A guide to Bozeman’s coffee and tea shops.

by Morgan Solomon

With so many coffee shops in town, it can be overwhelming to decide where to get the drink you’re looking for. Here is a simple guide to get you started.

STRAIGHT-UP BLACK
So, you like your coffee black, cowboy? Do you prefer the kind that’s strong enough to make a horseshoe stand upright and your lips pucker? Perhaps you have a craving for a coffee with hints of cinnamon or chocolate to awaken your taste buds? Stop at Zocalo or International Coffee Traders for a cup-o’-joe to ease the stress of school and perk up the cranium. Both shops offer coffee from all over the world. Roasted in small batches, the warm coffee flavor is preserved for your enjoyment.

Hot tip: Café M offers a weekly house blend from Ghost Town Coffee Roasters that you can’t get anywhere else.

Author’s choice: Sumatra Tano Batak (nutmeg, toffee, and chocolate brownie) from Zocalo.

SOMETHING SWEET
Craving desert after dinner or a delicious reward for studying hard? Check out the Leaf & Bean for their lattés, mochas and hot chocolates. Don’t forget to glance at the specials board  for their specialty drinks. Need a little spice with your sugar? Wild Joe’s has a unique selection of chai lattés with various proportions of sugar and spice.

Hot tip: If you find yourself at International Coffee Traders try the London Fog. It’s to die for.

Author’s choice: Red Velvet Mocha from the Leaf & Bean.

TEA
Need something that’s less harsh on the pearly whites or  just more of a tea person? Check out Townshend’s Tea Company. No matter what you’re looking for, their assortment of teas will satisfy your taste buds. Need caffeine to keep you awake? Ask for the yerba máte. If you need something to calm the body and soul, try one of the non-caffeinated herbal or apothecary teas.  Need help in the flavor department? Licorice and sarsaparilla are sweeter teas, while black and green teas from China and Japan bear bitter and raw flavors.   Looking for something entirely different? Townshend’s employees will help you find the exact tea to curb your thirst.

Hot tip: Wild Joe’s has a good selection of teas too, although not a varied as Townshend’s.

Author’s choice: Sweet Chamomile Mint (herbal) from Townshend’s Tea.

MEAL & COFFEE

While many coffee shops provide pastries and cookies to go with your coffee, sometimes you need a pick-me-up with your midday meal. Sola Café and Rockford Coffee Roasters offer spectacular lunches for a relatively cheap price. Sandwiches, salads and desert are all on the menu with your choice of medium or dark roast coffee.

Hot Tip: Sola also has a special house blend from Ghost Town Coffee Roasters that you can’t get anywhere else.

Author’s Choice: Bolivia Amor Des Dios medium roast (not always available) from Sola.

Coffee Shop Locations:

Café M: 777 East Main
International Coffee Traders: 720 South 10th
Leaf & Bean: 117 East Main
Rockford Coffee Roasters: 628 West Main
Sola Café: 290 West Kagy
Townshend’s Tea Company: 402 East Main
Wild Joe’s: 18 West Main