First Ascent Coffee Roasters

I really enjoyed the rustic vibe of the space, and the baristas were very pleasant and knowledgable. However, I wasn’t very impressed by my drink. Maybe they just had a new barista working, but the espresso tasted off and it was way too hot for a cappuccino. Even though my experience wasn’t the best here, I do have hope for this place and will have to give it another try the next time I’m in Crested Butte.

I was stunned to find a café and bakery of this quality in such a small, remote mountain town… But as I would learn during my week in this valley, Crested Butte is a pretty stunning place in many many ways. I found myself drawn magnetically to the espresso, pastries and salads here every day after skiing, and always felt welcome and nourished, never rushed.
Mark and the staff were always happily and diligently focused on their craft, pausing only to serve guests and chat for as long as you wanted.
This shop is now one of my top reasons to come back to Crested Butte. Thank you!

We just arrived in Crested Butte yesterday and went to Accent first thing to get coffee. The place is adorable, and they take their coffee very seriously. Our Cappuccinos were to die for. We saw they also serve breakfast in the morning, so we tried it today. The staff was very friendly, except for the guy who seemed somewhat put out about having to make a freshly squeezed oj. The breakfast was pretty tasty. The Swiss and Mushroom Omelette was delicious and I liked the side salad it came with. However, the home fries on my husbands Chilaquiles plate tasted like a pound of cumin had been haphazardly dumped on them. They were inedible. Also, my steampunk coffee was overly bitter. I’d go back again for the cappuccino for sure.

Great coffeehouse with a spacious upper level that has a lot of seating. They play singer/​songwriter music, and the staff is friendly and has a New Age, Zen-​like attitude (It’s all good…).
The cappuccino was one of the best cups of coffee I’ve had in a while – good hearty dark roast and the steamed milk was hot! The lemon poppyseed muffin was moist and really had a lot of fresh lemon flavor. The mushroom mozzarella quiche was hot and yummedy, very light.
Love the vibe of this place!

The food was delicious when it arrived. But when the wait time for a simple breakfast order is going to be 30 minutes or longer, the staff ought to inform you of that. If it’s a busy morning, you may want to inquire before you order.

Spent a week in CB, came in Monday morning for a quick cappuccino and bagel before a rafting trip in Gunnison. We informed the cashier we were in quite a hurry. After 20 min my «plain bagel with butter» was handed to me. Ran to car and off we went. Turns out I was given a piece of toast and butter. Called to inform them of error and next day was given a replacement drink. Coffee was good, better than others in town, but 20 min for a bagel. Not cool.

Great homemade chai, awesome baked goods (gluten free muffins so moist they will fool you into thinking they can’t be gluten free) great menu too!

Fantastic kale salad and superb coffee! Nice places to sit and work and tight in elk.

Best chai tea I’ve ever had! It’s homemade that is not sweet but full of flavor, just the right amount of spice. Employess are super friendly and there is plenty of space to sit around and get some laptop time in. The wifi can be fast at times, but is mostly mediocre like all wifi in CB. Love this place, feels so homey!

Excellent breakfast burrito with quinoa and phenom salsa. We weren’t fans of the steampunk coffee but liked the drip coffee. Cappuccino are pretty wet almost like a latte. It’s our go to place in CB.

The first thing I do in scouting out a new city is find somewhere to get a good cup of coffee. For all of us coffee drinkers, a good cup in the morning sets the tone for the day. In the case of my time in Crested Butte, I have been blessed to find somewhere that has never failed to give me a good start to the day. This is one of the best coffeehouses/​bakeries I have EVER been to. The attention and care given to the quality of ingredients and preparation is meticulous. I have tried all 3 coffees they are brewing in their two state of the art Steampunk machines and each one has been unique and nuanced. They favor lighter roasts to emphasize the quality and flavor of the coffees they bring in. Their success is so great you’d think you were paying $ 7 a cup in NY or LA. But in truth the coffee is quite reasonably priced and often better than comparable places in major cities. My personal favorite at the moment is their Ethiopian (which is bright and beautiful and perfumes strongly of honey). Now for a point of clarity, this is not a regular drip establishment. Every cup is made when you order and is well worth the extra minute or two. In the event you stop in on a hot day, do yourself a favor and grab a cold brew from the tap. It comes out with a thick froth. In some ways it is as thick and delicious as a great porter. Seriously good cold brew that will satisfy any aficionado.
This whole building falls under the auspices of «The Guild» which is the unifying title encompassing First Ascent and Mountain Oven Bakery. I’ll limit most of this review to First Ascent, but I feel it is necessary to acknowledge how wonderful Mountain Oven Bakery is. The thing that makes First Ascent so good is that not only can you get a spectacular cup of coffee, but you can also have an incredible pastry or some toast. The best thing they do is bread, without question. Do yourself a favor and pick up a loaf to have with breakfast during your stay.
First ascent is a fine place to have lunch, all the food is very good. Some of personal favorite items are the coconut chia porridge, the pastrami breakfast sandwich and the chocolate chip cookies when they are there. Frankly the coconut chia porridge is my favorite. It totally surprised me, but it is hard to say no to homemade nut milk and lots of other goodies. The pastrami is bison and is delicious! The real star of the sandwich.
In summary, First Ascent is one of my all time favorite coffee shops in he world. The staff is knowledgeable and kind. They are great people who have a great product. So give this place your business, they deserve it and you deserve a treat.

