Aspen has numerous options to get your fix and start your day with all the energy you need to explore and engage on your vacation. Our friends at Aspen Sojourner have helped run down Aspen’s top places to satisfy your caffeine cravings. Long story short, your first stop should be Durant Street opposite the Aspen Mountain gondola.
1.Hands-on owners Victoria Haveman and John Bealty of Victoria+Co combine the subculture of Aussie brewing with barista pride. Mix in with blend of locals, visitors, and chisel-faced refugees from Aspen’s defunct Wienerstube restaurant. The coffee menu runs the gamut with flat white, macchiato, and its elusive cousin, the Aussie “piccolo,” each unerringly made with locally roasted double-shot espresso topped with flowered latte art. An accompanying sausage or veg roll ups the satisfaction for the morning-challenged. 510 E. Durant Ave.
2. Enjoy “coffee above all else” at Ink! Coffee. Quick delivery, casual seating are the order of the day here. They offer piquant blends and single origin brews; all are roasted down in Denver. Manager Scott Kretzmann recommends the Sumatra or the black and tan blend. Watch out for the Adrenaline Junkie (a.k.a. the Hammerhead)—a shot of espresso in a cup of coffee. 520 E. Durant Ave.
3. Aspen’s favorite Frenchman Olivier Mottier runs the deli-bakery Jour De Fête. If you have a yen for a true European espresso he’s your man. Greeting you at the counter, Mottier deftly makes a full range of craft coffees using well-known Italian blend Lavazza. The Americano is a potent favorite, whether accompanied by a fat breakfast burrito or a killer chocolate éclair. 710 E. Durant Ave.
4. For an unhurried midmorning treat on the Aspen Art Museum’s expansive rooftop deck, So Café offers great scenery for both nature and people watching. Run by manager Mary Daly, who commands her realm like a benevolent quartermaster, the café offers delicious and local Rock Canyon coffee complemented by fresh croissants. Later on, espresso drinks from lattes to iced mochas accompany the art and expansive views of town. 637 E. Hyman Ave.
5. If you’re a chronic early bird with an internal homing device for unadulterated fresh brew, City Market presents solid French roast. Just wobble to the back of the store and pour your own cup for 99 cents. Straightforward and one of the best deals in town. 711 E. Cooper Ave.