Prodigy Coffeehouse / 40th & Colorado

I’m impressed by Prodigy Coffee — not only for their delicious drinks and welcoming space, but also for their inspiring business model. Prodigy is a social enterprise that trains and mentors young adults through hands-on experience in the coffee industry. I had the pleasure of meeting Emilia, their Learning Manager. The space itself is beautiful — there’s open-air seating perfect for sunny Denver days, ample parking, and even a convenient drive-through if you’re on the go. Whether you’re looking for a place to get some work done or just want to grab a coffee to take with you, it’s a great spot. They also offer a well-designed community space for meetings or gatherings, which makes it feel like a true neighborhood hub. Highly recommend stopping by, supporting their mission, and soaking in the good energy! Thanks, friends and see you next time!

The space is full of light and the plants add such a great flare of color! And don’t get me started on the fact all the doors open! Such a great space. And they have a meeting room too which is always super nice to have! I got a matcha and I’ve never been a fan of the super bitter, but man, this one just hit!

Cool little spot that's in an old jiffy lube or mechanic garage. Weather was perfect to sit outside and enjoy the mountain views. They also have a drive-threw window. Have some breakfast pastries and free WiFi

Wonderful spot! Coffee and pastry were delicious. Highly recommend the everything bagel puff pastry- Sweet cream cheese with a savory, seed-filled croissant base. The cafe has wonderful natural light, and a variety of seating options for conversation and for studying. Staff was very sweet and helpful, and make an excellent latte! Thanks!

Prodigy Coffee isn’t just a coffee stop—it’s a mission in action. From the moment you step in, you can feel the energy of young adults honing their craft, not just in coffee-making but in building a future with purpose. Their dedication to personal growth and community impact makes every cup feel like something bigger than just caffeine. I tried the lavender latte, and it was an easy 10/10—smooth, perfectly balanced, and just the right touch of floral sweetness. Whether you’re here for the coffee or the cause, Prodigy delivers on both. Definitely worth a visit!

I’ve been here a few times and the white chocolate mocha is so good! I love that you can taste the coffee as well as the flavor. I’m more of a cup of creamer and dash of coffee kinda drinker, not that I don’t enjoy coffee it just doesn’t matter much to my taste buds HOWEVER I truly enjoy the flavor of this coffee as well as the white chocolate. To me this is what a cup of coffee should taste like-coffee that is enhanced by the flavor; instead of masked like Starbucks does. No hate on them; I buy their coffee as well but given the opportunity I’d choose Prodigy 100 times over. I don’t live anywhere near here but get to enjoy it on the weekends when dropping my daughter off at volleyball practice down the street. If you’re in the area I’d highly recommend stopping in for some coffee- I doubt you’ll be disappointed and will return again. 🫶🏼

This place is super close to where I work so if there are no offices available I’ll walk over here to get a drink, snack and a space to do my work. I didn’t love my horchata the first time here but I haven’t had any further issues. The staff is always nice, the food is yummy and the atmosphere is comforting

Love the coffeeshop decoration and set up. Our lattes taste ok, the croissant was a little dry and hard after warmed up in the toaster.

So happy that Yelp has this place on their coffee list. Coffee beans were so fresh and my brown sugar latte was the best!!! Not to mention the pastry that topped everything off in this cute positive energy cafe

