Dark Horse Coffee Roasters Truckee

As part of our visit, I regard this place as an integral part of the overall experience of visiting the nice and unique Truckee city. We visited them in early morning (around 7:30 am). They roast and prepare coffee in its best shape and specialized manner, and in my view it’s among the greatest we tried so far in the US and particularly in California. Thanks to the Barista and the coffee roasters, making the “Dark Horse” coffee shop among those brightest ones in the coffee making space.

In my view, it is one of the best coffeeshops ever. Got me it is my favorite one. Coffee is consistently great , roasted on the premises by the owner (it is privately owned and is friends with the small Dark Horse chain LA, but independent of them) The baristas are knowledgeable and friendly. I love to come here and read a book from the coffee shop library over my coffee.

Perfect, quaint coffee shop that feels rustic and cozy. The Guatemala coffee is delicious (bought 2 bags of beans to take home) and the latte is smooth, delicious, and so satisfying. The baristas are super chill and personable, as well. It almost feels like you are in a small village in Europe.

Yes. Just go. Some of the best coffee I've had, and I'm an admitted bean snob. The flavors are on point, not so sweet they overpower the coffee. The staff is very nice, and the atmosphere is perfectly kitschy in a good way!

A total vibe off the main street, downstairs with charm for days. Marin ( Sp?) pulled and excellent shot. We wished we had more time to spend in Truckee enabling a longer visit. Some beer and hard kombucha options, a few indoor seating areas and a lovely bench outside.

The coffee is great, but they now have sushi on Friday and Saturday nights, and it’s terrific! The Poke Bowl is a good size and the rolls are huge and delicious. Plus they are open super late, which is a huge bonus in a town that rolls up the sidewalk at 9.

I like the coffee but love the art. I particularly enjoy this spot because the freedom of expression they allow artists. It is unfortunate that one comment by Michelle Tandler may change this and possibly censor local artists.

Dark Horse is amazing! Great coffee, great vibes and even better people! Everyone should take the pilgrimage at least one time in your life to truckee. Float the river, take a polar plunge / swim in the lake and then top it off with a nice oat milk latte!

Great coffee needs: 1. A La Marzocco coffee machine - check 2. Baristas that know what they are doing and put consistency, effort and love in each order - check 3. Experience has it that good baristas have tattoos (don't know why); correlation, not causation! - check Love this place! My go to for coffee when in Truckee.

My ideal coffee shop. They make their own fresh beans. Have a variety of coffee bean options. Make coffee using various methods. And they have specialty drinks like dirty chai. I had a pour over of their dark roast. The flavor was fire and the aroma made the little hairs in my nose smile. Must visit when you're in this little town.

tldr; amazing ambience and great coffee + pastry in Truckee. Decided to take a small trip from Tahoe City to here given the high rating this place has. It was a little challenging to find street parking but not terrible. I was not disappointed. The decor is pretty good, nice wood furnishes and a lot of cool random ornamentation. I went up and asked about the available options, and they were happy to oblige. I went with the Pirates Chai, which is a nice mix of matcha and chai flavors. They also have a variety of waffles - chocolate, cinnamon and strawberry are some. I opted for a cinnamon one. The Pirates Chai was served in a nice pink yeti cup - somewhat odd contrast with the overall traditional wooden style of the cafe, but a very practical choice. Pirates chai (4/5) this had a nice mix of chai and matcha flavoring. It wasn't outstanding, but I enjoyed it. Cinnamon waffle (4/5) similar vibes here. The waffle was well done, but not outstanding.

Dark Horse is probably my favorite cafe. We got there early and seem to always get the best tasting drinks and the best service. Went early before the slopes opened and had the whole place to ourself. No line and our chai tea latte came out especially tasty this morning. Last time we got there mid morning and were about 10-12 drinks in line and waited no more than 5-10 minutes for our drinks. These drinks are always worth the wait, there is also always plenty of seating with a packed cafe. Thanks always for the coffee and great service.

Best espresso in Tahoe! Great service and good vibes. Cool and welcoming interiors. Perfect place to enjoy coffee and a book.

A charming little indie, old school coffee shop a little off the main drag in a basement setting in Truckee. I've had coffee and most recently a freshly brewed ginger iced tea. You can choose any of their loose leaf teas and put it on ice which is a fun option. My colleague boasts they are his favorite Truckee roasters. They do offer some basic pastries but I did not see anything more robust. Internet was fine and they have a few tables by the window and the light while a few tables in the back. Staff was lovely and vibes were rustic and charming. Loved seeing (and hearing) a few kids playing some basic songs on the store piano.

