41 - Vital Root, Denver

Awesome food and a great blend of being a restaurant and a place to hang out for a bit.

"Coffee Shop:"
Vital Root
http://www.vitalrootdenver.com/
3915 Tennyson St
Denver, CO 80212

Date Visited:
Friday, November 18, 2016
About 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Purchased:
Coconut Almond Milk Blend Latte, Raw Beet Ravioli, Banh Mi Tacos: $23.76 (including tax)

This is not coffee shop.  This is a restaurant.  Being honest.  Especially because they supposedly have wi-fi, but it was not working at all while I was there and when I asked about it I got the impression that it might be the norm not to work.  Having wi-fi and being able to sit with a computer is my cut-off, but since they do supposedly have wi-fi it still has that kind of vibe, so it's acceptable to work/read/sit for a bit/whatever.

Anyway, I like this place and it's not a great place to hang out for an extended period of time, but it is nice for a bit (like pushing a couple of hours).  A couple of hours fits well with the free 2hr street parking all around.  There isn't a lot, but parking on the street was easy and seemed like it would generally be doable within a block.  Only slightly further away on the side streets you can find untimed parking too.

This is and all-vegetarian restaurant and it's consciously vegan-friendly as well.  By this I mean a lot of items are vegan already and vegan food is "normal," not a weird tofu substitution on dish totally not made for it.  This is exemplified by the fact that one of the milks for lattes is a coconut almond blend.  Classing it up!  Obviously I went with that.

A coconut-almond milk blend latte and a beautiful tray of Raw Beet "Ravioli."

It was quite good.  I liked the milk.  The latte wasn't that otherwise remarkable, but...it's not a coffee shop.  But I also don't want to imply that it was subpar.  It wasn't a fake-restaurant-latte.  It just wasn't that remarkable.

The picture above also includes my Raw Beet Ravioli.  I freaking love the Raw Beet Ravioli.  I have had it every time I have been there.  But it should not be called ravioli.  If you order that being in the mood for anything like ravioli, and even if you are very conscious that it is called "Raw Beet Ravioli," I think you would be disappointed.  But I LOVE it.  I just don't think about ravioli.  I love well-prepared, unique raw food.  The best restaurant I have ever been to was a raw food restaurant....on a different continent.  It makes me sad all the time how far away it is.  But the Raw Beet Ravioli is the closest thing I have found.  It is beets with I think nut-based cream, and "spaghetti" (also the worst name ever) vegetable stuff...amazing flavor blending. Unique.  It's wonderful.

I liked the Bahn Mi Tacos all right.  They weren't amazing, but I enjoyed them.  (I have had better main dishes here as well.)  They had jalapeños on them and I'm not a huge fan, but I wanted to try them as-is.  They are probably better if you like that kind of kick in your food.  A bit unique, but not as memorable.  They came with fried plantains, which was cool.

Bahn Mi Tacos.

The other awesome thing is that they have a classy water dispenser if you want water and one of the options is carbonated.  Super classy.

Vital Root is a decent place to hang out.  It's a really nice mix of really good, quality food, but also a relaxing atmosphere conducive to hanging out for a bit.  I wouldn't stretch it for five hours like I have at some coffee shops, but not all coffee shops can do that either, anyway.  It's a nice place without making you feel like you have to dress up or feel weird pulling out a book or laptop. (So basically perfect as far as food places go.)

Like I mentioned, free parking was pretty easy.  And fatal wi-fi issues with the basically-nonexistent wifi.

Although this restaurant was not a landmark itself, it was in range of three Ingress portals.  I am not sure if they were all pokestops.  I also had trouble getting signal on my phone.  SO disappointing.

40 - Sojourners Coffee & Tea, Denver

A MAPLE SYRUP LATTE.  I wish I could convey delicious smell and a warm, cozy, deliciously blended flavor.  Then this picture would speak for itself.  Instead, the picture conveys a latte and these words will speak for it.

Coffee Shop:
Sojourners Coffee & Tea
http://sojoscoffee.com
1501 S Holly st
Denver, CO 80222

Date Visited:
Monday, November 7, 2016
About 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Purchased:
12 oz Almond Milk Maple Latte: $3.93*
0.69 cent charge for almond milk

*This is actually the price for a regular latte.  I saw the the sign that described a "maple latte" after I had ordered and immediately asked if I could upgrade (actually, asked if it was made with real maple syrup and when I got a yes, IMMEDIATELY asked if I could upgrade because it was an ACTUAL MAPLE SYRUP LATTE).  The barista making my drink said he would put the maple syrup in.

A maple syrup latte is the best idea.  I don't know why I have never seen it before.  (I concede that one possibility is because I have been unobservant.)  Anyway, I had never had one and this was my first experience.

This latte was among the best lattes I have ever had.  As in, it is in the running for the best latte I have ever had.  I believe that much of this was due to the fact that it was a maple syrup latte.  So I can't really compare their latte with lattes from other places.  It's just in a class of it's own.  But I can give them credit for making a maple syrup latte that was delicious!  It was very good with almond milk, good flavor pairing, and just all-round delicious.  The foam was nice.  It was a very comfy-feeling drink.  Maple syrup is a pretty cool flavor in general, but used like this, there was a journey of flavors in the latte and it was fun, even though it was still mellow.  It was sweet, but not too sweet and not overpowering.  Still more like a latte than on the super sweet mocha side of things.  It was warm and cozy and delicious.

I would love to have this be a holiday drink staple.  But not just for the holidays.

The latte art wasn't much...so I do have to say that there is room for improvement in the whole experience because a beautifully crafted piece of latte art would have completed the scene very fittingly.

The shop was a pretty nice place to work as well.  There was quite a bit of seating and it had a cozy/productive blend of an atmosphere going on.  It seemed like the kind of place people like to come hang out and work at.  It was comfortable to do, but would also be nice to sit and chat or whatever too.  It was mostly smaller tables with a couple comfy chairs.

When I arrived I checked out the menu and was thinking I would get a standard drink.  I sort of wanted a cappuccino, but I asked about the charge for almond milk substitution and it was still .75 cents (including tax, I guess - the receipt said 0.69) and it just irritates me SO MUCH to pay such a large percentage of the drink to have a few ounces of a different milk. It's not even like it's ADDED, it's just a different thing INSTEAD.  So I'm always like "Fine, I'll just get a latte."  At least then I'm actually getting a decent amount of almond milk for the SAME PRICE.  Even though it would STILL be the same price for a large latte, which is like TWICE AS MUCH milk.  Okay, anyway.  I decided on a latte.

Their holiday drink list was on a board that was near the counter where I ordered, so I did not see it until I walked back away.  I usually don't pay a lot of attention to holiday drinks because I'm not into fake syrups, and that's usually what they are - a bunch of flavorings and whipped cream or something, so I just don't generally get them.  But then came the glorious moment when I saw a latte and the word "maple".  I wish I remembered if it had a better name than "maple latte", but I was too distracted by the enticing existence of a maple syrup latte.  So I asked about it and upgraded and it was delicious.

Overall, and awesome drink and a nice atmosphere.

Wifi was decent.

There is a parking lot shared with neighboring businesses.  I got the only spot that was available, after someone pulled out.  So the lot does not seem sufficient.  However, I did not investigate nearby street parking since I got a spot.

ALSO. Also.  I can now add another important piece of information about these adventures.

This location is a pokestop.  (And an Ingress portal.)
(To be clear, Sojourners isn't just in the vicinity of one, it IS one.)

39 - Watercourse Foods, Denver

They have very pretty food and drinks.

"Coffee Shop:"
Watercourse Foods
Vegan Comfort Food
http://www.watercoursefoods.com/
837 E 17th ave
Denver, CO 80218

Date Visited:
Sunday, November 6, 2016
About 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Purchased:
8 oz pumpkin latte with coconut milk: $4.50
+ food

This place is a restaurant.  But they have coffee and wifi.

