51 - Novo Coffee Gilpin, Denver

I have been to the Novo Coffee downtown before, and it was memorable and great, but I had not been to this specific shop before. It was memorable and great.

Coffee Shop:
Novo Coffee Gilpin
http://novocoffee.com
1700 East 6th Avenue
Denver, CO 80218

Date Visited:
Sunday, June 2, 2019
About 2:30 p.m. -  4:30 p.m.

Purchased:
12 oz vanilla oat milk latte: $5.25
*vanilla syrup was $0.50 - and house-made! Hence why I got it.
*oat milk was $0.50.

From what I remembered of my previous visit to a Novo coffee shop, I had so much faith that this was going to be an amazing beverage experience. And it totally was. Novo knows what they're doing. Quality control seems awesome.

It's a great little set-up inside. Totally feels like a great coffee shop. It's so classic. An aesthetically pleasing arrangement and assortment of smaller tables with a larger accent pieces, complementing the coffee bar. So classic. They have really large, storefront windows, which I always appreciate. Sometimes that doesn't work out when blinding sunlight is streaming through, so you gotta get the right angles. It seemed good there, but most of the time it as raining really hard, so that was especially awesome with the windows and sidewalk views. It's a cool place to be. Classic, modern coffee shop vibe.

My latte was wonderful.

That wonderful. The way it looks is representative of the whole experience.

I had high expectations, so I was considering a cappuccino, but then I discovered that they made their own flavored syrups and was intrigued. One of my favorite lattes ever was an oat milk latte with maple syrup, so I decided to go with an oat milk latte with their housemade vanilla syrup. Though it was not the best latte I have ever had, it was excellent.

The espresso layer was soooo good. It was all soooo smooth and totally didn't need flavored syrup, but then the syrup was just another layer of good. I am sure the cappuccino would have been amazing and probably the best way to optimize my experience, but the latte+housemade syrup was a more broadening experience. And though I kinda wanted the cappuccino, it's kind of amazing to drink a latte and long for more espresso because the espresso is that good. It's like the feeling of having an amazing vacation spot that you love, and always want more of, but it's nice not to have more of because it's a vacation, not home, and if it was home, it wouldn't be a vacation. It was like that feeling as a latte.

I love it. Great place to hang out, great espresso options, so classy. I LOVE IT.

Parking was easy on the street, free and no time limit.

No wifi issues.

50 - Downpours Coffee, Denver (Congress Park)

Coffee Shop:
Downpours Coffee
https://www.facebook.com/DownPoursCoffeeShop/
[I also found this super basic web site, which does exist, but they'd clearly want you to go to their facebook page. http://downpourscoffee.com/index.html]
1200 Clayton St
Denver, CO 80206

Date Visited:
Friday, May 31, 2019
About 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Purchased:
12 oz lavender oat milk latte: $5.75
*lavender syrup was $0.50
*oat milk was $1.00. And it's $1.00 for anything, any size. They are out of control. Dealbreaker. (If I wasn't doing research. lol. It's worth it for the experience once.)

This was kind of a cool place, but I wasn't very enthused by anything. A blanket dollar charge for milk is ridiculous...I felt very constrained to lattes as opposed to anything smaller.

But anyway.  They had a sign about, "Try our new lavender syrup" or something like that, so I decided to. If I'm getting a syrup I like 12 oz anyway because there is room for the extra flavor.

This latte was not bad, but it wasn't outstanding and it was kind of confusing.

It was sort of mocha-y, but without the attributes of a mocha. Like, it was weirdly thick, like chocolate (mocha) syrup often is, but I wasn't entirely sure what with. I assume the lavender syrup, but the latte also wasn't very lavender-y. It also wasn't overly sweet. It was like...pasty mocha syrup that wasn't like chocolate, or very sweet. But not bad. Just not great. Also not a $5.75 latte (and I do believe those legitimately exist - I have had an oat milk latte with maple syrup that was phenomenal and totally worth $6).

Okay, so the latte had this weird taste and texture that got more pronounced (worse) toward the end. It totally had thick, pasty, weird stuff at the bottom of the mug...like the bottom of a mocha that is not well-mixed, but I guess it was lavender syrup? Maybe some espresso? The last bit was super sticky. There still wasn't much lavender taste. Or at least what I would call lavender, but it was probably the taste of this syrup. But I didn't taste much... This was all weirdly fun, but again, not that good. So...I wouldn't listen to the sign and try their lavender syrup, personally. But I'm not really sad I had the experience once.