Cute coffee bar -- ambiance is relaxing a little eclectic but I like it! Lots of seating & nice clean bathroom. Staff/service was great & friendly & very quick. My coffee was quite tasty, I ordered the French toast latte & it was enjoyable.

The vibes are vibing here. Very chill coffee shop with a lot of ambiance to offer and good coffee. Definitely worth a visit, loved their little alleyway entrance and all the plants inside.

Foods great (refrigerated burritos, waffles, pastries). Friendly service. Amazing amazing ambiance. WiFi

super cute and eclectic coffee shop! i loved all the art and unique quotes scattered across the cafe. the workers were all very friendly as well. there is a small area to paint which is perfect for kids or adults. the pirates chai was delicious. i would definitely come back!

Excellent spot to grab morning coffees although the place might be hard to find since it's tucked away in an alley but very close to the main street. We stopped by on our way to Tahoe and got an iced latte and a cappuccino and they were both great. The place itself is cute with an eclectic vibe and plenty of comfy seating. Baristas were friendly and service was prompt.

First off, not being from Truckee, there's a few things you need to learn about parking. There's a huge parking shortage. I wanted to try this place many times, but there's only three parking spots out in front. I met one of the regulars, and I questioned him about the coffee shop, because I really like to try new coffee places. He let me know that right across the street, next to Jax restaurant, there was public parking. It is paid parking, but not a lot of choices for the establishments near here. Now about dark horse. It was all I expected, and then more. I walked in to be greeted by a couple of the employees. Quite friendly. I let them know it was my first visit. I had called ahead and asked if they had decaf coffee, because I had already reached my caffeine quota for the day. Yet it was still freezing outside and I wanted some warm comforting coffee... The girl offered to make a decaf mocha and it was awesome! I got to meet a friend/local there and he talked about all the stuff they do there. Open mic nights, artists show case, where artists get to show off their art. Also some gaming tables (hand made chess board) Really enjoyed my visit here and can't wait to come back. Great coffee, great service, amazing establishment!

Great coffee and great vibes. This is a gem in truckee. The staff is always very nice and they have a few food items for the morning crowd.

This review is for food - namely, breakfast burritos This coffee shop is a bit hard to find. We had heard from a friend that they tasted the best-ever breakfast burrito in Truckee, but that was on a Friday morning. Unfortunately, we needed breakfast on a Sunday morning and it seemed like most places in town were closed. With the idea of a breakfast burrito still on our minds (we had a long drive home and wanted something quick and filling), we decided to look for one anyway, despite it most likely not being the best-ever breakfast burrito. I even said to my husband, "It's hard to mess up a breakfast burrito. Let's just get one anywhere". Boy was I wrong! I had to eat my words. With very limited options, we decided to give Dark Horse Coffee Roasters a try. I know, who goes to a coffee shop with the sole intention of grabbing food (unless it's pastries)? That was our first mistake and I knew it going in, but the shop had high reviews and we were sick of looking for something that may not be possible on a Sunday in Truckee. My husband ran in and grabbed a coffee, two breakfast burritos, and something for our preschooler son (which ended up being a jalapeno bagel and cream cheese -- it's all they had! Really? Only jalapeno?). He said the burritos came already done and wrapped, ready to grab, so at least it was quick. However, I'm dubious of hot food, that's just sitting around. The burrito was really not good. It's filling; I'll give them that. However, when I picture a breakfast burrito it has eggs, potatoes, meat, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla. This breakfast didn't have potatoes! What the heck? How is that a breakfast burrito? It had eggs, beans (yuck! I hate beans in a burrito so I was really disappointed that these are ready to go and can't be omitted. And who puts beans in a breakfast burrito?), and rice (rice!? again, that doesn't belong in a breakfast burrito!) and chorizo (bland chorizo...how is that possible?) Man, no potatoes and there's beans and rice? It was so weird tasting. Plus, it severely lacked flavor. I was happy that we happened to have some salsa in our campervan, so I was able to jazz it up a bit and add some tang and flavor. The burrito was really dry! Anyway, I highly recommend that you don't order the breakfast burrito. My husband's coffee was unremarkable. No notes. To be honest, if you come here with the sole intention of ordering coffee, I think you'll be in good hands. However, don't make our mistake and come here for breakfast burritos. That was so silly of us. They were pricey too.

Cute little coffee shop while we were visiting Truckee. Lots of seating and clean restrooms. Staff was very friendly, and service was quick. I got a caramel latte with oat milk. It was very good not overly sweet and nice and warm. We didn't stay long we were on our way home but seems like a great place to have your coffee and just chill there.

I went this morning and got a chai , it tasted really spicy and gingery but good ! And this local gem , is definitely a must try , it gets pretty busy so be warned , but the staff was really nice and it's got a cool vibe to it the ambiance is rustic and cool .

