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.