Kind Coffee in Estes Park

It's the Kind of place I'd like to own someday. They are locally owned, not into expanding on every corner, and stick to their guns when it comes to their values. Kind coffee is located at the beginning of the main drag on the left side, just a few doors down from Starbucks, and right next to a delicious Mexican restaurant called Ed's Cantina. All of their coffee is organic and fair trade certified, and they roast all of their beans in micro-batches. They also have a lot of fun swag, which I am always tempted to purchase.... this time it was a little coin purse that said, "coffee, the last cheap drug" that won my heart. Back to the coffee, every blend I've had has been consistent and tasty, the baristas are trained well in the art of espresso, although not so much in the category of coffee bean knowledge. I asked one of the girls working what the "Estes Park" blend was made up of, and no one behind the counter knew the answer. That made me sad, but alas, I still love the coffee. When you head up to Estes Park this year, be sure to make this a must on your list of stops. Of course, it's especially wonderful if you are up there in the colder months - October was the perfect time to go, with the Aspens a gorgeous shade of yellow and the cool mountain air just right for a warm, favorite sweater. Kind has a patio to enjoy the clear water from the stream running through Estes Park, also, so make sure to get something hot to warm your hands. This is the epitome of Colorado, everything it should be and the reason I chose it as my home! 9.0