On Saturday, October 24, Matthew and I visited Alpha Coffee at 7260 Racquet Club Drive in Cottonwood Heights, just near the entrance to Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is the kind of location that makes a coffee stop feel like part of the outing rather than a detour: the canyon is right there, and the windows along the north and east sides make the most of it. For skiers headed to the resorts, it is also a practical place to pick up coffee immediately before going up the canyon.
Alpha Coffee is a veteran- and family-owned coffee company that roasts its own coffee and supports veterans. The shop offers coffee from a variety of origins, giving its menu a little more range than a standard neighborhood stop. There are two Alpha Coffee locations; this review covers the Cottonwood Heights shop.
The view is the shop’s calling card. From inside, the canyon entrance is close at hand, while the Wasatch Mine is visible to the north. It is a striking setting, with the mountains and the mine’s history of silver, gold, copper, and lead adding an unexpectedly industrial edge to a coffee-shop view.
This is a popular shop, and on our visit it was busy from beginning to end. There was a steady stream of customers and at least five people in line to order for most of the time we were there. The room has plenty of seating in theory, but it felt packed in practice. The hard wooden chairs are fine for a short stop, though not especially comfortable after you have been there a while.
Parking was the other challenge. Alpha has two lots, one on either side of the building, but both were full when we arrived. We ended up parking some distance down the street. The baristas appeared to be trying to manage a heavy rush with too few people, and service felt hurried as a result. Free Wi-Fi was solid, however, measuring about 99 Mbps down—good enough for working if you can find a seat.
I ordered a flat white, served in a ceramic mug. I was not asked to choose a milk, so I cannot say what was used. It came without latte art and tasted distinctly milky; the milk-to-espresso balance leaned more toward milk than I prefer in a flat white.
My flat white rating is 4/10. It was drinkable and comforting, but the espresso did not get enough room to come through.
Matthew ordered the Aztec and was satisfied with it. For me, the best part of the visit was the variety of people passing through—a lively mix of canyon-bound visitors, regulars, and people settling in with a drink. The long line was the obvious downside, but it also says something about the shop’s popularity.
The pastries looked appealing, and I appreciated that they were kept covered rather than left exposed to flies. That is a small detail, but it matters. With the views, friendly energy, and broad coffee selection, Alpha Coffee is a place I would return to and recommend—especially if you are heading into the canyon and can arrive before the parking fills up. I also want to come back to try one of the signature drinks, particularly the Nitro Cold Brew, which combines cold brew coffee with Guinness beer.
Alpha Coffee
7260 Racquet Club Dr.
Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
alpha.coffee
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