Spice up your morning commute with a pit stop at one of these five local coffee shops. Homemade flavors, house-roasted beans and specialty pastries to accompany your cup of joe are in no shortage at these coffeehouses.
Sant Ambroeus
After much buzz, Sant Ambroeus has arrived in the Roaring Fork Valley, debuting on Hyman Avenue earlier this year. Satisfy your cravings for their coveted coffees and grab-and-go Milanese fare. Equally as delicious as their Gianduia or Tiramisu are the delightful design details. (Think vintage Italian pieces like La Bambole sofas by Mario Bellini, 1950s Carlo Ratti chairs and wall scones from the 1970s.) A local favorite in New York City, The Hamptons, Palm Beach and Milan, Aspenites can now indulge like never before in signature pasticceria, a variety of classic desserts or Paninetti all'olio by executive pastry chef Guido Mogni. Radiating the Aspen aesthetic with an Alpine-meets-Milan approach sure to be the center of the local social swirl, no doubt, Sant Ambroeus' Aspen outpost will remain the cafe with the hottest local tea. 520 E. Hyman Ave., santambroeus.com
Ink! Coffee
Offering several locations in the Denver and Aspen areas, Ink! meticulously hand-roasts their coffee beans in small batches five days a week. In their Aspen location, Ink! serves up everything from blended coffee beverages to organic pastries and breakfast treats. Signature Ink! drinks include the avalanche latte, which is made with layers of coffee, espresso, steamed milk and white chocolate flavoring. 520 E. Durant Ave. 110A, 970.544.0588, inkcoffee.com
Jour De Fete
Since 1988, this family-owned and operated French cafe serves up staple coffee beverages and cafe goodies. Jour De Fete’s hidden-gem coffees include and are not limited to house-made cold brew, lattes and cappuccino. Add a shot of Maison Routing flavoring, like white chocolate or raspberry, to any drink for an extra edge and pop of sweetness. 710 E. Durant Ave., 970.925.5055, jourdefeteaspen.com
Paradise Bakery & Cafe
Kickstart your morning with a fresh-brewed, invigorating americano from Paradise Cafe. The cafe’s signature raspberry mocha paradise latte is best complimented by a house-baked raspberry bar. Combine bitter with sweet by ordering an affogato, which is made with Paradise Cafe’s homemade espresso drizzled over creamy gelato. 320 S. Galena St., 970.925.7585, paradisebakeryaspen.com
Bear Den Aspen
Cozy ambiance and decadent coffees come hand in hand at Bear Den Aspen. Just a block away from the White House Tavern and Main Street, Bear Den is an easily accessible spot for a homemade meal or specialty caffeinated beverage. Bear Den’s homemade flavoring, such as vanilla bean, cardamom or lavender, takes regular cafe lattes to a new level of indulgence. 301 E. Hopkins Ave. #101, 970.922.9218, beardenaspen.com
Felix Roasting Co.
Tucked inside the Hotel Jerome is the specialty coffee roaster Felix Roasting Co. The menu includes signature hot and cold beverages, specialty drinks and more. Every sip is infused with Felix’s housemade nondairy milks, proprietary syrups and tonics, and custom spice blends. 103 S. Mill St., Ste. 105, felixroastingco.com
Unravel Coffee + Bar
The coffee shop and brand of mountain-town social club Gravity Haus, Unravel occupies the street front space of the old Wheeler Square building on East Hyman Ave. Unravel offers 16 different kinds of Ethiopian coffee from beans sourced directly from Ethiopian farmers and then roasted in-house. The coffee bar, which also serves breakfast, wraps, sandwiches, cocktails and more, was the first phase of Gravity Haus Aspen, which offers lodging, dining, co-working, ski storage, gear rentals, fitness and recovery amenities, and a sense of community in the mountains. The concept, which combines membership, public facilities, and programs, has worked in Breckenridge, Vail, Winter Park, Steamboat Springs, Denver and Truckee-Tahoe. 315 E. Hyman Ave., unravel.coffee
Photography by: Devin Avery/Unsplash
