Denver: 5 Buzz-worthy Drinks that are not Coffee
Now don’t get me wrong, I still adore my cup of joe but lately I’ve been feeling like coffee hasn’t been giving me the same “buzz” it use to. So I decided it was time to switch things up!
The problem is that I got so use to drinking coffee everyday, that I stopped receiving its benefits. So I did what anyone stuck in a rut does + tried something new! What I discovered was that there’s so many kinds of caffeinated drinks that will give you the same, if not more, energy than a cup of coffee. Here are a few of my Denver favorites:
CHAI TEA LATTE
THE MOLECULE EFFECT
Most of the drinks I’m going to talk about (if not all of them), come from tea so naturally I started with my favorite kind - chai! I love the aroma of cinnamon + ginger swirling. It feels just like Christmas in a cup. I sat down for a cup of chai with one of my girlfriends at a coffee shop I’ve passed a hundred times but never been to, The Molecule Effect. I was joyfully overwhelmed by their variety of drinks. So I ordered my chai latte + it was one of the best. However, The Molecule Effect has tons of house-made concoctions like a Brown Sugar Lavender Mocha. W H A T. And if you’re not in the coffee mood, they also are a wine, beer + art bar. When you walk in, you are instantly inspired by the unique art found all around their shop. The Molecule Effect has two locations. Because of their love for art + their community, it only makes sense that their first location is in the art district on Santa Fe. Their second location is found inside The Nativ Hotel in downtown Denver. So whether you’re craving a warm cup of chai or a glass of wine, The Molecule Effect has all your beverage + food needs.
KOMBUCHA
BREW CULTURE
Kombucha is one of those drinks that you either love or hate. Personally, I’m a big lover of the booch. This bubbly, fermented drink has been around for years + is made out of tea, sugar, bacteria + yeast. I know that may put people off at first but honestly, it’s very tasty, plus it’s great for your gut. Although, it’s not what you would call a “traditional tea” it is tea nonetheless which is why it makes the list. However, it’s at a very low caffeinated strength. Once a trending drink, I believe the booch is here to stay for the long haul. I visited Brew Culture, a coffee + kombucha community on Colfax and Lowell. I tried their holiday chai kombucha + wow, it was hands down one of the best kombuchas I’ve ever had. I had to resist the urge to drink all of it before I got back into my car. Their location is open + airy which makes for a great place to do some work or visit with a friend. They always have 8 flavors of kombucha on tap + there’s actually a brewery right next door you can go to after you’ve gotten your fix.
MATCHA LATTE
AMETHYST COFFEE
You’ve probably heard of matcha by now. It’s part of the green tea fam so it does contain caffeine. However, unlike the caffeine found in coffee which can make you feel jittery + anxious, matcha gives you a sense of “relaxed alertness” for a longer period of time. Plus, you get all the antioxidant benefits from the tea. To get my matcha fix, I ventured over to Amethyst Coffee + holy cow, this coffee shop is so quaint. They have a cool + earthy vibe with plants hanging off every corner of the shop + they appear to be super sustainable which is another reason to go! Their matcha latte was also the best green goodness I’ve ever had. Amethyst has two locations in the Denver area. One off of Broadway and 11th + they’re newer location in Lakewood, right near Lakeside Amusement Park on 44th and Yates.
EARL GREY VANILLA CREAM
STEEP TEA + COFFEE
THIS. I’ve had a real obsession with earl grey tea recently so when I discovered Steep + their earl grey vanilla cream beverage, I was over the moon. Honestly, I felt more of a buzz from this single drink than I do after a cup of coffee. It’s smooth, creamy + the hint of vanilla makes it perfectly sweet. Steep is nestled in the Hilltop neighborhood off of 8th + Colorado. Besides this creamy earl grey drink, they also whip up golden lattes, mate lattes, + a toasted coconut oolong latte, which I need to try! Every time I walk into their cozy little spot, I instantly get drawn into their wall of over 30 loose leaf teas + they also have MATCHA SHOTS! One for wellness, one for immunity + one for cleanse. This place truly has everything you want in a tea cafe + I highly recommend you guys try it out.
YERBA MATE LATTE
HOOKED ON COLFAX
You’ve probably heard of yerba mate before but have you ever had a yerba mate latte? Like America loves matcha, South America loves their yerba mate. It’s said to have the health benefits of tea, the strength of coffee + the joy of chocolate. Seriously, one cup of this + you feel it’s strength instantly. Plus, it has antioxidants + helps with mental clarity + focus. Definitely something you want in your morning cup or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Grab a cup at Hooked on Colfax + Steele. This coffee shop is so darn cute + spacious. They have a main level where the barista lives + on the other side has a bakery. You might as well grab a fresh treat while you’re there because it’s hard to resist the sweet smells of sugar + chocolate coming from the oven. They have extra seating in their two different basements. One side has more of an earthy vibe + the other has a more sultry, library theme to it. Perfect spots to do some school work or read a book while enjoying your tasty hot bev.
Love + light,
Cris