Market rankings · Colorado
Coffee shops and cafes in Colorado
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Colorado, ranked by the Groundwork market score for coffee shops and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,237
- 1,297 chain locations (40%)
- Official establishments
- 1,757
- All snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars · +22.5% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $10.5B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 13.6
- 24% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $3.2M
- 12% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #27 of 51
- Market score 51 · Upper middle
A site report maps the coffee shops and cafes on map listings around any address in Colorado by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Colorado has 3,237 coffee shops and cafes on map listings as of September 2026. 1,297 of them (40%) are chain locations, against 39% across the U.S. That comes to 13.6 for every 10,000 households, 24% above the U.S. rate of 11.0.
At $4,421 per household (9% above the U.S. average), households in Colorado spend about $10.5B a year on food away from home. That works out to $3.2M per cafe, 12% below the U.S. figure of $3.7M. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only coffee shops and cafes.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars in Colorado was 1,757 in 2023, up 22.5% from 2019. That is one for every 1,351 households, against one for every 1,518 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 24.3% over the same years. That count covers all snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (bakeries and dessert shops included), not only coffee shops and cafes. Since fiscal 2022, 104 SBA-backed loans worth $45.1M have gone to businesses classed as snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars in Colorado.
Among the 50 states and DC, Colorado ranks #27 for coffee shops and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 51 (upper middle). Of the 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Colorado, the Greeley metro area scores highest (61). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in Colorado, the Fort Morgan area scores highest (51).
Every market in Colorado for coffee shops and cafes
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Colorado, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Greeley, CO | 61 | 143 | 11.5 | $3.8M | +14.2% | #106 of 387 |
| 2Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 56 | 1,512 | 12.4 | $3.8M | +4.1% | #143 of 387 |
| 3Pueblo, CO | 53 | 54 | 7.9 | $4.4M | +0.6% | #168 of 387 |
| 4Colorado Springs, CO | 45 | 397 | 13.1 | $3.2M | +3.1% | #235 of 387 |
| 5Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 44 | 210 | 13.6 | $3.2M | +4.8% | #245 of 387 |
| 6Grand Junction, CO | 43 | 76 | 11.5 | $3.2M | +4.4% | #254 of 387 |
| 7Boulder, CO | 28 | 252 | 18.4 | $2.6M | −0.7% | #351 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Fort Morgan, CO | 51 | 13 | 11.7 | $3M | +4.2% | #259 of 529 |
| 2Montrose, CO | 46 | 23 | 12.7 | $2.8M | +4.1% | #308 of 529 |
| 3Cañon City, CO | 40 | 21 | 11.7 | $2.9M | +2.4% | #374 of 529 |
| 4Rifle, CO | 40 | 62 | 19.0 | $2.3M | +1.2% | #376 of 529 |
| 5Durango, CO | 39 | 54 | 22.2 | $1.9M | +2.2% | #390 of 529 |
| 6Steamboat Springs, CO | 37 | 36 | 21.6 | $2M | +0.9% | #407 of 529 |
| 7Breckenridge, CO | 32 | 54 | 34.7 | $1.4M | +1.1% | #458 of 529 |
| 8Edwards, CO | 29 | 49 | 22.2 | $2.1M | −2.4% | #476 of 529 |
| 9Alamosa, CO | 28 | 22 | 19.2 | $1.6M | +2.1% | #489 of 529 |
| 10Sterling, CO | 24 | 11 | 13.4 | $2.4M | −2.7% | #504 of 529 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Elbert County, CO | 89 | 10 | 10.0 | $5.2M | +16.5% | #28 of 2,063 |
| 2Adams County, CO | 74 | 153 | 8.1 | $5.3M | +6.6% | #208 of 2,063 |
| 3Douglas County, CO | 73 | 144 | 10.3 | $5.5M | +10.9% | #237 of 2,063 |
