In this edition of “no one likes homework so you might as well study at an aesthetic coffee shop,” I went to the Alley Cat Cafe!
In case you missed the first edition, here’s what’s going on: I try-out different coffee shops in FoCo so that you don’t have to wonder which ones are cool and worth it. I will rate the shops on a scale of 1-10. They’ll be rated on service, menu variety, music, social and study potential, and overall ambience. I have also noted (but not rated) factors like price, gluten-free/allergen-free options, location and parking lot, where they source their coffee, and their mission (if they have one). To keep everything fair, at every place I and some friends will order an iced caramel latte, a feature drink, and sample of their black coffee.
I’m releasing reviews as I get them done, so keep checking back!
Even if you haven’t been to Alley Cat, you’ve probably heard of it. It’s a staple in the FoCo coffee scene located at 120 1/2 W Laurel St, Fort Collins, CO.
When I think of Alley Cat something that comes to mind is the anxiety of where to park. There are two parking lots right by Alley Cat, but they are both private parking for the businesses around the Cat, so you’re not supposed to park there. Alley Cat made a Facebook post that details where customers can park. Those spots are the south side of Myrtle, the north side of Myrtle, west side of college, street parking on Laurel, and the lot on Mason and Laurel (ONLY on the weekend or after 4:00 pm when permit parking isn’t enforced). Their business hours are 7:00 am-12:00 am and the price ranges from $2 espresso to $9.07 sandwiches.
Okay, to be honest, their black coffee gave me a stomach ache after a few sips, so that’s not fun. Taste-wise it tasted roasted and had a sour feel but not really a sour taste. Their caramel latte was definitely caramel flavored. It was very creamy. My disappointment with this drink is that it didn’t have any taste of coffee in it. The feature drink my friend got was a Chai shake. It was actually really good. She said that she “lives off them.” The drink is made with vanilla ice cream and their house chai, so it tastes like a blended vanilla chai. The chai has a good spice in it and the drink has a good level of sweetness.
After looking at their website, I learned that the Cat gets their coffee and ingredients from various different local vendors such as: Jackie’s Java, Savory Spice Shop, Fort Collins Food Co-op, Roberto’s Salsa & Sauces, and Copoco’s Honey. Alley Cat has a “focus on local.” According to the employees I asked, Alley Cat’s mission is to give good customer service and, most importantly, provide a space that invites everyone in. They said that Alley Cat is a space “for anyone, anytime.”
Final Scores:
Ambience 8/10 – The walls of Alley Cat are covered with drawing and sticky notes; the ceiling is covered in brightly colored paintings. The warm wood and lighting adds to the warm atmosphere. Alley Cat can be overstimulating but it’s iconic. The vibes are giving a goblincore version of the “Friends” cafe.
Service 8/10 – The people that work there are nice people and not overly exuberant. They were very helpful and seemed to enjoy being there.
Variety 8/10 – a solid amount of options for different kinds of coffee and non-caffeinated drinks. Specifically, they have really good chai. They also have different smoothies and food options.
Music 6/10 – the music depends on who is on aux, so it really can be touch and go. A constant is that the music tends to be kinda loud which is rough.
Study potential 6/10 – loud music can be distracting. The hookah bar downstairs is what makes Alley Cat loud. The bar opens at 3:00 pm, so before that, it’s chill. Social potential 9/10 – It’s very fun to go with your friends. There are so many seating options which also leads to it getting pretty crowded, but that doesn’t always mean loud.
For allergies, Alley Cat has the typical milk substitutes and has a lot of vegan and vegetarian options. They have a gluten-free bread for sandwiches and a rotating list of gluten-free pastries.
Overall, I give Alley Cat an 8/10. I think that the person on aux really impacts the vibes there. I will definitely go there again, and it’s for sure better than the kitchen table.
