8 standout cafe to keep you buzzing all over the Front Range

By Natasha Lovato

Senses explode. Immediately, you’re hit with the scent of brewing beans and the acoustic serenade of steaming milk and casual conversations. You’re enticed through the doors as if led by the Pied Piper himself. No matter where you find yourself along the Front Range, there surely sits a coffee shop with the sight, smell, sounds and tastes your senses crave. We’ve compiled a list to get you started.

Ozo Coffee - Boulder

Ozo can create almost any coffee concoction you can imagine, from a flavored latte to a single-origin pour-over. Wholesale director Alexandra LittleJohn highlights the importance of partnerships with other Colorado companies such as Sherpa Chai, Copper Mountain, Eldora and Sweet Cow Ice Creamery. Visit the Ozo location in Boulder, take the roasts home to enjoy, or use the new instant coffee line for an après coffee buzz on any adventure.

Speedtrap Bistro - Palmer Lake

Enjoy French-inspired cuisine alongside coffee, beer, wine cocktails and live music at the Speedtrap Bistro. Speedtrap owner Spencer Boyles takes pride in his restaurant’s from-scratch menu.

“I’d say our fresh-made baked goods are one of our specialties,” Boyles said. As far as coffee goes, Boyles recommends the old-fashioned caramel latte or, his personal favorite, a dirty chai with a little bit of raspberry.

Dirt Coffee Bar - Littleton

Dirt Coffee Bar is a non-profit coffee shop in downtown Littleton with a mission to train and employ individuals with autism. Dirt’s passion alters the stigma for how people view those on the autism spectrum in an open environment for all walks of life looking to enjoy good coffee.

“Beyond our mission, our most popular beverage is our iced lavender oat milk latte,” Dirt Founder and CEO Lauren Burgess said. Burgess also recommends the matcha latte with a pump of house-made hibiscus syrup.

Novo Coffee - Denver

Novo Coffee is primarily a wholesale roaster in Denver focusing on sourcing high-quality coffee through relationships with farmers and producers around the world. Novo doesn’t just provide award-winning coffee, like the Nitro Cold Brew, but also offers an educational experience as well.

“At our roasting facility, we have a full training lab where our staff, wholesale accounts and public attendees can take classes on numerous topics of coffee knowledge and preparation,” Novo Retail Director Melissa Raef said. Any of the four Denver locations strive to serve quality products in the coffee supply chain, as well as local craft beer and wine.

Loyal Coffee - Colorado Springs

Rather than focusing on the light or dark coffee beans when they roast, Loyal Coffee takes an approach that focuses on developing the sugars in the beans, giving customers a specialty coffee enjoyable for novice coffee drinkers and connoisseurs alike. Tyler Hill, Loyal Coffee director of guest experience, recommends guests try the Loyal version of their favorite drink.

“People experience coffee in so many different ways,” Hill said. The baristas want you to enjoy your favorite drinks, with the Loyal coffee-roasted twist.

Pablo’s Coffee - Denver

Pablo’s Coffee prioritizes sourcing the most ethically obtained coffees they can find.

“Massive factory farms producing commodity-grade coffee simply cannot enter into the equation,” the folks at Pablo’s said. Many of their coffees carry Rainforest Alliance, Smithsonian Bird Friendly or Socially Conscious certifications and are sourced from single-family farm cooperatives that are part of a legal association.

Pablo’s also focuses on the local community with event sponsorships for hundreds of groups over the last two decades including music festivals, silent auctions, medical research and homeless shelters. Pablo’s yearns for transparency in the goodness of coffee and the goodness of giving that back to the community.

Pangea Coffee Roasters - Golden

The Pangea Coffee Roasters history starts with a love story. Matt Kurgan and Amanda Krenn met in the coffee industry and decided to take things to the next level — starting their own coffee business. What started as a small farmers market coffee truck transformed into an official establishment providing worldly coffee or tea selections, specialty drinks and even a few stories.

“I always order their Cafe au Lait,” customer Jacob Morris said. “I actually had a dream one night I worked there. It was a realistic dream I guess because my girlfriend woke me up. Only I wasn’t in bed, I was in the kitchen. I was sleep walking trying to brew Café au Lait.”

Native Natasha Lovato celebrates the Colorado lifestyle through hiking, biking or playing bingo while enjoying a sour ale or two.