49 - Amethyst Coffee Company, Denver (Broadway Location)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gorgeous.

It was gorgeous.

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

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

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

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

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

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

They also have an amazing plant.

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

No wi-fi issues.

48 - Whittier Cafe, Denver (Whittier)

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

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

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

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

It says, "This is my happy place!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No wi-fi issues.

47 - Coffee Lab at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Museum latte

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

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

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

Approve.

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

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

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

46 - Coffee Theorem (Parker)

This place is amazing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

So. This coffee shop.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soooo subtle and unassuming. Ridiculously so.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Again, this is what she apologized for.

I love this place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

45 - Huckleberry Roasters (Denver, Sunnyside location)

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

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

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

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

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

This latte was soooo good.

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

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

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

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

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

Millenial Brekkie Premium Toast

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

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

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

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

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

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

No wifi issues.

44 - Cherry Bean (Denver - Sunnyside Location)

Cherry Bean! It's super cute! (I'll be real, I forgot to take this picture, then took it from my car, parked awkwardly across the street, so now I have to own up to it so this place doesn't appear less cute. This-picture-done-well-from-the-corner-instead is right on the main page of their web site though. I obviously wasn't trying very hard. I apologize to the integrity of this blog.)

Coffee Shop:
Cherry Bean Coffee
https://www.cherrybeancoffee.co/
4059 Tejon Street  Denver
Colorado, 80211

Date Visited:
Friday, December 21, 2018
About 3:30 p.m. -  5:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 22, 2018
About 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Purchased:
Nothing! Haha! I was in a cool airbnb that covered a morning coffee, so I checked it out twice for comparison and didn't buy anything, but here are the details:

day 1 - 12 oz oat milk latte
day 2 - 12 oz peppermint oil almond milk latte

latte: $3.75 base
$1.00 charge for oat milk

peppermint oil latte base: $4.00
$.80 cent charge for almond milk

The extra charges are a little overboard, especially because I think whole milk is standard! It definitely gave me a getting-away-with-it-because-they-can vibe. .80 cents is pushing it (especially when it's the same for a little cappuccino or a 20 oz latte). Oat milk is a dollar and the others are a .80 cents, which means they put some kind of thought into it, but they do not get points for reasonableness and are willingly part of the system of unreasonableness.

Okay my first general comment though: This place is awesome.  If I had any kind of ranking system or sensical way to keep track of things, I'm sure this would be up there for something like a "best overall" category.

Their cappuccino looked legit (6 oz they know what's up) so I kind of wanted that, but since they have oat milk and also seemed to know what they're doing espresso-wise, I decided to compare almond and oat milk lattes back to back (since I was coming two days in a row). Then I complicated this by getting a peppermint oil latte with one of them. Oh, well.  Not only do they seem to know what they're doing espresso-wise, but they had one of the coolest menus I've ever seen.  I had to try a little of both sides, even though I was focusing on espresso/basic lattes.

Oat milk latte

They have ALL sorts of cool stuff.  I was very intrigued by the "lattes" that don't have espresso, but instead cool blends of things like spirulina or turmeric, and health-kick-type-things. But like, with latte art. Omg.  They also have smoothies and some other stuff. So SUCH a cool menu to draw from.  The peppermint oil latte was one of their "specialty drinks" so I decided it was a good representative sample. I'm sure there are a lot of things that taste good without being too health-kicky too. So awesome place to go, whether you want caffeine or not.

So far in my oat milk latte adventures, I think that oat milk is awesome. I don't know if I have liked any better than the best cappuccinos (or lattes) I have ever had, but I think I like them more consistently.  In this almost-direct-comparison I liked the oat milk better than the almond milk.  However, I had the peppermint oil in the almond milk, so maybe I didn't like the peppermint oil effect. But I think it was as expected (and I think I would have liked it better in the oat milk).

Peppermint Oil Almond Milk Latte

Both lattes were very good.  I did like the oat milk better, but the almond milk was a really good savory kind of latte, as in not sweet, focused on the espresso instead of sweetness/syrups/etc., which is nice when done well.  Oat milk is naturally sweeter, so I didn't notice as much with that one. There was none of the burned-taste that I often complain about with almond-milk-done-not-well.  It was hearty and not sweet, without being bitter. The peppermint oil added a little smoothness I think (and, of course, peppermint flavor). Good experience. The foam was nice and creamy.