The Watercourse menu promised light and fluffy pancakes and that was the primary reason for this visit.  Our expectations were lofty and Watercourse delivered!  Also everything was really pretty.  The pancakes were awesome and we also got home fries, which were awesome too.

But on to the coffee.  I got a pumpkin latte.  Every year I do this thing where I want to get pumpkin things because they sound so good and festive, and then have to come to terms with the fact that I don't actually like pumpkin things.  I don't even really like pumpkin pie, although it has grown on me and I enjoy a short experience of eating it because it is exciting and festive.  It's not bad, but I just don't enjoy it that much.  I actually DISlike fake pumpkin-flavored things and don't mess with that stuff, but I checked and Watercourse uses pumpkin puree and that sounded exciting and festive for a latte so I decided it was time for this year's due diligence into pumpkin adventures with a latte.

There just wasn't much chance that my reaction was going to be something other than, "that's not too bad."  And that's basically how I felt.  However, the latte was a bit of an adventure.

I told the waitress that I was guessing it would be best with almond milk, since I thought coconut milk might be too much of a contrasting taste, but asked her opinion.  She specifically pointed out that she liked it with coconut (I hadn't mentioned my coconut thoughts aloud).  So I settled upon the choice of a coconut milk pumpkin latte.

A very pretty latte.

My first reaction was that it was decent.  Well, that was my first reaction after I tasted it.  My very first reaction was that it was very pretty.  I don't think the picture captures quite how nice and smooth and artsy it looked.  It was very pretty.

There was a lot going on with the flavor and I was turned off by some of the layers.  There was a general, wholesome pumpkin taste, along with espresso, and quite a strong sour taste, which I think was the root of the aspect I didn't like.  It was very creamy, which I particularly noted since coconut milk products are sometime more watery than those with almond milk (I personally think that this is because people make them less often so there is generally less finesse or proportions are off - or likely they use subpar milk - because coconut milk is so creamy).  I think the pumpkin added to the creaminess.

As I reached the end of the drink is suddenly got VERY STRONG.  But also better.  I think that it was not mixed well and a lot had settled to the ground.  The last part of the latte was very sweet and not very sour.  The pumpkin wasn't as obvious and the "regular latte" taste had faded.

Again, it was REALLY STRONG at the end.  I could barely drink it without making reactionary faces.  But it was good, just on overload.

So the latte was an adventure.  I wonder what it would have tasted like if I had stirred it so that the flavors were well mixed.  It would definitely have been better.  Overall it was a reasonably enjoyable pumpkin adventure.  If I had gotten the full mixed experience I believe I would have considered it a rather enjoyable pumpkin experience.

The restaurant was an all right place to hang out.  They have outdoor seating as well, but we sat inside.  It's sort of weirdly lit and even the natural light was blocked from where we were, so it was too dark, even though it was daytime (or, especially because it was daytime it felt darker than it should have).  We sat in a booth and it wan't especially comfortable, but there was nothing wrong with it.

So it was a decent place to eat and hang out with really pretty food and a worthwhile pumpkin adventure.

They have wifi, but I hardly used it.

They don't have parking, but there was street parking in the near vicinity.  It's free, and normally limited to two hours, but we were there on a Sunday so it wasn't.  It seems like it would be reasonable to expect to find a spot within  a couple of blocks, even if it was busier.

38 - The original Ink! Coffee, Aspen (...Aspen)

Coffee shop...and outdoor store.

Coffee Shop:
Ink! Coffee
http://inkcoffee.com/locations/aspen/
520 E Durant ave
Apen, CO 81611

Date Visited:
Monday, August 22, 2016
About 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Purchased:
12 oz Almond Milk Latte: $5.85*
*It was $5.85 total.  The original price was $4.55.  I don't know how much of the difference was almond milk and how much was tax.  They didn't offer a receipt!  I looked for the charge and couldn't find it.

It's obviously too high, though.  But I'm in Aspen.

Though it doesn't make it better, locally it fits in to charge extra for whatever just because people will do it.  People are annoying like that.

I also would have stayed a little bit longer, but I had to go get my car.  Parking is ridiculous.  But I'm in Aspen.

You wouldn't get coffee here unless you were already in Aspen.  But in order to have time to wander and do things like hang out at coffee shops, there are a couple of options.  You can take the bus into the city from the Brush Creek Intercept Lot, where parking is free and the bus is free into Aspen (and back later).  It runs frequently.  You can also park in a residential area for $8 for the day.  The areas are marked residential and away from the city core, but totally walkable to anywhere.  There is also a parking garage, which is more expensive, and parking at pay stations in the city core, which is ridiculously ridiculous.  It goes up more each hour you purchase.  It's not even an option.

You can also park in the residential areas for free for two hours.  If you want an additional 2 hours, you have to move your car to a different zone, not just around the block, but it's not that bad.  This is what I did during the Ink! visit, so i had to get back to my car by 4:00.

The experience was a bit better than my previous Ink! experience (16th st mall in Denver), but not by a lot.  The latte tasted a bit better in Denver actually, but the latte experience was such a weird fiasco there that neither place comes out ahead.  They were very automatically going for the paper cups, but I asked for a "for here" cup and they did have it.  Though it definitely wasn't the norm.  You can see that not much care was put into the latte art even in the nicer cup...

Ha.

It was decent.  Not great, but better than some.  Espresso-wise, it smelled nice.  The taste wasn't very memorable and the smell unfortunately didn't linger.  Overall, everything was pretty average.

The shop was an okay place to work, but not great.  It's kind of awesome because it's also an outdoor store.  They have backpacks, bike stuff, hike stuff, ski stuff, lots of stuff.  It is very close to the gondola on the mountain and I'm sure it's busy in the winter.  The shop has kind of a retail feel, which the outdoor stuff contributed to.

There were no really comfy places to sit, but it wasn't bad.  The furniture is kind of old or used, torn and stuff.  No place felt "out of the way".  It was kind of hard to get in the zone of working.  The atmosphere was okay for some quick tasks, but pretty bad for creativity.  The outdoor area was fairly nice, though I didn't sit there.  It wasn't special for Aspen, since most outdoor places in Aspen are nice because there is a beautiful mountain view everywhere and there's a relaxed vibe.  So Ink! naturally has that.  The seating was also back from the road and down some stairs, which is nice since the road is a through street.

The paper-cup-default-not-latte-art fit with the atmosphere.  It's not really tailored to sit and savor.  I'm sure it thrives as a great place to stop in and get a hot drink and warm up and talk for half an hour after skiing or something.  So the context definitely affects things.  The shop isn't classy-craft-delicious-comfy-coffee-atmosphere, but it's not bad for what it is.  Although I expected more from Ink! in general given their blurbs on roasting coffee, quality, etc.  It definitely trends chain-like.  Maybe that has shifted over time, but if it maintained non-chain roots anywhere I would have expected it at the original shop.

I wouldn't specially return, but I wouldn't be especially opposed if it came up.  The experience was pretty neutral, but more Aspen-expensive.  I didn't like hanging out there that much.  It also wasn't great for work, and there was stuff going on that detracted from the atmosphere, but it's not bad for Aspen.  There isn't a place in the area that's significantly better that I know of.  So for the local area it's the norm, but compared to the Denver-norm it's not great.

No wi-fi issues.

37 - Illegal Grounds, Denver

Coffee Shop:
Illegal Grounds Coffee House
http://illegalgroundscoffeehouse.com
925 E 17th ave
Denver CO 80218

Date Visited:
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
About 12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Purchased:
12 oz Almond Milk Latte: $3.35
(.50 charge for almond milk)

The space here was the best thing.  It's an awesome, quaint coffee shop with comfortable, nice seating arrangements and a relaxed atmosphere.  There were a few couch options and a number of tables.  Nice layout.  The furniture was nice, but it was still a low-key place.  The art was cool.  Although it wasn't being used, there was a piano in one room.  Nice touch.

