Editor’s note: This is a first in a series on coffee shops in the Evergreen/Conifer area. Read part two on Java Groove here. 

When you’re looking to get a little closer to Evergreen’s history, look no further than a cup of joe at the Muddy Buck Café in the historic Evergreen Hotel building, built in 1896. 

Originally an ice house that sold ice to help residents keep food cold, the space has had many occupants. This is the second coffee shop at the location with the Muddy Buck succeeding the Ice House Coffee Shop.

Roasting its beans in house, the Muddy Buck provides fresh cups of coffee in multiple roasts. One is the Tanzanian bean, which has citrus, peach, orange and blackberry notes. Another is from Papua New Guinea, and has notes of woody cacao and hazelnuts. 

Owner Rand Packer says his shop takes pride in finding the perfect beans.

“We like to find beans to let people have a flavor influence from around the world,” he said. 

The overall mission of the Muddy Buck is to make quality drinks with a good environment, he noted.

“Our goal for the Muddy Buck is to have people come in and enjoy company and the surroundings of Evergreen,” he said. “People when they sit down can feel and see the history.”

According to General Manager Makensie McFarlane, the shop is busiest in late mornings and early afternoons. It also sees a large number of customers in the summer and on holidays.

McFarlane says Muddy Buck is a great place to work remotely, explaining, “It’s peaceful, it’s inviting, it’s warm.”

The shop offers free wifi, board games and a book exchange. With plenty of tables inside and out, one can usually find a place to sit and get things done. In the back “rock room,” one can find a quieter setting. 

The shop offers an array of traditional coffee drinks and milk/milk alternatives. One of its most popular drinks is the HoneyBee Latte, which is made with oat milk, and has a honey and cinnamon flavor.

The Muddy Buck’s menu extends beyond coffee. The shop offers many flavors of Italian sodas, adult beverages like mimosas, craft beer or wine, as well as breakfast sandwiches, salads and pastries. 

To have a coffee with your paper (and maybe a bite to eat) in the heart of downtown Evergreen, the Muddy Buck is a shop rich in history and coffee alike.