnamon eat: liege belgian waffles, sweet toast, and salty, and cake pops alcoholic beverage: no 6985 w. 38th avenue, wheat crest

sweet bloom coffee roasters

for serious coffee connoisseurs, a visit to sweet bloom should be at the top of the list. Founder and championship-winning barista Andy Sprenger’s socially conscious approach to buying and roasting coffee takes the direct trade sourcing model even further. While third wave roasters visiting coffee farms are not unusual, it is not that common for coffee farmers to visit the US. uu. shops where they prepare and serve their specialty coffees. Sprenger regularly brings representatives from the farms it buys from to its Lakewood roasting facility, where they can meet consumers at the end of the supply chain and share the story of their farm. (While these in-person events have been put on hold during the pandemic, the cafe has only recently started hosting them, and masks are usually required to attend.)

If you’re not usually a solo coffee drinker, you just might convert after one of the professional baristas whips up the perfect pour for you. Sweet Bloom recently merged with Two Rivers Coffee in Arvada and has a super-chic new coffee shop in Westminster, giving Westside folks three outposts to choose from.

drink: the honey process (a type of processing that involves removing the skin from fresh coffee cherries, but leaving the fruit on the seed while it dries). café josé hernández from antigua, guatemala , a supremely balanced cup with hints of berries and chocolate eat: pastries are baked daily for the three sweet flowers at arvada. Mark your calendar and set your alarm for the first Saturday of every month, when the Arvada location serves seasonal donuts that sell out by 10 a.m. m. alcoholic beverage: no 1619 n. cane street, lake wood; 7745 Wadsworth Blvd, Suite C., Arvada; 8850 westminster blvd., westminster

you coffee

Owned by a trio of sisters, this tiny Broadway coffee shop is Denver’s first independent Vietnamese coffee shop. The sisters import stronger, more caffeinated Robusta beans directly from Vietnam to achieve the robust flavor profile that Vietnamese coffee is known for. these beans shine in classic hot and cold vietnamese coffee brews, as well as in the sisters’ more imaginative concoctions, like egg coffee, in which vietnamese espresso is covered in a cloud of frothy, caramel-coated yolk foam of beaten egg and condensed milk and covered with cocoa powder. homemade soft drinks and teas and intricate mooncakes (both traditional and vegan and gluten-free snowskin varieties) and cakes round out the offerings. Note: This snazzy little shop doesn’t have a patio or much indoor seating, so it’s better suited for a quick meet-up with a friend than a long study session.

Drink: For a sweet treat, try cafe sua da flan, a combination of Vietnamese iced coffee with a fluffy custard topping Eat: mooncakes made locally, sesame balls, meat pies and macarons alcohol: no 30 n. broadway

untangled coffee

many coffee shops talk about sustainability, but one clue that unravel is serious about this imperative is that all takeaway drinks come in glass jars instead of paper cups. (If you bring that glass jar to coffee, you’ll save 50 cents on your next drink.) that rare level of thoughtfulness and care extends throughout the unraveling experience. The beans come directly from Unravel’s own Ethiopian farms (founder Steve Holt is a coffee novice and a student of over ninety coffee who started his own coffee farming company in 2006). In addition to the seed-to-cup model, Unravel roasts small batches of its coffees at home using leading zero-emission roasters. These all-electric automated roasters are built right into the barista counters at each unwind location.

Since founding the Denver location in 2019, Holt has been aggressively growing Unravel, with locations inside Gravity Haus hotels in Breckenridge, Vail and Winter Park, and upcoming outposts coming soon in Aspen and Tahoe, California.

Beverage: Unravel’s popular Colon Blend, which combines beans from two regions of Ethiopia and was developed as an entry to specialty coffee for people who are used to starbucks. eat: Instead of pastries, unravel offers an Aussie-inspired menu that includes tartlets, a breakfast sandwich and milkshakes. try the fig toast with crème fraîche and pistachios. alcoholic beverage: available at all mountain town locations (sorry denverites)1441 s. Holly St., Denver; 605s. breckenridge park avenue; 352 e. meadow dr, veil; 78869 us highway. 40, winter park

vane coffee

Hanging out at this beloved uptown coffee shop is like hanging out at your cool aunt’s house, who also has amazing coffee and tasty, healthy snacks. Mismatched antique sofas, two levels of seating, a large shopping area and a newly expanded outdoor patio offer plenty of cozy nooks perfect for relaxing or chatting, while hanging plants and eclectic thrift store art give it the space an unassuming feel. weathervane does not offer wi-fi and discourages long sessions of laptop use to facilitate a happy and sociable environment in the store.

Espresso drinks are made with the Blue Orchid Blend from Blueberry Roasters, and the French Press and house cold brew are made with beans from Queen City Roasters. Do you love the weathervane aesthetic? check out its sister business, flying moon cabins.

drink: weathervane’s signature happy camper latte, sweetened with smoked maple syrup and garnished with a layer of fragrant pine sugar eat: the affordable food menu has a customizable breakfast sandwich and salad, along with a must-have seasonal chia pudding. pro tip: order online for faster food pickup. alcohol? no 1725 e. 17th avenue

whittier coffee

The best coffee shops double as community gathering places. Whittier Cafe excels at this, hosting art exhibits from neighborhood icons like Bob Ragland, as well as social justice events. (weekly Sunday Ethiopian coffee ceremonies have been suspended due to covid-19). The owner, Millete Birhanemaskel, sources all of the beans from the African Nations Store and oversees a justice fund, which covers the cost of coffee for those who normally can’t afford it. it’s. in the warmer months, the semi-enclosed patio is an ideal respite to enjoy a coffee or tea.

Drink: Rich, caramel-flavored Kenyan coffee Eat: Santiago breakfast burritos, homemade paninis, and spruce sweets Drink: a line of African wines local beers from black-owned breweries 1710 e. 25th avenue