It was comfortable and homey.  And I really liked the music.  It was chill, classic stuff, and wasn't just generic.  I had the feeling the barista was just playing whatever she wanted.  It went through a Paul Simon album I think, then was a compilation of stuff from the 30s and Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong.  It was a relaxing place.

The outdoor seating looked pretty great, even though I sat inside.  It is maybe the best I have seen (though I haven't been keeping track).  There were multiple tables, it was nice and shady with some greenery, and it was set back from the road.  The road is busy, but tolerable.  There was also a bench up on the porch.  It would be a really nice place to hang out outside.

My latte was nothing special.  It didn't really taste like anything.  It wasn't great and it had a bit of the bad almond milk taste that I don't like it in, but the taste wasn't overwhelming, so it wasn't gross.  There wasn't any distinct good taste from the espresso or the milk.  It wasn't very creamy, but it wasn't overly watery.  It was just pretty bland and not great.  I did leave a bit that I didn't finish, which is pretty rare for me (unless I am saving it for later).

So this is not a "coffee" place, but it is a really nice place to hang out for the space.

I asked if they cold-brew their iced coffee, and they don't.  This helped with the decision to get a latte.  But then the latte wasn't very good either... I was kind of disappointed because their web site mentions that they want to push the limits of good coffee.  But...oh, well.  It's a nice place.

There is not lot, just free 2hr street parking in the vicinity.  I was there for less than two hours, but it would have been easy to move my car if necessary.

No wi-fi issues.

36 - Boxcar Coffee Roasters, Boulder

Coffee Shop:
Boxcar Coffee Roasters - Boulder location
http://www.boxcarcoffeeroasters.com/
1825 Pearl st
Boulder, CO 80302

Date Visited:
Monday, July 11, 2016
About 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Purchased:
Small (12 oz) Cold Brew Coffee: $2.75

Boxcar Coffee Roasters has a location in Denver (in The Source), but it started in Boulder so I went to the original (the source...ha.).

It had kind of a different vibe.  The shop was very retail-oriented, so there was a lot going on that wasn't just "coffee shop."  It seemed like they had lots of awesome stuff for sale, though I only got the coffee.  There were things to take home, and also a lot of food and bread/wine/cheese stuff.  There also seemed to be an emphasis on sandwiches and chocolate.  A lot of stuff to get for in-store or to take out/home.  And there was all sorts of coffee related merchandise (french presses, etc.).

Still, they successfully sectioned off some nice areas to sit.  I was in a section near the coffee bar (which was separate from the wine bar, sandwich bar, and main store register) and there was also another room, which was very quaint.  It had a fake tree.  And a crafted, pretty cool psuedo-secluded vibe going on.  I was shielded on one side by plants in a box, which was a nice touch.  And it did help, because the store was pretty busy and bustling, and kind of loud.  It wasn't relaxing, but it was a good atmosphere in a fun sort of way.  The walls were brick and there was cool art.  There was sort of a token outside seating area, but it didn't look that great and no one was sitting there.  It was just one or two tables and some chairs set on the sidewalk.

I smelled awesome a few time when they ground coffee beans.  (It wasn't as pervasive as it is in some shops, but the smell of coffee beans is always great.)

The cold brew I ordered was their house blend (number seven, I am almost sure the barista said).  I thought that it was really good black.  Then I thought it would be even better with creamer and sugar.  It wasn't.  It was still really good, but it didn't taste as especially distinct.  Which makes total sense, as the coffee-ness was watered down with creamer and sugar.  So, black it tasted like better than average coffee to me, but then instead of further enhancing it, the addition of cream/sugar made it taste more like other typical-but-good cold brew I have had.  Also, the ice melted really fast, which made the coffee weaker really quickly, so I'm sure that was a factor in the flavor becoming less distinctive.

The barista gave me a little cup of almond milk for me to use as creamer.  It was adorable.  It also gave me the opportunity to try the almond milk plain and it was awesome!  I think they had the Pacific barista series carton.  This stuff should be the norm because it rocks.

And. Also.  I have to point out that they willingly poured me a couple ounces of almond milk, as pretty much any place would do.  Yet so many places would charge .75 cents or something unreasonable for that same amount, were I to order it in a cortado or something...  It's just not consistent.  Not a specific knock against Boxcar (and I didn't see what/if they charge)...just taking the opportunity to mention it...

They asked me if it was for here or to go and gave me a glass by default.

The cold brew was really good and based on my impression, plus the far more reliable business of the store, it seems like a good place to get some awesome and quality stuff.  But even considering that they did a really good job with the seating areas, it wouldn't be my first choice as a place to hang out.

No wi-fi issues.

I did not have to worry about parking because I was dropped off and wandering around downtown Boulder.  Whoo!  But there was free 3 hr parking on the side streets, limited to three hours per day per zone (so moving the car down the block wouldn't be an option to stay longer).  But there were also meters out front.


A discerning reader will notice that this was my second coffee shop of the day.  I was at The Laughing Goat that morning, but I had a little bit of time at the end of the day so I checked out Boxcar also.

35 - The Laughing Goat, Boulder

Coffee Shop:
The Laughing Goat Coffeehouse (on Pearl St)
http://thelaughinggoat.com/
1709 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302

Date Visited:
Monday, July 11, 2016
About 7:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Purchased:
12 oz hemp milk mocha: $4.31
(.55 cent charge for hemp milk)
(HEMP MILK)

WHAT.  This is not something I can get just anywhere!  HEMP MILK *MOCHA*.  Just emphasizing.

While I was perusing the menu I saw that they have hemp milk, which I have NEVER HAD WITH COFFEE BEFORE.  Brand new adventure right off the bat.  The barista was waiting and asked what I would like.  I said that I wanted something espresso, but was deciding.  She said they have really good mochas.  I asked if the chocolate syrup is vegan.  She said it is.  And the hemp milk mocha was brought into my life!

They source organic chocolate from a small farm in Ghana.  Then they just add some cane sugar to make the syrup.

So I ordered a 12 oz (smallest size) hemp milk mocha.

Not really physically beautiful, but beautiful that it exists.

The latte art was not beautiful, but it was entertaining.  There was also hardly any foam, so I am guessing that the hemp milk didn't foam very well.  Maybe it doesn't foam well by nature, or maybe people aren't used to the specific techniques of hemp milk.  Hemp milk can be very nice and creamy, so I think it has a lot of potential in this context.

First, it was awesome to try hemp milk with espresso.  Hemp milk has kind of a distinct background taste.  It seems sort of bitter to me, or maybe just nutty. [Ooh, I was just skimming some hemp milk information and I cam across the flavor description "maltiness".  I like it and mostly agree.  There is a hint of background maltiness.  But I don't think that sums up the whole background taste.]  Since I was also trying it for the first time as a mocha it was a little hard to pick apart the espresso/milk/chocolate tastes, but the overall blend was really cool and unique.  I don't think it was my favorite blend of flavors, but it was still really exciting to try and good enough that the excitement did not diminish.  The taste also really grew on me as I drank it, so I think some of the reason it didn't immediately strike me as amazingly delicious was that it's just a "different" sort of taste that took me a little bit to get used to and expect.  I think hemp milk tastes less "traditional," but a lot of that is probably just because it isn't commonly used.

Also, a note - hemp milk isn't as common and it can be a bit more expensive, so I think a .55 cent extra charge is reasonable.  But I think they have the same charge for the other nut milks as well.

