Coffee Shops in Denver: Trendy & Cozy Spots

Prodigy Coffee House is a unique nonprofit coffee shop and apprenticeship program in Denver's Elyria Swansea neighborhood, originally developed by youth career developer and instructor Stephanie Frances, a longtime employee at a number of alternative schools throughout the city. Year-long barista apprenticeship programs aim to teach Denver teenagers and young adults skills needed for the workplace, overseen by the company's Prodigy Ventures umbrella. Delicious coffee beverages use beans sourced by partner roaster Allegro Coffee, highlighted in a variety of pourovers and espresso-based beverages, including seasonally-flavored lattes. Food options include breakfast burritos, paninis, and hand pies sourced from local bakers Hinman's Bakery.

3801 E 40th Ave, Denver, CO 80205, Phone: 720-441-3187

Purple Door Coffee is a popular Five Points espresso bar and nonprofit organization, opened in 2013 by Madison Chandler in correlation with the city's Dry Bones organization, which works with homeless youth throughout the city. The coffee shop employs homeless Denver teens and young adults to work as part of its barista staff, aiming to supply them with meaningful employment and improve their life situation. Its name is a reference to the color purple's longstanding association with royalty, a statement that all who enter are treated in equally high standing regardless of identity or life situation. All beans are roasted in house at the cafe's roastery, infused into standard and unique coffee and espresso-based beverages. Locally-sourced pastries are also available for in-house dining and carryout.

2962 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205, Phone: 720-515-6639

Huckleberry Roasters was one of Denver's first independent roasteries at its 2011 opening in the city's Sunnyside neighborhood. Today, the company offers three public cafes throughout the city, including locations in the city's downtown district and RiNo neighborhood. All coffees are ethically sourced and roasted in house, with a focus on both single-origin coffees and unique blend flavors. Unique coffee and espresso beverages include the Comp 1&1, which pairs cappuccino and espresso, and delicious cold brew-infused milkshakes. At the cafe's RiNo location, a full menu of cafe fare is served up at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including sandwiches, brunch plates, and boozy beverages. Educational community events such as brewing workshops are offered at the company's downtown location.

4301 Pecos St, Denver, CO 80211, Phone: 720-381-2504

Boxcar Coffee Roasters is a coffee shop and espresso bar located in Denver's River North District, opened in 2011 by Seattle transplants Cara and Vajra Rich. The cafe, which also offers locations in the city's The Source market and nearby Boulder, utilizes the region's high altitude conditions to roast coffee year-round at its Boulder roasting facility, using a unique Boilermakr roasting process to account for the region's temperature variations. Three Boilermakr roasts and two espressos are served up daily, along with a variety of delicious coffee shop beverages. Locally-sourced pastries are also available, including buns and chocolate croissants baked daily. A six-seat bar lets diners view the company's drink-making process up close and personal and chat with baristas about the company's coffees and operations.

1825 Pearl St B, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 720-456-7962

Little Owl Coffee is a small but quaint cafe in Denver's LoDO neighborhood, housed within the Sugar Cube building. The cafe, which was opened by Seanna Forey in 2013, is a nod to a favorite Tokyo cafe and bar of the owner, which was home to a resident pet owl. Single-origin, single-estate, and blend coffees are sourced from popular Denver roasters Corvus Coffee Roasters, crafted in traditional Italian-style beverages. Housemade almond milk is available in all beverages, which range from simple but elegantly-crafted espressos and pourovers to delicious flavored lattes. A selection of pastries is available for purchase, along with several pre-packaged menu options offered at the cafe's grab-and-go counter.

1555 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202

Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters is a unique craft coffee shop in Denver's Lakewood neighborhood, owned and operated by World Brewers Cup Championship coffee roaster Andry Sprenger, a certified Q-Grader coffee curator. The coffee shop, which opened to the public in 2013, features an onsite roastery meant to engage both coffee producers and customers directly with the coffee creation process. State-of-the-art brewing methods are utilized to craft delicious roasts and blends sourced using direct fair-trade principles, available for purchase in pourover and Chemex brews or a variety of espresso-based beverages. Regular Connect With The Producer events aim to bring the community directly into the sourcing and roasting process.

1619 Reed St, Lakewood, CO 80214, Phone: 303-261-5954

Commonwealth Coffee Roasters is a popular North Park Hill coffee shop opened to the public in 2013 by Ryan Fisher and Jason Farrar. The roastery and cafe, which also offers an outpost location called Caffe Figurati at Denver's The Source market, serves up a variety of delicious coffee beverages at both of its locations, including a pumpkin caramel latte offered up during the autumn months as a craft alternative to Starbucks' ubiquitous pumpkin spice latte. Other speciality beverages include a cereal milk latte and Japanese-style pourovers taking brewing cues from the country's popular kissaten coffee bars. Brew courses are offered at the company's Park Hill location, along with a monthly coffee subscription service available to Denver-area residents.

5225 E 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80207

Weathervane Cafe is a charming cafe in Denver's Uptown district, opened in 2012 by married duo Lindsay and Alex Dalton. The cafe, which is housed within a beautiful renovated 1896 carriage house, stocks a variety of coffees from regional roasters Huckleberry Roasters and Corvus Coffee Roasters, available in classic beverages such as cortados or cappuccinos or with flavor infusions of the cafe's housemade smoky maple, orange and clove, or lavender syrups. Full breakfast and lunch menus are served up daily, highlighting breakfast burritos, craft oatmeals, and a variety of hot and cold deli sandwiches. Kitschy decor emphasizes retro-style furniture, which is also available for sale at the cafe's onsite vintage store.

1725 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80218, Phone: 303-355-5863