C A F E     B E L A Y

Core Values

Acting sustainably, ensuring quality, and nurturing communities are all core to Cafe Belay. We do more than just source the most delicious coffee available on the market, we only roast coffee from importers that prioritize ethical and sustainable business decisions. The pure Madagascar vanilla extract we use in the in-house syrup and baked goods as well as our carbon neutral oat milk are also ethically sourced and we aim to continue to make as many of our offerings as high quality and sustainable as possible.

Cafe Belay has donated a total of $786 to outdoor recreation development, preservation, and education focused non-profit organizations both local and national as of May 2023. This includes a portion of coffee bean proceeds which is donated to the climbing advocacy groups Access Fund, and American Alpine Club.

Cañon City, Colorado

Cañon City is right next to some of the best single pitch sport climbing in the country. The bomber limestone cliffs at Shelf Road just north of town provide over 1,200 routes (and growing) with something to offer for every experience level. Not to mention, the community is amazing! If you rock climb, then you have to plan a Shelf Road trip soon.

There are plenty of other activities to choose from here as well, and a lot of it’s on public land! White water rafting, river surfing, trout fishing, hiking, mountain biking, dirt biking, camping, and hot spring star gazing are just a few. There’s even a train ride along the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge, skydiving, and zip-lining. Stop by Cafe Belay and fuel up before your next adventure around Cañon City!

Offerings

We aim to provide resources for the community beyond tasty and sustainable coffee. Cafe Belay has the best climbing gear selection in the area and is a great place to stock up on anything you may be missing for your next climbing trip. Our Climbing Inventory has what you need to crush those boulders, bolts, and cracks.

Our chai, inspired by the many delicious cups enjoyed by the founder while traveling India, is made fresh in-house from organic Assam black tea and spices crushed by mortar and pestle. We also prepare small batches of naturally carbonated organic kombucha to keep you feeling refreshed and healthy with the help of our bacteria friends. The Menu is tailored to those dietary restricted folks out there with baked goods, a breakfast burrito, and hearty salad packed full of healthy and yummy ingredients that you can actually eat for once.

The Founder

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Spencer moved to Seattle while finishing up his bachelor of science in search of beautiful nature and a job in the tech industry. After running out of savings while looking for opportunities in the saturated Seattle tech market of 2014, he started working as a barista and bike messenger to pay rent.

Learning about coffee origins, flavor profiles, and the global industry at large had awoken an unexpected passion. Exploring the world through coffee origins, crafting delicious drinks, and getting to know the community was rewarding, but not financially unfortunately. Luckily, during one of his bike messenger shifts he delivered lunch to a manager at a tech company that ended up offering him a job.

After a dedicated 8 year engineering career mixed with a few long breaks spent backpacking and climbing around the world, he finally had enough savings and experience to return to the coffee passion and manifest Cafe Belay. His days are now spent mastering the roasting craft, climbing rocks, and searching for the worlds most delicious and sustainable coffee for you to enjoy.