I don't think the hemp milk paired very well with the chocolate.  So even though I was very excited about these two choices, they may not be the best together.  Both have their own strong, distinct flavors, which are on separate parts of the flavor spectrum, or perhaps on different spectra.  I think they competed a bit instead of adding to each other.  It sounded like their chocolate syrup is just plain chocolate and sugar, so very dark, which would be less creamy/smooth and pretty strong, so especially considering this it makes sense that it wouldn't blend as well with another significantly different strong flavor.  So I think it's awesome that hemp milk/espresso things can exist here, but I don't think I would get it with a mocha again.  I am guessing I would have loved hemp milk more on its own, but I can't be sure.  I also have to agree with the barista that they have really good mochas.  I think I would have loved the mocha more with a different milk as well.  But I am really happy that I tried the combination and got both.

And I was still really happy with my drink.  Even though I think it could have been better, I did like it.  As I drank it I think I got more of the chocolate taste first, then more of the hemp milk taste as I swallowed.  So it was just kind of a weird transition.  Upon separating the flavors and thinking carefully, I think that I LOVED the chocolate, so extra plus for their awesome mochas, and was mostly ambivalent to the hemp milk.  So I think hemp milk is a really cool option, but not must-have.  Although I would really like to try it with a regular latte/cappuccino sometime as well.  I think that I would prefer it to soy milk, and it's definitely healthier.  Hemp milk is one of the healthiest milks.

This coffee shop is so awesome and such a great place to hang out.  And it is called The Laughing Goat.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Does it get better than that?  I think it can, but I also think this is a point that could be argued.  One note - they serve Kaladi Coffee, so even though I was in Boulder I still got Kaladi Coffee from Denver.

It's a really big space with a lot of seating.  Most of the tables are little "two-person" tables.  I put quotes because there are two chairs and two people could sit, but the tables are really small.  They are a good size for one person.  Two people could easily sit with drinks and talk, but if two people had laptops or other things to work with it would be inconveniently, perhaps impractically, crowded.  This isn't a detriment though.  There are other seize seating options and it would also be easy for two people to sit "together" at separate tables.

The seating areas are pretty crowded with tables and chairs, but it is navigable and they make it work so it feels cozy.  I sat toward the front of the coffee shop so I could be near the windows, but there was a really large area in the back.  There is a stage area for events at night and they can rearrange the chairs/tables to really get an "audience" feel.  I think this would be a really cool place to hang out and listen to music as well, though I have not.  (I have been here one other time.)  There is also a nice little outdoor area out front, which was popular and full.  It was mostly shady, with some sun.  It's on a main street in downtown Boulder, but it's not a really fast or loud road, and the railing, sidewalk, tree, and parked cars give a little bit of a buffer so I think it's the sort of outdoor area that I would enjoy.  It's an awesome street - lots of cool shops and stuff.

Their fountain to get water out of is very quaint.

They asked me if the drink was for here or to go and gave me the mug by default.  They also have recycling and compost.

This was also a fun visit because I always want to get to coffee shops very early, but don't do it very often - this time I got here less than an hour after they opened.  It was pretty quiet and relaxed, then I got to watch it get busy and see the line grow.  It was pretty busy after about 9:00.  The majority of the plentiful seats were filled.  It was busy in a cheerful sort of way.

The wi-fi was slow, though not intolerable, and it seemed reliable even when it was slow.  There were a couple times when it was annoyingly slow, but mostly it was okay.

Ha - I actually did not deal with parking this time.  I was dropped off.  But I think the only option is street parking.  It was pretty busy so the best option is probably a block or two away off the main street (I think it's all time-limited in the near area until 6pm or something).

34 - Metropolis Coffee (Golden Triangle), Denver

Awesome coffee shop.

Coffee Shop:
Metropolis Coffee - Golden Triangle
http://www.metropolisdenver.com/golden-triangle
300 W 11th ave
Denver, CO 80204

Date Visited:
Thursday, July 7, 2016
About 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

Purchased:
Almond Milk Cappuccino: $3.45

The almond milk charge on the menu was .75/1.00 under the latte sizes, for medium/large.  I asked what it was for a cappuccino, since it is less milk.  The barista said that on the register is was actually .85 cents, but he said he would do .50 for the cappuccino, since it's small.  I appreciated the internal consistency.  (It never hurts to ask. But if they think it's reasonable they should just HAVE IT LIKE THAT.)

Metropolis currently has three locations and this is the original.  Their web site says it "has become a standard coffee watering hole for local residents before heading into Downtown or the Denver Art Museum."  In making the most of the experience, I paired this visit with a visit to the art museum, though I went after instead of before.  I got to the coffee shop just after 5:00.  They close at 6:00 p.m. so I thought I would have at least an hour, which is a shorter time than I generally spend to hang out somewhere, but I figured it would still be sufficient and I had psyched myself up for some good coffee.  However...they were very not-busy so the barista was checking to see if he could close early.  He did warn me and said it would probably be about 5:30...but I had less time with the coffee and atmosphere than I was expecting.  I was already there and had been planning on trying it, so I went ahead and stayed.  (Granted, no one was there when I arrived and I asked if they were indeed open.  Five people came in after me.  One left just before I did, the others got their drinks to go and sat outside.)

He DID give me a free empanada that he said he wouldn't end up selling as consolation.  And then before I left he offered me the other leftover one as well.  So...I did get consolation.  And it was really good!  They were both corn empanadas.  (Note - it wasn't a vegan empanada, but it was vegetarian.  If it is free food that will get thrown out anyway, then I sometimes eat it anyway, definitely not with meat, but sometimes with cheese or something.  Non-waste is the most vegan thing.)

He also gave me heads up ten minutes before he was actually going to close, so I could know a bit in advance.  It ended up being 5:45, but I rushed a bit with the cappuccino since I hadn't known what the timeframe would be.  Anyway...this is SORT OF understandable and it only resulted in a lack of 15 minutes of time, so it wasn't a huge deal, but it affected my visit.  And like...I think if a business has posted hours then it's really annoying when they don't follow those hours.  Maybe it only inconveniences a few people, but what if someone was in the area and had fifteen minutes to get a coffee before two shops closed...and then they walked to a shop that had closed early and then had no time to go to the other shop?  That just sucks.  Or like...cough...you plan to go to a coffee shop after a museum and think you have until 6:00 and then you don't...cough...  It's annoying.  I was compensated and it didn't end up being that big of a deal for me, and maybe it's not that bad in general, but it's still significant to point out as annoying.

The cappuccino itself though.  Omg.  It was a really good cappuccino.  It was everything my psyched-up-for-coffee self wanted.  The espresso was amazing.  It was super creamy.  The foam was soft and delicious.  It smelled like the best coffee smell there is.

It's adorable and perfect and amazing.

It was seriously fabulous espresso.  This was coffee and espresso as art. Definitely artful in taste, and it was also one of the cutest cappuccinos I have ever seen too.

It had an awesome dark taste from the espresso, and overall there was this light, tangy, sour taste, but there was just the right amount of sweet.  Flavor blending at a PEAK.  It was so good.  So even though I was a little rushed with my cappuccino I will still say it was one of the best cappuccinos ever.  It's a candidate for the best espresso drink I have had.

This cappuccino was in an 8oz cup, so it's a bit less strong than a traditional cappuccino (if that is in fact 2oz espresso, 2oz milk 2 oz foam), though it seems this style is significantly more common.  And maybe it's my favorite.

The coffee shop was nice too.  There were a lot of cool windows and lots of light.  The building was shaded by the structure above, so there was no sharp light or glare.  It was open and spacious with very high ceilings.  There were pads hanging that I'm pretty sure were sound absorbers.  There were also exposed pipes and vents in a way that worked.  Overall it was low-key, but nice and kind of artsy.  It fit the area - especially with the art museum!  The space was relaxing and a really nice place to hang out.  Seating was almost all two-person tables, but there were two soft chairs.  It would be a really nice place to think/talk/read/hangout/work... I would have loved to hang out for a while.  The music was cool, chill background music.  The outdoor seating area seemed pretty nice as well.