IMO their French Toast Latte is what makes them the best coffee spot in truckee hands down Very friendly staff:)

Best coffee in Truckee!nice owners and great ambience. I don't need to say any more, but help Requires a longer review- blah, blah, blah.

Tried the French toast latte and it was so good. One of the best lattes I have tried. The shop had a very vintage and laid back vibe! 10/10

Excellent coffee, and surprisingly good food. The breakfast sandwich is big (and atomic hot, give it a minute), and the waffles are awesome. Friendly service, granted if you're a tourist I think you need to be the first to make an effort with the team here, but then they reciprocate :)

Stumbled upon this spot on our way to Lake Tahoe and it was so worth the stop! It looks a bit hidden because it's sortof in an alleyway but when you go in you can feel the coziness of the cafe. There's lots of plants and some people studying and chatting. We got the mocha with whipped cream and it was heavenly! I absolutely loved it and wanted to go back again when we drove home!

The Kilroy with added vanilla cream was decadent! I also enjoyed the dirty chai matcha. You have to go down some stairs to get into this basement like coffee shop. They sell local art and have books to read. They sell other drinks like beer :)

Such a cute place with creative (and strong) drinks. Very eclectic decor and interesting art pieces. Staff was friendly, and service was fast. Our group tried a variety of drinks over our two visits, and everyone loved everything. I got the Kilroy (espresso w/ sparking water and homemade vanilla) - it was excellent. Their homemade vanilla is flavorful and not too sweet. Would definitely get this again on my next visit! My friends also loved the French Toast Latte and Cool Joe. Tip: check in on Yelp for 50c off! They also charge 25c for credit card.

Great coffee!!! Vanilla latte with almond milk is amazing. It's pretty hard to get to but worth trying to find a parking spot. They make their own Vanilla it's so good !

Unique little local coffee shop hidden away in an alley. The employee who served us was super nice and helpful! The coffee flavor was unique and tasted like it was of high quality. I got an almondmilk latte with their house made vanilla flavor and enjoyed it, but as someone accustomed to Starbucks, I found myself wanting more sweetness and creaminess. That's a matter of personal preference, of course. It was a little pricey, but overall a worthwhile stop if you're into that local small business feel.

"Very tasty coffee and a wonderful atmosphere. Every time we stop at this place, we have coffee there. I definitely recommend it to everyone."

As the name suggests, you will feel like you just entered a Dark Horse establishment. Located and hidden semi underground, you walk into an eclectic place with stuff all over the place. Feels messy but the right kind of messy. I really enjoyed my oatmilk latte and breakfast sandwich.

Order: Sumatra or Ethiopian Whole Bean / Oat Milk Dirty Chai / Pirate's Matcha Chai This place is such a cool rock n roll spot in Truckee. Parking is tough so expect a little walk, but super worth it. They roast their beans there so the coffee & espresso are stellar as well as their chai's - do yourself a favor & try the Pirate s Matcha! It's Matcha with Chai, sweetened with Molasses. So special

I discovered this very cute, cozy coffee roastery off of the main street in Truckee. Had a great conversation about roasting, techniques, and flavors with the barista. She very pleasantly answered my questions and recommended a few roasts for my tastes, which I'm looking forward to brewing at home. Looking forward to coming back!

Really slick place to stop. If you're in an RV, make sure to use the Railyard East Parking stop (Dark Horse's entrance is in a narrow alley since the coffee shop appears to be a converted basement). Enjoyed the spiciest dirty chai latte I've had in some time. Spouse described his mocha as "good" (high praise from the hypercritical one). We shared a bacon burrito & glad we did: it would have been overwhelming for one person. As far as service is concerned, the baristas were genuine... They asked if we wanted to have the drinks/food here or to-go (no rush... saw the two of us & offered to split the burrito). Looking forward to coming back and beating the late morning rush!

Funky local coffee shop. Very unique design. Looks like everything in the shop was thrifted. Got a regular iced vanilla latte. Coffee tasted good but for $6, it should probably last more than 5 sips.

Helpful barista, super friendly and a fantastic London Fog. I love all the art work and plants.

Cute little coffee place in a basement in downtown Truckee. Stopped by one afternoon to get an iced latte, not bad! Staff was also quite friendly!

Loved it! My family and I came here and got some drinks and we all enjoyed them! Their cold brew latte with vanilla is so good! I also enjoyed their French toast latte, not too strong and not too sweet! The employee was nice and quick taking our orders and making our drinks. It's a cute, small, unique coffee shop and if you're considering trying it you should!

