The Springs runs on local coffee. Plenty of these shops roast their own beans, and they're spread from Northgate down to Fountain. This list is all independents, picked so there's a good cup near wherever you live. Hours and addresses come from each cafe's own site (or Manitou's chamber listing for The Loft), checked in October 2026.
Cafe hours shift with the seasons, and some close early in the afternoon. Tap through before you make a special trip.
📍 Downtown · 408 S. Nevada Ave. A second cafe is in Northgate at 11550 Ridgeline Dr.
Why go: A "barista-built" roaster with bright, lively cafes made for working, relaxing and catching up. Best of the Springs voters gave it silver for coffee shops in 2026.
Order: Whatever house roast is on, plus one of the specialty toasts regulars love.
Good to know: Both cafes are open 6 a.m.–7 p.m. every day, which is later than most on this list.
Official site ↗📍 Montebello (north-central, off N. Academy Blvd.) · 2360 Montebello Square Dr., Suite H1
Why go: A neighborhood cafe since 2013, with coffee roasted on site. It won bronze in the 2026 Best of the Springs, and its beans now ship to wholesale customers nationwide.
Order: A bagel sandwich, like the Garden Sunrise (egg, avocado and tomato with house hot honey and chimichurri), or a pastry from Marigold Bakery. Liège waffles show up on weekends.
Good to know: Monday–Saturday 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. In the evening, sister bar RECEPTION (2460 Montebello Square Dr.) pours cocktails Thursday–Saturday, 4–9 p.m.
Official site ↗📍 Shooks Run (just east of downtown) · 330 N. Institute St., at Boulder St.
Why go: Switchback's first cafe is a bustling neighborhood corner shop with a patio, plenty of room inside and a kitchen turning out breakfast and lunch.
Order: Breakfast and a latte at Shooks Run. For something nerdier, visit the Roastery Brew Bar at 909 E. Moreno Ave., in the old Helen Hunt Elementary School just west of Memorial Park, and try one of its rotating coffees.
Good to know: Shooks Run is open daily 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (the kitchen closes at 2). There's no lot, but free street parking is easy. The Roastery Brew Bar is open 7 a.m.–1 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.–2 p.m. weekends.
Official site ↗📍 Northeast (Austin Bluffs Pkwy.) · 6140 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., Suite 150
Why go: The 2026 Best of the Springs gold winner. It has a travel theme, coffee sourced from around the world and roasted right in the shop, and it doubles as a wine bar with regular wine tastings and jazz.
Order: A single origin and a pastry. In their words, "the coffee's great, and the pastry is even better."
Good to know: It's open until 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday (6:30 a.m. open), 6:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekends.
Official site ↗📍 Old Colorado City · 16 Colbrunn Ct.
Why go: "Coffee, music, life" is the motto, and they mean it. The lobby is built around a little music stage, and several baristas are musicians. The Gazette made it its own pick in the 2026 Best of the Springs.
Order: An espresso drink, then stick around for the evening set.
Good to know: Its site lists a Wednesday open mic (6–10 p.m.) and Irish pub music on Thursdays (6–9 p.m.). Check its Facebook page for the week's lineup.
Official site ↗📍 East Downtown · 2 S. Wahsatch Ave., Suite 100
Why go: A focused menu of single-origin espresso, single-cultivar matcha, rotating teas and what the shop calls "drinks built like cocktails."
Order: A matcha latte, or the Japanese-style iced coffee.
Good to know: Open daily, 6 a.m.–6 p.m. It's an easy pick for coffee after work.
Official site ↗📍 Downtown · 120 E. Bijou St. A second shop is in Old Colorado City at 2752 W. Colorado Ave.
Why go: Story started as what the owners believe was the world's first tiny-house coffee shop you could walk into, parked in Acacia Park. Before opening, they visited more than 200 coffee shops in 45 states. Their motto: "simplicity = excellence."
Order: Keep it simple, like they do, and ask what's brewing.
Good to know: Listed hours are 6 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.–5 p.m. weekends.
Official site ↗📍 Westside · 720 S. 8th St. A second shop, the Hillside Coffee House, is at 319 S. Hancock Ave.
Why go: A Colorado small business pouring since 2011, with a menu that seems to go on forever. The 8th Street shop opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays, the earliest on this list.
Order: A peanut butter mocha, or a classic cold brew on your way to work.
Good to know: 8th Street is open 5 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m.–6 p.m. weekends. Hillside is open 6 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday.
Official site ↗📍 Manitou Springs · 110A Cañon Ave., next to the Penny Arcade
Why go: A locally owned cafe that keeps Manitou caffeinated seven days a week. It makes its own bagels and pastries from scratch, and out back stands the Story Booth, a 1953 phone booth where you can dial up Manitou history told by locals.
Order: A house-made bagel sandwich and one of the creative coffee drinks.
Good to know: Open daily, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Official site ↗📍 Fountain · 105 S. Santa Fe Ave., in historic Olde Town Fountain
Why go: The south end's go-to, with a long list of flavors and a new specialty menu every month. Walk in, use the drive-through or order ahead on the app.
Order: A flight: four 8-ounce drinks from the seasonal menu. Flights are only served in the shop.
Good to know: Open seven days a week, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.
Official site ↗Keep going: Want coffee in the morning and a cocktail at night? STIR Coffee & Cocktails in the Old North End does both. It's on our Top 10 happy hours list.
Every pick was checked against its official site or a recent local news report in October 2026. Hours, menus and trail conditions change, so tap through before you head out. Spot something out of date? Email hello@cosscoop.com.
Photo: Colorado City Business District by ERoss99, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped (our crop shared under the same license).
Join your neighbors, from the Westside to Briargate, for the best things to do, eat, walk and ride around Pikes Peak. It's a five-minute read.