Another coffee shop with cool vibes was discovered by me today. I wanted to avoid the big name coffee shop; I was more into discovering a new place. And this place came up on my search. From the current location at the time I was in, this shop was only several miles away. Service was okay-ish (I was greeted by a young lady upfront upon walking up. Her demeanor wasn't anything special but it wasn't bad either.) I asked for a cortado. She asked if there was anything else I wanted on top of that. I said no. I paid for what I ordered. My drink was made quickly. Like I said the service was something you'd expect to receive at any given time at an ordinary or average coffee. What I liked about this place was the spaciousness of it. Its building spreads out from the north to the south. It's modern but it's not modern overkill. Simply and clean feels; I liked that. And in the middle of the building, there is a lab. I saw 6-7 people in that little room. It's all glass so I could see them. Employee meeting or some coffee class for the public? Whatever they were doing, I remained respectful by not trying to give an unnecessary glare (lol)!! They do have some light bites on the menu. If nothing sounds good then you can get a pastry from the showcase (selection is not large though.) This is not a place where I can casually go from my Hamden South neighborhood but it's nice to know that such a place exists. Like today I was in the neighborhood running errands, when I am in the area again, i I'll make sure to stop by. ***P.S: My cortado was good. It was strong where I wanted to have a little more milk in it.

Sought this place out on our way to the airport and oh my gosh what a gem! Coffee was delicious! They have homemade syrups. My mom and sister had the iced vanilla latte, which I tried and was delicious. I had the iced honey lavender latte which was so yummy! We had pastries but a standout food item was a ham, cheese & egg torta. WOAH! It was delicious. Had a few bites of my sisters. They gave you a choice of green or red salsa. She got the green and it was so bomb! Highly recommend. The staff were lovely and it was open nice and early.

This spot is great coffee is delicious..their story is wonderful..teaching young ones about their work ethics..food is good the waffle is great just a sweet hand held... atmosphere is comfortable. There is a room that if you have a meeting, you can schedule ahead of time. I believe that room is free..holds about 10 I think.. They also have outdoor seating and an absolutely beautiful view of the mountains, I like this little spot..i believe it's an old gas station! It's a little off the beaten path, but if you're coming off the highway or going onto the highway to I 70 and it's right there off 40th and Colorado Blvd..they also have a drive-through. It's a quirky little thing that they started when Covid was happening, but you can do drive-through..

A cute coffee shop that has an authentic third wave vibe. We came in and got a cappuccino and a cinnamon brown sugar latte. The cappuccino was maybe a smidge off in extraction leading it to be a little too bitter. The latte was very sweet but overall pretty good. The baristas were nice and it seemed like a cool place to get some work done. It was a lot busier than I would have thought but there were still a bunch of tables open.

I made a yelp account to complain about this place and I'm never that guy but this place is terrible. Ordered a vanilla latte and drip. Waited over 10 minutes at drive thru with one car ahead for them to get one iced drink. I get my coffees and the person working legit has no idea what I ordered. My latte has no vanilla, only filled 80% and coffee grounds on top of the foam and is legitimately cold. Go back in because the latte was so trash I couldn't even drink it. Dude in charge gives me shit for saying something and gives me another cold hot latte after I had just said it wasn't hot enough. Been a barista for over 20 years and this is by far the worst coffee experience I've had in some time. Trash lattes and coffees and three people with no other business still couldn't get it right. Avoid at all costs. If a guests wants a hot latte maybe don't argue with him about it and make it hotter! Do your job!

I found myself here by random chance today and I am very happy with my order. I got a latte and a croissant for a quick bite. The croissant was warmed with butter, making it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The latte was just how I like it, without it being too sweet. Even though it was busy, there was a lot of room for me to sit. I love the open space and all of the natural light. Highly recommend!

// Summary Friendly people with average coffee and a great space, but an even better mission to help the underprivileged young adults in our city. // Experience Came here and ordered an Americano and a hand-held waffle. The waffle nor the americano were particularly special, but I was also offered an iced chai latte on the house (maybe they were training someone new?). Now I'm not an expert on chai, but it was overall pretty refreshing. // Service Everything came out relatively quickly, and I mentioned that I did a get a free drink - but one thing that kind of bothered me was that there was still some time left before closing, and they were starting to do some of the mop-up duties. I don't particularly like that "cleaning" scent, and it was enough for me to call it early. // Ambiance It's a pretty simple shop that takes advantage of a lot of natural lighting. They've got some booths and tables to congregate around. Music was at an acceptable volume - but maybe a bit too distracting if you need to get work done, but would be a good place to catch up with some friends. // Convenience They've got a parking lot that can accommodate a good crowd.

