If you keep your eye out around campus, I guarantee you’ll quickly see students branding a very particular mason jar, filled to the brim, which I would be willing to bet is some type of iced latte. That mug, I recently found out, belongs to Misty Mountain Collective, a spot that, despite being just a block south of the 7/11 on Nevada, I have never been to. But that all changed this week and as my Beli ranking may have spoiled, this place quickly became an instant favorite. I’ll get into some specific rankings below, but before readers inevitably flip to a new article, let me say: if you need a new coffee shop, I demand you try this place out.
Location: 9/10
There are two parts to a coffee shop’s location ranking, in my opinion. The first is how close it is to the reader (in this case, CC students), and the second is the surrounding area. While its distance from campus warrants a 10, I had to drop a point because of the surrounding area, which I’m almost certain is why a lot of people, including me, have never been. As my neighbor put it when I told him about the shop, it looks like a motel. He’s not wrong. The place is literally surrounded by motels that look like they were used to film Breaking Bad. Even the store’s sign fits the vibe (unsure if this is purposeful) of a motel.
Vibe: 10/10
How do I even begin to explain the vibe of this place? When I walked in, I felt like I was transported directly into a hobbit-hole and was sure I would turn my head to the left and inevitably see Bilbo Baggins drinking an iced oatmilk latte. The vast array of plants, trinkets (highlighted by decks of tarot cards, because, of course!) and a handwritten menu on a chalkboard epitomize the place’s vibe, and I’m all in on it. The fact that my drink was served in a Peter Rabbit mug is incredible by itself, but the shop’s main gimmick, that you get to keep your glass mason jar for $1, is one of the most fun things I’ve seen a shop do.
On top of that, having a vast array of “potions,” which range from fun non-espresso lattes to the ominous and apparently “mildly psychoactive” Lucid Dream (more on that later), adds a whole other dimension while simultaneously fitting directly into the vibe this place is going for.
Price: 8/10
While the coffees and specialty drinks are on the more expensive side — $4.5 for a cortado is definitely high — I found it fully justified given the vibe of this place, as well as the fact that you get to keep the jar. So while you might spend an extra dollar or two here, consider it as an entrance fee to one of the coolest clubs around Colorado Springs.
Taste: 9.8/10
I’m hesitant to give out 10/10’s, but this place got pretty close. I think the Peter Rabbit mug impacted how the coffee tasted, but it hit harder than a mango melba smoothie from Colorado Coffee (which is an incredibly high bar, for those unfamiliar). But what I want to highlight to all is the Lucid Dream drink, which, as I alluded to earlier, was described by the barista as a blend of adoptogens which, together, have a mild psychoactive effect similar to taking a hit of marijuana, so I was told.
While the drinks’ claims may have, like pretty much every other drink claiming these adaptogenic benefits, been completely overblown, the concoction itself did actually taste incredible. Its blue hue in the mason jar made me feel like I was drinking a Mini Shield — fueled and ready for the day ahead. At $11, it’s hard to justify buying again, but my journalist instinct required me to let the people know whether it was worth it.
Bottom Line
I’ve got a new leader in the rankings, which is bittersweet because I am sad I didn’t discover this place earlier. It’s perfect for meeting with a friend, getting work done or just hanging out in the sun and enjoying some high-UV weather. If I could recommend one place to walk to next time you need some caffeine, this would be it. Plus, you’ll come out of the place as the owner of a pretty mason jar, meaning you’ll gain some CC-granola credentials along the way.
Current Rankings
- Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40
- Switchback Roasters: 35/40
- Story Coffee: 34.8/40
- Good Neighbors: 32/40
- Loyal Coffee: 29/40
- Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40