Life on the road as an NHL beat writer includes a lot of coffee.
Last season, we introduced the NHL food guide for Colorado Avalanche fans planning to catch their favorite team on the road. This year, it’s time to give the local coffee shops some love.
No judgment, but there won’t be any Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts on this list — but there will be a few tea places. I’ll enjoy a fun flavored latte as much as a great pour-over, so these places will probably offer a bit of both. It’s hard to be a great, local coffee shop, whether it’s just stopping for a to-go cup on the way to a morning skate or for a great place to post up and write a story in the afternoon.
Winnipeg — Oct. 7, March 25
Winnipeg has a pair of great breakfast spots near the arena — Clementine Cafe and Stella’s. I usually get my coffee fix there, so we’ve enlisted local expert Murat Ates of The Athletic.
His recommendations: Thom Bargen, three blocks down Portage Ave from Canada Life Center and Fools and Horses if you check out The Forks, which is a great area that’s a 15-20 minute walk from the arena.
Calgary — Oct. 8, April 8Â
Rosso Coffee Roasters has a downtown location and one on 17th Avenue, about a 10-minute walk from the Scotiabank Saddledome. They’ve been roasting beans in Calgary for almost 15 years.
Bonus: If the weather cooperates, always rent a car and head up into the mountains. If you do, Eclipse Coffee Roasters in Canmore does some of the best pour-overs I’ve ever had. When they tell you not to put any milk or sugar in it, listen to them.
Dallas — Oct. 12, Jan. 22
The area immediately around American Airlines Center is OK, but could be better. Dallas is a more walkable downtown than I thought before moving to Denver, but everything is still pretty spread out.
My favorite spot is Ascension Coffee, and Dallas Morning News beat writer Lia Assimakopoulos also recommended it. They have two locations near-ish the arena.
Philadelphia — Oct. 19
Philadelphia’s sports setup — a sea of parking lots and stadiums just off I-95 — is great for driving to games and not great for coffee lovers. Old City Coffee has a booth in Reading Terminal Market, so it’s a morning staple for me.
If you’re going to venture into the Little Italy area, or check out the Pat’s and Geno’s spectacle, Mug Coffee & Clay is a fun stop.
New Jersey — Oct. 20
My go-to place when I covered the Devils is no longer there, but T.M. Ward has been roasting coffee in Newark since 1869. It’s about a five-minute walk from Prudential Center and an interesting store to check out while grabbing a cup of coffee and maybe some other snacks as well.
Nashville — Oct. 25, March 2
Two of my favorite coffee spots in the NHL have been in Nashville … but are no longer open. The city has changed a lot in recent years, in case you haven’t heard. There’s an Elixr Coffee Roasters, which is actually a Philadelphia-based place, in the food hall across the street from Bridgestone Arena.
If you’re over by Music Row or The Gulch, Tin Cup is a good stop on the way to the arena.
Chicago — Nov. 2, Feb. 28
Intelligentsia has been one of my favorites for as long as I’ve been drinking coffee. They’re based in Chicago, and I make the walk to their location near Millennium Park in the Loop every year, regardless of where I’m staying.
There isn’t a lot super close to United Center, but between the arena and downtown has plenty of options.
Columbus — Nov. 3
Nationwide Arena is one of the few American barns where you can get Tim Horton’s. You might see Avalanche play-by-play guy Conor McGahey here. Stauf’s Coffee Roasters is inside North Market, so it’s a great spot for both for coffee and lunch.
Toronto — Nov. 10
There are many great options in downtown Toronto. I have been known to stop at Balzac’s Coffee Roasters for a Canadian maple latte and a Nanaimo bar. The Athletic’s Chris Johnston recommends % Arabica, which has a location in the underground part of Union Station, steps away from Scotiabank Centre.
If you’re over by Kensington Market, Crimson Teas has a chrysanthemum and goji berries tea that is probably the best I’ve ever had. It’s worth the trek.
Ottawa — Nov. 12
The only place I’ve had coffee near Canadian Tire Centre is at Eggspectation, which is a decent breakfast chain in Canada. There’s plenty of Tim Horton’s around. Downtown Ottawa is fun, but far.
Crew Collective & Cafe is a beautiful coffee shop in what once was a Royal Bank of Canada in Old Montreal.(Corey Masisak/The Denver Post)
Montreal — Nov. 14
Crew Collective & Cafe over by Old Montreal. It’s a must-stop. One of the most beautiful coffee shops in North America.