Still, overall things weren't bad. There were no huge negatives. The shop was quite a nice place to hang out. I liked the layout. I was very productive while I was there, and there were a number of people working on computers, etc. But it didn't have an overly "workplace" vibe either. There were a number of individual (/dual-person) sized tables, and things like a long bar-like table by the window, so it was an efficient layout for that kind of thing, without feeling crowded. It would be fine to hang out and talk with someone also. The vibe was comfortable - the furniture wasn't particularly physically comfortable, but it wasn't bad.

However, the large outdoor seating area would be better for that, in my opinion. I did not sit out there, but it was significantly above average outdoor seating. There were a lot of tables and chairs, trees for shade, and it's on a quiet street, so it's a really nice place to hang out. They had the garage-door-type storefront door open, so it was nice and airy even though I was sitting inside, but it wasn't overly breezy and distracting either (or blowing pollen on me when I'm trying to escape), which is nice and why I like to have both options. It was also a really nice day, so there's that. The outdoor area was dog-friendly and they had dog treats and things, but I heard multiple times that dogs were NOT allowed across the threshold of the inside area.

Oh, there was a giant mural of people on a motorcycle flipping the room off with a middle finger. I figure some people mind that kind of thing, so it's an interesting choice unless you're trying to make a statement about something, but I don't know what they would have been making a statement about. I feel a different option would have resulted in a better vibe, but I always appreciate interesting choices.

Parking on the street nearby was easy and there was no charge or time limit.

No wifi issues.

49 - Amethyst Coffee Company, Denver (Broadway Location)

Coffee Shop:
Amethyst Coffee Company
https://www.amethystcoffee.co/
1111 N. Broadway, Suite 101
Denver, CO 80203
*They have a really good address

Date Visited:
Saturday, May 25, 2019
About 3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Purchased:
Cashew Milk Chai: $5.25
*$0.75 for cashew milk. Super annoying.
This time I was actually like, "The fact that you charge that much for a cappuccino and a large latte...can you explain why that is acceptable?"
The barista said, "Sure." But the answer was basically, "No."
But the explanation was that it's how they even out the cost. You know, because it costs more to provide larger amounts of milk for larger beverages. But they charge less proportionally on those, so they have to charge more proportionally for smaller beverages.
The answer was that they intentionally overcharge me for smaller beverages.
That's the answer. I don't even need to add anything.

For the record, I am always nice and I just said, "That's super annoying, but it's out of my system now..." It's totally not out of my system, but it was as far as the barista's role in this injustice goes.

So they make their own cashew milk though. That's awesome. I was stoked. I would totally pay $0.75 for that and not be mad if they charged $1.25 for large drinks. I appreciate consistency.

I was debating getting a latte or chai. Mostly because the barista mentioned she liked the cashew milk in chai (but that's because she doesn't like espresso with nut milks, so it wasn't swaying me a lot). But chai sounded good, largely because I already had a latte. Then I saw they house-make their chai also. So obviously I got a cashew milk chai.

Gorgeous.

It was gorgeous.

The soft, creamy look of the cashew milk foam totally got me instantly. And look at that sprinkled cinnamon. That is art.

Upon my first drink I noticed it was really spicy. It was very spicy, but awesome spicy. I have had chai that's too spicy, and this was spicier, but amazing. It has a kick, but in a distinctive way that totally works. But it's spicy.

The barista did also reference that the cashew milk was more watery, so it didn't work for latte art as well and stuff. I thought this might be a bad sign, because cashew milk can be super creamy and awesome (and like...they make it; they could make it less watery). The second thing I noticed about the chai was that it was pretty watery, but it was still quite good. Maybe they think the cashew milk is too strong if they make it less watery.  It may not be the perfect recipe, but it's a good. I do think it would not have been very good with espresso, so I am glad I got the chai. But also because the chai was quite good.

Even though it was watery, I still did note and appreciate the light, fluffy foam. There was a lot to like.

I wouldn't be running back to have another, but it was really good - pleasant and distinctive, and I am glad to have tried it. It also grew on me as drank it. The cashew milk did go really well with the chai and it sticks out as a non-espresso, savory beverage.