I was drawn to this place by its graffiti art exterior. The inside is just as inviting with that funky garage look and a simple menu. It doesn't necessarily stand out for the drinks- there's nothing special about their menu. But the barista, her sweet demeanor brings it all together.

Love the location and feel of this place, but prices are sooo high. I got a latte this weekend and it was $8.40 for a small. Really wish it was more affordable as it is fairly average but as others have said love the ambiance and the crew is always nice!!

It's so cute in here.. you don't want to leave. Fun music. Light comes in nicely. Coffees are yummy & great food options for breakfast. Ladies very nice working here. Best part is they are open @ 6:30A & when your toddler wakes up @ 5am it's a savior.

The space is bright, airy and inviting. They have large garage doors that make you feel safe in the enduring pandemic while also feeling free and not confined to your home! The views of the mountains are STUNNING. They have interesting drink options- honey lavender latte- really interesting, if a bit on the sweet side. They have (or are supposed to have) kombucha on tap, but was out during my visit. Food options a limited, but did look nice and fresh. WiFi is quite strong and is a good place to work. Unless, the work you're doing is reading. The music is pretty loud and I need complete silence. I would absolutely return to work that didn't include reading. Perhaps the best part of this place is their business model. Recognizing that employment and economic opportunities are not equitable, Prodigy coffee aims to provide opportunities for disenfranchised members of the community where they offer internships, employment and training. Really something to support! Also, it's in Clayton neighborhood which is in need of some local and innovative businesses that create community.

Stumbled onto this little gem early on a Labor Day morning. So quiet, and with a great vibe, fantastic espresso and inventive pastries (try the bagel pastry...yum). Talented staff and the Barista could throw-down with skill! Highly recommended!

Coffee is great. Breakfast burritos and SOO good. Horchata is delicious. The employees are fantastic. Great service. Ambiance is chill and understated.

the coffee was delicious and the food was amazing. it's a cool little spot, but the people seem to hate working there. not a single one of the 5 people behind the counter were any nice at all.

Came by this morning for coffee and some food, to my surprise they have a drive through which is even better! Very friendly staff! The coffee was delicious and woohooo they have Belgian waffles!! It made my day!

I work in this area, and usually stop at the chain coffee spot across the street, but I noticed this one this time and HAD to try it. I'm so glad I did! I got their croissant - which was SO FLAKY, SWEET, AND SAVORY AT THE SAME TIME. It was perfect. So delicious. I could eat one every day. I also got their gingerbread latte, they obviously use really great coffee, also very tasty. I prefer local coffee shops, and this one was no different. It was so good, I'll definitely be back when I'm in town for work.

Right by the Colorado/40th Station - it's a great coffee shop with a meeting room, cozy nook, and a decent amount of seats/tables outside. I think they aren't allowing people to sit inside during Covid for now but don't take my word in that. From coffee to food to atmosphere - it's a great place to work or hang out. FYI - there is even parking lot and weekends they are renting out bikes! Much needed coffee shop in this part of town.

Popped in for an iced latte after a rather early vet checkup and was pleased with the overall experience. Honey Lavender Latte with Oat Milk was good, though a bit milky. It's my own fault though as I know I prefer beverage more coffee forward and I forgot to order an additional shot of espresso. Flavor was good though, and I love anything with Lavender so I appreciated them offering that. Croissant was very good though I only had one bite and brought the rest home for Alfie! If you see the photo it looks flaky and delicious inside like how you would expect a croissant. The raspberry was very unique too. I enjoyed it. Service was good, quick and efficient. I would definitely stop here again if I find myself In the neighborhood.

The chai is fantastic and the service was great. My only complaint would be that the seating could be comfier. I love all the light and plants.

