Top 5 Guide: Denver Area Coffee Shops from a Former Barista

Howdy, Bucket List readers! My name is Eliza Homorodi, and as a former Starbucks barista, I have always enjoyed trying out new Denver area coffee shops and concoctions. Coffee shops have the best vibes; I enjoy going there to study, meet friends, and try all of their food and beverages. 

One of the things that frequently prevents me from going out is the stress of having to sort through all of the options. So, to make the process easier, I compiled a list of all of my favorite coffee shops in the Denver and Boulder areas for all college students and coffee lovers. 

Kismet Cafe

The first spot, Kismet Cafe, is actually a new coffee shop owned by the mom of Nia, one of my sorority friends. After starting with home baking and then expanding to farmers markets, she was so excited to open her new cafe in Lafayette. Kismet Cafe serves a variety of Mediterranean sweet and savory dishes, as well as local espresso and Turkish coffee. All recipes are authentic and use local, organic ingredients. 

I went to the cafe with my friend, Aanya, and we had trouble deciding what to order because everything looked so good. We both opted for iced caramel lattes and shared slices of bread with hummus. I also grabbed an apricot muffin. The bread was probably the best I have ever had; it was so delicious. The hummus complemented it perfectly, and it was great to see Nia and her mother there as well. 

The decor is all authentic, traditional Mediterranean, with a vibrant yet clean appearance. I loved how the sunlight shone through the windows and brightened the room. It was a little cozier, with less seating space, but it was not too crowded, so we had no trouble finding a table. Aanya and I spent some time studying there, and it was an excellent place to work with a wonderful atmosphere.

Kismet Cafe, 1381 Forest Park Cir, Lafayette. HOURS: Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more at www.kismetbaklava.com. 

January Coffee

The second location, January Coffee, is one of my favorite places to study with friends. I have been here numerous times! January Coffee, located in Boulder, provides a warm and inviting atmosphere with unique menu items and a house-made menu. 

Their chai latte and dirty horchata are both delicious, and they also serve a variety of unique brunch options, such as breakfast burritos, sandwiches and toasts. I also enjoyed the atmosphere here, which is very clean and modern with a bohemian vibe. There is even a loft upstairs that is ideal for studying.

My favorite thing about January Coffee is their kind cup, which allows you to buy a cup of coffee for someone in need. They also have no-wifi weekends where you can come, socialize and unplug. Its motto, “Great coffee is for everyone,” exemplifies January Coffee’s values of kindness, inclusivity, enjoyment and learning. 

January Coffee, 1886 30th Street, Suite B Boulder. HOURS: Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more at january.coffee.

Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters

Next up is Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters. I went to this coffee shop with my best friend, Hannah (I always bring her along on my adventures.) It is a cute, modern space with a black-and-white theme. It is pretty big for a cafe, with two large rooms. We both enjoyed the atmosphere at Sweet Bloom, and there was very little seating available, so I could tell other people did as well! 

We sat and did homework (kind of, we always end up talking to each other) and grabbed coffee. I got an iced honey latte and Hannah had a cold brew. They also had house-made pastries, but Hannah and I weren’t very hungry. The coffee was excellent, and overall this was a great coffee shop to visit. 

Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, 8850 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster. HOURS: Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Sunday. Learn more at https://sweetbloomcoffee.com/ 

6550 Coffee

Up next, 6550 Coffee. When my mother came to visit, we went to 6550 Coffee together. When we arrived at the shop, my mother and I were perplexed because it appeared to be located inside a church. I was so glad we discovered it. The ladies who work there are the best; they pour their hearts out into the community through their coffee shop. 

Chaundra Tangi, the director of 6550 Coffee and the youth pastor of Altitude Church, donates all profits back to the Arvada community. Every week, they serve “Jesus Burgers” to high school students who want to eat and get a fix of Jesus, donate coffee and lunches to high school teachers, and ensure that every student is fed, regardless of ability to pay. They also make all of their syrup in-house and use locally sourced ingredients. 

6550 Coffee was named the second-best non-alcoholic beverage place in Arvada, the third-best breakfast and the third-best overall taste by Taste of Arvada in 2024. They served draft latte, kombucha, and the “queen bee chai” as drinks, and the Altitude breakfast sandwich and breakfast burrito for folks who are hungry. My mother and I were chatting for a while and almost forgot about the coffee. I ended up with a blue matcha with chai and lavender, while my mother chose the candy cane cold brew, which were both delicious.  

6550 Coffee, 6550 Wadsworth, Arvada HOURS: Monday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn more at 6550coffee.com. 

Subjective Coffee

My last stop was Subjective Coffee in Westminster. I loved the vibes of this little place; it had retro decor, an old TV, a conversation pit and even an old record player. They buy everything locally and prioritize supporting local small businesses. Subjective Coffee provides a unique variety of syrups for their coffees, including cherry, lavender, horchata, rose and the classics: vanilla, caramel and mocha. They also offer a few breakfast burrito options and bagels.

I took a tour of the entire facility. They share it with a number of other organizations, including a 3D printing shop, a motorcycle shop, a commercial kitchen, and others, which I found intriguing. They roast all of their coffee beans in-house and even have a “cupping lab” in the back to test the quality of their coffee beans before using them. 

Additionally, Subjective Coffee is not just a coffee shop; it’s a community space. They hold vendor markets to support local small businesses, comedy shows after hours, open mic nights, and even a Pride Poetry Open Mic Night. 

Subjective Coffee, 3695 West 72nd Avenue, Westminster. HOURS: Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more at subjectivecoffee.com.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my coffee shop adventures, it’s that a great cup of coffee is only part of the experience. The real magic happens in the spaces these shops create—the warm conversations over a latte at Kismet Cafe, the quiet moments of focus (or distraction) at Sweet Bloom, the kindness brewed into every cup at January Coffee, the heart of the community poured into 6550 Coffee and the creative energy buzzing through Subjective Coffee.

Each of these spots brings something special to the table, whether it’s a mission, a memory or just a really solid dirty horchata. So, whether you’re looking for your next study haven, a cozy spot to catch up with a friend, or just an excuse to try a new drink, consider this your sign to get out there and explore.