| 4Broomfield County, CO | 71 | 31 | 9.8 | $5.2M | +6.3% | #275 of 2,063 |
| 5Park County, CO | 66 | 11 | 12.2 | $3.6M | +5.1% | #415 of 2,063 |
| 6Weld County, CO | 62 | 143 | 11.5 | $3.8M | +14.2% | #550 of 2,063 |
| 7Arapahoe County, CO | 57 | 283 | 11.0 | $4.2M | +2.8% | #731 of 2,063 |
| 8Pueblo County, CO | 54 | 54 | 7.9 | $4.4M | +0.6% | #846 of 2,063 |
| 9Jefferson County, CO | 51 | 277 | 11.5 | $4.2M | −0.5% | #972 of 2,063 |
| 10El Paso County, CO | 49 | 377 | 13.0 | $3.3M | +3.2% | #1,063 of 2,063 |
| 11Mesa County, CO | 49 | 76 | 11.5 | $3.2M | +4.4% | #1,065 of 2,063 |
| 12Larimer County, CO | 48 | 210 | 13.6 | $3.2M | +4.8% | #1,112 of 2,063 |
| 13Morgan County, CO | 46 | 13 | 11.7 | $3M | +4.2% | #1,184 of 2,063 |
| 14Denver County, CO | 41 | 580 | 17.3 | $2.6M | +3.2% | #1,360 of 2,063 |
| 15Archuleta County, CO | 41 | 12 | 20.3 | $1.9M | +6.6% | #1,366 of 2,063 |
| 16Montrose County, CO | 40 | 23 | 12.7 | $2.8M | +4.1% | #1,398 of 2,063 |
| 17Garfield County, CO | 40 | 41 | 17.5 | $2.4M | +2.7% | #1,407 of 2,063 |
| 18Montezuma County, CO | 37 | 16 | 14.2 | $2.5M | +3.0% | #1,532 of 2,063 |
| 19Fremont County, CO | 35 | 21 | 11.7 | $2.9M | +2.4% | #1,587 of 2,063 |
| 20Teller County, CO | 34 | 20 | 16.9 | $2.4M | 0.0% | #1,628 of 2,063 |
| 21La Plata County, CO | 34 | 54 | 22.2 | $1.9M | +2.2% | #1,639 of 2,063 |
| 22Chaffee County, CO | 34 | 33 | 33.5 | $1.2M | +6.9% | #1,641 of 2,063 |
| 23Routt County, CO | 33 | 29 | 25.7 | $1.8M | +2.0% | #1,663 of 2,063 |
| 24Boulder County, CO | 32 | 252 | 18.4 | $2.6M | −0.7% | #1,691 of 2,063 |
| 25Grand County, CO | 32 | 33 | 44.1 | $944K | +4.8% | #1,707 of 2,063 |
Show all 64 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Gunnison County, CO | 30 | 21 | 24.7 | $1.6M | +2.9% | #1,765 of 2,063 |
| 27Moffat County, CO | 29 | 7 | 13.0 | $2.8M | −1.1% | #1,785 of 2,063 |
| 28Alamosa County, CO | 29 | 16 | 24.1 | $1.3M | +1.9% | #1,801 of 2,063 |
| 29Summit County, CO | 28 | 48 | 38.3 | $1.3M | +0.9% | #1,831 of 2,063 |
| 30Delta County, CO | 27 | 20 | 15.4 | $2.1M | +3.6% | #1,840 of 2,063 |
| 31Eagle County, CO | 27 | 49 | 22.2 | $2.1M | −2.4% | #1,842 of 2,063 |
| 32Pitkin County, CO | 26 | 21 | 22.8 | $2M | −4.2% | #1,867 of 2,063 |
| 33Logan County, CO | 23 | 11 | 13.4 | $2.4M | −2.7% | #1,927 of 2,063 |
| 34Las Animas County, CO | 23 | 15 | 23.0 | $1.4M | −0.7% | #1,934 of 2,063 |
| 35Rio Grande County, CO | 15 | 7 | 13.6 | $2.5M | −3.9% | #2,027 of 2,063 |
| 36Prowers County, CO | 13 | 6 | 12.7 | $2.5M | −1.1% | #2,038 of 2,063 |
| Otero County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $5.9M | −5.2% | |
| Yuma County, CO | Not scored | 5 | 12.3 | $2.8M | −0.8% | |
| Clear Creek County, CO | Not scored | 15 | 32.1 | $1.4M | −3.9% | |
| San Miguel County, CO | Not scored | 13 | 28.2 | $1.5M | −3.7% | |
| Conejos County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 6.3 | $5M | +1.0% | |
| Lake County, CO | Not scored | 6 | 19.9 | $2.1M | +1.9% | |
| Kit Carson County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 13.8 | $2.6M | +0.1% | |
| Huerfano County, CO | Not scored | 7 | 22.6 | $1.4M | +2.7% | |
| Saguache County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 11.8 | $2.7M | +5.3% | |
| Rio Blanco County, CO | Not scored | 6 | 21.4 | $1.6M | +2.5% | |
| Gilpin County, CO | Not scored | 8 | 25.6 | $1.7M | +4.4% | |
| Crowley County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 22.4 | $1.3M | −0.5% | |
| Lincoln County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 10.1 | $3.3M | −0.4% | |
| Bent County, CO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +4.5% | |
| Custer County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 15.0 | $2.5M | +18.3% | |
| Ouray County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 11.4 | $3.6M | +7.9% | |
| Washington County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 14.5 | $2.4M | −1.6% | |
