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Bruno Coffee + Between The Covers Bookstore in Telluride

A Coffee Expert's Review (With Photos)

cozy dimly lit bookstore interior with books stacked on a table at Between The Covers Telluride and Bruno Coffee

Full Coffee Shop Review of Bruno Coffee (And Between The Covers) in Telluride

An Honest Review of Telluride's Bruno Coffee + Between The Covers Bookstore

Put simply, I’m a sucker for a bookstore with amazing coffee. Could there be anything cozier? And the combo of Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers (the go-to town book shop since 1974) in Telluride, Colorado is quite possibly my favorite coffee shop bookstore combo out there.

As someone who lives in Colorado and makes my way out to Telluride quite a bit for my work as an adventure photographer, I spend a lot of my free time exploring the best coffee shops in our mountain towns. And as someone who worked as a barista during college, I know a thing or two about pulling the perfect shot of espresso.

So naturally, I couldn’t keep Telluride’s Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers all to myself. This review covers everything I love about this spot and why it’s a must see if you’re road tripping through Colorado or making a pit stop in the San Juans.

P.S., As of late 2024, Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers Bookstore have moved to a new location at 307 E. Colorado Ave. The photos I’ve taken are of the old location, but you can continue to expect excellent coffee at the new spot, too. Swing by their new digs to support this awesome local business after their move.

floating shelves with beautiful coffee table books on the wall at Between The Covers Telluride with cozy cafe seating and Bruno Coffee in the background

Disclosure: We’ve included links to some of our favorite coffee goodies (from mugs to equipment) in this guide to Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers in Telluride. If you choose to buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Shopping through these links helps support our small Colorado business and allows us to continue creating this free content.

All recommendations in our review are crafted with love and expertise, from shops we buy from and trust. And all opinions in this article are our own. We were not compensated or asked to write this review of Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers Bookstore in Telluride.

Let's Chat Espresso

How's The Coffee at Bruno Telluride?

black mug with a latte made at Bruno Telluride sitting on a wooden table with a vase of red flowers in the background

I have one rule that I follow when I review coffee shops: always order the same drink. And I opt for a whole milk latte for two core reasons. The first is that it allows me to test out their espresso. The second is that I’m able to assess the quality of milk aeration.

Is the shot too sour-tasting? It’s likely under-extracted and gives that feeling you get in your jaw when you eat a sour candy. Too bitter-tasting? It’s likely over-extracted. Can you actually taste the notes and flavor profile of the beans? They’ve pulled that shot just right.

In all of my experiences at Bruno Coffee (who proudly serves Telluride Coffee Roasters’ beans), they always get the shot just right.

You can pretty quickly tell if the milk is aerated correctly just by looking at the drink. Good latte art is pretty hard to achieve if it’s not. Too frothy and you get blobs. Not aerated enough and you get a watery mess that can’t form into anything. Yet again (as you can see in the latte photo above), Bruno Coffee in Telluride gets it right.

Needless to say, they passed my expert barista test.

All About The Vibes

The Aesthetic of Bruno Telluride + Between The Covers

coffee shop seating with blue velvet booths and vintage-inspired black cafe chairs at Bruno Telluride next to Between The Covers bookstore

Ok, ok, now that we’ve chatted all about the science of the coffee, let’s talk about the vibes, because this is one of the reasons I just adore hanging out at Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers whenever I’m in Telluride.

Visiting craft coffee shops all over the state of Colorado is a huge passion project of mine, and I’ve visited more than I care to count at this point. But the ones I keep coming back to? They have to have a unique aesthetic and vibe that makes me want to sit down and enjoy my cup of joe in-house.

When it comes to pretty coffee shops, Bruno in Telluride and Felix Roasting Co in Aspen are tied for #1. Honestly, the aesthetic of Bruno Coffee is unlike anything else; it’s this perfect mix of cozy luxury (think velvet chairs and booths and brass milk glass lighting), historic vibes (think restored hardwood floors in an old building), and modern details (think industrial metal shelving holding bottles of wine and wood sheets adorning all the walls of the ordering counter).

And Between The Covers bookstore, with its eclectic collection of books from coffee table beauties to colorful kids reads, feels like the coziest, warmest, and most beautifully curated little shop right in the center of Telluride. I’m especially partial to their ultra-tall bookshelves that require a rolling ladder to reach. 

Everything We Love

About Bruno Coffee In Telluride

Bruno Telluride is my #1 coffee stop whenever I’m in town, and these are my reasons why I highly recommend adding this cafe and Between The Covers to your Telluride to-do’s.

Bruno Coffee Perfectly Mirrors The Vibe of Telluride

two burgundy velvet chairs seated at a black cafe table in the corner of Bruno coffee in Telluride, with Between The Covers bookstore in the background

Elevated, yet laid back and approachable. Beautiful, yet inviting. When I think of Telluride, that’s the vibe, and Bruno Coffee and adjoining Between The Covers totally match that.

There’s no denying the space is stunning, but it’s also inviting in a way that encourages you to stick around, from entertaining reads for kids to the cocktails they serve for an afternoon wind-down after a morning in the mountains.

cozy dimly lit bookstore interior with a display of kids books at Between The Covers Telluride and Bruno Coffee

I especially love the giant windows in the front of Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers that look out onto Colorado Ave (the main street that runs through the heart of Telluride). Personally, I’m partial to enjoying the early morning light from a window seat with a coffee in hand. The outdoor seating is also perfect for enjoying the crisp mountain air.

cozy black bistro style cafe seating against a wooded wall in the Bruno Telluride coffee shop with vases of red flowers on the tables

My Favorite Way To Get The Cafe Aesthetic At Home

Perhaps this is an odd take, but I just swear that coffee tastes better in a mug. Let’s just say my collection of handmade stoneware mugs at home is getting a little out of control.

