Inside the redesigned Pigtrain Coffee shop at Union Station in Denver. All images courtesy of Pigtrain Coffee Co.
It’s full steam ahead for Pigtrain Coffee Co., which reopened this month after an extensive renovation inside the historic Denver Union Station.
Following a six-month closure, Pigtrain resumed cafe operations alongside neighboring Milkbox Ice Creamery. Both shops received a full-scale makeover led by Denver-based multidisciplinary firm BOSS.architecture, with improved visibility and movement between the shops through wider window and door portals.
Pigtrain’s warm “dusty mauve” walls and lush suspended planters now pop against Milkbox’s vibrantly chilly “waterfall” blue. Handmade clay zellige tiles line Pigtrain’s new horseshoe-shaped bar and the wall behind it, above which hangs an updated menu board listing espresso drinks, pourovers and specialty beverages such as horchata latte and seasonal pumpkin spice.
On the walls of the 875-square-foot coffee shop, new picture-frame wainscoting and trims enliven the upper reaches, connecting its modern identity to the station’s historic character. Three-dimensional pyramid panels add geometric playfulness.
Meanwhile, the shop’s revamped layout improves flow and includes a standing-height counter that serves as an island where guests can linger. The redesign better connects the businesses to each other and to the station’s great hall.
“Our goal was to create fresh spaces that were connected to each other and rooted in community, using color as the bold aesthetic driver paired with modern yet historic overlaps,” BOSS.architecture Founding Partner Chris Davis told Daily Coffee News.
Pigtrain Coffee originally opened in 2014 as part of a $54 million revitalization of Denver Union Station, a downtown Denver landmark that continues to operate as a transportation hub and hotel/dining destination.
Named for the trains that carry truck trailers on flatbed rail cars, Pigtrain was created and is managed by local real estate and investment firm City Street Investors. For the past 10 years, the coffee program has leaned on roasts by Boulder-based Conscious Coffees.
A Synesso 3-group espresso machine and batch brewing equipment survived the remodel, while a new pourover station featuring Goat Story Gina brewers elevates the single-cup experience.
“The Gina units make a truly exceptional cup,” Denver Union Station Food & Beverage Director John-Mark Larter told DCN. “We are determined to earn the reputation of the best craft coffee house in downtown Denver and to continue to serve delicious food and drinks to the thousands of customers who pass through Denver Union Station daily.”
Pigtrain Coffee is located at 1701 Wynkoop St. inside Denver Union Station in Denver.
Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here. For all the latest coffee industry news, subscribe to the DCN newsletter.
Related Posts
None found
Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
Comment