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.