Worst latte I've ever had. Espresso was over extracted and tasted burnt and gross. The ambiance wasn't great and the staff was unfriendly. It was also difficult to focus with the music blasting. Would not recommend this place.

Poor customer service, five employees standing around, texting. When asked what pastries they had because it was difficult to see them, staff did not list any. Another the place was not busy at all, instead of walking the coffee or pastry out to table (5 extra feet) they yelled when each was ready. Also the cappuccino was super small.

Not often you would get a drive-thru coffee places besides Starbucks. I really love the fact that this place have a drive-thru. Giving how busy they were the morning that we visit this place, the service was great and on point. Vanilla Latte w/ Oat milk: you can tell that this place doesn't use cheap beans. The Vanilla flavoring blends perfectly w/ the coffee.

No vegan food options just FYI. Friendly service though and good coffee. ..............:::.....

Meets my criteria for a great study spot: Easy and accessible parking Available outlets Lit playlist Wonderful natural lighting and quality air flow Friendly staff Delicious iced lattes

Really unique spot that I would recommend. We brought our corgi Robi here and enjoyed coffee in the outdoor seating area. It is located in a kind of random area but it's so cute!

I just ordered a simple cortado and it was the most over extracted espresso I've been served in years, if not ever. Their slayer LP Maxine is easily a $30k espresso machine, so it's a crime to be serving such bad espresso. To the owners, you gotta train your baristas!

Prodigy was recommended by our AirBnb host and it was a great recommendation. We loved their mission (it was explained to us by a barista afer she took our order), the service was excellent (super friendly staff), the coffee was great (I got a lavender one which was very tasty. I got a rose one a return trip. While good, it was not as good as the lavender one), and we LOVED that there was a very quick service drive-thru. With young kids, this was key. In early July and around 9am, this place was happening inside. Seems like a great place to do work and/or hang out. We came here twice and tried to (it was too out of the way the third time) at least one more time before we left for home. Highly recommended.

Order: Ice Ice Berry Latte, Cappuccino Price: $8 Positives: Several unique drinks, they make their own syrup, the espresso was really good, they have cool seating, and I LOVE that they are working to do good in their community. Negatives: Not a lot honestly (especially regarding things they can control; thanks COVID -_- ) Summary: Prodigy Coffee is a must try! They have a super nice staff, they make their own syrup, their coffee is on freakin point, and they have a reasonable amount of cool seating! Thoughts: As always, anytime we are moving through a city we try to find some of the best coffee we can get our hands on. Prodigy was the first stop on the list and honestly we probably could've stopped the list there. The storefront has a very unique design, it almost looks like it's converted from an old drive-through oil change place or something. Two of the sides of the buildings have roll up shutter style doors that allow the building to be opened up and get a cool cross-breeze through it. It's a fantastic way to keep the interior cool and still feel like you're not stuck inside a building. Unfortunately we didn't have a lot of time to hang out so we talked to the two barista's on staff, they made a few recommendations, and from there we narrowed it down to their current special, the ice ice berry latte, and one of our standard picks, the simple cappuccino. While we waited a few minutes for our drinks we took a look around and read the story of Prodigy Coffeehouse and we were honestly both blown away by its history just as equally as we were the coffee. One of Prodigy's main objectives is to provide another path of young adults that don't connect with the typical school/career paths. Rather than try and explain it I'm going to include their own statements at the bottom of the review. Needless to say though we were beyond impressed. If all that wasn't enough, the drinks were fantastic. The cappuccino was everything you would want; strong, small, the espresso was pulled expertly, and the foam was done very well. The big surprise was the ice ice berry latte which we got on their recommendation. Normally we are not sweet coffee drinkers, at home we will often only go as sweet as a half vanilla latte from our local coffee shop. Somehow the ice ice berry latte found a perfect balance between sweet berry notes and the strong punch of the espresso. When they serve it they pour the espresso over the top of the milk and flavoring allowing it to trickle down into the drink. It's honestly fantastic. We almost went back a few hours later to get the same drink but decided just to try a new coffee shop. I will 100% recommend that everybody in the area go try Prodigy Coffeehouse. Not only are you getting amazing coffee you're also supporting an incredible company that is pouring its time, money, and expertise into a new generation of young adults. With that in mind here's a little bit about what prodigy has to say for itself. (All statements below come directly from Prodigy's website) The Challenge Our country's education and employment structures are largely outdated, ineffective, and inequitable, especially for youth on the margins. This leaves us vulnerable and inefficient as we train the next generation for the new economy. The Work. Prodigy Appreticeshipts Young adults disconnected from school and/or work are invited into a year-long apprenticeship as humble learners of life, self, and craft, within a high standards enterprise. The Outcome: Personal Growth Through deep work and deep learning, apprentices build skills, mindsets, networks and economic capital for sustainable careers, and most importantly, discover their own inherent greatness. The Impact: Personal & Community Transformation Apprentices have secured meaningful, sustainable employment and are leaders in their community.  This, in turn, builds wealth for marginalized Northeast Denver residents.

