Coffee and tea are so interwoven into the routines of those who partake that making any adjustments to the morning — or afternoon, or evening — practice, can feel like bit of a risk. But wherever it is that a caffeine fix falls into your day-to-day, take this as a sign to break up the monotony and give something new a try. After all, Denver’s cup overflows with coffee and tea shops. Some are great and some – depending on who you ask, or what it is you’re looking for – aren’t worth the hype or the price. But regardless of a sipper’s opinion on the matter, more than enough of the city’s sources for everything from a classic cup of joe to an iced lavender matcha latte are local, so there’s no reason not to support the small businesses that keep Denver buzzing.
When Buspresso rolled into town for the first time on May 15th, it parked in the heart of the action. Not only does River Low — Buspresso’s owner and operator — continue to post up at the busy intersection of 16th and Wazee, his corner is also smack in a part of LoDo which a plethora of other cafés already call home. For Low though — who has years of barista experience and the impossible to beat marketing campaign of his storefront doubling as a mobile billboard — competition isn’t a factor that he fears.
“I actually have to close a little early today just because the rush this morning was so busy,” he explained when we met mid-morning on a Friday. “I’m gonna upgrade my generator this weekend.
“It’s solar powered, and so I have to buy this expansion battery so I can extend my time out here.” Being too busy, selling out or depleting one’s power source from so much business is the best kind of problem that anyone operating within the world of food and beverage can ask for. In the world of food trucks in particular — or in this instance, coffee busses — operators also have to be mechanics, carpenters and designers.
“I had the idea for eight months,” reflected Low, who obtained the retired school bus from the state of Massachusetts. “Then I started ordering everything and getting it together. I flew back home to the East Coast in August last year and my dad and I cranked out the whole thing in four weeks.” That’s quite a feat when taking a look around Buspresso. On the exterior, the mocha toned bus is marked with a simplified outline of the menu: coffee, pastries, while keeping most of the bus’s original character intact. Where the outside of the bus is understated and fun, Buspresso’s interior is a bespoke flex of the Low family’s carpentry skills.
A live edge countertop wraps Buspresso’s periphery, doubling as a workspace and a reminder of home. ‘My dad cut the whole thing from a 150-year-old Connecticut Cedar tree,’ said Low, running his hand along the countertop’s wavy edges. ‘I converted another school bus before this one, so I had the experience to do the plumbing and the electrical.’
Paired with Low’s recent resume as a barista, Buspresso is more than just a fun idea, or a pretty countertop. “This is one of the most popular drinks we have,” said Low as he began slowly pouring the drink he had been meticulously crafting over a cup of ice. “It’s a Dubai Matcha – matcha, pistachio and chocolate.” The exuberant color of the drink is an early hint of the intense, indulgent flavors that all come together for something certainly sweet albeit well-balanced and fun. “And this one is the 16th Street Berry Latte,” he continued. “Raspberry syrup and a Strawberry foam on top.” The decadent, fruity sweetness is a summer hit. And if you’re looking for something classic, Buspresso has — amongst a smattering of other things — a full espresso menu along with a deliciously spicy Chai Latte. If you’re looking for a snack, Buspresso also carries a rotating selection of locally baked pastries.
“Things are definitely going good,” Low repeated, leaning into a certain nonchalant positivity that seems to define his character. “It seems like I get a new regular every day I’m parked here.” So, if you’re looking for a change of pace to your caffeine routine, give Buspresso a try. Maybe you’ll become tomorrow’s new regular, grabbing your beverage through the bus window at the corner of 16th and Wazee.