They ground some coffee while I was there and it smelled amazing. That is a good sign of a good coffee shop.

They also have an amazing plant.

There is a free parking lot outside the coffee shop. It was pretty full, but there were a couple open spots, one of which I parked in.

No wi-fi issues.

48 - Whittier Cafe, Denver (Whittier)

Coffee Shop:
Whittier Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/whittiercafe/
1710 E 25th Ave
Denver, Colorado 80205

Date Visited:
Saturday, May 25, 2019
About 10:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Purchased:
Small Latte (12oz): $4.54
*almond milk was $0.74
That's approaching ridiculous, especially if it was for a smaller cappuccino or something.

This is a pretty cool place because it has character and significantly more purpose than you would expect from a run-of-the-mill coffee shop.  My latte wasn't very special, but the community vibe from this place was exceptional. It's nice when a coffee shop is a good place to hang out or a good gathering space, but Whittier Cafe takes it to the next level.

It says, "This is my happy place!"

First, the latte. It was decent, but not that great. It wasn't bad, but was a little bitter and un-smooth. Both the flavor and texture were just a little off. I could see it aligning more with other people's preferences, but it's still not amazing.

But look at the mug it came in. That's what I'm talking about. Such a nice vibe.

I didn't think it was super cozy or extra comfy, but they had above-average outdoor seating options and it's a nice place to hang out. I was there on a nice day, but most of the outdoor seating was taken and I sat inside, which was mostly my preference anyway. There was a covered area tucked back from the street, and the street was quiet anyway. It had a good layout with some nice touches. Inside was functional and low-key, but I did note their awesome chairs, which all had holes that were latte mug outlines. Nice.

However, the main way this place stands out is that it exudes a community-coffee-shop feel and seems like a place that some people would love to frequent and hang out at. It is unabashedly politically active, with some campaign signs out front for local candidates and issues, and it seemed like a headquarters for activism and activist groups. The overall message I got was that they were really involved with the community and really cared about local people and issues, which is pretty special.

In addition to specific issues they might be targeting at any one time, the vibe was just open and inviting. I felt like they would not get hung up on anything small that would make the coffee experience less good for anyone, and that they would also pay attention to the little things that would ensure all people felt welcome. (With the exception of the almond milk surcharge. I own my personal hangups, okay?)

They also had some simple food options (wraps or burritos), though I did not end up trying one. This isn't an amazing craft coffee destination, but it is a community hangout done absolutely right.

Street parking was easy, with no time limit. I parked across the street, but there plenty of close options.

No wi-fi issues.

47 - Coffee Lab at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

I sooo wanted this to be an amazing and science-y coffee station.

But oh, well. It's a nice thought.

Coffee Shop:
Coffee Lab at Denver Museum of Nature & Science
https://www.dmns.org/visit/plan-your-visit/floor-maps/
That is the closest thing I could find to a web site. See that coffee symbol on level 2? That's it.

Located in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science:
2001 Colorado Blvd
Denver, CO 80205

Date Visited:
Friday, May 24, 2019
About 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
That's about when I was chilling with the coffee.
I was at the museum from about 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Purchased:
Small/12oz Latte : $3.04
*almond milk was $0.85 (they suck)
And this is weird, because my subtotal was $3.04, then there was $0.00 charged for tax (both retail and food/beverage), and then my total was $3.29. That math literally does not add up.

I'm posting this because I may actually have to investigate this phenomenon.

Museum entry: $19.95
(I just saw that it's a dollar off if you buy it online! I had no idea.)
So this is basically a $23 latte. I'm just saying.
But parking is free!

This is a sketchy addition to my compilation. But I feel like it's less sketchy than when I posted about Sazza. I think I wouldn't do that now, but it's grandfathered in. It totally fits my requirement of "a place you can get coffee that has wifi" (and if it's a legitimate coffee shop it doesn't need wifi), but I now more deeply (at all) consider the odds of someone going to the location and just ordering coffee. Or a cafe-style beverage with some kind of personality, even. It could technically happen, but I think it's a little too borderline.

This is a good time to mention how sad I am that I didn't do my post about "The Groove Subaru waiting area" when I had my oil changed one time a few years ago. I did have coffee and hung out with the wifi. That was hilarious even though it didn't happen. It didn't even really need to happen. I'm not that sad.

