Coffee is a popular beverage enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Its popularity can be attributed to a number of factors, including its stimulating effect, rich taste, and versatility. Many people also enjoy the social aspect of coffee, with cafes and coffee shops serving as popular gathering places for friends and colleagues. One of the reasons why coffee is so popular is its caffeine content. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that helps to increase alertness and improve concentration. For many people, a cup of coffee is a crucial part of their morning routine, helping them to wake up and... Read More

One of the major issues in the coffee industry is sustainability. In every aspect and area of the business—from the farm to cup—there is room for growth when it comes to energy and waste management. The future of coffee (like any commodity dealing with climate change) depends on the ability of farmers, roasters, baristas, and customers to make smart decisions that favor long term sustainability goals. As consumers, we can choose to buy coffee from roasteries that participate in direct trade with farmers and cooperatives invested in environmentally sound growing practices. We can also make the... Read More

In Boulder, foliage is changing along with people’s outfits and appetites. Fall alters eating habits and restaurant menus along with the colors and temperatures of the city. Hearty foods made from autumnal produce like butternut squash and sweet potatoes, along with sweet treats like pumpkin pie and hot apple cider, are the order of the season.     Coffee tastes also shift with the seasons. Many coffee drinkers begin to crave toasty or velvety seasonal-flavored beverages as Fall progresses in to Winter. Autumn is when the pumpkin spice latte is king, or at least that’s how many major... Read More

  From the precision of performing an autopsy to the precision of pouring the perfect cup of craft coffee, a former medical student traded in his scalpel for coffee beans. Meet Brice! Born and raised in Boulder, this Colorado native holds true to his roots and opened a craft coffee house in Louisville with the humbling and overwhelming support of friends, neighbors and locals. It’s with undeniable passion that Brice runs his business, “I wanted to create a safe and friendly environment for communities to gather,” and it is very apparent. Brice strives to educate customers with a vast... Read More

There’s a common misconception that tipping is a generous act and that 10% of the bill should suffice. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an economy that justifies that train of thought or math. As the battle for restaurant workers to earn a living wage continues, it’s crucial for American consumers to remember to tip food servers—and tip them well—every time they dine out or order in (you should tip delivery people too). Food service employees depend on tips for their livelihood and customers who think tipping is optional are either totally oblivious or just cheap. In some states,... Read More

Coffee4Change aims to raise funds to aid local workers in Haiti, Honduras, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda. The money raised will help ensure that coffee farmers are utilizing the most effective business models and environmentally efficient techniques to grow and sell their crops. It sounds like an excellent way to support the prosperous future of ethical and sustainable coffee. You can get behind this great fund raiser for as low as the price of a cup of coffee. Check out the campaign’s website for more details.  Read More

The Denver magazine 5280 is highlighting the city’s ever-growing craft coffee culture in its latest issue. In addition to local cafe recommendations, the cover story also includes at-home brewing instructions and two glossary of terms for words you’re likely to find either on a bag of beans or on a coffeeshop menu. Not to self-promote conceitedly, but the magazine spread reads like a handy summary of my past posts here on this blog.  5280‘s list of recommendations ​is definitely worth ​reading, especially if you’re looking for a new spot to enjoy a cup of joe.... Read More

If I could host my own travel show, I’d drive across the United States visiting the best specialty coffeeshops and independent bookstores or public libraries that America’s cities have to offer. But since I don’t believe my tv dreams will come true, I’m going to share two wonderful spots in Downtown Denver instead, where you can pick up a book and head over to a nearby café to read it. Tattered Cover & Mercantile I don’t care how trendy or touristy it is, because Union Station is a beautiful place and I can’t fault its visiting crowds. If you go on a weekday, after Summer has ended,... Read More

With the recent opening of Ink! Coffee on Larimer and 28th, Denver’s River North Art District (RiNo) continues its food and coffee supremacy. RiNo, which is technically a part of the Five Points neighborhood, is already a nationally recognized food hub. The new location from the Aspen-based Ink!—one of Colorado’s biggest coffee chains—will most likely only fuel RiNo’s status as a popular culinary center. Ink! will be competing with two other coffee shops on Larimer Street—Huckleberry and Crema. On nearby Brighton Boulevard, coffee lovers will find two other options: Wystone’s at Industry... Read More

“Click, clack, click, clack”.. You are standing in line at Amante Coffee and you peer behind and expect to see a horse, or maybe a girl in high heels. Actually maybe it is a tap dancer. You first look down  and notice glossy white shoes, high socks, and the most muscular legs you have ever seen on a chick. As you continue to gaze up you soon realize that this hairless girl is actually a transvestite! The perfectly smooth legs had you thinking one way, but the tight spandex shorts quickly revealed the other! You continue to scan upward and soon realize that this transvestite is actually... Read More