No wi-fi issues.

There is 2 hr street parking in the vicinity.  I was in a $7 lot for the day a few blocks away since I also went to the art museum and out for lunch.  They don't have a parking lot.  It's downtown/garage/metered/street parking, but not the worst of it.  It seemed easy enough to park close by in a free 2 hr spot and just stop by.

33 - Ink! Coffee, 16th St. Mall, Denver (...16th Street Mall, downtown)

Coffee Shop:
Ink! Coffee
http://inkcoffee.com/locations/16th-st-mall/
618 16th St
Denver, CO 80202

Date Visited:
Sunday, July 3, 2016
About 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Purchased:
*Small (12 oz) Almond Milk Latte: $4.37 (including tax) / $3.50 + almond milk charge
/Large 20 oz almond milk latte
?

*Sort of. I ordered a 12 oz almond milk latte. The barista was very enthusiastic and was talking to me while I was deciding (which was just a minute). It wasn't in the best way this time... I said I was leaning toward a latte but needed a second. She suggested iced...or something happened with iced. A few seconds later I ordered my latte with almond milk. The price was really expensive, and I asked to make sure I was getting a 12 oz. She said yes. I hadn’t found the charge for almond milk, so I figured that maybe it was a really expensive charge here or something, which I was going to be annoyed about, but I said okay. I got my receipt, which I checked, but it wasn’t itemized.

It turned out she has rung it up as an iced latte. I think I was pretty straightforward about ordering, but I guess she had ice on the brain. And she didn't say it back to me to make sure it was right (just saying this was minimally my fault, if at all). The iced latte is $5.10, while the regular latte (12 oz) is $3.50, so that explained the price difference. (I don't understand this price difference.) She might have been new because she didn’t know how to refund money (or maybe wasn’t authorized or whatever). She offered a free drink card, which probably was reasonable, but I hesitated because I didn’t know when I would be back, wanted to make sure it was good at all locations, etc. (And I think it's reasonable to just want to pay for the drink I ordered...) So she just handed me a couple of dollars. I felt kind of bad, but it wasn’t that busy and she still seemed pretty flustered, so I just tried to say thanks and let it go.

So what I know is I paid $6.37, which is the price of an iced almond milk latte, then got two dollars back. So I paid $4.37. The normal price would have been $3.50 + whatever the almond milk charge is. Then the drink they gave me was in a 20 oz cup. Which was cool I guess, but definitely too much for me in one sitting. And I don't know what I was actually drinking. I am assuming it was a regular 20 oz latte. But I don't know what that means! I don't know how much espresso was in it! I am assuming three shots. It tasted stronger than two (since I am used to 12 oz with two shots being a little weak, and this didn't seem ridiculously weak), and I would guess that they would ask about a preference for four shots BUT I DON'T KNOW. This is so hard to evaluate now! I just have to be a normal coffee person again who just drinks without thinking about espresso ratios. I DON'T KNOW HOW.

But I guess I tried a 20 oz latte for the first time. That's exciting. I don't think I would have done that on purpose.

I could have asked the barista how many shots was in it, but I didn't really want to make more demands or have more interaction. It was awkward. They were definitely nice, but the enthusiasm was approaching the overbearing side, like when I was thinking for a second. And then there was the ensuing awkwardness from the mistake. I feel like the enthusiasm overshadowed accuracy. And approachability. But I don't want to knock it too much because I don't want to knock intended friendliness. She also really seemed to know the products and coffee. I overheard her talking with other people and could tell she is into the coffee scene, which is always cool in a barista.

There also seemed to be little bits of drama happening that weren't really causes for drama (like my order). Especially after my own awkward experience it was a less fun place to hang out than I was hoping. It just wasn't as relaxed and fun. And there was a lot of loud welcoming customers and awkward upselling with drink flavors and things...that sort of thing.

The inside was pretty nice though. Multiple seating options, mostly little tables. Reasonably comfortable chairs. A couple soft chairs. I sat in a fun little alcove in the font of the store with windows on two sides, though one window just overlooked the door inlet. But more importantly I was right by the window overlooking the street, which was the 16th street mall. It was fun to people watch. Since it's right on the 16th mall it's a really cool location. I was hanging out walking around there, so the Ink! visit was part of that.

The place I was sitting at was open and cozy at the same time - a difficult and awesome balance to find. The inside was a bit small, but not overly and likely adequate for a place that has a lot of pedestrian traffic and people stopping in for a coffee to go. There was nothing really styled or artsy, but it was nice.

They don't have any non-disposable cups, which is annoying, especially for a place that's supposed to be pretty coffee-classy. Well, this is what they told me when I ordered, but there were some mugs sitting out, so maybe they just have one size.

But this is just one shop. They are a chain, but Colorado-based. They started in Aspen and roast their coffee at high altitude so it can be done at a lower temperature and bring out some unique flavors. So they have a coffee mission statement and choices and things.

And, my first 20z latte analysis:
I did like it a lot. So despite all the awkward stuff, it was a really good latte. Although I would have enjoyed it more under other circumstances (being more relaxed when I got it for one, but also a more relaxed atmosphere). So I enjoyed it a lot, but didn't really savor it. The espresso taste was smooth and really good. There was quite a lot of foam and I loved it.
And I don't know about the three shots - I drank half and I was jittery. Maybe it was delicious because it was so full of delicious espresso. But I was also kind of hungry so maybe I was super sensitive. But I feel like I drank around two shots...
The espresso blended really well with the almond milk, and the almond was really good as well. It was creamy, espresso-y, delicious, and great.
Just way to much.
However many shots were in it... Oh man, I hate not knowing details.

I did check on their cappuccinos, which are the same sizes as lattes, but with more foam. This seems to be vey common. I don't get it. But I guess cappuccino has come to just mean foam.

I also briefly asked if they have cold brew, and they don't. They hot brew their iced coffee. I always think this is a bad sign.

They have a good, giant slogan:

And ha. It's the word coffee, above everything else.

Overall I didn't like the experience that much. It was kind of a train wreck. Nothing was overly terrible and maybe it was an off day, but there was enough wrong that it just wasn't nice, even though there were nice things. It was a very good drink and there was potential and maybe it is often fine, but I wouldn't go back, especially with all of the amazing, comfy options around. I guess even though it's local and high-class, maybe they have a little bit too much of the "chain" thing going on. Maybe things are diluted and not as good as they would be.

Parking is ridiculous. It's downtown. It's the 16th street mall. No one would come here unless they were already around. I was parked about three or four blocks away from the 16th street mall. I found a metered spot, free since it was Sunday. But I mean...it's standard downtown meters and garages and things.

No wi-fi issues.

32 - Denver Bicycle Cafe

Bikes. Beer. Coffee.


Coffee Shop:
Denver Bicycle Cafe
http://denverbicyclecafe.com/
1308 E. 17th ave
Denver, CO 80218

Date Visited:
Friday, July 1, 2016
About 2:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Purchased:
almond milk cappuccino: $3.50*

*I originally tried to order a coconut milk cappuccino (which I have not yet been able to try!).  It was a DOLLAR extra for coconut milk.  I reacted, like, "Even for a cappuccino??" Because if I am going to succumb to paying that, I won't do it without reacting.  The baristas seemed to agree with me, but it's the policy.  They do take away the charge for a macchiatto, since it's just a dollop of milk.  Coconut milk can be a bit more expensive, so I get a dollar charge for, like, a 24 oz latte (maybe).  But for a few ounces? It really is ridiculous.  Standard surcharges are nothing but ridiculous.  It doesn't even make sense, it's not to prevent profit loss...it just ends up taking advantage of the fact that people will pay it.  But, as a rule, I WON'T.  A small, sensical charge is okay, but flat rates are annoying and maybe even INSULTING.  This is often why I get lattes instead of cappuccinos, because if I am going to pay that much extra ANYWAY. Ugh.  Anyway, they were actually out of coconut milk.  So I didn't get to try a coconut cappuccino.  BUT I LOVE THE SOUND OF THAT.  They decided to give me almond milk with no charge, this time.  That was nice of them.  But the store policy is still ridiculous.  I don't know how much almond milk charge is, if it's different.

