My Favorite Denver Coffee Shops

Deciding which are the best Denver coffee shops is largely a matter of taste. Some people are looking for the best atmosphere, others for the best variety, others for the best service. These are four of my favorite haunts, and what I consider four of the best coffee shops in Denver. Give them a try and decide for yourself.

Tenn Street Coffee House
4418 Tennyson St., Denver
www.tennstreetcoffee.com

Mon-Thurs 6:30am- 7:00pm
Fri 6:30am- 9pm
Sat 7:00am- 9pm
Sun 7:00am- 6:00pm

Tenn Street Coffee House is easily my favorite coffee house in Denver. It's one of the few internet cafés in the city, offering not only free Wi-Fi, but also several on-site computers that are free to use. Plugs are pretty accessible and there are even Ethernet plug-ins if you're not wireless. Tenn Street serves Dazbog coffee and has an extensive menu of coffee drinks, teas and smoothies, as well as a display case full of sandwiches, burritos and pastries. I love the Yerba Mate Latte and the Apple Brie sandwich. Order a coffee in the early morning and get a discount, and use the frequent buyer punch card to get a free drink.

Tenn Street has a nice dog-friendly patio in the front. Inside there are small tables lining the walls and one large round table by the bulletin board. The back room is also a bookstore, and tables are situated between the shelves. Tenn Street Coffee is part of the Tennyson Street First Friday art-walk, and always features interesting local artists. There are frequent live music events, and the house tends to get packed when the music is there. You can find out about events through the website, or join their Facebook group to keep posted. Tenn Street is right around the corner from the Oriental Theater and close to restaurants such as Swing Thai and Parisi.

Blackberries Ice Cream and Coffee Lounge
www.blackberriesonline.com/

Mon-Fri 7:00am- 8:00pm
Sat 8:00am- 7:00pm
Sun 9:00am- 6:00pm

Right in the heart of Five Points is a highly underrated coffee shop called Blackberries. I've never been in this place when it's busy, but it's got a great atmosphere and serves fair trade organic coffee from Ethiopia. Blackberries is also an ice cream shop, with ice cream made fresh in the store each week. They have a whole menu of sandwiches and burritos to choose from. My favorite meal at Blackberries is the Virginia Veggie sandwich, a hot Bhakti Chai and a cup of blackberry ice cream. In addition to plenty of tables and a few couches, Blackberries features free Wi-Fi, an upright piano and a big screen TV. It's right next to the Crossroads Theater and close to a lightrail station.

St. Marks
2015 E 17th Ave, Denver
www.stmarkscoffeehouse.com

Daily 6:30am- midnight

St. Marks is one of Denver's most popular coffee shops, and was voted #5 on City Search's list for best coffee in Denver. I love it because it's open late and has an independent, anti-Starbucks sort of atmosphere. The seats could be more comfortable, but the big open windows make it a great place to hang out on a nice day. You might also choose to sit out on the front patio, which is dog-friendly as far as I know. Wi-Fi is free and they have plenty of plugs, so bring your laptop.

In addition to your standard coffee and tea selection, St. Marks also has tasty Italian sodas and a selection of beers and ciders. Snack on a Panini or some baked goods while you sip your coffee. Service at St. Marks is hit or miss; I like a coffee shop where I can loiter for a while, and sometimes St. Marks employees don't take kindly to that, though other times no one seems to care. St. Marks is close to City Park and just a short drive from downtown. Park on the street in front or around the corner.

Stella's Coffeehaus
1476 S Pearl St, Denver
www.stellascoffee.com

Sun- Thurs 6:30am- 11:00pm
Fri-Sat 6:30am- midnight

Stella's Coffeehaus is a popular spot on south Pearl that opens early and closes late every day. City Search voted it #8 on the list of best coffee houses in Denver. It's part of the Pearl Street First Friday art-walk, and features live music on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday mornings. They have a large selection of teas and a standard selection of coffee drinks, including lattes, mochas and espresso. Bottomless coffee is only $2.32, and check the website for a Wednesday special that can save you even more. You can also snack on biscotti and cake or choose from a dozen different burritos. Stella's is right across the street from the Pearl Street Grill, and close to the Sushi Den and other shops and restaurants.

Once you venture past the cashier, Stella's is spacious and maze-like, with tables situated into every nook and cranny. Books line the walls, and you can find out every cool thing going on in the city because there's a whole hallway papered with flyers. You can enjoy fresh air (or a cigarette) outside on the front patio, which is also dog-friendly. Since it's one of the few coffee shops open that late, it tends to be packed in the evening hours. The customer profile is pretty diverse, but you might be surrounded by high-schoolers or college students. The Wi-Fi requires a code, so make sure to ask about it if you're bringing your laptop.