Solar Roast Coffee

Solar Roast has great coffee, a good selection of food for a coffee spot, and a unique selection of cold, refrigerated beverages, and vinyl records. They sell their coffee in 1lb and 5lb bags, so you can take a little or a lot home with you. The art painted on the walls is very detailed, and ties everything together at this coffee spot, making the atmosphere bright and energetic.

Love this place! The coffee is good stuff, the sitting is absolutely great, not your diner's chairs, and I especially love no cooked food in there. It smells like coffee, the way coffee shop supposed to smell, not bacon and eggs and wine and beer! Thank you!

Disappointment is an understatement. I was excited to see Charbucks leave, and a small chain coming in. However, their espresso is very bland and flavorless. My latte tasted like hot milk, and their drip coffee is flat in notes and flavor. I didn't try their food, but it looked good. Other than painting, they did very few upgrades to their new space. It looks and feels like an old, worn-out Starbucks with some bright paint.

I was very disappointed in the service. Saturday 3/20/21, I took my kids in for a coffee, and when my (grown neurologist) stepdaughter asked for a straw, the barista was very rude. She told her that it was a sippy cup and she didn't need a straw. My stepdaughter asked if she could have one anyway, because she wanted to stir the caramel into her drink, and the barista huffily tossed a couple at her. Normally, when we go downtown we go to Solar Roast for a coffee, but I will definitely be looking at other alternatives now.

We've stopped here a couple of times while charging at the nearby supercharger. It's a nice coffee shop with friendly staff and some nice pastries, including gluten free options. Definitely worth getting out of the car for a visit

I must say quite disappointing and pis poor service along an inept customer service rep. For one the prices have gone up since COVID-19 and everything else has gone downhill. First off over $4.00 for a cup of coffee so 2 cups cost over $9.00 for a cup of black coffe and requested that hazelnut creamer be added to the coffee and upon arriving back at home I found that there was no coffee flavoring had been added. Need to learn how to take care of and accomodate your customers more effectively. Robert Naglich

I have decided to stop patronizing this establishment due to ongoing issues. The list is from most recent to oldest. Today was the proverbial straw. The staff are mostly courteous and helpful, but there are exceptions.

1. I had what I consider a major problem with service and called the Colorado Springs store to address the issue. The manager was dismissive and purposely mischaracterized my complaint. This act cemented my decision.

2. Several months ago, a person the cashier identified as the owner was sitting at a table, but got up to do several tasks and didn’t wear his mask. COVID-19 is a real threat and the owner is shirking his responsibilities to our community. I’ve only seen this once, but once is enough to cause harm.

3. I’ve gone in several times to not be acknowledged by staff and ignored for sometime while waiting for service. As I said, this isn’t typically a problem, but it does happen from time to time. I prefer to be acknowledged so I feel more comfortable waiting. It’s basic customer service.

The food is ok, the drinks are ok, but when the manager didn’t seem concerned with my complaint and purposely mischaracterized it, I had to decide to stop going to Solar Roast.

Caffeinated Water with no respect for the product or the customer.

I understand that most patrons hop in for their daily caffeine fix. I used to do that. That is, until I learned that coffee CAN taste good without adding anything to it--espresso especially.

Coffee beans have naturally occurring sugars, that when roasted and brewed correctly balance extremely well with the otherwise harsh flavors of a natural coffee bean. A good cup of coffee should be neither sour nor bitter nor artificially sweetened. It should have a unique set of flavors, elicited through the roasting technique that are pleasant in smell, initial taste, and after taste. The coffee and espresso I had today weren't even close

When I walked into SRC today and asked the clerk how they roast their beans, she replied: "With an electric powered roaster"

Well I certainly hoped it wasn't wood fired, or worse--radiated :P

Not only could she not answer this simple question but when I asked what kind of beans I could select from for a pour-over she replied, "We have light roast and dark roast and a pour-over will take a while"

I realized in that moment that this shop was a supplier of dirty water to caffeine and sugar addicts and not the focused, artisanal coffee shop they advertise.

Yet I ordered a pour over of the Peru (Light Roast) and a double-shot of the house espresso blend, my usual tasting order.

The espresso arrived and smelled like burnt tires. A sip only confirmed the aroma followed by a bitter after-taste rivaling Malort.

As I waited for the pour-over I explained to the barista that the espresso was very bitter. She offered to pull another shot to try and correct the flavor. While the gesture was appreciated, her process did not change--so why would the flavor. My first sip of the second espresso attempt confirmed as much.

The pour-over arrived. By sight it was piping hot and awfully clear. After 8 minutes and a breakfast burrito it was no longer hazardous. Only a sip was needed to lament it was also undrinkable.

So I shared my disappointment with the barista. She claimed to be the manager and replied, "There's nothing I can do about your concerns. Our pour-over water comes out at 280 degrees and our espresso machine just is what it is. I mean I guess I could have someone come in and adjust things, but its just how we do things.."

If you sell coffee, then please sell coffee--otherwise just advertise caffeinated water...

- DG

Cute little downtown spot with TONS of vegan choices! The tofu burrito is bomb!! They also have tasty chai, and lots of options for coffee fanatics! One of my new favorites!

I didn’t try the coffee. Friendly staff.
But the place smells funny.
Couple ahead of us were ordering sweet drinks so decided it wasn’t a serious coffee place and left for Story Coffee which turned out to be very serious.