Anyway, Coffee Lab is a legitimate coffee shop if you are already at the museum.

And really, I have to hand it to the museum for having pretty cheap coffee that's not bad. The food options in the main cafe are pretty decent and not overpriced either, so that's cool. The food and beverage options are like a legitimate resource and option while at the museum, not a desperate resort. But this is just about the coffee shop.

Museum latte

The latte was your standard almond milk latte. The foam was nicely smooth, as was the latte as a whole. It tasted good. Nothing blew me away. It did not have the gross undertones that almond milk lattes can have at places that are not good.

But let's be real. I was at the museum for seven hours and at at 2:00 p.m. this little latte was great. I sat down for a while, chilled, caught some pokemon, and drank this latte. It was wonderfully rejuvenating and I approve of this life option under these circumstances. And even not under these circumstances if you feel like it.

The temporary/additional exhibit was about Leonardo da Vinci, which I had recently finished going through, and I highly approve of their specials, though I did not end up getting one.

Approve.

Way to be, Coffee Lab. Way to have a legitimate niche at the museum.

I used museum wi-fi on my phone and it seemed totally adequate.

Museum parking right out front (and underground) is free and pretty easy (unless it's really busy and all of it is full).

46 - Coffee Theorem (Parker)

This place is amazing.

Coffee Shop:
Coffee Theorem
https://www.coffeetheorem.co/
Located in the Montane Clubhouse at:
18301 E. Cottonwood Dr.
Parker, CO 80134

Date Visited:
Monday, April 15, 2019
About 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Purchased:
Latte Lite (8 oz latte): $3.75
*almond milk - no additional charge (they have no flaws)

This was the most detailed receipt I've ever gotten, so I'm going to embellish. Copied receipt:

Latte Lite (Latte Lite - 8 oz.) $3.75
  + Almond Mlik
Purchase Subtotal $3.75
RTD (1%) $0.04
Douglas County (1%) $0.04
Square Transaction Fee (2.75%) $0.10
State of Colorado (2.9%) $0.11
Town of Parker (3%) $0.11
Tip $1.00
Total $5.15

It's also hilarious that milk is spelled wrong in the system.  Not shaming them, just sharing the fun.

So. This coffee shop.

This is a destination coffee shop. It is definitely worth going far out of your way for the sole purpose of visiting this place. Behold:

The most beautiful latte of my life. Inside and out.

And it wasn't just that the latte was amazing in every way possible. Everything was quintessential.

Also getting there was an adventure and I wasn't really sure what to think until we were there and then it was beautiful.  It was like finding a secret gateway to the land of magical coffee.

But it's not a secret. It's a coffee shop. That you can just GO TO.

So. Once upon a time I was with a friend in the area and we had a little bit of time and I was like, "Um, coffee shop," and I found this place on google maps, and the adventure began.

In the course of following the directions, we turned into this large apartment complex/community and we're like, "Where are we? What is this? Is there really a coffee shop here?  Is it really something that's open to the public?"  (The answer is yes to the last two questions, and "magical coffee land" to the first two.)  Fortunately we were not deterred, and found public parking (near the coffee location), and saw the only outward indication of the coffee oasis inside:

Soooo subtle and unassuming. Ridiculously so.

But then we walked in and sailed to coffee island. This is a pun because the "coffee shop" is more of an island within the space inside, which also has offices related to the apartment community and things.  But it's still a nice place to sit.

Their web site states, "We know we're difficult to find, but don't give up!" See, they are there for you. They claim it is worth it, and I vouch for the accuracy of that claim!

So this is not a typical coffee shop, but it's a phenomenal coffee place.  I gathered from the web site later that it is located within the "Montane Community" and it looks like they have special things for residents, which is pretty cool.  Having a stellar coffee shop at your home is also pretty cool.

The attention to detail pays off so much. Look at the menu booklet.

For one, it's a booklet. And it's adorable for a booklet.

Speaking of their web site, their web site is everything you could want in a web site about a coffee shop. Go look at it. And then envision the place represented by such a web site, and it's what you get in reality too.

Those pictures of the gorgeous latte art? That's how it actually is in real life.

Speaking of latte art, the barista actually apologized for messing mine up because I watched her make cortados beforehand and it was fine art, but I commented about how great it was and added too much pressure while she was preparing my latte.

