Dark Heart Coffee Bar — Restaurant in Loveland

My love affair with Dark Heart began in early 2019. I was a single mama with a toddler and a newborn who had to travel to Loveland from Longmont to meet with my therapist once a week (because mental health matters, y’all). To make these weekly meetings less painful, I sought out some dopamine in the form of caffeine ✨ After a quick google search, my sleep deprived self landed at Dark Heart—and thank Goddess! The Smokey Mocha became my crux during this time of my life. It is subtly sweet, dark and rich in mocha, but my favorite part is the smoked paprika and black salt topping. Such a balm for my soul. 6 years later, it’s my go-to for an emotional pick-me-up or a rainy day.

Now, I won’t say I moved to Loveland for Dark Heart, but I won’t say that I didn’t either 😉 alas, I found myself living here from late 2019-2020 and again from 2022-present. And I can say, with 100% certainty, that Dark Heart is a huge reason that I love Loveland. I visit Dark Heart several times a week—to my wallet’s dismay (but worth it!). I have started from the Smokey Mocha as my only love, and I have fallen for another by the name of the Not So Basic latte. She is slightly sweet with hints of vanilla and cinnamon in a perfect espresso with creamy oat milk (you have to request the oat—do it. You won’t be disappointed). I love her in all her forms—hot, cold, doesn’t matter. I especially love ordering extra sweet or with extra ground cinnamon (because I’m extra).

An honorable (non-coffee) mention is the Midsummer Matcha on their summer menu… get it iced with oat milk. Thank me later.

Ok, so the coffee is great, but the staff… they’re even better. In all my years of coming here, I’ve only been met with kindness and consideration. They remember my name (seriously, without fail), and I’ve had many a lively chats with various baristas over the years while waiting for my drinks. I also love that AJ (the co-founder) is often working behind the counter too—it shows how passionate and invested she is in the business, and I imagine it creates a sense of non-hierarchical equality for her staff. I also remember the days when Justin could be found behind the counter too 🩵

The vibe is definitely more hip and modern, and I love it. My kids love finding the little lemur looking creature around the shop—he moves around from time to time (don’t worry, he doesn’t bite…). The bathrooms are always clean (a huge win when kids need to use them), and the overall cleanliness is 1000 times better other coffee shops in town… (I only go to other coffee shops for gluten free donuts 😬 because Dark Heart ruined my ability to enjoy lattes made elsewhere 😅)

In conclusion of this novel that you didn’t ask for but you received anyways, I am forever grateful to have stumbled upon this gem 6+ years ago, and I hope to continue being able to enjoy really fing good coffee served by really fing awesome people for...

Edit: The owners been pretty mean toward us lately. We've had consistency problems more recently and tried to address them as they came, as we have been regulars for awhile. Its been a lot of little things here and there thats kinda made the overall experience lower for us. Ive always known to give feedback when things are not to the usual standard. With the premium prices being charged, I would expect the consistency and service to match that experience.

Drink inconsistencies, food burnt or undercooked, buying things online only to have them sell it out before you get there to pick it up. But after voicing concerns a few times (granted many times we over looked things), it honestly just made me more and more uncomfortable going here as some employees and even the owner have become quite cold. To the point of even being directly mean. Its probably better to not express many concerns here unless you are okay with tension. 😒 It seems more like a shut up and deal with it place, not really a community kinda place like many local coffee shops are. Kinda bummed because I did enjoy this spot the last few years on a weekly basis. But as someone who prefers consistency and to avoid conflict, esp. at a place that charges premium prices that I go to unwind, I wont frequent here anymore.

(I tried to put this as nicely as possible. But I have strong feelings on customer service and the standard places should hold towards their guests; regardless of if they like them or find them annoying them or not.) Im sure this will get some shade. And everyone has off days and miscommunications. But being rude to a guest picking you to give their money to on a regular basis, especially in this economy, is quite insensitive.

Old review: I love getting Chai here. They make a wonderful in-house milk alternative that pairs perfectly with it. The ambiance is super cozy and appealing and the drinks are...

Good morning, coffee connoisseurs! Here's the lowdown on Dark Heart Coffee Bar, where the art of coffee making seems to take a rather scenic route: First off, if you're planning a visit, bring a good book or your patience cap. Even with a quartet of baristas, you're in for a wait that could outlast a season of your favorite cooking show. Yes, every coffee is crafted with care, but perhaps a dash more haste would not go amiss. Now, onto the flavor palette – they've got lavender and honey, which are delightful, but where's the classic vanilla? It's like cooking without salt! A bit of vanilla could add that comforting sweetness and might just be the secret ingredient to boost their charm (and sales). And about the hours – closing at 4 pm? That's like serving a roast dinner at breakfast time! Extend those hours, perhaps until 8 pm, and for the love of morning Joe, think about opening at 5 am. Not all of us are on a leisurely schedule. On the subject of their... let's call it 'unique' hiring ethos. Diversity in a kitchen or café can spice things up, but ensuring everyone marches to the beat of the same drum might just be limiting your flavor profile. A sprinkle of varied perspectives could enrich the mix, don't you think? Lastly, the social media saga – engaging with your customers online can be as delicate as a soufflé. While sharing your views is commendable, perhaps focus more on the brew than the battle. Remember, a good café should be about uniting over great coffee, not dividing over doctrine. So, Dark Heart, if you're listening, a few tweaks here and there could turn your slow brew into a bustling, beloved coffee hub. Let's make coffee, not...