The 10 Coolest Coffee Shops in New Mexico!
By Susan Brown

Coffee isn’t just a breakfast drink anymore. It’s one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. It has come to have a defined place in our diet— morn-ing, noon and night. Whether you like it black and strong or frothy and flavored, finding the perfect brew can be an energizing adventure. Here’s some independent coffee shops that blow the lid off the best java in the state.

1. Bad Ass Coffee, Bernalillo, NM

Here’s an island getaway right on the banks of the Rio Grande. They serve 100 percent Kona coffee from the Big Island of Hawaii, straight up or blended in lattes, mochas, espresso and iced drinks. The signature donkey represents the original pack animals that carried the coffee beans down off the mountains. Tea, fruit smoothies round out the drink options. An eclectic selection of food includes muffins, bagels, pastries, breakfast burritos, deli sandwiches, tamales, frito pies and salads. Open seven days a week. Walk-in or drive thru.

2. Mock’s Crossroads Coffee Mill, Clayton, NM

In a converted feed store, not too far from an old grain elevator near the railroad tracks that run through town is this locally-owned and family-run coffee house. Beans are fresh-roasted on-site for freshness and great taste. Coffee choices in-clude a Signature House Blend, Espresso Blend and a variety of nine different hand-crafted blends with names like Southwest Shuffle, Clayton Cowboy, Train Robber, Bandito, Gunslinger. A sizable breakfast and lunch menu is a mix of bur-ritos and sandwiches. Frappes, Italian sodas, smoothies, steamers and the tradi-tional espressos, lattes and cappuccinos are standard fare. Open six days a week.

3. Beck’s Coffee House, Las Cruces, NM

If you’re heading through the picturesque Mesilla Valley and find yourself in need of a cup of coffee, this brew house is the place to stop. With its rock construction and wrought iron fencing, it might look austere, but once inside it’s like walking into your best friend’s living room. This roasting house, espresso and pour over coffee bar and tea room is a fixture of the Mesquite Historic District. Choose from more than 20 varieties of hand-roasted coffee that include Jacked Rabbit House Blend, Mesquite Street Blend and the Wake the Dead Zombie Blend. A simple menu of pastries and breakfast-type options round out the experience. Open seven days a week.

4. Espresso Fino, Albuquerque, NM

Organic, fair trade, locally roasted coffee is the star of this coffee shop tucked away in the downtown section of Albuquerque. Factor in that’s it’s locally owned and operated with incredible first-class customer service and you might just stay awhile. The menu is compact, but the variety hits all the high points. Whether you’re a drip, decaf, iced or blended connoisseur, you won’t be disappointed. Or-ganic loose leaf and herbal teas are on hand, plus a simple, yet delicious as-sortment of pastries. Outside seating when the weather cooperates. Open seven days a week.

5. Elevation Coffee, Taos, NM

As you stroll past the adobe buildings of this historic town, stop when you see a bright red cup atop a fence post and go in for some of the best latte art in town. Love is in the air here, from the Agapao beans they get from a Santa Fe company to the warm and welcoming enthusiasm of the owners who lovingly prepare each cup. You’ll find fair trade, organic teas as well as pastries, gelato, bagels and burritos from local Taos vendors. Try the peach empanada. Free Wi-Fi. Open seven days a week.

6. Sacred Grounds Coffee and Tea House, Ruidoso, NM

An inviting cabin in the woods ambience draws you in to stay and enjoy the area’s mountain atmosphere inside, or outside, on the back deck of this coffee shop, restaurant and store. Fair trade organic coffee, roasted on-site, and tea is on-hand. Drinks cover the range from a Caffe Breve to Caramel Macchiato to house-made chai tea latte to a gold cup pour over, and much more. The menu— breakfast, lunch and dinner—is extensive and provides unique choices of vegetarian and vegan food, plus a daily choice of fresh made quiche. Open seven days a week.

7. Café Bella Coffee, Rio Rancho, NM

The specialty craft coffee served is fair trade and organic, single origin, micro-lot and locally roasted and is the base of brewed and specialty drinks. You can’t beat the Café Arancione, an espresso shot, real orange and whip cream or the peanut butter caramel latte or any one of their freezes. The hand-crafted local food supports the farm-to-table commitment and is sourced from top-notch local growers. Open seven days a week.

8. Stellar Coffee Company, Roswell, NM

No alien coffee here, just artisan lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and a star-studded menu of out-of-this-world coffee, tea, chai, fruit smoothies and Italian sodas. The responsibly source coffee is roasted in small batches and ground fresh prior to brewing. Pressed and pour-over options available too. The menu includes breakfast and lunch selections, as well as fresh pastries and desserts. Open seven days a week.

9. Three Ravens Coffee House, Amarilla, NM

This off-the-beaten-track coffee house is as unique as its location. Housed in an old adobe restored by the owner, this funky and fun coffee house is like stumbling upon an oasis in the middle of nowhere and just when you need it. Freshly brewed coffee choices are house, single origin, high octane, decaf and flavored. There’s also full espresso service with lattes, mochas, cappuccinos. For the lactose intolerant, there’s soy, almond and vanilla milk on-hand. The breakfast and lunch menu includes daily specials, plus typical breakfast items. Local knowledge knows to try the homemade Udon noodles in winter. Open five days a week.

10. Java Junction, Madrid, NM

Some people like coffee and a pastry. You certainly can get that here, but you can also get coffee and a room at this quaint and artsy brew house bed and breakfast. Although the beans are roasted in Santa Fe and brought in, the organic Arabica coffee is just plain good, straight up or in blended drinks. Try the New Mexico mocha and cinnamon on ice … with coffee ice cubes for a good to the last coffee drop taste sensation. Sit outside and absorb this small-town vibe. There’s a store full of local artists’ goods plus their own logo gear with their motto, “Bad Coffee Sucks.” Something they strive never to serve. Open seven days a week.

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The 10 Coolest Coffee Shops in New Mexico! By Susan Brown