Lavender Coffee Boutique — Restaurant in Denver

Lavender is one of my ultimate favorite coffee shops!! As a coffee lover, I have tried almost all of the coffee shops across Denver, definitely all of them in the Wash Park area, and this has got to be one of the best spots around town. What makes Lavender stand out is the people and service the team brings - I discovered this coffee shop pretty early on in their journey, and Brian truly started what is now an ever-lasting relationship here! His genuine smile, curiosity, and warmth has brought me back to the store time and time again. I am always greeted with the biggest smiles, even when I stop by right at 7AM, and served only with kindness from the moment I step through the doors. Yes, Lavender is small, but that's what you expect when you treat yourself to a coffee boutique! While you may not always be able to find a spot during prime hours, you are always guaranteed a good greeting from the baristas, friendly conversation, and a phenomenal cup of coffee no matter the day or time! Brian, Hailey, Anna, and Luke are truly some of the best people in the world - it's rare to find a team who's solid, no matter who's serving you that day, but Lavender has found a way to serve up a great team + coffee! I highly recommend coming in, whether it's to try one of their staples (like an earl grey lavender latte) or one of their seasonal drinks. You won't be disappointed, and you'll definitely leave smiling if...

I have worked in coffee for 15 years, so when I find a really good cup of coffee, it stays with me! This is my favorite coffee shop in Denver, and I truly mean that. They do the following things very well: their coffee is very high quality -- it is always consistent, always roasted well, always fresh. If you're into flavor, their flavors are UNIQUELY EXCELLENT. They do not follow the crowd, they do their own thing, and they are always perfect ratios that stay with you. Their flavors are potent (in the best way) but not necessarily sweet, which is really important to me-- I don't want to feel like I'm having an artificially extra sweet latte, but I DO want flavor (and coffee lovers know the difference. Most coffee shops think lots of sugar = flavor and that is not the case). For example, I had a cherry almond matcha today and it was incredible. I also loved their Tiramusu latte. Truly perfect lattes. And lastly, the atmosphere is just curated so well. They really did not cut any corners with this place, and I drive 20 minutes regularly because I just love it so much. You can tell this place has really been handcrafted with care, and I look forward to continuing...

I have been visiting this coffee shop regularly for several months and have mostly had pleasant experiences. The espresso drinks are good, they offer fun seasonal options, and there are good non-dairy alternatives available. Parking can usually be found on the street, although you might have to walk a bit when it's busy, and seating can be limited during peak times. While it is a bit pricey, the atmosphere is generally nice.

However, recently I encountered some racist microaggressions from one of the staff members. I overheard him making comments about what is “culturally appropriate” after my interaction with him, which made my partner and me very uncomfortable, especially as we were the only non-white guests. It’s disappointing because I have really enjoyed this shop and recommended it to many people, but I’m not sure if I will feel comfortable...