Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages and in a world-class dining destination like Santa Fe, it’s no surprise to find a vibrant coffee culture in cafes and coffee houses across the city. Whether you’re in need of a fancy drink with foam and flavoring or a simple black cup of Joe, a full-on meal or a sweet snack or two, a place to meet others or a quiet spot to get some work done, you’ll find an array of spots that are perfect for you. Below is a list of some of the unique coffee houses and cafes in Santa Fe where you can relax over a fresh brew or grab a bag to go so you can brew your own at home.
Ohori’s Coffee Roasters
Ohori’s Coffee Roasters has been making freshly roasted small batch gourmet arabica coffee since 1984, and it’s one of Santa Fe’s most popular coffee shops. Here, premium arabica coffee beans are roasted daily so you can get a fresh coffee beverage whenever you visit. You’ll find single origin and estate coffee as well as signature and crafted blends. Try the nutty, buttery Organic East Timur that’s been the favorite with locals for years, and French roast, the most popular for brewed coffee. The Santa Fe Blend is a perfect finish for any meal, and the Moka Java is made with a blend so secret Ohori’s won’t divulge it. The shop has two locations, and both offer a great place to relax with a cup of signature coffee paired with a breakfast burrito or one of an assortment of pastries, if you get there early enough in the day before they run out.
35 Degrees North Coffee
“Find your Latitude” at 35 Degrees North Coffee, which offers a robust menu of whole beans from an array of latitudes spanning the globe, including Costa Rican, Kenyan, Colombian, Sumatran and more. Choose from pour-overs, drips, nitro and latitude adjustment, a blend of drip coffee with grass-fed butter and coconut and MCT oils. The menu also includes Americano, cappuccino, latte, mocha, flat white, and breve as well as espresso options and house-made chai, tea and hot chocolate.
If you’re hungry, pair hearty food with your coffee, including classics such as steel-cut oatmeal with brown sugar, house-made granola and dried cranberries; breakfast croissant with scrambled egg, ham, green chile and white cheddar; and quiche of the day. Specialties include beignets sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar and berry coulis or dark chocolate sauce and morning toast with a choice of toppings—cream cheese and bacon chutney; scrambled egg, lox, cream cheese, caper and red onions and other options. Don’t have time to dine-in? Grab an order to go, from yogurt and granola to a garden box of hummus, white cheddar, carrot, and nuts and a bacon, spinach, and heirloom tomato croissant.
Rebel House Coffee
Located in Santa Fe Place Mall near Dillard’s and open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday noon – 6 p.m., Rebel House coffee is a locally owned coffee shop with two floors of internet cafe seating. Serving locally roasted organic coffee and tea (hot/iced) with blended coffee options, Italian cream sodas, fresh fruit smoothies, and lots of locally made pastries and baked goods, sandwiches, and burritos with grab and go specialty drinks. Order online and delivery available thru Grubhub.
Cacao
Coffee and chocolate are a perfect pairing and Cacao specializes in both, an emporium of delights for the tastebuds. Once you make it past the chocolate shop, filled with handcrafted artisanal chocolates and chocolate products like soap, candles and bath products, you’ll come to a cafe offering fresh roasted pour-overs and espresso drinks along with unique blended drinking chocolates and other elixirs based on historic recipes. Try the Mocha Prima a fresh-roasted espresso blend with house-made hot chocolate and steamed milk, or the Espresso Chocofogatto, made with espresso and chocolate. And nothing goes better with a coffee drink than Meso-American brownies and Chocolova, made from an Armenian recipe featuring citrus, allspice and chocolate. Coffee lovers will enjoy Cacao’s coffee workshops, which cover various topics in each class, from roasting profiles to espresso-making techniques, brewing characteristics and more.
The Teahouse
While known for its staggering array of tea offerings, The Teahouse also offers excellent coffee drinks, including macchiato, Americano, cappuccino, Flat White and latte, as well as Morocchino—double shot of espresso with dark chocolate and half-and-half—and Spicy Santa Fe Mocha, with two espresso shots, dark chocolate, Chimayó red chile, cinnamon, vanilla and milk. There’s also Lavender Honey Latte, Vanilla Honey Latte and Italian-Style Hot chocolate. When the weather is warm, don’t miss the New Orleans Iced Coffee with roasted chicory, sugar cane and half-and-half; the New England Iced Coffee with maple syrup, roasted chicory and half-and-half; and the refreshing Espresso Spritzer, a double shot of espresso poured over sparkling water. Or, go all out with the Burlington Cooler, featuring two espresso shots, maple syrup and heavy cream poured over ice, shaken, strained into a champagne glass and sprinkled with cinnamon. These kinds of coffee drinks are perfect paired with a delectable dish from The Teahouse menu, including the famous scones with clotted cream and lemon curd and Blackstone Eggs Benedict with bacon, grilled tomato and Classic or Calabrian Chile Hollandaise. For sweet treats, try the Almond Olive Oil Cake and the Santa Fe Chocolate Cake, made with dark chocolate and cinnamon, topped with dark chocolate and Chimayó red chile ganache.
Coffee & Culture
And don’t forget to sit down with a cup of fresh coffee and tune in to KTRC 103.7 FM’s Coffee & Culture show, which airs every Saturday from 2 – 3 p.m., featuring art and culture news from El Palacio, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Institute of American Indian Arts and Museum of Contemporary Native Arts.
This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead
