Tucked into the center of Denver’s Santa Fe Art District is a swanky coffeehouse and bar that is presenting coffee and wine in a fresh, new way. This innovation shines through on their menu which features a combination of caffeinated drinks, alcoholic concoctions and tasty treats all day long. The vibe of The Molecule Effect is as equally “come get some work done” as it is “come have a drink with some friends.” Locally owned and operated with hand selected menu items that center on quality, The Molecule Effect is a translation of its local culture and a gem in the neighborhood.
Being located in the heart of the art district, local work is proudly displayed in The Molecule Effect with a rotating gallery display every 90 days. The Molecule Effect doesn’t charge any gallery fees or percentage of sales. Art is at the core of their business, and they focus more on getting the artists work seen than making a buck. This support of the up and coming really embodies the culture of the neighborhood and is a great opportunity for those just getting started.
While The Molecule Effect is in the art district and displays work, its main function is not a gallery; people come in for the tasty treats. The menu is divided into three categories: liquids (coffeehouse drinks), solids (all food items) and other liquids (beverages with alcohol).
The liquids consist of hot and iced coffee made from the Denver company Kaladi Brother Beans and iced teas made locally from kombucha. Specialty drinks are also offered that are created in house and change regularly, so make sure you check in to see what they’re serving up now.
As for the other liquids, the adult beverages that The Molecule Effect offers up also are on regular rotation but always consist of wines, beers and cocktails. They partner with Infinite Monkey Theorem, Strange Craft Brewery and many Colorado whisky companies to create their unique concoctions. Some of their most popular drinks for grown ups are their coffee cocktails, but with so much variation in their specialty drinks, the experience is different every time.
While your reason for coming in may be to drink, it is not a bad idea to come in hungry, as The Molecule Effect has some really tasty food items as well. A wide variety of items ranging from baked goods cooked up at local bakeries to delicious burritos made from high quality meats, cheese and veggies, they are really kicking up the norm when it comes to bar snacks.
On my visit, we sampled iced teas and a spicy sausage burrito. The burrito was one of the best I have ever had, running laps around Chipotle and Illegal Pete’s. As for beverages, the iced chai and iced fruit tea are both super satiating. Not too sweet,and generously portioned we were quite satisfied.
Overall, I would recommend giving The Molecule Effect a try. For the 21+ crowd, it would be a great place to try out some unique brews and cocktails; and for the rest, their burritos really cannot be beat. Prices are standard, and the mood is good. If you are in the art district anyway or are thinking of making a trip out for the monthly First Friday festivities, I would recommend swinging in and seeing what The Molecule Effect has to offer.