Again, this is what she apologized for.

I love this place.

The latte was not only aesthetically beautiful, it was everything you could want in a latte.  Look at that mug and everything, though. And it was hearty and cozy, the espresso fed my soul, the foam was smooth and silky, and the blend of flavors was quintessential. Everything was quintessential.  The espresso taste popped quintessentially, and I'm really happy I went with the 8oz (instead of larger) so I could savor.  But I could tell.  Just look at this place.  They're super good with almond milk and it was everything that an almond milk latte is supposed to be.

I want to get wood block coasters. Those are amazing.

And they are called Coffee Theorem.  They are the quintessential example of cozy-tech-coffee.

Look at my friend's London Fog with lavender sprinkled on top.

I just want to post more pictures at this point. I didn't even take this one.

They are the proof of good coffee. But not just as a drink. As an idea.

Again, finding the place and parking was not as expected when approaching a traditional coffee shop, but it was not difficult.

For once I didn't even try for wi-fi and I have no idea what the situation was.  But there are offices there too, and I assume it's pretty stellar, along with everything else.  Unless it's just around for community residents or something.

45 - Huckleberry Roasters (Denver, Sunnyside location)

Coffee Shop:
Huckleberry Roasters
https://huckleberryroasters.com/pages/huckleberry-flagship-4301-pecos
4301 Pecos st
Denver, Colorado, 80211

Date Visited:
Saturday, December 22, 2018
About 12:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Purchased:
Autumn Leaves Latte (small - 10oz): $5.00
*oat milk - no additional charge
Millenial Brekkie Premium Toast: $7.50

The Autumn Leaves Latte included maple syrup and cardamom (omg).
The toast was almond butter, apple, cinnamon, and toasted coconut.

Notice the validation of oat milk. It's not some weird, modified latte you have to charge extra for. It's a latte.  They 100% know what they're doing.  They are all about good coffee, no room for unreasonableness.

This latte was soooo good.

It was incredible. It is in the running for the best latte I've ever had. (And since I have no legitimate ranking policy, that is as high as it could go.)  It is the reason for these adventures.  It is the special gem in a bowl of beautiful rocks. And it is called Autumn Leaves. Omg.

Autumn Leaves Latte - does the name itself not sound too beautiful to be true? Would this latte, by any other name, taste as wonderful? At least, the name is yet another amazing component.

I mean, you can see how beautiful it is. It is a visual work of art that delivers even more than promised when it hits your other senses. I'm now realizing I didn't savor the smell anywhere near as much as I should have.

I had pretty high expectations since this place is a roasters also, and they were totally met and exceeded.  The espresso was amazing. The way it blended with oat milk was heavenly. The additional flavor was in spot-on proportion. This was an artful beverage.  This is one of those espresso drinks that is a destination, totally worth going for on its own merit.

I got the 10oz version of this drink because that is what the mug size is ("for here").  I am partial to higher espresso ratios when the espresso is good, so I liked that aspect.  I think at least one of the paper cup options was 12oz, but I'm sure this is better (a mug is always better than a paper cup, an opinion I hold strongly). I'm sure they know what they're doing with their mug sizes. Sooo classic, too.

Millenial Brekkie Premium Toast

(The camera I've been using on my phone really sucks...it's detracting from the visual quality for sure...I'm gonna stop using this...second photo apology to the integrity of this blog.)

The toast was really good. Definitely what I would call "premium." It was fun to try - really good, and "different" without being weird.  The flavor combos were nothing surprising, but it's not the kind of thing you see everywhere either.  "Premium" ingredients down the bread, and nicely crafted, like the latte.  It also paired really well with the latte.

I will also emphasize one more time that the latte was exceptionally wonderful.

You know another little detail I really appreciate? They actually serve this on a real plate. I've noticed a trend where coffee shops serve you things like this on a little plate, which hold the toast (or whatever), but there is no room to maneuver. I always spill something, at least crumbs. This is an actual plate I could eat from. Nicely done, Huckleberry.

The atmosphere was nice and I enjoyed myself.  It wasn't really anything special on this end, but it was a good place to enjoy amazing espresso.  I wouldn't be pulled to come back for the vibe, personally, but there was nothing negative (it was clean, etc.).

Parking was easy. I parked on the street, but then saw they have a lot also.

No wifi issues.