--This is far from the only place that does this annoying surcharge thing, I am just pointing it out ALL THE TIME.

So then I tried my cappuccino.

I think it was pretty.  Also, the barista asked me if I wanted the special (Sweet Bloom, I think) espresso, or the house espresso.  I said house was fine.  Although since I have become an espresso snob, perhaps I should have upgraded. But I am still not sure how to make decisions about how to upgrade.  I ended up thinking that the espresso was a little too strong...but I think it is because I didn't like the espresso as much.  I will have to identify the factors that I like in espresso so I can become even more selective.

There was extra sour taste in the drink, and I'm pretty sure it was from the espresso.  That was most of what I didn't like as much.  The foam was okay, but not spectacular.  It was a little thinner, as opposed to creamy.  The foam didn't pair as well with the liquid (like when taking a drink, it didn't enhance the experience to mix them) as some other.  Other than those detractors, it was quite good.  So even though there were detractions, it held it's own.  I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but I liked it.

Okay.  This shop.

I unashamedly selected this place for its gimmick.  But it's NOT just a gimmick because it seems to pull everything off well.

It is a full-fledged bicycle shop and a full-fledged coffee shop and a full-fledged bar.

There are actually three adjacent areas that make up the business.  The subsets also have varying hours (the bar is open later, the coffee shop is open earlier), although there is a lot of overlap.  Still, it is clearly one business.  And there were totally bikes in my coffee shop.

There is a bike shop in the middle, where they do bike things (repair, tune-ups, parts, etc.), and on either side there is a coffee shop and a bar, where they do coffee shop and bar things!  There is also overlap in that people ordered beer in the "coffee shop", so the areas are not restrictive.  There is also a decent food selection.

So, anyway, I have been to a bicycle cafe.

It was a decent place to hang out.  Unique atmosphere.  But mostly like a normal coffee shop.  I am enthusiastic about having experienced the bicycle cafe, but I don't feel the urge to rush back and make it a habit or anything.  I can also see how people would regulars,though, if convenient.  It's fun.  Nice windows.  Seating options.  Pretty social place.  There is some outdoor seating set a little back from the road, but still too noisy/busy for me.

No wi-fi issues.

They don't have a parking lot.  There is 2hr street parking around, but it is also annoying because of the semi-busy through-streets and one-ways all around.  My time there was limited by the parking time limit (this is annoying).  I didn't want to deal with moving my car and going back.  But I was also okay with leaving.  I got the experience and t wasn't somewhere I particularly wanted to spend a while.  I was parked within a block, and I would have been able to park close again on another street if I had wanted to.

31 - Keith's Coffee Bar, Denver (University)

Coffee Shop:
Keith's Coffee Bar
http://keithscoffeebar.com
2450 S. Downing St
Denver, CO 80210

Date Visited:
Thursday, June 30, 2016
About 2:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Purchased:
small (12 oz) soy latte: $3.85
.70 cent charge for soy milk

I haven't had a soy latte in a few months, which is part of the reason I tried one again today.  It tasted a bit weird at first, but after I got used to the taste it was pretty decent.  I have also grown to prefer less milk with espresso, but 12 oz was the smallest size they had.

They make cappuccinos the same sizes as lattes, but with more foam, basically (the barista said).  She did say that they have 6oz glasses if I wanted a more traditional cappuccino.  (I liked that she knew what she was talking about.)  I was leaning toward this, but then I asked about how their almond milk foams and stuff and got the impression that it is "the best they can do" but it's subpar.  This made me lean back toward just getting a latte, but then the barista also mentioned that she doesn't personally like steamed almond milk because of the background roasted nut flavor - which I am guessing is the gross flavor that I don't like either.  Of course she said some people like it, but I was pretty sure I was not going to be one of those people.  I still don't know how to distinguish between when I like almond milk lattes and when I don't.  In some shops they have been soooo good.  But I am glad that the barista here mentioned the taste because I guess that I would have been disappointed.

At this indecisive juncture I asked if they cold brew their iced coffee, thinking I had made the decision to get that.  But then she said they actually hot brew it.  This is normally disgusting.  It's just coffee with ice in it.  But she said they use a particularly smooth blend and let me try it.  It was not entirely disgusting, but it wasn't very good.  So I didn't order that.

And I know at this point I sound like a totally obnoxious customer, but there was no one in line.  And I would have been content to look a the menu and think for a minute (because I had no idea what I wanted when I came in), but the barista was trying to be attentive and helpful...so then there was a conversation about me not having decided yet.

So I thought for a few more seconds and decided to get espresso since that did sound good, and to get soy milk since I hadn't tried that in a while anyway.  (I prefer almond milk and it is healthier, and I just generally avoid soy, mostly processed, although I happened to notice that the carton they had said organic, which means it is from a minority of crops that are likely more okay to eat than average, and I think that's cool.  I think they should make a note of it on the menu, because if they're using higher quality ingredients then they should let people know.  But maybe they vary it.)  I think that soy more universally handles the steaming better as well.  I haven't had a soy drink with a weird taste.

I should point out that I think they would have made me whatever drink I wanted, however I wanted. But since I was trying this place out...the point is to try out the place, so I didn't want to go off menu. So I am completely aware that I could have ordered a drink that I would have liked a bit more, and that this is a self-imposed restriction.  But...it's significant how they present their products on menu.  So this is why I got a 12 oz soy latte (as opposed to having them make a "short" 8 oz latte or something, without filling the mug).  Also...if it's going to be the same price I am annoyed with telling them to put less in it and getting charged the same.  So this way I got something on their menu and wasn't annoyed.

Okay.  So then I had my drink!

It's funny because there is a picture of latte art. But no actual latte art.

I do love that they have customized mugs.

Since I hadn't had soy in a while, there was a different flavor factor involved.  It was fun to try again. I don't like it as much as the best almond flavor, but it was decent.  The drink seemed a little weak to me, mostly from the more diluted espresso, which makes total sense.  The milk flavor was emphasized more that way.  It tasted a little weaker than other 12oz lattes I have had as well, though.  I think overall it would have melded better with stronger espresso.  I don't have strong feelings about the soy taste, it's just kind of there because that's what it is.  I guess that is part of why I don't seek it out.

Overall it was a decent drink.  It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't bad.  Even considering that it's not my favorite kind of drink, I don't think it was particularly well-crafted.  But again, it also wasn't bad.  As you can see above, the latte art was a blob.  Although I didn't have any big complaints, I just...didn't like it very much.  I would not pay for the experience again.

The barista did ask me if it was for here or to go and gave me a mug.

The coffee shop is a pretty nice place to hang out.  It's quite large, with a lot of nice, two-person tables and like eight big comfy chairs with useful end tables (this is always a significant factor), and a couple other seating styles.  It has lots of nice windows and a spacious/comfy style.  All of the furniture matches and stuff.  The art was nice.  The music was a good background.  There is an outdoor seating area, but it is next to a pretty trafficked road, so it didn't appeal to me.

Overall, it was nice to try, but I wasn't particularly attached to anything.  Decent drink.  Decent space.  Better than some, but nothing stood out to me.  The baristas were friendly.  This is definitely a good place to go in order to not be overwhelmed by craft coffee atmosphere if that sort of thing concerns you, but not because they don't know what they're doing or it's bad or something.  It's a chill place that has coffee and drinks and nice places to sit!  Personally, I wouldn't seek it out.