Went here with a friend a while back, and we had some really great coffee here! The barista who served us was very nice and knowledgeable. She also was so polite. I love coffee, and getting some cold brew from here is a must when you need a pick me up! Highly recommend! Dan & Lexi

Nice interior, friendly baristas, and delicious n flaky cinnamon buns. Chill atmosphere inside. Beautiful views of the mountains too.

Good cause and good coffee! They ran out of burritos by 9:30 and spilled coffee on the side of the cups.

Cool hang. Not crazy about the rap music which constitutes 90% of music. This coffee shop serves a great cause, helping kids get back on track. Espresso is really good as are vanilla lattes. Can be a bit in consistent though as there is a lot of turnover understandably so. Burritos are tasty. Building used to be a auto repair garage so cool vibe.

It smells so good in here!!! Prodigy is awesome! I love that they are in a kick ass location: close to home and the RTD station and in an underserved community with a goal to lift its residents. This coffee shop serves up a great espresso. If you come in early enough you might be lucky to grab a burrito too (because they sell like hotcakes). The baristas are always friendly and helpful.

This place is amazing. Apprenticeships and training for young people in the NE Denver area to get a start in the professional workforce, wide open space with tons of natural light and lots of seating, AND a parking lot. Like others have said, it's a refurbished body shop, which means there are huge garage door entrances which circulates fresh air and you don't leave smelling like coffee shop. The employees were all friendly and helpful, and I got a chicken panini and a lemon soda water for lunch. There were outlets by the booths and I think by the bar. Outdoor seating as well. I will definitely continue to support this business!

Their Coffee is really good. Stop by and try it. Went there with my friend last September and we all like his place. Beautiful coffee shop with quality coffee and good customer service!

This was a fun find!! And all for a good cause. They teach young adults who are removed from school or work life all about their business through an apprenticeship. We had to stop by to check it out. Housed in what looks like a former quick change oil change building, we wandered in to Prodigy. It had a nice open air feel and plenty of people were sitting inside and out using the space to study/work/relax. It had a very welcoming feel. We decided on the special...a couple of caramel mocha drinks and looked around for a few minutes. The prices were good. The atmosphere comfortable. The staff friendly. The coffee drinks tasted pretty yummy. They have a "bike library"! And while I didn't verify exactly what that meant, I think you can borrow a bike to ride around town here. And that my friends is quite awesome to me!! I'll be back because I noticed their tea menu toward the end of our visit and I'll have to give some of those a whirl. Keep doing great things!

Cute decor and good drinks/food. Could definitely benefit from some friendliness training for the staff. This morning they were making jokes and mocking people who didn't respond to their greetings the way they thought they should. It made for an awkward and unwelcoming atmosphere.

