The exterior of the new Loyal Coffee.
Colorado Springs ain’t Denver—and they like it that way. After all, this is a city whose residents proudly display stickers reading “KEEP COLORADO SPRINGS LAME“. That’s tongue in cheek, of course, but it’s meant to signify this place as proudly culturally distinct from somewhere like, say, Boulder or Austin or Portland, Oregon.
Here in 2016, it’s no surprise for places like Colorado Springs to emerge as a hotbed for good coffee, as new wave coffee culture in America and around the world further decentralizes. Loyal’s going to be roasting their own coffee, but they’ll also bring in coffee from Grand Rapids, Michigan’s MadCap Coffee for “inspiration”, says co-owner Tyler Hill. The shop is collaboratively owned, and Sprudge readers may know Tyler Hill previously from his work on the American competitive coffee circuit—he placed 4th in the US Barista Championship Western Conference earlier this year, and 12th in the nation at US nationals.
The thrill of the build! Inside the new Loyal Coffee space.
As told to Sprudge by Tyler Hill of Loyal Coffee.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
Loyal Coffee is a collaborative effort of six coffee professionals in Colorado Springs. Equally owned and operated by these baristas, Loyal is striving to create an elevated and approachable coffee experience for the people we love in the city we love. While we are obsessed with coffee, at the end of the day, Loyal is a community company. Whether it’s inside our cafe, through our roasting and training facility, or somewhere else in Colorado Springs, we want to play a role in strengthening the amazing place we have found ourselves.
Loyal Coffee mobile cart pop-up.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
Our cafe is located in downtown Colorado Springs next to the first new and rentable apartments in downtown in 30 years. Our hope for this particular cafe is to be a friendly neighborhood stop for those living near but also a destination for those who want an exceptional coffee experience. We are stoked to have crazy good batch brew and fast espresso/food systems so guests on-the-go can get in and out quickly. If you choose to stay, your time in the cafe will be simple, intentional, and tons of fun! Along with brewed coffee and espresso drinks, we will have tapped cocktails, a seasonal toast menu, and a bottle of Fernet Branca near at all times.
Exquisite framing.
What’s your approach to coffee?
Our approach to coffee is simplicity, consistency, and excellence. For those who want a simple coffee experience, our dream is to take all the barriers away between you and a simple cup of stellar coffee. With that being said, there is an element of excellence in our DNA. We are always striving and dreaming about how we can make you the dopest coffee in all the land! Perhaps you are a guest that’s obsessed with coffee, you will see our obsession with excellence. If you could care less, it’s all good, we are just as excited to serve you a great drink.
Unfinished walls.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
We are using a custom La Marzocco Strada EP, Modbar Pour-Over System, and Curtis batch brewers. As far as our coffee, we are roasting at our facility inside the world famous Ivywild School. We are also bringing in MadCap Coffee as a way to inspire us to make our coffee as good as possible while exposing our city to other world-class coffees.
The rafters inside the build-out.
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
Great question! We would love to know that too! Our hope is to be open somewhere around mid-August.
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?
We are working with two incredible companies. First is the amazing Studio Mast. They have done all our naming, branding, etc. They have then collaborated with Echo Architecture to bring the brand to life in our space.
Loyal Coffee mobile cart pop-up.
What’s the address?
408 South Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook.
Photos courtesy of Chris Mueller.
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