Utah — Nov. 18, Dec. 31
Like alcohol, there’s way more coffee in Salt Lake City than there used to be. Under the Umbrella is a bookstore/cafe combo. The Rose has a great vibe, but bring a hotspot — they don’t have Wi-Fi.
Minnesota — Nov. 27, April 4Â
Claddagh Coffee was a frequent stop during the second round of the playoffs last season. Afro Deli & Grill made the food guide last year, and their tea is exceptional.
Boston — Dec. 1
Caffe Vittoria is one of several good options in North End. Getting out of Trident Booksellers in Back Bay with just a coffee and no books is a win for someone who buys way too many books.
Detroit — Dec. 3
Madcap is technically a Grand Rapids-based treasure, but there’s one a 15-minute walk from Little Caesars Arena and I’ve been there on every trip.
N.Y. Rangers — Dec. 5
I love 787 Coffee (that’s Puerto Rico’s area code) and didn’t know there was a location right by Madison Square Garden until working on this story. Ground Central was my neighborhood spot for a few years and they have a location near MSG as well.
N.Y. Islanders — Dec. 7
Victor’s Coffee Shop is definitely not a grab-and-go spot, but it is a place with good coffee that is walkable from UBS Arena.
St. Louis — Dec. 8, Jan. 28
There’s not much right by the arena, but the coffee situation is improving near the old Rams stadium, which is where I usually stay. Park Avenue has gooey butter cake, which is a very St. Louis thing, and Doce Coffee just opened earlier this month and looks worth checking out.
Anaheim — Dec. 27, March 30
What was once a Starbucks-only desert has two new places to try: Easy Young and Lamill are both on East Katella Ave. about a mile from Honda Center.
Vegas — Jan. 2Â
Do people need coffee when they go to Las Vegas? I went to Greenwich Village Coffee in New York, New York during the Western Conference Final. It got the job done.
Pittsburgh — Jan. 12
One of my absolute favorites — Brother Andre’s Cafe. It’s in the basement of the church next to PPG Paints Arena. It is a serotonin boost and a place that makes me proud to be from The Burgh.
Buffalo — Jan. 14
SPoT Coffee has a great breakfast sandwich (the Mike) and has been my go-to coffee, um, spot, in Buffalo since Grindhaus (RIP) closed.
Washington — Jan. 16
Slipstream has some of the best pour-overs on the NHL circuit, and they just opened a new location in the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which is about a 10-minute walk from Capital One Arena.
Carolina — Feb. 9
Jabal Coffee House has a location pretty close to Lenovo Center. Yemeni coffee is elite. This place, which began in Dearborn, Mich., and is expanding rapidly, gets the Aarif Deen seal of approval.
Florida — Feb. 12
The arena is out in Sunrise, but you’re probably driving to the game anyway. Just about any Cuban restaurant here will have great coffee. Padrino’s and Las Vegas (don’t be fooled by the name, or the several locations) are both great options.
Tampa Bay — Feb. 13
If you’re in Ybor City, find La Segunda Bakery just north of the tourists. Victory Coffee is also a good spot not too far from the arena.
Edmonton — Feb. 17
There’s a handful of good/interesting-looking coffee shops between the river and Rogers Place. I’ve been to Fawkes Cafe and enjoyed it.
Vancouver — Feb. 20, April 6
It’s been a minute since I’ve been to this wonderful city, but Revolver in Gastown was a standout. So is 49th Parallel — go to the Kitsilano location and then walk to maybe the best beach in North America.
Nirvana Soul has delightful pastries like ube mochi cake and sweet potato pie in downtown San Jose.(Corey Masisak/The Denver Post)
San Jose — March 5, March 29
Downtown San Jose has many great coffee spots — I’d say it’s the best per capita coffee town in the NHL. It’s hard to go wrong, but Nirvana Soul is just perfect. The drinks, the pastries, the vibes — it’s one of my happy places.
Los Angeles — March 7
There used to be a pretty fun Harry Potter-themed coffee shop near L.A. Live, but Duchess on Olympic Blvd. has become the go-to spot for coffee and donuts.
Seattle — March 19Â
There are so, so many. It’s a coffee wonderland. Caffe Vita. Evoke Cafe. Herkimer in Belltown. Storyville in Pike Place. It’s hard to go wrong here, unless … OK, I might judge you a little.
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.