Founder and co-owner Andy Sprenger is not only a two-time U.S. Brewers Cup champion but also a Q Grader, a prestigious certification akin to that of a Master Sommelier — and the service at his direct-trade roastery and tasting room (as well as its satellite cafes in Arvada and Westminster) reflects his expertise, right down to the regular schedule of tasting classes. Here’s a place to soak up knowledge as well as caffeine.

The nicest couple runs this West Highland ode to Indonesia, not only sourcing their beans from the Southeast Asian country but showcasing its traditions by offering the likes of tubruk (aka mud coffee) and gula aren (palm sugar) syrup. But they also have fun with flavors from all over, whether they’re pouring a Noir Bliss latte with black sesame and black cocoa or a seasonal Butter Rum Golden Snitch with a double shot of espresso, butter rum sauce, black lava salt, and a toasted marshmallow.

While the Sunnyside flagship of this well-established roastery and shop provides a quiet getaway in an artsy, colorful space with a large patio, its numerous other locations serve up equally good vibes along with a wide range of single-origin beans (e.g. Danche Marcelo beans from Ethiopia, Yellow Caturra beans from Peru) and specialty drinks like sweet potato-spiced lattes or lemongrass espresso tonics.

Sourcing some of its air-roasted beans from Maui, this friendly hideaway just around the corner from Middle State (with a sibling in the DTC) leans into its Hawaiian theme via ingredients like coconut and macadamia nut as well as the banana, pineapple, and mango that go into its smoothies. There’s no better place to hang loose over a coconut macchiato than at the surfboard table.

Black and white and green (in the form of plants) all over, this light, bright, industrial-chic Baker roastery supplies many a local cafe while welcoming its own customers with attitude-free service. The baristas here can ably walk you through the offerings, be it a straight-up espresso or a ginger-cola latte. Bonus: Both it and its Highlands sibling double as bottle shops featuring natural wines.

With locations in Arvada, the DTC, and Littleton as well as its South Broadway flagship, this roastery showcases its beans in minimalist-chic environs that feel almost like art galleries. Nitro cold brews, seasonal tonics and lattes, and Morning Slams — a double espresso with a to-go cup of regular joe on the side — encapsulate its flair, while a full slate of single-origin options, some quite rare, indicates the care it takes in sourcing.

Sibling to Colombian restaurant La Chiva across the street, this South Broadway cafe naturally brews with single-origin Colombian beans, yielding drinks like the Campesino spiked with panela syrup. Kick back with a cup and a snack — the pastry case is filled with the likes of pan de coco, guava empanadas, and arepas con queso — in the charming sitting room, filled with plants and flanked by a colorful mural.

The line sometimes extends out the door at this Platt Park coffee shop, located just a couple of blocks from the Old South Pearl Street shopping and dining district — but it’s worth the wait. In addition to locally roasted coffee and a solid selection of baked goods, there’s fresh-pressed juice and oatmeal to boot, all served in a funky space decorated with rotating artworks and garage doors that open onto a large, flower-bedecked patio. (A second location in LoHi is equally atmospheric, occupying an old firehouse.)

Blessed with courtyard and rooftop seating (as well as satellite locations in LoHi and Cap Hill), this bright yet intimate, certifiably green cafe in RiNo features rotating American and international roasters in the espresso drinks and specialty coffees it lists in script on a large scroll of packing paper hung behind the counter — including Denmark’s La Cabra and South Carolina’s Junto — while sourcing its pastries from nearby Hearth Bakery.

This true original, one of RiNo’s first hangouts, proudly brews with beans from a rotating roster of more than 20 local and national outfits, including New York’s Touchy Coffee and Onyx Coffee Lab in Arkansas. Speaking of pride, it’s rightly bullish on its kitchen, which turns out specials galore — from khachapuri with chile crisp to elaborate sandwiches like fried chicken on sourdough waffles with a fried egg, black garlic-maple mayo, and pickled jalapeños and onions. A few blocks away, Crema Bodega awaits at Denver Central Market.

This community-driven Clayton shop (with a second location in Curtis Park) does everything in-house, from roasting to baking to syrup-making. While it takes its coffee seriously, it also takes fun seriously — which means the crew here is as happy to pour its guests peppermint mochas or chile-spiked hot chocolate with marshmallows as it is cortados to go with the loaded breakfast fries or a peanut butter–banana muffin.

How’s this for something different: a combination coffee and plant shop complete with an indoor greenhouse. Come for the Vietnamese coffee (chicory cold brew with condensed milk), the iced chai with toffee-nut and macadamia milk, or a seasonal special like the salted butterscotch latte; stay for the free horticultural therapy (or purchase some foliage to go).

Bright colors, folk art displays, and Latin music spread cheer throughout this little virtual escape to Mexico, where all the standard pours are supplemented by the likes of cinnamon-spiked cafe de olla, spiced mochas, and the sweet frozen coffee concoction called a raspadito. Eats like molletes, tostadas de tinga, and chilaquiles verdes complete the sunny picture.

In charmingly rustic Lowry digs, this woman-owned roasting company proudly emphasizes its ethos of sustainability and inclusivity while serving up nifty house blends like the Shady Lady, created specifically for cold brew, and special releases like Stranahan’s whiskey barrel-aged Ethiopian. With additional locations in Park Hill and Littleton, as well as at the Denver Botanic Gardens, it also maintains a weekly schedule of classes for budding baristas.

The owner of this Aurora roastery spent a decade learning his trade in the coffee capital of the country — Seattle — and his know-how shows in everything from pour-overs to macchiatos to nitro floats. But when extra indulgence is in order, the Glissade Chill — a shaken concoction of espresso, half-and-half, and maple and vanilla syrup — delivers, paired with a local pastry. There’s also a small selection of beers and wines just for kicks.