But for days when I can’t get to my favorite craft coffee shops, my mugs help create that vibe. And I’ve curated a collection of the dreamiest mugs that totally give me that feeling.

The Prettiest Mugs Ever

Bruno Coffee Sources Their Beans From Telluride Coffee Roasters

window seating at the brightly lit entrance of Between The Covers Telluride with blue velvet booths and black cafe tables for patrons of Bruno Coffee to enjoy their drinks

Bruno Coffee sources their beans from the beloved Telluride Coffee Roasters, who have been in the coffee game in Telluride for over 3 decades, slow roasting their beans in-house, nestled between the peaks of the box canyon.

Not only do Telluride Coffee Roasters aim to source their beans from sustainable farms (a greatly appreciated thing when much of the coffee world lacks this), but they roast in small batches to keep their focus on quality over massive volume. Plus, as a small Colorado business owner myself, I love that Bruno Telluride is supporting another local Colorado business.

travel mugs, branded blue sweaters, and Telluride Coffee Roasters bean bags on a shelf in the Bruno Telluride coffee shop

P.S., If you love the flavor of these high alpine-roasted beans, you can pick up a bag at Bruno Coffee in Telluride. That’s kind of the ideal souvenir, in my humble opinion.

Bruno Coffee And Between The Covers Have An Ideal Location In The Heart Of Telluride

coffee shop seating by a window with blue velvet booths and vintage-inspired black cafe chairs at Bruno Telluride next to Between The Covers bookstore

While Bruno and Between The Covers have moved to a different location as of fall of 2024 (now at 307 E Colorado Ave), they’re still located on Colorado Avenue in Telluride (which is the main street that runs through town). You’re literally in the heart of it all, within walking distance to everything (after all, Telluride itself is basically about a mile long from east to west).

cozy dimly lit bookstore interior with books stacked on a table at Between The Covers Telluride and Bruno Coffee

If you’re staying in Mountain Village, just hop on the Telluride gondola and you’re less than half a mile of a walk away from Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers once you exit the station.

How To Time Your Trip To Telluride Perfectly

Colorado weather and seasons like to follow their own set of rules, and if you want to see the best our state has to offer, you have to learn the patterns. In our full guide to the best times of year to visit CO, we share all the must-know details.

Read Our Colorado Seasons Guide

It's About More Than Just Coffee

Bruno Coffee Telluride ordering counter with wine bottles on a shelf, milk glass pendant lights hanging from a gold-plated ceiling, and assortment of pastries in a countertop case

Sure, you expect your local craft coffee shop to deliver an excellent shot of espresso, and Bruno Coffee in Telluride is no different. They also have a delicious assortment of pastries to choose from. But one thing that really makes Bruno and Between The Covers truly unique is the option to order a glass of wine, bottle of beer, or a craft cocktail. Aperol spritz on a summer afternoon? Yes, please.

people sitting in the Bruno Coffee Telluride cafe while enjoying their drinks and having conversations

And then of course there’s the coziness factor of being able to grab your coffee from the Bruno counter and meander on over to Between The Covers to browse the book selection.

cafe window seating with blue velvet boots and vintage-inspired black bistro chairs in a historic building with art prints on the walls

Plus, the cafe seating in the front of Between The Covers (see photo above), right by massive windows looking out on Telluride’s Colorado Ave, is such a lovely spot to settle down with a warm drink and a good read.

Bruno Coffee And Between The Covers Are Located Close To So Many Telluride Adventures

alpenglow on the snow-dotted mountain peaks behind a large tree-lined lake near Telluride, Colorado

Bruno Coffee and Between The Covers are located in the heart of Telluride, Colorado, so they’re the perfect jumping-off point to so many epic mountain adventures.

These are some of our favorite places to explore in the area:

  • Lizard Head Pass – This is my favorite mountain pass in the area and is home to so many epic hikes, campsites, and hidden gem adventures.
  • Ophir Pass – Calling all off-roaders. This stretch of scenic mountain road takes you from Telluride to Silverton.
  • Trout Lake – Arguably my favorite mountain spot in the San Juans for a sunrise picnic. The alpenglow can’t be beat.
  • Alta Lakes – An epic spot to see ghost town buildings or dispersed camp.
  • Bridal Veil Falls – You can off-road or hike to this spot, but it’s one of Telluride’s most iconic views with a giant waterfall cascading down the mountain. Personally, we love doing the hike so you can cool off under the mist of the waterfall after your trek.

We're Your Local Guides To All Things Colorado

I’m Sheena: professional photographer and adventure-loving gal calling Colorado home. My whole thing is exploring the best-of-the-best of the state with my husband Ed and reporting back on what spots I love.

If you’re planning a trip here, these are some of my favorite guides:

  • My CO road trip guide is a fan-favorite, with all the details you need to know for planning a truly memorable trip.
  • Have Rocky Mountain National Park on your bucket list? I’ve been more times than I can count, and my RNMP guide shares info on the must-see spots.