CC: Kava Cafe

Subject: Kava Cafe
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]


There's something about old wood buildings that makes me chipper. Maybe it's my love of spaghetti westerns or maybe it's the rustic feel of days past, but no matter my impetus, it is also quite the trend in many places to set up shop in old barns or bungalows.

One town that is full of such spiffy-looking digs is Breckenridge, Colorado. Walking down and around the main thoroughfares you are bound to see some intriguing constructs, ranging from salons to outfitters. One particular establishment that caught my eye for it's character also drew my gaze for the contents: a small shop slinging small donuts and coffee called Kava Cafe.

Though I had heard word about their great small donuts, I had not heard anything of their coffee. Looking inside their shack, I noticed they purvey Coda Coffee out of Denver, and having had fair experience with them prior, I gave Kava's coffee a try. For espresso, I had the Harmony blend and for the drip I had their Sumatra. The espresso, pulled somewhat long with thick blondish-brown crema, held potent notes of pepper and cinnamon within a bitter dark bite with not much else for flavor (alas, not the best espresso I've ever had). The Sumatra on the flip side was one of the better Sumatran coffees I've sampled in recent memory, with notes of honey, apple juice, caramel and nutmeg amidst a smooth, well-balanced, medium body.

While I can't boast of the espresso service that I had, it's plausible I hit the barista at a bad time. But even so, Kava still seems like a great spot on the main drag of Breck for a good cup of drip and some great, freshly-made donuts. Give it a try if you're in town.

CC: Cuppa Joe

Subject: Cuppa Joe
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


In looking for a relaxing mountain respite, I had heard from distant family that in the mountains of Colorado exists a delightful little town called Breckenridge, home to gorgeous sunny trails and numerous winter slopes. Recently, I was able to make it into town for a few days and although I twisted my ankle hiking the nearby beautiful mountains, the rest of the experience was grand.

One of the great benefits of the town was that they had local, good coffee. One spot in particular became my favorite, a 2nd floor cafe called Cuppa Joe located a little off the main street but within easy walking distance of almost everything. The coffeehouse had a few seats outside on their porch but inside existed plenty of room, with a well-arranged assortment of furniture, local art and pleasant lighting.

As for the joe, they serve Novo Coffee out of Denver. After conversing with the barista, she recommended the Guatemala La Providencia via Chemex and I also ordered an espresso of Espresso Novo. The chemex-ed Guatemalan proved sweet, with notes of pound cake, vanilla icing and pear, as well as a bit of cashew and beef broth; an overall delicious coffee with a medium body. The espresso, pulled short-to-medium with light brown crema, delivered a nice citrus zing, some vanilla, basil, cola, dark cocoa and rye, rounding out to be a slightly bright and thoroughly ambrosial infusion.   

Cuppa Joe proved to be a great, frequent stop in town, whether I was staying to enjoy the cafe or taking the coffee to go. If you have the pleasure of visiting Breckenridge, stop by Cuppa Joe for a some great coffee.