Coffee was delicious and I totally love the concept to support neighborhood youth with job skills. They tell the employee's stories on the walls and the space is open and trendy with a separate meeting room, open concept with garage doors, and an outside patio. And plenty of parking. I am so grateful to live nearby this community-supporting shop and this will be my new go-to shop in the neighborhood!

Great spot to regroup following Denver International landing before heading into downtown. Delicious hand held waffle and white chocolate mocha enjoyed while sitting outside. Recharged while relaxing!

First thing first the mission statement is extremely captivating. The leadership was in a meeting in the cafe and it spoke volumes having such an integrated business communion... from the leaders to the baristas it's so lively and inviting. The atmosphere itself is bright inviting and airy. Glass walls on the west and east sides perfect for anytime of day depending on your desired vibes. Breakfast Burrito 7.9/10 I would highly recommend for its turkey top tier when it comes to fast casual cafe food. The white chocolate mocha. Muah. Needless to say it's perfect.

Great coffee, excellent cappuccino. Would highly recommend, good place to sit down and read a book or do some work.

Working from home, I'm always on the lookout for great cafes. So glad that I found Prodigy. The coffee was good, the staff were super friendly and the place is really inviting. I love the fact that you can reserve the conference room for free and I love the mission of the place. So good to know that you're supporting a great cause and helping people grow in their life and personal skills. The wifi is decent and there is enough space, tables and outlets to do what you need to do. We need more places like Prodigy!

Awesome place to set up and get work done away from home. Fast, friendly, and much better atmosphere than Starbucks

Love love love Prodigy! A coffee shop with parking?! Yep, it's a go to meeting spot. Their coffee ain't bad either. I've been a big fan of their seasonal/speciality lattes, which are usually pretty amazing. They also have a small meeting room around back that's available for meetings. Only downside: It does get a bit warm in the summer months, even with the garage doors open. Just know, you're working in/visiting a former auto repair shop!

Meh... I didn't like the cappuccino. The espresso wasn't very strong and it just tasted like milk. I would only recommend if you want a very sweet drink.

Oat cortado was perfect. The waffle was a good complement too. Warm, freshly made, not too sweet. Staff very cool. The mission of the place rocks too. El pueblo unido.

I wanted to love Prodigy. The building is awesome and open, decor is perfect, and it's very nearby my house. When I went the first time during my great coffee shop search, it seemed as though the barista may have been new. She fumbled with making the drink, and it took longer than normal. When I tasted it (a vanilla latte) it tasted as though the vanilla had been forgotten. I was disappointed, but figured I would try again because we've all been new at a job. True to my word, I came again with my husband the following weekend, and we both ordered the same drink. Baristas were nice but distracted, and I was asked to clarify my order twice. When we got the coffee it was definitely better, but just not great. There are a lot of great coffee shops in the area now, and I felt that this was not a standout compared to them. EDIT: After reading through Prodigy's mission I feel like my insights about the baristas were irrelevant, as I learned they employ local youth. This is incredibly valuable, and deserves recognition. Perhaps there needs to be a bit more guidance though, as the employees seemed somewhat unstructured. Unfortunately, even these extraordinary community contributions did not make the coffee great.

Hit up Prodigy thanks to the FIKA passport program and I'm so glad I did. It's in a cute building on a big industrial corner that's painted with bright colors, has a big patio and also a very large interior that opens up to the outside with garage style doors. The person behind the counter wasn't the friendliest of people but she wasn't rude either. I think she was just indifferent and didn't want to be there. My husband got a nitro cold brew which was really strong and quite good by itself and with a splash of cream in it. I ordered the nitro iced tea which was good as well. For tea, it was smooth and wasn't bitter at all. In fact, it was somewhat sweet on its own but I added the honey water/syrup to it and guzzled it down on the patio.

Every time I've been here the service has been wonderful, drinks are great, and a lot of space for studying and getting work done. Love that there is a drive through! A favorite.