My husband and I absolutely love this place! We drive up from Reno as often as we can for our fix. My favorite drink in the world is Pirates Chai which is essentially a chai spiced matcha latte and they definitely know how to make a matcha. I love that it's not too sweet and they don't use boiling water and burn the matcha. My husband loves that they have multiple different freshly roasted coffee that he can decide on based on his mood. This time he got the Ethiopian and he said they did an excellent job on his pour over, which is not something you can get just anywhere! They also started serving breakfast burritos which I highly recommend as a delicious and filling way to start your day! We split and it still filled us both up! Everyone there is always super nice and friendly as well as happy to make recommendations based on your preferences. And, don't even get me started on how cute this place is! Love the cozy, homey vibes! No matter where your located, this place is worth the drive!

this is such a cute hidden coffee spot in downtown truckee! the cave-like feel and lots of plants create a very nature focused ambiance that is a wonderful environment to the coffee they serve. they offer lots of seating options, along with many events that they host. i ordered a cold-brew latte with vanilla syrup and oat-milk; it was ok but not great. my friends got the french toast latte, which they said was also fine. this place is worth a visit for the cozy location, but maybe not the best iced coffees in downtown.

This place is so beautiful with all the plants and the baristas are so cool and nice. Everyone loved their coffee as well. I tried the strange coffee which had chai in it. I had it with oat milk and it wasn't enough milk/cream but otherwise it was pretty interesting.

By far, the best coffee and vibes in Truckee. Parking can be tricky sometimes, but it is well worth the effort. Popping into Dark Horse always brightens my day.

Tea & coffee are great. The barista was very kind & helpful. Loved the varied selections. Ambiance was nice as well, though we didn't stay.

I promise it's worth the hassle of finding a place to park. The coffee is fantastic, they have a great menu and really friendly staff. This is a perfect place to go to relax and reset. The seating area has a very cozy feel as you're below street level surrounded by plants and the sweet smells of delicious coffee. Definitely a hidden gem!

Great atmosphere to enjoy a cup of coffee and chill with a book! Looking forward to coming back soon.

Dog friendly coffee shop? Count me in. Needed a warm place to sit with my pup and dark horse welcomed us in. Ordered a yummy pirates chai while I got some work done, it's a great spot

Not really "off the beaten path", but possibly one off the road less traveled & behind the main building. Definitely stop here on a hot a or cold day. They have EXCELLENT coffee. As soon as you enter, you are hit with the aroma of the fresh roasted beans. Rich, intense, chocolates. Sort of wakes the soul and intensifies your desire coffee ( sure not everyone is not a coffee lover as me - they have other things). Very rustic hometown feel, and dog friendly with lite bites for humans. Lovely quiet areas to study, read, chat, meet up or just chill. And by chill I do mean with an iced vanilla latte on a hot day! The gal mentioned they make their OWN flavoring! I thoroughly savored each sip. Not too sweet, brilliant vanilla flavor and not imitation. Lovely. I sniffed out some of their beans they roast within the establishment, as well. Guatemala. One pound came home with me. Rich, and luscious great for a pour over or in a regular coffee maker. Just a note if you're walking, head from Donner over the river and walk behind the bldg you will see the sign and can't miss it! Make this one of your stops in Truckee during your visit no matter the season. I look forward to my next!

Firmst time here. Nice cozy cabin/boho vibes. Friendly, quick service. Ordered a vanilla latte. Tasted amazing. Nice, robust coffee flavor . Loved the art vibe. Local art and jewlery for sale. They also had a posting for a cool paint and sip night. Coming back for their alien stickers . When I am in the area again, I will Def stop by.

My first time visiting this shop for a meeting and it is super cozy. The parking was a bit tricky but they sure made it worth it.

Recently had an amazing experience here. The knowledge of staff was outstanding, with drinks to match.

Stopped here for the first time on our day trip to Truckee for a little pick-me-up. I love the dark, funky vibe inside. There was art and chalk drawings all over the walls, and ample seating all over. They sell their own merch, as well as other local artistry. Our drinks were delicious and were completed fairly quickly, but I wouldn't have minded sitting and hanging out here. Will definitely visit again the next time I am in Truckee.

It was like, hella dank. I hit the place up twice and it was just as good, smooth and creamy as the first. These homies know how to churn out some good bean juice. Bless these sweet angels.

It was a little hard to find as the coffee bar is located inside the shopping plaza building, but once you smell the roasted coffee you'll know you found the right place! I ordered a hot latte double shot with mocha and it was delicious: the coffee has a subtle richness and bitterness which was perfectly paired with the dark chocolate mocha. I prefer bold flavors with my coffee and this one definitely delivered! I returned here twice, every morning while I was in Tahoe. They also sell roasted coffee beans. I highly recommend this as a local place to enjoy some delicious well-made coffee.