Red Dog Coffee — Restaurant in Manitou Springs

So, I had to take a couple stars away, because I had a great first experience, but not a great second experience.

The first time there. Blown away. There were smiles everywhere, I felt welcomed and the iced coffee was amazing. I was pleasantly surprised at the huge chunk of frozen coffee that made up the ice. Primo.

The second time however, failed miserably. I had had such a great first experience, that I took my friends there because I wouldn't shut up about it. Well, we go in, and there's a short line. This was sometime in the evening, by the way. There's a tension in the air. People aren't bright and cheerful, like last time. I look at the female employee and she has a sour expression on her face. Resting you-know-what face. She's not chatting with the customers, except to exchange instructions on how to pay for what they ordered. The male employee has no time either to smile or even acknowledge anyones presence. I order my iced coffee, hoping for the same awesome experience as last time.

Nope. Not today. The first thing I noticed was there was no amazing large chunk of frozen coffee. Just a scoop of regular old frozen h20 cubes. When I piped up regarding the ice, the male employee, speaking towards the cup and not me, said "we're out of frozen coffee". That it. No apology. Just those five words. "Oh, OKAY," was my response. There really was no point in pursuing the matter, so I moved to the side while I waited for my friends to finish getting their drinks. I noticed that my friends weren't smiling, either. They were having similar experiences.

This wasn't the same coffee shop that I'd visited the first time, just a month ago. I was embarrassed, to be honest. I'd promised my friends a great experience, and we left, with my apologies being muttered to my friends. The top it all off, they weren't that happy with their coffees. Except one. Because that friend drinks tea, never coffee, and that's really hard to mess up, especially since he basically just got a cup of hot water and...

I came here because I had an internet outage where I lived. Prior to showing up, I called to make sure inside seating was open. The sigh followed by the rude tone of voice should have been my first indication that this wasn't going to go well, but my alternative was lose a whole day of work waiting on Xfinity, so I opted to come anyways.

The food and coffee was fine, and 3 out of the 4 people that I interacted with were very friendly. As I was standing at the front counter wanting to order lunch, one of the lady's said "I'll be right with you," to which the same snide individual that I spoke with on the phone commented back "He's been here for hours" and then stood there glaring at me.

Okay, fair enough. Except your coffee shop was never in jeopardy of being at capacity during any time that I was in there, I had food or a drink at all times, and I already felt bad enough as it was that I had to resort to having to go to a coffee house just to do my job for circumstances out of my control (and sat there doing everything over email, text and IM so I did not disturb any of the other patrons).

There was zero reason for receiving the attitude that I received. Perhaps I caught this individual on a bad day, but if this is the norm for them to exhibit that sort of behavior, then they should not be employed at your...

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Walking into Red Dog Coffee in Manitou Springs feels like stepping into a vibrant story—one where you’re the main character. Picture this: you're greeted by friendly smiles, the aroma of expertly brewed coffee, and a space filled with warmth and creativity. It’s a place for the dreamers, the wanderers, and anyone who’s ever craved a moment of connection.

But Red Dog isn’t just about great coffee (though, trust me, the coffee is next-level good). It’s like an eclectic treasure chest waiting to be discovered. They have plants that make your soul happy, stunning local artwork adorning the walls, and unique gems for sale that are perfect for gifting—or better yet, keeping for yourself. Everywhere you look, there’s something that sparks joy or inspires you.

And the vibe? It's effortlessly cool without trying too hard. The kind of place that makes you feel at ease, like you belong there, no matter where you're from. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick espresso or cozying up with a book on their couch, you’ll leave feeling like your day just got a little brighter because of this place and the people in it.

Red Dog Coffee doesn’t just sell coffee—they create an experience. And let me tell you, that’s something worth FIVE...