The Best Independent Coffee Shops in Winter Park, Colorado

Independent coffee shops are often the perfect place to study, network, or run in for a quick cup of coffee. Many have Wi-fi available so bring your laptop to check your email or surf the internet. If you are in Winter Park, Colorado, during summer, winter, or mud season - locals and visitors will find these coffee shops offer great coffee, food, and atmosphere.

Rocky Mountain Roastery

Rocky Mountain Roastery is an independent coffee shop chain founded in Fraser, Colorado in 1993. At their two locations Rocky Mountain Roastery offers fresh hand-roasted coffee, black teas, green teas, and herbal teas. Customers are welcome to bring in their own travel mug to receive a discount to reward their environmentally friendly decision. All their coffee and teas can be purchased in bulk at both locations or online at their website.

Both coffee shops offer a variety of baked goods and pre-packaged menu items for breakfast, lunch, and light snacking. The Fraser store is the larger original store location and is where the beans are roasted daily. It has computers available for use or bring your own. You will need to purchase internet access with either method. The store itself is a quiet place to study, read, and is next door to the Alco discount store. There are plenty of tables available and it's connected to a bicycle shop for those traveling down the nearby Winter Park to Granby bike path.

The Winter Park coffee shop location is in the strip mall next to Cosmic Dog Mexican Grill. While the store is smaller than the Fraser location, the staff is just as friendly. The menu items are the same as the Fraser location. If you are looking for something hot to drink without caffeine, try the herbal teas. The Berry Patch herbal tea is bursting with flavor. The tea bags are extra large so brewing one in an extra large cup size will not dilute the flavor. A variety of sweeteners are available for use.

Two locations:
Winter Park:
78723 US Hwy 40
(next to Cosmic Dog Mexican Grill)
Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-6838
on and off-street parking

Fraser:
543 Zerex Street
(next to Alco)
Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 726-4400
off-street parking
http://www.rockymountainroastery.com/
Facebook: Rocky Mountain Roastery

Coffee & Tea Market

There's always a line out the door first thing in the morning at Coffee & Tea Market. Resort employees and ski racers know it's the place for great coffee, espresso, fresh pastries, and other breakfast type foods at the ski resort base area. At lunch, it's a great place for freshly prepared sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Beverages include coffee, espresso, tea, mate, juice, and soda. They also have ice cream and other desserts.

After the chairlifts shut down at the end of the day, resort employees return in force to enjoy beer and cocktails at the tables inside or the outside patio on pretty days. The atmosphere then becomes loud and lively as everyone unwinds as this coffee shop turns into a slopeside watering hole. Everyone gets chased out at 5pm when the vacuum cleaner is turned on.

Coffee & Tea Market is the only independent coffee shop at Winter Park Resort. Located in the Balcony House Building at the Winter Park base area, Coffee & Tea Market is staffed by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Coffee & Tea regulars are always greeted with a smile.

An internet-accessible computer is available inside the coffee shop for a fee. Free Wi-fi is not available and brown bag lunches are not permitted.

677 Winter Park Dr
Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-5095
Hours: high season - everyday 7am-5pm
no available parking

Mountain Grind Coffee & Bistro

Mountain Grind Coffee & Bistro is located in downtown Winter Park in the Cooper Creek Square shopping center. Park in the free parking garage out front and then walk down the stairs by the outside water fountain. Bring your laptop if you need internet access via their free Wi-fi.

Mountain Grind believes in making homemade foods for its breakfast and lunch menus. Its breads, croissants, quiches, muffins, and fudge are all made in the store and are quite tasty. Anything they can't make, they try to obtain as locally as possible. Its coffee is fresh roasted and many are fair trade and organic certified.

The breakfast menu consists of breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, quiche, and egg dishes. You can also stop in for a relaxing lunch of soup, salad, and sandwiches made from their homemade breads. Don't forget dessert or you'll be missing out on their mouth-watering fudge, pies, cheesecake, and gelato. Of course they do offer excellent coffee, coffee drinks, teas, milkshakes, sodas, smoothies, and juices. The kitchen closes at 3pm but they do off soup and salad throughout the day.

Mountain Grind is more than an independent coffee shop. It also serves as a cozy hangout for the local writers community, book clubs, and business networking. The background music is never too loud, and the service is always friendly. The seating is limited so expect a wait during peak hours. In the summertime, take your breakfast out to the tables by the fountain for a quiet al fresco dining experience.

47 Cooper Creek Way, Suite 126
Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-0999

http://mountain-grind.com/
Facebook: Mountain Grind Coffee & Bistro
http://www.coopercreeksquare.com/

parking in the free parking garage

Hours;
High season: Mon - Sun, 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Mud season: Mon - Sun, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

More about Winter Park:
How to Save Money at Winter Park Resort During the Ski Season
Inexpensive Ski Lodging at Colorado Ski Resorts
Hotel Review: The Rocky Mountain Inn & Hostel in Winter Park, Colorado
The Top Three Bars in Winter Park, Colorado for Nightlife

Source:
Personal experience