“Instant Human…Just Add Coffee!”
Artwork by Mateo Rocha
I had never experienced a grass-roots business before in my life, up until the day I entered the four-month-old coffee shop in my neighborhood, Spark’s Coffee House.
This coffee house invited me in with a homey feel and its traditionalist approach to serving a cup of joe. I couldn’t help but walk in through the double doors and see what was on the menu.
Upon entering I noticed that the layout was similar to that of a Starbucks Coffee House, with comfortable furniture set out in a family room fashion, and the serving counter towards the back of the shop. On my immediate left there is a comical statue of a Native American chief holding Spark business cards in one hand, and coffee beans in the other. I found this was pretty amusing.
I made my way back to the menu on the hanging chalkboard and began to read the interesting names of the coffee blends, but decided on ordering the CARML Spark, an iced black coffee with caramel syrup to add a sweet twist to the beverage. My friend Luisa Baquero ordered an Iced Java, a sweet, creamy coffee blend with chocolate, topped of with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. Both of these were great tasting menu items.
Other goods include an Italian Soda, a Red Eye, and a Traditional Turkish coffee. I was informed that the Turkish was a high-end item on the menu because of the way it is prepared: Arabic coffee beans are ground and brewed in small pots. The brew is then poured into a cup and additional grains are dropped into the mix to make for a great, and strong, tasting blend. This process is time consuming, but Spark’s takes pride in the quality products they provide for their customers. You have to be careful when drinking this beverage, if you sip too much at once or swallow some of the coffee grains you may feel queasy because of the concentration of coffee going to your stomach.
To accompany my coffee, I received a free sample of a freshly made lemon bar cake. One unique practice that I see in Spark’s is the fact that all their pastries and baked goods are hand-made daily in the back of the shop. “I love how everything is made fresh. I’m the kind of person that enjoys natural products, and Spark’s made me feel at home with their fresh pastries,” said Luisa. From lemon bar cake to a Sevillian treat called Torta de Aceite (Light, crisp, sweet and flaky tortilla), and even a German treat called Walnut Kata (Flaky bread crust rolled in walnut), Spark’s provides a multicultural cuisine for all its customers to enjoy.
Luisa and I sat down sipping on our drinks to observe what else the coffee house had to offer. Apart from the similarities that Spark’s shares in appearance with Starbuck’s, the decorations seemed to be less flamboyant; subtlety is at work. Soft shades of green, yellow, and beige cover the four walls, as well as several frames displaying artistic renderings of scenic views, such as a country side or a farm house in a field of wheat. Every minute I spent sitting down I felt more comfortable than the last.
“We want to create an accommodating environment that comforts all kinds of people,” said Erin Grant, a Spark’s employee. “There are a lot of diverse components blended in to our shop to host people from all cultures. The baked goods we make come from many different places, so this tends to comfort those people that see the baked goods as a ‘traditional treat’ from their homeland,” she said. Erin is an inviting kind of person, which overall adds to the calm and homey atmosphere inside the shop since even the employees are welcoming.
Unlike Starbucks, Spark’s seemed to only serve the customers and their needs; no marketing scheme is at work trying to take more money out of the customers’ pockets. The shop is welcoming customers come by with their friends, computers, and books to create their own atmosphere.
“One thing that I find unique about our shop is that anyone is welcome. You don’t need to buy anything to come inside and enjoy the space we provide; you can gather here and really kick back. It’s a very nice quality,” said Erin. For more information about Spark’s Coffee House you can visit them on their web site, or stop by the location on 6660 E. Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80224.
