Coffee Shops

What have I missed the most during the last year or so since the pandemic began? Coffee shops. I know many of us have suffered greatly during this pandemic and for that I am truly sad. In no way do I make light of that or want to minimize what folks have gone through. No way! This is just one of those little wishes for a return to “normal”.

As I said, I’ve missed coffee shops greatly and I’ve missed good coffee shops even more. What do I think makes a good coffee shop? Well, lots of things that may or may not be important to others. I’ll tell you about a few of my favorite coffee shops and maybe that will explain my version of a good coffee shop.

First on my list has to be Paris on the Platte. It was located near downtown Denver and was, what I consider, a “bohemian” coffee shop meaning it had lots of interesting folks that frequented it and had a certain, well used, look and feel. It was lost a number of years ago to new development. Many great things are lost to “progress”.

Paris on the Platte was not only a coffee shop, it was also a book store. Can it get any better? Well yes, it can! They also had live music, great food and especially great coffee! I was only there a few times, usually late in the evening after doing something downtown. It was a close friend that initially introduced me to the shop and I’m not sure I was ever there without them. It had that edgy, artsy feel in a good way. A place where you would not be judged and a place where you could spend time with friends and soak in the feel of an old style, 50s or 60s coffee shop. This was the first “real” coffee shop I was introduced to and it still holds a special place in my heart.

Next stop, The Ice House in Evergreen. Again, this coffee shop is very special as my wife and I were married there. This might seem odd but we had so many great times there with great friends that it just seemed, well, natural. A big plus, the owners were and still are our close friends although they no longer own the shop.

We had walked by the place many times but had never gone in. I’m not sure why. Then, one day, on the way back from a drive up to Dillon, we decided to stop in and get a cup of coffee to warm up. Although I have to admit, it may have been their cinnamon rolls that were calling my name!

We were the only customers in the shop at the time and struck up a conversation with one of the owners. We mentioned that we had just toured an old school in Silver Plume and the docent there said the school was haunted so we asked if the Ice House had any ghost stories. He said not really although he heard occasional creeks and groans from the ceiling (the Ice House was in an old hotel lobby).

From that first conversation, we developed a special friendship with the owners. Over the years, I learned a lot about coffee and roasting it while enjoying many, many meals and cups of coffee. It is amazing the excellent food that can be made on an electric hot plate!

The Ice house also had live music several nights a week including an amateur night. We listened to so many good acts on those nights, one of which also happened to be a preacher. Guess who married us!

As I mentioned above, the Ice House was in a lobby of an old hotel. Hand hewn beams in the ceiling, old wood floors and the backroom wall was actually part of a cliff. The chairs and tables all could have been from the old hotel. Great WiFi as well made for a nice place to work weekday mornings when it wasn’t crazy busy. The place is still there, under a new name and ownership, but it just isn’t the same.

Next, we need to head out to the west coast and the town of Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. My favorite coffee shop there, named Juice N Java, was probably the coffee shop I worked at the most. Their WiFi was horrible and so was the cellular connectivity, but the atmosphere, coffee and food more than made up for it. The shop is still located in downtown Pacific Grove on Lighthouse Ave. I had a favorite table right by a big window that looked out on the street. I’d usually arrive right when they opened and work for half a day and then head home at lunch to finish up the afternoon. There were many customers that I saw on a regular basis. One was a blind gentleman that worked on his iPad everyday and knew his way around the shop better than I did. Most days there was also a group of men, both young and old, that came in around 9 or 10 and discussed the goings on around the town and anything else that struck their fancy. It was always a lot of fun to listen in on those conversations! The chairs were comfortable and the tables big enough to spread out on. All this and it was only a ten minute walk from the house. If it only had great WiFi! Still, probably my favorite “working” coffee shop.

Back to Colorado and another favorite, The Perk, located on Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs. Again, great coffee, breakfast burritos and baked goods! The baristas there are terrific artists as well with their creative coffee art. A sight to see!

This coffee shop was also a working coffee shop. There were several nice tables to sit at upstairs and it was generally quiet. Grab a table by a window, enjoy the view and settle in! Probably the only downside could be the sun at certain times of the day. Being a downtown coffee shop, there would be an occasional “interesting” guest. This just added to the atmosphere!

A few honorable mentions. The Starbucks in the Aspen Grove shopping center in Littleton, the Starbucks in Monterey (both of them) and The George House in Findlay, Ohio. These are all great places to work and enjoy a good cup of coffee. Finally, even though it isn’t strictly a coffee shop, Union Station in Denver is also one of my favorites.

There are many more coffee shops that I’ve visited that aren’t on this list. Most were great. Especially the smaller shops. I’m always looking for the next great coffee shop!

There is something about a good coffee shop that will pull out that extra creativity and that deeper thought that just doesn’t always happen at home or in the office. Find your favorite coffee shop, settle in with a good book or device, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and a snack and let the atmosphere take you away!