Finding a good cup of coffee in Denver is not a difficult endeavor. You can hardly walk a block without coming across a coffee house boasting the superiority of their artisan roast. It is, however, rare to find a shop that also offers an ideal work space and food options that extend beyond cellophane wrapped slices of banana bread. Thump Coffee, located at the heart of Capitol Hill, offers all this and more.
Hailing from Bend, Oregon, Thump is a farm-to-cup coffee roaster that quickly became a favorite among Denver natives. With a dimly lit interior of exposed wood and industrial furniture, the atmosphere is everything you expect from your hip neighborhood coffee house. The space is large with ample seating and long tables ideal for talking with friends or getting some work done.
Thump offers a small but refined menu of signature roasts, each with its own particular flavor profile. I tried a cup of the Guatemalan blend which was smooth with strong notes of orange. Their North Fork Blend is a house favorite with a sweeter taste and a hint of vanilla. If you’re not looking to get buzzed, Tiddly-Winks is a decaf roast that, unlike most, still tastes delicious. After all, decaf coffee is coffee without a soul.
The drink menu goes on with an extensive list of teas, seasonal lattes and espresso. Their housemade vanilla chai latte is the perfect way to start a cool autumn morning. They also have kombucha on tap and a brief selection of draft beers.
The most exciting feature of Thump Coffee is their brunch, served everyday from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm. They have a colorful menu with fresh items that vary with the seasons. I had the Smashed Avocado toast with two poached eggs and sprinkled with aleppo pepper. Their other bestsellers include the Fruit & Chai Bowl, the Tomato Basil Toast and a Kale & Quinoa Salad.
If you show after brunch has ended, you can still choose from the pastry case. They make their baked goods from scratch every day, offering many vegan and gluten-free options. I had an almond and coconut scone that paired perfectly with Guatemalan coffee.
While the shop’s atmosphere nearly crosses the line into overbearingly indie, they more than make up for it with their menu. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, each cup comes with a backstory of bean harvesting and complex water processing techniques. And if you’re not, it’s more than just coffee.
1201 EAST 13TH AVE. Hours: 6:00 am- 7:00 pm Monday- Sunday
