“Never trust anyone who doesn’t drink coffee,” says NYT bestselling author, professional WWE wrestler, and mental health advocate AJ Lee.
Well, I’m not a javaphile, but trust me.
I interviewed customers several mornings in August as they exited Raven’s Roast Coffee Lounge, which has been under new management since Aug. 1, and I’ve heard only positive reviews.
It’s a cozy, inviting coffee house in downtown Estes Park worth a visit – a long, relaxed, comfy visit – ensconced in soft chairs by a fireplace in the morning, looking out at the bustling Riverside Plaza around lunchtime, or listening to live music here later in the day outside on the dog-friendly patio.
The cafe is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 164 E. Elkhorn Avenue, on the back side facing the riverwalk in Riverside Plaza. Let them know you’re a local resident for a 10% discount.
Skyler Skaer is the new owner after a 10-year career as manager of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in town, and he seems to be providing brew-tiful experiences in Estes Park on the bean scene.
A frequent Estes visitor from Loveland said, “How have we missed this place? It is the exact kind of shop I would live in,” she exclaimed.
Much of the furniture and decor feels like someone’s home, with great attention to detail and comfort, and a wall of windows providing beautiful light.
With only three weeks under his belt, Skaer has had time to plan some changes for the future, like more in-house syrups and “cinnamon rolls that will change your life,” according to two Estes Park residents who have had a taste.
Skaer’s mother will be delivering these exquisite cinnamon rolls within a few weeks from her bakery, Best in Estes Baked Goods.
I stopped by this week for breakfast and enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean quiche ($6), a chocolate croissant ($6.45), a blackberry almond cookie ($4) to go, and iced tea ($4.75).
The quiche melted in my mouth and had terrific flavors from the sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, herbs, and cheeses on a thin pastry crust.
The croissant had a perfect ratio of soft, melty chocolate to flaky pastry, and the blackberry cookie was a soft, delicious treat with a smear of blackberry jam.
My husband, who has celiac disease, enjoyed the gluten-free pastry options and especially liked the triple-chocolate muffins. He agrees with comedian Jim Gaffigan, however, saying, “These muffins are a great excuse to have cake for breakfast.”
Most people found the shop while exploring George Hix Riverside Plaza but vowed to be back for more. Some mentioned Google reviews (4.6 with 540 reviews) and Facebook reviews (4.9 with 65 reviews) as their reason for seeking out this roast office.
Almost everyone is carrying a coffee cup as they leave, and several groups touted the great organic coffee here, which “has less acid and doesn’t bother my stomach,” “comes in several varieties so we all had the exact cup of coffee we wanted,” and “fortunately, is for sale in bags of ground coffee, so we are taking it back to Montana with us.”
Beyond the “brewsual suspects” at a coffee house, Raven’s Roast has specials that customers raved about as well ($5.25-$7.70).
The Colorado Campfire (hot or iced) is a rich espresso and milk infused with sweet toasted marshmallow and rich salted-caramel syrup. “I wanted graham crackers to dip in it,” said a woman from Virginia.
Several customers also mentioned the Peach Cobbler Latte. “Like having a cup of coffee with a piece of peach pie,” said an octogenarian from Texas.
Teas on the August specials menu are priced at $5.50 to $6.25 and are also creative blends.
The Alpine Glow infuses a Red Bull with sweet peach and red raspberry, then pours it over ice with a splash of cream. “It’s a great wake-up call,” said a man from Denver. “We’re on our way to the Sky Pond hike, and this will get me there.”
Before the new ownership, I had only visited Raven’s Roast for live entertainment. It was standing-room-only for local actor Curtis Kelly’s Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe performances.
Skaer says Kelly will continue to be a featured performer along with Steve Kaplan on the guitar, and Restless Spirit, a Celtic band, will perform on Wednesday afternoons.
Other food items include burritos, a spicy egg-and-cheese croissant sandwich, yogurt, scones, cinnamon rolls, Danish, breakfast breads, muffins, and three flavors of biscotti.
“The biscotti are from Columbus, Ohio, because the texture of these biscotti is perfect, not dry and crumbly, but not cake-like,” says Skaer.
Other bakery items are sourced from Wildflower Bakery in Estes, Spruce Bakery in Longmont and Boulder, and Share Good Bakery in Englewood.
Two of those bakeries provide the “certified gluten-free” products, which are endorsed by a current Raven’s staff member with celiac disease.
Although it was a great place for my breakfast here in August, I am looking forward to a future visit on a snowy day, wearing a cozy sweater, enjoying an epic cinnamon roll, and watching the fireplace ablaze.
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