Leadville, Co
*Reposted for the original coffee blog: Expedition Cafelier*
When you think of coffee shops, what do you think of? (send me a message or leave a comment; I want to know!)For some, perhaps your nose crinkles in annoyance of how long you end up waiting to order in the flood of people, for others it might be your favorite drink or go-to shop. For me, it's the atmosphere. I love how every shop seems to have its own personality. When you step into a coffee shop for the first time you see a reflection of the owner's dreams, adventures; their soul. From the decorations to the music and the selection of beverages, each item was chosen to bring a vision to life. Some coffee shops will turn us away, clashing with where we seek comfort. Others seem to line up with our personalities and we are pulled in. From the moment I drove into Leadville I was drawn to the large coffee pot sign, hanging before the green building, solely because of its name: City on a Hill. Being Christian, I loved the symbolism embedded within the name and every part of me longed to walk through its doors. By the time I made it to the shop I had so much built up excitement that I was completely taken away by what I found inside. The entrance was framed with large wooden timbers and mining lanterns hung to either side; above a stylish wood-burned sign welcomed you inside.
Greedily, my eyes scanned the shop trying to take in everything at once. The tables were packed with people working, reading, talking. An entire community had built itself inside the four walls and everyone seemed to thrive off of each other. Beverages rested on carefully crafted tables with resin protecting detailed portrayals of fourteeners on each of the table's four corners. All around the shop woodwork proudly displayed itself. Every shelf showed the talent of the artist who had the patience to carve state maps and our most beautiful mountains out of blocks of wood. In one back corner a wood-burned sign pondered: What mountain tells your story? It forced me to stop, appreciate the art and think of my own tales that had played out on the tops of the very mountains he had carved. At the counter, a long glass cabinet beckoned the visitor to view its humongous and unique pastries. They looked delicious while still forming to different dietary restrictions. As I waited in line to order, I watched a barista dutifully hand washing the dishes left behind before my eyes wandered to the "Coffee Club". If you are lucky enough to live in this quaint mountain town, you can pay a small membership fee and join the Coffee Club. Besides receiving boasting rights to one of the cooler clubs you could be in, you get 10% off drinks as well as discounts at a variety of stores and restaurants in the area. Everything about this place from the coffee club, the people inside, and the baristas outfits provided by a vintage store, worked towards the larger purpose of building a community regardless of which side of the doors you stood on. Though I definitely did not mind my wait in line, as I wandered to the back of the shop to fill my cup, I was touched by the Self-pay Honor System that had been set up. It may be a small gesture, but it shows the genuine trust the shop has for its customers. The coffee itself was a dark roast called Millers Roast. It was slightly watery but in the sense that it added to the smoothness. As I sipped at it, wishing I could spend hours getting to know the people inside, I was stumped by its flavor. For a dark roast it seemed to still have a slight berry and citrus quality to it but, for the life of me, I am still at a loss for what swirled inside my cup. Do I wish I could end this by telling you what their coffee tasted like? Of course. But even more so, I am humbled by my inability to do so and reminded of how blessed I am to still have so much to learn.
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