Omayra Acevedo, Coal Creek Canyon. It’s 5:30 in the morning. The air is brisk, the smell of the Rocky Mountains early in the morning fills your senses. You pull up, park, open the door, and the first thing you see are the local ‘Romeos’ sitting at the table already talking in depth about their latest adventures and sharing laughs. Don’t be surprised if you’re the one greeted by the cowboys at the table. You order your coffee and breakfast burrito as the gentlemen – some of which are retired Coal Creek Canyon Firefighters - continue to reminisce, tell stories and catch up with friends.
You chuckle to yourself in admiration as you observe them interacting with one another. It is truly priceless. Immediately, you realize that leaving quickly is not an option. You order a muffin to go - for later. Yes, gluten-free options are available. You sit and watch the regular commuters stop in for their usual morning cup of cheer. The ambiance almost gives you no choice but to feel at home. You take notice of all the beautiful local art hanging from the walls and shelves. For sale? Yes, please.
You don’t need to stay long to realize it’s one of the few places that’s difficult to leave once you’ve entered. Why not stay a while, connect to their free Wi-Fi, read a book from their library, let the kids play in the children’s nook, or just rest on the couch or recliner. You may even find yourself joining one of their monthly groups, such as the quilters group or the book club.
Coal Creek Coffee is open seven days a week. Speaking of week, if you find you’ve had a long week at work or with the kids. Don’t bother making supper. Visit the coffee shop. Every Friday evening, beginning Memorial Day until Labor Day, you can enjoy a home-cooked meal, and you may even get to enjoy some live music while you eat. Don’t like music? Take your meal to go! In the mood for pizza? No need to drive down the hill, Call Patti, Mallorie or one of their four employees (a day in advance is recommended) and let them know you’re hungry. They’ve been proudly serving the local community, tourists, cyclists, hikers and more since 2008.
Oh, yes! I almost forgot… Don’t forget to check out the boots. Legend has it that a mysterious stranger walked in one morning with a pair of magical boots. They are believed to bring happiness, joy, comfort and even reverse the aging process. Okay, maybe the real story is that one of the many regulars, before moving to Grand Junction, had a pair of boots he was on the verge of throwing away, but Patti saw something in them, and they now play a new role at the coffee shop. What is it? Stop by the shop to find out. It’s one of the many charming elements about Coal Creek Coffee.
The locals I got to speak with describe the coffee shop as a home away from home, the kitchen away from home with really good coffee, or the place to take a break from home. The coffee shop is great for snacks, food, drinks, entertainment, but it also offers a lot more than that. It’s there for everyone, and for such a small mountain coffee shop, it sure does have a ton of options and an even bigger heart.
Coal Creek Coffee in Coal Creek Canyon at 30509 Highway 72, Golden, CO 80403. 303.642.1900
(Originally published in the June 28, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
