Last updated on May 25th, 2023 at 05:06 am
One of my absolute favorite places to be is a coffee shop, whether at home in Denver or on the road. I love tucking in with a good book, work, or having a conversation with friends while surrounded by the lovely smell of roasted coffee beans and the buzz of inspired and caffeinated people. As a local to the Denver area, I have visited many coffee shops in Denver and have also said goodbye to coffee shops that are no longer (we’ll never forget you, Paris on the Platte.). From the oldies but goodies to the new and trendy, here is my updated list of the best coffee shops in Denver.
Corvus Coffee – Broadway, Littleton, Arvada, Tech Center
Corvus Coffee is an excellent coffee shop. The original location is in Denver on Broadway, but they recently opened a few locations in Littleton, Arvada, and the Tech Center. Luckily for me, this means I can drive five minutes to enjoy Corvus Coffee so obviously Luke and I are there all the time now. You can tell that Corvus Coffee really focuses on the coffee and sourcing and roasting of beans. This is our favorite place to get coffee in Denver. They also have an in-house bakery that makes delectable pastries. It is a great place to spend a few hours working but the bright welcoming spaces they created are nice for a hangout as well.
The Broadway location is open and airy, with big windows facing the street and plenty of tables. This is where they roast their beans. The Arvada location is also open and airy, artistically adorned with plants. It has big windows and plenty of seating including big tables that are good for working as well as comfy chairs to sit and chat. It is the best of both worlds. When sitting at the big tables, however, it can be difficult to access a plug. This place is always busy but I have never had an issue finding a seat. The Littleton Corvus Coffee is near Clement Park, which makes it the perfect location for a pre or post walk coffee. It is also light and airy with big windows and aspen wood tones.
Stella’s Coffee Haus – Old South Pearl
I love Stella’s because it’s cozy, filled with bookshelves haphazardly arranged. Stella’s is probably my ideal coffee shop for a chat with a friend or reading a good book. It’s in an old house, so there are different rooms, instead of one big space and a porch with several outdoor tables. They also serve a variety of drinks, including non-coffee and seasonal specialties. It can be hard to find a table, however, because this place always seems to be busy. Many of the tables are in the center of the room, which makes it difficult to access a plug. I would recommend getting there early to grab a prime spot or getting your coffee to go. Stella’s is also open late, typically until 10 PM.
Devil’s Food Bakery – Old South Gaylord
Devil’s Food is much more than a coffee shop, but they also have splendid coffee. Espresso drinks and tea are their primary beverage focus, along with the delectable, beautiful pastries that are the star of the show. If you are looking for a heavenly snack with your beverage, this is the place to go. The choices vary from day to day but could include a plethora of croissants, Danishes, donuts, individual cakes, brownies, tarts, bars, and more. You can also place orders for pastries or large cakes and pies. The atmosphere at Devil’s Food reminds me of a quaint French bakery. It is a small shop and has just a few tables in the main room and some additional ones in the backroom. I would not recommend working here, but it is a lovely place to pop in and sit for a moment or grab your coffee and pastry to go and walk to Wash Park, which is just a few minutes away.
Queensberry Coffee – LoHi
Queensberry Coffee has been around for a while, but they recently rebranded. They used to be Black Eye Coffee, but the re-branding hasn’t changed the atmosphere and great coffee at this spot. Queensberry Coffee is women-owned, modern, and simple. The focus is good coffee and food. You won’t find many fancy, sweet sugary drinks here. If you love a good latte or pour-over, this is a great place to check out in the LoHi neighborhood of Denver. They also have delicious house-made snacks (toast and breakfast burritos) and house-made syrups like spiced fig (seasonal). The atmosphere is laid back. It is a small space, but I usually can find a seat. Queensberry Coffee is good for working or studying because it has big tables and no comfy armchairs. There is also access to plugs at most of the tables. They also have a big garage door window that they can open on nice days.
Huckleberry Roasters– Highlands, LoDo, Broadway, Tennyson
Huckleberry Roasters has a simplistic menu that is focused on coffee. They only have a few seasonal syrups that are made in-house. Some of my favorites have been sweet potato and lavender. My favorite drink I’ve had from Huckleberry is a spicy sweet potato latte, which featured sweet potato syrup. They also have a few small plates, mostly toast, and daily pastries. I had an excellent parmesan black pepper croissant here recently that was huge and fluffy on the inside.
The location in the Highlands, which is the one that I frequent, is a good place to work. They have a few indoor tables, most of which have access to plugs, and a large outdoor area as well where I frequently see people sipping their coffee with their furry friends. Huckleberry also has four locations around Denver, but the only one I have been to so far is the Highlands.
The Bardo Coffee House – Highlands, Broadway
The Bardo Coffee House, which has two locations around Denver, is another great coffee shop to check out in Denver. Back in the day, Luke and I used to do homework at the Bardo on Broadway because it is open late (it is currently open until midnight every day of the week). I love the Broadway location. It is a little rough around the edges (like everything on Broadway for the most part) with mismatched colorful décor and a comfy couch. More recently, we started frequenting the Highlands location because it is a central place for us to meet family and catch up. This location is great for working or a coffee date, with both couches and tables. Bardo Coffee House has a good variety of drinks including espresso and non-espresso drinks. Some of my favorite things to order are a Mocha Valencia (a Mocha with orange) or the Turmeric Latte.
Steam Espresso Bar – LoHi, South Pearl
Steam Espresso Bar has two locations, South Pearl and LoHi. I have only frequented the LoHi location, which is in an old firehouse. The building is red brick with big red doors that they open in the summer. You can also sit outside when the weather is nice in the beautiful garden area that has a large tree in the middle. Inside the coffee shop, there is a Fireman’s pole and an old phone booth in the corner. There is a ton of space, with the coffee bar in the center of it all. They also have a juice bar against the back wall, where they make freshly pressed juices. There are quite a few tables ideally located along the walls, windows that let in the natural light, and plants adorning the ceiling. They serve up espresso drinks, chai, hot chocolate, tea, and juice. I love to get a spicy chai here, made with Sanctuary chai. They also have a number of delicious-looking pastries, although they usually have more variety in the morning.
Crema Coffee – RiNo, Denver Central Market
The original Crema Coffee House is in RiNo, but they also have a Bodega at Denver Central Market (one of my favorite markets in Denver). The Coffee House is artsy and cozy with exposed brick and art lining the walls. It is the perfect place to stop if you are exploring the RiNo street art, as there is a mural just outside. The coffee is good and they have more food options if you are looking for a substantial meal. The brûléed grapefruit is a delicious and memorable snack, one of my personal favorites. They offer espresso drinks, cold brew, and pour over coffee as well as a few non-coffee options like chai, fresh juice, and kombucha. Everything is made in-house! An important note is that they don’t have outlets, so make sure your devices are charged if you plan on working, or just use that as an excuse to enjoy the ambiance and relax.
Blue Sparrow – RiNo, Platte Street
Blue Sparrow has two locations in Denver, but the one I have visited is in RiNo. It is a small, modern, and bright space with a few two-person tables and a bar that faces a large door that can be opened on nice days. The menu has classic espresso drinks, specialty drinks like turmeric or matcha lattes, and drinks on tap. They offer a few pastries that are delicious. This is a great place to work in the RiNo area.
Whether you’re looking to sit and sip for a while or grab something to go, these Denver coffee shops have got you covered. Have you tried any of these coffee shops? What is your favorite coffee shop in Denver?
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