| Phillips County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 20.5 | $1.9M | −2.4% | |
| Costilla County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 24.2 | $1.1M | +5.1% | |
| Baca County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 24.1 | $1.2M | −3.8% | |
| Dolores County, CO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.8% | |
| Sedgwick County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 9.8 | $3.2M | −6.0% | |
| Cheyenne County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 12.7 | $2.8M | −1.9% | |
| Kiowa County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 17.1 | $1.9M | −2.8% | |
| Jackson County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 60.8 | $529K | −12.2% | |
| Hinsdale County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 78.3 | $478K | −4.6% | |
| Mineral County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 51.8 | $655K | +4.6% | |
| San Juan County, CO | Not scored | 6 | 150.4 | $230K | +14.5% |
Markets with fewer than 5 coffee shops and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many coffee shops and cafes are in Colorado?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 3,237 coffee shops and cafes in Colorado. 1,297 of them (40%) are chain locations. The listings count coffee, tea, juice and bubble tea shops, and cafes. Official counts show 1,757 businesses with payroll classed as snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars in 2023, up 22.5% from 2019. The official count takes in all snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, not only coffee shops and cafes: bakeries and dessert shops are counted too. Official counts list 272 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Colorado spend on food away from home?
About $10.5B a year, or $4,421 per household. That is 9% above the U.S. average (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,237 coffee shops and cafes on map listings, it comes to $3.2M per cafe. That spending covers all food away from home, which coffee shops and cafes share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,374,218 households in Colorado and national spending patterns by income.
How does Colorado compare with the U.S. for coffee shops and cafes?
Colorado has 13.6 coffee shops and cafes per 10,000 households, 24% above the U.S. rate of 11.0. Spending per cafe is $3.2M, 12% below the U.S. figure of $3.7M. At the U.S. ratio of coffee shops and cafes to household spending, Colorado would have about 2,834, against 3,237 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,351 households, against one for every 1,518 across the U.S. The official count rose 22.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +24.3% for the U.S.
Which market in Colorado has the highest market score for coffee shops and cafes?
Among 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Colorado, the Greeley metro area scores highest, at 61 (upper middle). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in Colorado, the Fort Morgan area scores highest, at 51 (upper middle). Among 36 scored counties in Colorado, Elbert County scores highest, at 89 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Colorado scores 51 for coffee shops and cafes (upper middle), #27 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Colorado. It maps the coffee shops and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Coffee shops and cafes in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for coffee shops and cafes across the U.S. · All business types in Colorado
Related business types in Colorado
- Restaurants and cafes26,826 listings
- Sit-down restaurants14,663 listings
- Fast food and sandwich shops3,062 listings
- Pizza1,634 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops2,041 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Colorado?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.