Although I was not at the point of raving about how they are the best drinks I've ever had, they were really good!  And this place had so many options that they apparently do very well!  It's also super cute on the street-corner (there's a little outdoor seating, but...December), and it's such a nice atmosphere!  It somehow manages to look equally appealing for chilling and talking to friends, or sitting alone with a laptop, reading, focusing, daydreaming...whatever. You can do it all.  You could come in with kids, or just adults also. I don't know if I have seen a shop that is so eclectic and so good at so many facets.

They have a print, scan, copy, fax station.  I mean, seriously.

There are some brick walls inside. Giant windows to sit next to. Very light and open. Also cozy and comfy. Not quite at fireplace level, but they pretty much have it all.

Street parking was free, not time limited, and easy to find.

I had no wifi issues and they post the password all around (they're so considerate and welcoming!).

Cherry Bean was so fun to stop in, but it would be even better to frequent!  There's so much to try and it would fit whatever kind of mood you need. I was super impressed and loved it.

43 - 2914 Coffee, Denver (Jefferson Park)

Coffee Shop:
2914 Coffee
https://2914coffee.com/
2914 W 25th Ave
Denver, CO 80211

Look at that name. Look at that address. HOW APT.
Yet I seem to remember that there was more to the story on their website and it was awesome. I do not see it now. This place was on my list back when I lived here, so I was stoked to finally see it.
Oh, I found a little bigger blurb on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/2914coffeedenver/

Date Visited:
Thursday, December 20, 2018
About 1:15 p.m. -  4:00 p.m.

Purchased:
Cappuccino: $4.50
(.50 cent charge for almond milk)
Veggie sandwich (vegan): $7.50
(.50 cent charge for vegan/gluten free oat bread, which was really good!)
^I had it toasted (I don't know if I would ever turn down the option to have toasted bread)
Tip: $1.00 (I was compelled because I got food too, I think, no judgement on all the places I haven't included a tip...)
Total: $13.00

Cute!

Their lattes vs. cappuccinos were just smaller mugs for cappuccinos, so I basically had six options for espresso/milk ratios, starting with a single shot latte, or smaller single shot cappuccino, up to a large. (They could of course also just do whatever you want. But that's not my style, gotta see what they present first.)
I got a double cappuccino.  It was very much basically a latte. However, it did have a decent foam covering.  Not a ton, but decent. There was actually a clear line between the foam top and the liquidy-espresso drink part, which I actually don't like as much as a creamier/smoother drink overall. (I like creamy foam, not airy foam, but I'm not complaining.)  The foam was decently creamy, with pockets of visible air bubbles (so still airy).

Overall it did the job, but wasn't particularly noteworthy. It had a bit of that almost-burnt taste that comes with almond milk sometimes (when it's not as good, as far as I'm concerned), but it was overlookable. Like I said, it was a bit more separated than many.  Since coconut milk usually separates more than almond milk, I think I probably would have liked the coconut milk cappuccino more, since that's kinda how the almond turned out anyway (but I think coconut milk would have tasted better). I noticed that many coconut milk drinks were ordered while I was sitting there, so perhaps regulars know where it's at for this place.  Anyway - overall, decent drink, no big complaints, just no raves either.

I was hungry so I also tried a sandwich. They had a vegan one! With no cheese, plus their gluten free/vegan oat bread, which was really good! The sandwich was just a basic snack, but I like that they have options that aren't just a pastry.  I'm not sure it was really a $7.50 sandwich, but the ingredients seemed fresh (and availability, real estate, convenience costs...whatever. I wouldn't call it a food destination, but if you're there and want food, they have decent options).

The shop is super cute and a fun place to to hang out.  It had a really friendly and comfortable, inviting vibe.  There was a good amount of seating for it being small-ish, and it was balanced just up to the point of not feeling crowded.  There was outdoor seating too.  It was warm for the time of year, but it's December. I didn't try it.  I was really happy with the visit, even if I'm not raving about the actual consumables, and ended up staying longer than I figured I would because it's just a really nice place to hang out.  There is nice natural light and low-key quirky art.

There is ample free, 2-hour parking in the vicinity. Since I was there longer, I moved my car, and one of the baristas told me they do actually have a two dedicated parking spots in the parking lot behind the shop, which is accessible from the alley. So I moved there.

There was wifi with a password and no issues.

The shop is a pokestop.