Java Moose Coffee House & Deli, Fairplay CO

Java Moose in Fairplay, CO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Java Moose Coffee House & Deli

730 Main Street

Fairplay, CO 80440

http://www.javamoosesouthpark.com

Highway 9 offers a viable option when avoiding I-70 “slow and go” traffic back to Denver.  As I descended Hoosier Pass driving south out of Breckenridge, CO this afternoon I was drawn to stop at the Java Moose Coffee House & Deli.

The barista was too busy to chat, but I met a kind man sitting at the end of the counter.  He is a truck driver who lives in South Park.  He stops in for a coffee and a doughnut whenever he’s home …. “love the community that meets here”, he said.

According to their website they have art hanging on the walls from the students in Ms. Husher’s class at the local middle school.

How does it get any better than this?

Mirage Trading & Roasting Company in Moffat, Colorado

      

Mirage Roasting Co.

17555 State Hwy 17

Moffat, CO 81143

719-256-4357

http://www.miragetradingco.com

The charming Mirage Roasting Company sits in the San Luis Valley in southwestern Colorado on Highway 17.   One woman told me that there is 1 person for every 2 square miles of land out there, which makes it the least densely populated area in Colorado.

The entire valley consists of acres of farm land for potatoes, barley, quinoa, etc. and sits on top of Colorado’s largest aquifer providing life-giving water to this high desert landscape.  

Mirage Roasting Co. also houses an art trading business and cafe where both the locals and tourists gather.  Lisa, barista and roaster, explained that they purchased a roaster about a year ago and now roast several pounds a week.  Several of the area’s restaurants are now serving their specialty, single-origin coffees.  They are proud of their 100% organic, fair trade beans and so is the community.  They wish to remain small and specialized and never compromising quality.

On my tour of the Valley I also discovered The Great Sand Dunes National Park, a restaurant that raises and serves grass-fed yak, an alligator farm, the international spiritual hub of Crestone, and a UFO lookout tower.  

What a grand adventure!  This is what road trips are for … to discover the uniqueness of our country. 

Denver’s best independent coffeehouses, according to Lane

Top 10 Coffee Shops in Denver

…in no particular order

By Lane Walsh of Dwell Real Estate on Friday, January 4th, 2013

We are literally buzzing with excitement after visiting coffee shops all over the Denver area and sampling their fresh-brewed wares. Thanks to all who made suggestions on our Facebook page – read on to see if your favorite made the list! Did we miss your favorite haunt? Leave a comment and we’ll be sure to head their way! Just a side note – we gave points for ambiance as well as flavor profile. Serious fun.

TOP 10 COFFEESHOPS IN DENVER…in no particular order

1. Crema Coffee House (The coffee enthusiast’s coffee house of choice)

2. KJ’s Coffee Bar (Quaint and unassuming; a solid choice)

3. St. Marks Coffee House (Our favorite high school haunt holds up to time; coffee is swell and people watching is tops)

4. Buchi Cafe Cubano (Cafe con leche…do it)

5. Drip Denver (Their cappuccino is art and the baristas are the nicest in town)

6. The Laughing Latte (Best location, and a mean Chai for our tea drinking pals)

7. Hooked on Colfax (Best name, and the perfect spot for students or writers to park it for a while)

8. Happy Coffee (Strongest drip coffee and totally hip(ster) atmosphere)

9. Aviano Coffee (Come for the Brew Bar, stay for the desserts)

10. Black Eye Coffee Shop (Gorgeous digs, smoothest latte)

And three more that are worth the drive…

11. Lost Coffee in Castle Rock (A consistently good cup of coffee or espresso…what a rare delight)

12. Bean Fosters in Golden (Feel good coffee in real mugs surrounded by a flesh-and-blood used bookstore)

13. Solid Grounds in Littleton (Great espresso in a bigger, squishier version of your own living room)

My local #Coffeehouse …

My eyes are still blurry as I fumble through my bag to find my credit card … begging my eyes to open … one of THOSE mornings when i desperately need my rich, hot, quad-americano.

… I walk into my neighborhood coffeehouse and see the faces of familiar baristas smiling behind the counter at me and kindly overlook my untamed morning hair.  I know it looks wild, but have decided that my coffee is WAY more important.

They know what I want … prepare it and give a ‘day nod.  Ahhh!… Delicious!

I then took a turn and ventured into the bathroom.  I startled myself!  OMG!!!   How could they NOT say anything about my hairdo?  Haha!

Bless them this day!

Peace, Lisa

 

 

Brrrrr… Denver is cold today

Coffeehouse

…but its warm in here! This vintage house in east 17th Avenue has been around for at least 3 years. What makes them a tad unique is that they share the building with lawyers and a mortgage company! What a concept… coffee always makes one think more clearly One love, Lisa