Denver's Newest Kava Spot: Where Tea Traditions Meet Zero-Proof Culture

There’s something happening on East Colfax.

Between the tattoo shops and record stores, past the corner bodegas and dive bars, a different kind of hangout is taking shape. Denver Cafe and Kava is moving into the space at 5501 E Colfax Ave in Park Hill, and it’s not just another coffee shop—it’s the latest sign that Colorado’s kava scene is seriously leveling up.

The Story Behind the Shells

What makes this one interesting isn’t just the location (though Colfax has that particular Denver energy that pairs well with kava’s chill vibes). It’s how the whole thing came together.

The founding team—Kevin Bloom, Elizabeth Leung, Cam Webbe, Jayden MacDonald, and Jack Kestian—met at Golden Kava Lounge. They weren’t business partners looking for an opportunity. They were regulars who became friends, bonded over shells and late-night conversations. Now they’re building their own space.

That trajectory is becoming a pattern in Colorado’s kava scene. Pat Irvine, who runs The Root Kava in Boulder, has seen it happen multiple times—his regulars eventually opening their own spots. The community breeds more community.

Not Just Kava: Family Recipes and Zero-Proof Everything

Denver Cafe and Kava is taking an approach that sets it apart from the pure kava bars you might find elsewhere. Alongside the traditional kava service, they’re planning:

Chinese and Vietnamese tea blends from family recipes
Classic coffee drinks for the morning crowd
Zero-proof mocktails for those who want something more elaborate
Open-mic nights and vendor markets to build community

“We want it to be a true zero-proof hangout,” the team has said. “A place to socialize without any pressure to drink alcohol.”

That positioning—kava as the centerpiece, but not the only option—might be smart for bringing in the kava-curious. You can grab your usual latte while your friend has a shell of root. Nobody feels weird about what they’re ordering.

Colorado’s Quiet Revolution

If you’ve been paying attention to the kava scene nationally, you know Florida owns this category. Tampa alone has more kava bars than most entire states. The multi-colored unicorn kava cocktails covered in whipped cream? That’s the Florida energy.

Colorado’s approach is… different.

The operators here talk about traditional preparation and community values. They explicitly reject the commercialized model. Karma House in Lakewood runs 24/7 on weekends and attracts everyone from construction workers starting their day at 8 AM to night owls at 3 AM. Colorado Mountain Kava in Longmont was started by someone who specifically left Ohio’s uncertain regulatory environment for Colorado’s more stable one.

And the growth has been real. The Root Kava in Boulder says business has tripled since 2018, even with increased competition. That’s the thing about good kava bars—more spots doesn’t mean splitting the same pie. It means more people discovering the culture.

When It Opens

Denver Cafe and Kava is targeting a late March 2026 opening. The Park Hill location puts it in one of Denver’s most walkable neighborhoods, right on the Colfax strip that’s been seeing a lot of interesting new additions lately.

If you’re in the Denver area and kava-curious, this might be your most accessible entry point—a space designed specifically to welcome people who don’t know what they’re doing yet, with enough coffee and tea options that nobody has to feel committed to anything they’re not ready for.

And if you’re already deep in the kava culture, it’s another reason Colorado is looking more and more like the second coast for this scene.

What’s your go-to kava spot in Denver? Hit me up—I’m building a proper map of the Colorado scene.

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