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: Ozo Coffee

Subject: Ozo Coffee Roasters
Location: Boulder, CO
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Some time ago when I was running a contest on my readers' favorite coffeehouses, someone submitted Ozo Coffee Roasters in Boulder. Not too familiar with the entity, the reader who claimed them as favorite was quite persuasive in their praise. So persuasive in fact that the next time I found some time in Boulder, I made a priority stop at their Pearl St. location.

Standing as one of three locations, the Pearl St. Ozo seems to be a well-loved fixture in the area. Walking inside, the place was packed with vibrant patrons stretching the length of the long, earth toned shop. The counter was a beast in itself, with two identical espresso machines (Synesso Cyncras I believe) and an army of baristas.

As for coffee, Ozo roasts their own, and thus I had an espresso of their Espresso 2012 and a pourover of their Peru Kikara. The espresso, pulled to a medium volume with brown crema, struck chords of blood orange, cocoa, oatmeal and ginger with a pinch of salt and oregano, overall hammering out a splendid spro with slightly astringent notes. The pourover reminded me of a German feast, with notes of hefeweizen, apple, challah, a little date and minor grilled chicken; a sweet and wheaty coffee with hearty undertones.

After spending some additional time soaking in the atmosphere, I could easily see why someone would vote Ozo as an all-time favorite. When you're in town, stop by Ozo Coffee Roasters for a great cup of coffee.

CC: Tougo Coffee

Subject: Tougo Coffee Co
Location: Seattle, WA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Sifting through Seattle's coffee scene can be, at times, more work than one would expect. Sure you have greater chances of happening upon a great coffee joint than in many other cities, but the sheer volume of coffee options can still make it hard to find a spot truly worth your patronage.

Fortunately, coffee geeks tend to be vocal and the cream rises to the top. When I was last in town, I had heard great things of Tougo Coffee on Capitol Hill and sure enough, my rental car made its merry way easily through the miry weather straight to the threshold of Tougo. The cafe sits in a brick one-story building with big glass windows and some outside seating for what nice weather can get through. Inside, the place is well lit with a spiffy wood slat ceiling (the slats technically extended to the top part of the wall) and a pleasing assortment of furniture.

The coffee comes from a variety of roasters such as Stumptown, Ritual, Oslo and Kuma. That day I had an Ethiopian from Kuma Coffee via espresso and a mystery coffee via drip (the barista literally forgot what she brewed that morning). The espresso, pulled short with an even brown crema, held notes of blueberry, molten chocolate, sweet nougat, jam torte and a little sage; a bright spro with a smooth body. The unknown drip coffee proved delectable as well, with elements of curry, biscuit, deep cocoa, basil and a bit of cashew amidst a medium body.

All in all, Tougo tugged firmly at my sentimental gut strings, proving well worth the stop. If you travel to Capitol Hill, toot over to Tougo.

Mugged: Java Love [The Organic Coffee Co.]

Subject: Organic Coffee Co. of the Rogers Family Company
Mugged: Java Love
Rating [see key]: 3+


Having worked in a family company myself, I somewhat identify with organizations that are family owned and run. One new family company to my radar is the Rogers Family Company, a coffee roaster that's been around since 1979 and a company that holds numerous kin in their ranks. Recently they sent me out their Java Love blend to take for a spin. A full city roast of coffees from Latin America and Indonesia, I tried out this coffee via pourover, french press and siphon.

The pourover demonstrated notes of peanut, pepper, pear and a bit of licorice amidst a heavy body. A dark, peppery coffee with a nice element of nut and minor sweetness.

The french press proved much fruitier with notes strawberry and apple unskinned, along with flavors of pepper and cocoa. A sweeter brew though still astringent and deep.

The vacuum pot doled out pepper, nougat, apple, a bit of licorice and some cashew. Dark, yet sweet and nutty.

Overall, while I like family companies, I wasn't a big fan of this coffee. It proved a bit too dark for my liking and while it had some nice nutty and sweet notes, it was also a little to heavy in the body department. But then again, if you seek a darker coffee with a heavy body and sweet, nutty flavors, give your affection to Java Love.


note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.

CC: The Hub Coffee and Cones

Subject: The Hub Coffee and Cones
Location: Grand Lake, CO
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]


Rocky Mountain National Park is easily one of the most breathtaking parks in our fair nation. Tons of gorgeous mountain terrain, breathtaking vistas and plenty of wildlife make it a nature lover's Never Never Land. When I made my first visit there, I sadly certainly did not allot enough time to see all that I had hoped and was left like a child made to leave Chuck E Cheese before getting a chance to bury himself alive in the ball pit.

But on the way out, my entourage and I stopped in the lovely town of Grand Lake for some dinner and coffee prior to a 2 hour drive back to our base camp. We found a delicious evening meal of rocky mountain oysters and bbq at the Sagebrush BBQ and Grill but a couple different internet searches for coffee in the town made our hopes for evening joe bleak. Fortunately while we were driving down Grand Avenue, we spotted a place called Hub Coffee and Cones with a spacious patio in a cabin-like structure. Knowing little of what to expect, we walked through the metal patio furniture, up the porch and inside to a nicely arrayed venue of red and black that sported a decent amount of chic interior furniture and local art.

Turns out the coffee comes from reputed Denver roaster Coda Coffee Company, a fairly popular choice in the central CO region. I ordered an espresso of the Notorious Espresso Blend and from their legion of pump pots, a drip of their Mexican. The Mexican, a light roast with a medium body, doled out notes of milk chocolate, green tea, apple and sassafras; a sweet coffee with a root-ish quality. The espresso, pulled short/medium with a brownish-blonde crema, spoke of lemon, a little chocolate, salt, some spinach, lavender and a touch of cardboard; not the best shot but still pretty good. Also, as the name indicates, they serve a nice variety of ice cream.

After finishing up our short respite before embarking back onto the open road, I left the Hub happy to have randomly found a coffee oasis in an area with few great coffee options. If you're on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park and in need of a good cup of coffee, hit up the Hub Coffee and Cones.