A USA Today ranking of independent coffee shops in the United States ranks Bestslope Coffee Company in Fruita as the best such shop in Colorado — and one of the five best in the entire country.
Candidates for USA Today’s top 10 list were nominated by an expert panel and voted upon by readers. The top 10 was published late last week, with Bestslope Coffee Company placing fourth on the list, only placing behind Big Shoulders Coffee in Chicago (No. 1), Jersey Java and Tea Co. in Haddonfield, New Jersey (No. 2), and Stauf’s Coffee Roasters in Columbus, Ohio (No. 3).
Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel
Sarah Auld, left, prepares a coffee while Grace Lyons takes a customer’s order during a Friday afternoon shift at Bestslope Coffee Company on Friday. Bestslope was recently named the No. 1 coffee shop in Colorado and a top 5 shop in the entire country by USA Today.
“Go to Bestslope Coffee Company to try fair trade, single origin beans roasted with care in the mountain town of Fruita, Colorado,” the shop’s entry on the top 10 list reads. “In addition to roasting on-site, Bestslope also makes all its own syrups, as well as delicious baked goods and breakfast burritos right there in the kitchen.”
Tom Griffith, who founded Bestslope Coffee Company in 2016 with Hot Tomato Cafe founders Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller, expressed his gratitude to the shop’s clientele for their votes and support in the competition.
Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel
Sarah Auld prepares a classic latte during a Friday afternoon shift at Bestslope Coffee Company on Friday. Bestslope was recently named the No. 1 coffee shop in Colorado and a top 5 shop in the entire country by USA Today.
“We were definitely surprised to find out that we showed up on the list of 20 nominees but also extremely grateful for our customers rallying to get us in the top 10,” Griffith told The Daily Sentinel. “We have always tried to provide a great product and great customer service, but I don’t think we ever anticipated that it would get us recognized outside of our community and our customers.”
Griffith sees this recognition as the result of the gratitude Bestslope has shown its customers and community over the past seven years.
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
A customer waits for their coffee and food inside the main lobby of Bestslope Coffee Company on Nov. 10, 2023. Bestslope was recently named the #1 coffee shop in Colorado and a top 5 shop in the entire country by USA Today.
“We always try to remember that people are choosing to spend the money they work hard to earn on what we do. We try to recognize that by putting tons of care into the making of the coffee and food, but also creating a great experience for them,” Griffith said.
“My coworkers are all incredible people and they genuinely care about doing right by people. Seeing our community put so much time and effort into this on our behalf has been incredible. We really can’t express how lucky we are to do what we do where we do it.”
Sarah Auld prepares a classic latte during a Friday afternoon shift at Bestslope Coffee Company on Nov. 10, 2023. Bestslope was recently named the #1 coffee shop in Colorado and a top 5 shop in the entire country by USA Today.
Bestslope Coffee faced stiff regional competition on top of its national competition. FeelLove Coffee in Utah and Loveland placed ninth on the list and Prodigy Coffeehouse in Denver placed 10th, giving Colorado three businesses on the list. The only other state to have multiple coffee shops on the list was Ohio.
When asked why he thinks Bestslope stands out, Griffith offered a simple answer: the people.
“The staff, the friends and customers (near and far) all make the experience great,” he said.
To see USA Today’s top 10 independent coffee shops list, visit tinyurl.com/mry4a8mc.
