Here are some of my favorite locally-owned independent coffee shops across Colorado.

DENVER METRO

Café Cafe, 2339 W. 44th, Denver, CO  80211, 303.477.9933
    Notes:  Wonderful pecan rolls!
Mojo Coffee & Tea World, 650 S Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO  80226, 303.922.8800
    Notes:  Just south of Belmar; also Turkish and Vietnamese coffee, loose leaf teas; snappy little shop with plenty of seating, just south of Belmar.
Haney’s Coffee Shop, 3814 Lowell Blvd., Denver, CO  80211, 303.433.5880
Gizzi’s Coffee, 3800 West 144th Ave., (144th & Lowell) Broomfield, CO 80020
The Press Coffee Company, 11940 Bradburn Blvd. (120th & Lowell), Broomfield, CO  80031, 303-466-7832
Gallop Coffee, 2401 W. 32nd Avenue (32nd & Zuni), Denver, CO 80211
    Notes: sandwich menu featuring homemade bread
Common Grounds (Highlands) - 3484 W 32nd Ave, (32nd & Lowell), Denver, 80211 - (303) 458-5248
    Notes: wonderful zucchini bread
JC’s Ground Coffee & Tea —1531 Champa, Denver, CO 80202, www.gcsground.com
    Notes: Clean comedy night, each Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; live music on Friday and Sunday nights; open mic night on Saturdays; try their famous crepes!
Common Grounds (LoDo) - 1601 17th St, Denver, CO  80202, 303-296-9248
Scooter Joe’s — 726 Lincoln St., Denver, CO  80203, 303-813-9500
    Notes:  homemade burritos, sandwiches, soups
Crowfoot Valley Coffee, 390 Perry St., downtown Castle Rock, CO  80104, 303-814-0999
    Notes: Mocha smoothie w/ chocolate chips, Ghirardelli chocolate, two shots of espresso

COLORADO SPRINGS/PIKES PEAK REGION

Montague’s, 1019 S Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 – 4238, 719-520-0672
    Notes:  best selection of overstuffed arm chairs
Pikes Perk Coffee & Tea House (downtown), 14 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, 80903 - 719-635-1600
    Notes: upstairs seating area with views of downtown, patio faces Pikes Peak
The Coffee Exchange, 526 South Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO,  719-227-8639
    Notes: big, roomy conference table
Java The Hut, 208 East Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO  80863, 719-687-6539
Cripple Creek Coffee, 166 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, CO  80813, 719-689-2223
    Notes: homemade corn bread
Coyote’s Coffee Den, 127 Justice Center Road, Canon City  81212, 719-276-3012
    Notes: cozy fireplace, quiet loft.
Main Street Espresso & Pastry, 615 Main Street, Cañon City, Colorado 81212 719.276.0747
    Notes: cinnamon rolls or sticky buns
Canon Coffee Café, 1520 Royal Gorge Blvd., Canon City, 81212, 719-276-5348
    Notes:  spacious seating area & meeting room
The Pour House, 202 West Main, Florence, CO

SKI COUNTRY

Cool River Bakery & Coffee House, 325 S. Main St. (Main & Jefferson on the Riverwalk), Breckenridge, CO  80424, 970.453.1716
    Notes:  Good breakfast bagels (try jalapeno!), great cinnamon and pecan rolls!
Java Mountain Roasters, 1510 Miner Street, Idaho Springs  80402
    Notes:  Yemen Mocha Sinani coffee
Off The Beaten Path, 56 7th St, Steamboat Springs, 80487
    Notes:  Moleskins
Big Shooter Coffee, 204 West Park Ave, Kremmling, 80459
Abbey’s Coffee, 720 Main St., Frisco, CO 970-668-8710

WESTERN SLOPE

Pantheon, kiosk in Summit Canyon Mountaineering, 461 Main, Grand Junction, CO  970-208-4927
Traders Coffee & Tea Co., 666 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, CO  81506, 970-243-6590
Main Street Bagels, 559 Main St., Grand Junction, CO  970-241-2740
Serendipity Coffee & Bookstore, 576 Yampa, Craig, CO  81625 (970) 824-5847
    Notes: half-pound cinnamon rolls and lemon bars
Durango Coffee Company, 730 Main Avenue, Durango, CO  81301, 970-259-2059
    Notes: enormous selection of coffee cups and ceramic travel mugs
Steaming Bean Coffee Co., 915 Main Avenue, Durango, CO  81301, 970-385-9516
    Notes: homemade muffins
Brickhouse Café & Coffee House, 1849 Main Avenue, Durango, CO  81301, 970-247-3760
    Notes: outstanding breakfasts
Main Book Company, 34 West Main Street, Cortez, CO  81321, 970-565-8158
Higher Grounds Coffee, 189 Talisman Dr, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147, 970-731-3666
    Notes: maybe the world’s best carrot cake!
Beaumont Artisan Bakery & Cafe, 460 Main Street, Ouray, CO 81427, 970-324-4677
    Notes: breakfast wraps, cinnamon rolls
The Steaming Bean, (970) 641-2408, 120 N Main St, Gunnison, CO 81230
    Notes: the breakfast burrito

NORTHERN

Jumping Bean Coffee House, 434 Mountain Ave, Berthoud, CO 80513, 970-532-1451,
    Notes: killer carrot cake!
Café at Woody’s, 942 9th Ave., Greeley, CO, 970-352-8117
    Notes: NY-style coffee cake, vast selection of periodicals
Loveland Coffee Company, 620 E. 29th St,, Loveland, 970-278-1321
Ziggi’s, 400 Main St., Longmont, CO  80501, 303-682-5120
    Notes:  free wifi, outstanding atmosphere, plenty of room!
Barking Dog Café, 447 Main St., Lyons, CO  303-832-9600

EASTERN PLAINS

The Main Cup, 399 14th St (Main St), Burlington, CO  80807, 719-346-7166
Canyon Coffee & Cafe, 345 Main St, Wray CO 80758, 970-332-0632
    Notes: Lucy’s blend coffee or Katie’s choice sandwich (add avocado)
Hot Java Cafe, (970) 522-1120, 118 N 2, Sterling, CO 80751
    Notes: cozy joint; have an espresso drink because the coffee can be a little wimpy
Hot Java II Drive-Thru, (970) 522-6244, 100 N Division Ave, Sterling, CO 80751
The Gathering Place — Highway 34, downtown Brush, CO  80723
Becca’s Espresso, 56620 E Colfax Ave, Strasburg CO  80136, 303-622-4823
Lee’s Buzz Stop, east side of Interstate 70, Deer Trail, CO
Café Lotus, 307 East Kiowa, Fort Morgan, CO  80701, 970-542-0800

SOUTHERN COLORADO

Elm Street Perk, 117 W Elm St, Lamar, CO 81052, 719-336-7109
The Barista, 204 Santa Fe Ave., La Junta, CO  81050, 719-384-2133
    Notes: homemade soups and sandwiches
Bongo Billy’s Buena Vista Cafe, 713 US Highway 24 S, Buena Vista, CO
(719) 395-2634
Sacred Ground Coffee, G Street & Highway 50, Salida, CO  719-539-9530
Sacred Ground Express, downtown Salida
    Notes: Aztec Mocha
Coffee Trader, 845 E Main St, Montrose, 81401 - (970) 249-6295
    Notes: can’t go wrong with the homemade muffins
Edla’s Annex, Walsenburg, CO
Milagro’s Coffee House, 529 Main Street, Alamosa, CO  81101, 719-589-9299
    Notes: try their homemade pies