Amazing coffee and tea. Steampunk coffee is really amazing. Coming from San Francisco which has a huge coffee scene, this places gets a true 5 stars from me.

Delicious coffee steampunk style and amazing pastries. Great indoor and outdoor seating and fast wifi. Will definitely be back!

If you are walking along Elk and reach the end of the street, you’ll spot a small red house — First Ascent coffee.
The staff was friendly and helpful, explaining all the items on the menu.
Steampunk coffee ($ 2.74 — $ 3.20) is brewed to order and you have a choice of the house blend or various fairtrade coffees from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.
I ordered a latte ($ 3.88) because I wanted to try the in-​house made organic nut milk! Superfood milk (almond and hemp) is all kinds of awesome.
There was additional seating upstairs in the attic area where people were enjoying some quiet and lots of natural light. There is also free wifi for those looking to browse the net.
There is a good selection of brunch/​lunch items and freshly made baked goods (that change daily).
I had a pear and ginger turnover, the pastry was buttery and flaky and the filling was sweet with a little kick.
I’m so glad I stopped in here, I would come back here for more coffee and maybe a «hungry bunny» muffin! :)

It’s hard to believe this place used to be the home of the Secret Stash — the bakery and coffee just fit perfect here… The service wasn’t fast but it wasn’t slow — just clear that they make everything with care. I tried a flat white with their homemade nut milk and Ethiopian brew … And just wasn’t a fan… Went to buy a regular columbian brew with homemade almond milk and they didn’t charge me, just so friendly about making me a fresh drink. I wasn’t particularly hungry but after spying the bread pudding with their homemade pear sauce… I was sold… And so glad I had it! Yum! Great place to go, will go back again and try more coffee and goodies!

Delicious mocha. Choice of two espresso beans, homemade chocolate syrup (not too sweet). Sourdough cinnamon roll. Friendly service.

Fresh bread, hot breakfasts, fun coffee gadgets. Let’s just say that some Denver folk that I met there commented that they wish such a places was in Denver. There probably is, but this is in CB and you’re in CB, so you should go here.

Hands down: BEST COFFEE IN CRESTED BUTTE!
They also have various coffee brewing apertures (Chemex, AeroPress, etc) for those who demand a good homemade cup of coffee in the morning during your visit.
Beans done in house. The staff was friendly, and willing to take the time to explain their process from fresh bean to cup.

Ok, this place has great coffee and smells amazing in the morning.
Went here two mornings and both days had their almond butter and banana toast. It was the PERFECT breakfast before a mountain bike ride. Healthy, hearty, and wouldn’t weigh me down.
The bread was just fantastic.
Though they open at 7 am and have a really great menu, I was told a bit shortly both mornings that only pastries and coffee are available until 8 am. This wasn’t clear on the menu, it just said brunch was available from 8 am on. The staff must get tired of explaining this over and over again.
That’s the only reason that I am not giving them 5 stars… it sucked to sit in that wonderful smelling shop for an hour and wait for toast. :)
My wife had the baguette au levin the first day and said it was very fresh and tasty and the french toast the second day which she loved, I sampled as well, and it was awesome.
the coffee was really good and I tried a side of hazelnut milk as I had never heard of that before and I wasn’t disappointed. It was great.
I will be hitting this place again for breakfast when we go back to «the butt». I will just try to sleep in later so that I don’t have to wait for breakfast to be served.

Wow! I’m here for opening day at First Ascent Coffee Roaster and it’s amazing. I’ve never seen such a well organized and efficient opening day. The array of baked goods including cinnamon rolls, scones and muffins is spectacular. The diverse coffee options were a great surprise and the hot chocolate uses their special chocolate. And, the service was friendly and helpful.
Can’t wait to come back tomorrow!