No wi-fi isses.

There is a small parking lot behind the coffee shop.  There are only a few spaces there.  There is free street parking around to.  Parking was not an issue while I was there, but it is summer and Keith's isn't very far from University of Denver, so the traffic (for the coffee shop and in general) might fluctuate upward a lot during terms.

30 - Fluid Coffee, Denver (Uptown)

Eclectic, nice, and chill.

Coffee Shop:
Fluid Coffee Bar
http://www.fluidcoffeebar.com/
501 E 19th ave
Denver, CO 80203

Date Visited:
Friday, June 24, 2016
About 5:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

Purchased:
8 oz Almond Milk Cappuccino: $3.50
.50 cent charge for almond milk

The cappuccinos on their menu are the same sizes as their lattes.  I asked and they are more foamy (as expected).  However, the smallest size on the menu was 12 oz and he said they also have an 8 oz.  Even though in this case I usually go for a latte, this time I got the cappuccino and went with the 8 oz.  (A .50 cent charge is really annoying when you get the smallest amount possible of the liquid in question.)  I am glad because the foam layer was my favorite part.  It was soft and snowy.

See?  It's soft and snowy.

Okay, that's mainly a cosmetic description, but it probably aided the taste as well.  It still think it tasted soft and snowy.  So my initial impression was good, but then when I started drinking mainly liquid under the foam I didn't think it was very good.  It was bland and a little sour in a weird way.  The foam was heartier and sweeter.  I quite liked it.  I tried to be better about mixing foam with liquid while I drank, which made the experience more enjoyable.  But the initial potential was not lived up to.

The atmosphere was pretty cool.  And literally (that was not intentional) - they had nicely functional air conditioning and it was also not on too high (which happens way too often...I don't get it).  It was hot outside, but I was comfortable inside without having to put my sweatshirt on (which I was only carrying around for that annoying eventuality).  There were three seating areas, which is perhaps intentional, as their door said, "meet | work | relax" and I could see how each space may theme into one of those categories.

I didn't like the area just inside the door as much.  It's really basic, just some small two-person tables organized around the floor and few seats by along table in front of a window.  I mean, totally functional.  I'm not going to knock it a lot.  It just seemed to me like seating in one of those places where people normally get stuff to go, but they have a couple of token tables just in case that no one ever really uses.  And if you sit there it's weird and not comfortable.  Maybe this is because the area is by the door and in between the barista area and the napkin/sugar/trash/etc station...so it maybe it just seemed in the middle of things.  It was a reasonably sized area though, as big as some (small) shops entire seating selection.  I am pretty sure it would have had a different mood to it if the shop had been busier.  There were only a few people there while I was, and the front area was completely empty.  With a bunch of people sitting and talking I'm sure it's nicer.

I sat in the middle area, which was super-super cool.  I don't know if they actually use it, but I sat next to a fireplace (it looked like it might be a functioning electric/gas one) with bookshelves on both sides!  In a comfy chair!  The end table where I set my coffee was the perfect height.  There was a comfy carpet.  There was also a couch and some other little tables in this area.

I was really comfortable and relaxed.  It was a really nice place to hang out.

I really liked the art hanging on the walls as well.  It was being sold, so no idea how consistent it is, but it aided the comfy/relaxed/classy atmosphere.

They also have what looked like a serious work space in the back.  I just looked in briefly while I was choosing my seat, but it contained a number of tables with single office-style chairs.  A good touch for people who want that kind of thing.  I think that this is the "meeting space" mentioned on their site that they rent by the hour.  I don't know if people can work there if it's not being used.

Overall, my drink was decent and I thought it was a really nice place to hang out, and I love the variety of atmospheres.  The music was maybe a bit loud, but not enough to be a major complaint.

They have really good wi-fi.

They don't have a parking lot, but I didn't have trouble with street parking.  I parked about a block away.  It was free and un-timed.

29 - Europa Coffeehouse, Denver

Lots of potential...but I ended up not loving it.

Coffee Shop:
Europa Coffeehouse (Cafe Europa? ...as listed on google maps)
https://www.facebook.com/europacoffeehouse/ (This is all I saw as far as web sites go.  I think they also have an instagram, maybe some other pages.)
76 S Pennsylvania St
Denver, CO 80209

Date Visited:
Thursday, June 23, 2016
About 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Purchased:
Small (8 oz) Almond Milk Latte: $3.50
No charge for almond milk!

Europa Coffeehouse was almost really nice so I would rave about all the nice things, but it wasn't quite there.  First though - it's nice.  They have outdoor seating with a large overhanging tree, which makes it pretty and shady.  There is also a large amount of seating in the sun.  And there is also ample seating inside!  So there are plenty of options.  Inside there are booths, some little tables, a long table, a bar by the window, and some soft chairs (they didn't look that comfortable to me, but I didn't try).

They also have plants!  Mostly succulents.  There are large windows that take up the front of the store and they have a variety of plants in front of the windows - a few large ones on the floor, some planter boxes in front of the bar-height seating, and some littler pots.  I love this touch.  There was also some interesting art, some unique hanging sculptures, and quirky stuff like exposed brick.

Despite all of this though...I just didn't find it that comfy.  I mean, it was adequately comfortable, but perhaps my expectations were raised by all of the potential added awesomeness.  I guess it was a variety of things - the seating wasn't that comfortable.  The chairs were all awkward aluminum-or-something one that I think I have seen before.  They feel too lightweight and uncomfortable.  There were also some other cheap-chair options.  Kind of an amalgamation.  Some of the tables were an almost-interesting polished wood, but there wasn't a them happening.  The booths looked almost good, but I saw some holes with stuffing coming out and the cushions looked a little old and lumpy (but I did not sit there, so they could be amazingly comfortable for all I know).

And worst...my table was sticky. :(  I didn't think it was too bad and it was in a nice location (I don't know, just one of those places that felt comfortable and not too exposed, okay relation to other people...coffee shop dynamics).  So I sat there.  And then I tried to wipe it with a couple napkins and it didn't help.  And like...my computer and cup and things were sticky when I moved them.  Not to complain and do nothing about it, I moved...and I had to go was my forearms before I felt reasonably not gross, because they had rested on the sticky table while I typed a little before I moved.  And I still felt sticky. :(  And then a bit later I saw someone quickly wipe a table or two...and they didn't do the sticky table.  Maybe it is hidden.  Maybe that's why I sensed I would be safe there.

Anyway, so it was little things like that - nothing individually huge, but there were some crumbs on tables, the sticky table, the old, mismatched stuff, multiple chairs and benches were off balance so they would rock back and forth, and it felt kind of dusty and not clean.  And the cool art was kind of weirdly placed.  Things were haphazard instead of awesome.  The bathrooms, while not "gross" were not really "clean".  My water cup smelled weird...I don't know.  In general it seemed like the place lacked care, but with care it could be cool.

Some of the music was nice and chill, but it seemed a little too loud and changed a little too often.

My latte was really good.  And they didn't charge for almond milk! So that injected a dose of positivity into my impression.  The latte had a distinctive layer of good foam, and a nice, strong espresso taste.  It was creamy and not sweet, in a good way.  In general, this place seems to know what they are doing, but not quite on the amazing craft coffee side of the spectrum.  I thought my latte was among the better that I have had, but not at the level of "amazing and special."

The latte art wasn't amazing.  She did ask if it was for here or to go, and gave me a "for here" mug.

The barista was friendly.  I asked about the cappuccino as well.  Here they come in the same sizes as lattes, but are foamy.  The latte that I had was basically how I like cappuccinos, just a little weaker on the espresso side (since it was 8oz instead of 6oz).  I was a bit indecisive because I was thinking espresso, but then I saw that they have matcha/green tea lattes.  The barista said they were new.  So I almost got one of those!  But went with the latte.

