All throughout Denver and the surrounding communities, you’ll find an abundance of quaint, cozy, and locally-owned coffee shops serving up your morning (or mid-day) cup of joe. And like any good java house, most of these establishments play to some sort of quirk or charm that helps them stand out from the rest. Take Little Owl Coffee on Blake Street, for example, which proudly promotes its “farm-to-cup” experience by offering single-origin/estate coffees and craft espresso. Or, look up Weathervane Cafe – an uptown spot that sells coffee, curious gifts, and unique food items.
But some of these shops go a step further by catering to more than just our caffeine cravings. A handful of cafes in and around the Denver area are working to improve their local community, help the needy, and give a voice to those who are often underrepresented. The next time you’re out for coffee, consider visiting one of these service-driven shops.
Prodigy Coffee
Where: 3801 E 40th Avenue, Denver, Co 80205
When: Open daily from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm
Prodigy Coffee opened its doors in July of 2016 with a special vision in mind – help disconnected young adults develop mindsets and skills for sustainable careers, economic mobility, and community enrichment. Through their one-year apprenticeship program, this non-profit shop provides at-risk men and women from the surrounding area with job training, mentoring, and a livable wage in order to help them move forward in life.
Purple Door Coffee
Where: 2962 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80205
When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 6:30am-5:30pm; Wednesday: 6:30am-12:00pm; Saturdays: 7:30am-2:30pm
Like Prodigy, Purple Door Coffee operates as a source of employment, training, and mentoring for underprivileged young adults – but in this case, the focus is specifically on homeless youth. Through their successful program, Purple Door has been able to provide good paying jobs, a supportive atmosphere, and a path out of homelessness for their employees.
Steamers Coffeehouse
Where: 8565 Five Parks Drive, Suite 100, Arvada, CO 80005
When: Sunday – Thursday: 7am–10pm, Friday – Saturday: 7am–10pm
Located just outside of Denver in Arvada, Steamers provides developmentally disabled individuals with job experience, professional training, and skill development through employment in the prep kitchen. Owners Athan and Jack Miller have been operating this program since opening in 2007.
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Serving The Community At Mike Shaw Subaru
Here at Mike Shaw Subaru, serving the community is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re always happy to see local businesses taking the lead by lending a hand to those in need. As a veteran-owned company, we understand the importance of civic duty and we take that obligation seriously. That’s why we do our best to give back through investments, donations, and providing fair and honest service to the people of Denver. Come by and chat with us sometime. You’ll find us on 104th Ave in Thornton. We’d love to see you!