Overall, this place was worth seeing and I'm glad I had a good latte, but I wouldn't rush back.

No wi-fi issues.

There is free parking on the street and there is also a lot across the street from the coffee shop.  They share it with other businesses and I think one side was exclusively for a different place.  But there is a sign that says parking for Cafe Europa.  I was a little nervous parking too far away from the sign because there was another sign for a different business down the line...if there is supposed to be a distinction, it wasn't clearly marked.  But in general parking didn't seem to be too much of an issue.

28 - Novo Coffee, Denver (Downtown)

I had high expectations.  I found those expectations well-deserved!

Coffee Shop:
Novo Coffee Glenarm
http://novocoffee.com
1600 Glenarm Pl
Denver, CO 80202

Date Visited:
Sunday, June 12, 2016
About 9:45 a.m. -  1:30 p.m.

Purchased:
Cappuccino: $4.00
(.50 cent charge for almond milk)

Mmmmm this was a delicious cappuccino.  When I say I want a cappuccino, this is what I want.

I asked how they made it and they said it was in a 6 oz cup (2 shots espresso, like normal) and didn't have a lot of foam.  This sounded good so I tried another cappuccino!  And it was DELICIOUS.

Novo Coffee is a pretty big deal around here.  Pretty big roastery, lots of places use their coffee - I had high expectations.  The high expectations were MET.

The espresso taste was amazing.  The blend of espresso with the milk was amazing.  This was an amazing cappuccino.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of the foam idea in general, this was the sort of foam that I get that one would want a tangible amount of.  Or maybe it was the perfect amount that I didn't get sick of and left me with a nice strong drink.  But I think I would still have a liked more foam (though didn't actively want it, just if it was there that would have been cool too).

It had a weirdly awesome sour taste in it.  I don't think I've noticed this since I got the latte at Corvus.  I don't know that I would like this feature all the time (and it's totally not the same as bad sour, which unfortunately I think I have run across more times for the whole drink), but it's been really good the times it showed up, like this one.

Almond Milk Cappuccino

As is apparent...the latte art was seriously lacking...  So it wasn't beautiful, but it was still delicious.

So yes, their coffee lives up to their reputation.  At least what I thought their reputation was.  It was really good.

The shop was a pretty nice place to hang out.  A decent amount of seating, but still managed a spacious feel.  There was some outdoor seating, which was pretty popular, even though I wouldn't like it since it's next to the street.  It was mostly little table/booths or bar seating.  I really liked their big windows.  I thought it was relaxing, but don't know if that would be the case on a busy weekday or something.  I liked hanging out.

One sad point - they have vegan empanadas and I wanted to try one!  ...But they didn't have any when I was there. :(  They did have a vegan poptart thing, but I just decided not to get food.  Wasn't as in the mood for something sweet.

Parking was ridiculous and difficult.  It's downtown off the 16th street mall.  This is why I went on a Sunday morning.  (Most people would not go only to get coffee.  Indeed, I also walked around the 16th street mall afterward for a bit, but this journey was mainly to finally try Novo Coffee.)  It was a Sunday morning (to reiterate).  Parking was still ridiculous.  I had to drive around for 7 minutes to find a parking space and it was 3 blocks away.  I did time it, and I especially noticed because traffic getting there was so good, but parking was STILL ridiculous.  I mean, I probably could have paid $12 for a garage, but I was not going to do that.  Anyway, they don't have a lot, so it's metered or garages.  I at least eventually find the "metered" spot, but since it was a Sunday it was free and I could stay there as long as I wanted.  So it's understandable why everyone else was doing the same thing. :)

No wi-fi issues.

27 - Weathervane Cafe, Denver

Great place!

Coffee Shop:
Weathervane Cafe
http://www.weathervanecafe.com
1725 E 17th ave
Denver, CO 80218

Date Visited:
Saturday, June 11, 2016
About 4:45 p.m. -  6:00 p.m.

Purchased:
Medium (12 oz) Cold Brew: $3.00

This place is awesome!  I would have loved to hang out for a long time, but I didn't stop by until later and they close at 6:00.  It's so cute and great.  The building is sort of older, so it has that kind of character - like creaky wood stairs.  But mainly it is so styled with the BEST character.

There are multiple rooms, all pretty small, and an upstairs balcony.  Each room has its own little cool feel and the whole shop feels like a great little nook to curl up in with a book or something. AND COFFEE.  I was actually there on a really hot day and DEFINITELY ordered a cold brew.  While I was there it was nice and cool inside.  Such a great place to escape for a while.  I loved it.

This actually isn't where I was sitting, but here is one of the awesome rooms.  IT'S GREAT.

I didn't take a good look, but it seems like they have a decent selection of food, as well.  And lots of drink options.  I was definitely getting cold brew.  And it was good cold brew!  I don't think it was especially special, but it was fairly dark and strong and it was really great to blend with a bit of cream and sugar.  I got my sweet/bitter/awesome cold brew flavor going on.  It was really good for that.

Especially good on a hot day.

It was pretty quiet while I was there.  And there was just one person working, but she was friendly and it seemed to have a friendly vibe overall.  Just a cool place!

Parking was kind of hard, though not overly difficult.  They do no have a lot.  It seemed to be all 2 hr parking in the vicinity, but it wasn't metered.  I was there for less than 2 hours this time, but it would be annoying in general.  The main annoyance (after not having a lot and having to deal with 2 hr street parking) is that they are on a one-way street, so I ended up accidentally circling the block a second time...

No wi-fi issues.

Black, Black Coffee at Black Black Coffee

Coffee Shop:
Black Black Coffee
http://www.blackblackcoffee.com
3459 Ringsby Ct
Denver, CO 80216

Date Visited:
Friday, June 10, 2016
About 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Purchased:
Pourover: $3.75
Quinoa: $3.00

I had to make sure that I actually tried a regular, black coffee at Black Black Coffee.  So today I did!

Black Coffee!

I do have to say that it was an above average coffee.  Even though I think I have discovered that I just don't have strong opinions on regular, hot coffee, I could see myself enjoyably curled up with a cup of this coffee.  I would believe that this is how coffee is supposed to be.

Unfortunately I planned this badly and it was a really, really hot day.  So of course I picked that day to get hot coffee.  I also drank a lot of ice water.  I feel like that messed with the overall experience just a little bit.

I thought about getting an Aeropress coffee because I have never tried that brew method.  The coffee is inside a little container with the water and another piece is pushed in and adds some pressure, then the brewed coffee filters out the bottom.  The barista said it ended up a bit milder than other methods.  But I decided to go with a pourover because that is their go-to method and it's what I would be able to compare best.

It was good coffee (see, I just can't have strong feelings).  There was a little too much sourness for me to perfectly enjoy (but I think this is normal coffee that people like), but otherwise it had a really smooth taste.  I wasn't turned off by any bitterness at all.  There were layers of flavor - it was a good adventure.  Most of the sourness came in as an aftertaste.  I almost want to say it was a bit fruity, but I'm not sure if that's accurate.  It was more like drinking it leaned toward the direction of how it is to drink juice or tea or a smoothie or something.  Like, in addition to being coffee, it was also just a drink.  Maybe it's a testament to how much bad coffee there is that it can be a different category than "drink."  But this one was a drink.

Overall it was one of the best coffees I have had.  And I am not content to know that plain coffee just isn't something I have strong feelings about.  However, it was a fun experience to have really good plain coffee.

I also got a side of quinoa as a snack.  It was good - slightly better than I was expecting because the small veggies inside were crisper or fresher than I figured they would be.  (Hooray for low expectations!)  Anyway, it was a good, convenient snack.