ALAMOSA — Patrons to Milagros Coffee House in Alamosa are now greeted by a large mural covering most of the back interior wall, which celebrates the welcoming values of the popular spot.  

Artist Caroline Kaiser shared that the mural's journey began a few years ago when the manager, Shanise (Shay) Kindsfather, expressed a desire for art that would underscore the bond between Milagros and its owner, La Puente. Current coffeehouse manager Liam Taylor and Kaiser collaborated on the mural design, incorporating symbols that pay tribute to the diverse values of Milagros, a process influenced by the community's input and feedback. 

She continued, "The motto of Milagros is, 'Drink Coffee, Love Others,' so we wanted to highlight that. Milagros has a twofold mission; it functions as a coffee shop, providing great customer service, a fun atmosphere, and offering organic coffee sourced from Solar Coffee in Pueblo. The love others component is how we do that, how we serve that coffee. Milagros is open to the public, even non-paying customers. That is one way the coffee house tries to embody La Puente's values of being an open door to anyone in the community, regardless of socio-economic status or housing status. 

"Milagros has been a great community resource, not just for coffee drinkers, but for people who just want to chill or get on the internet, or use the restroom. Some of the images on the mural speak to that. The sandhill crane is raising awareness. This addresses the mission of Milagros by sharing resources for community members to access. 

"In the mural, the hands together represent the pay it forward program, where any paying customer can tell a barista they want to add additional funds to their bill for the program. This way, anyone who comes in has access to a beverage or food item. This is a program we really want to highlight."  

The notion of paying it forward is simple: share kindness. "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give," sums up the philosophy of the program in this anonymous quote. 

"Artistically, I was inspired by an old Milagros t-shirt with the hands together. The difference is that in the old image, it was very clear who the giver was and who was in need. With Shay and Liam, we wanted to show that on one day, I may be the person giving, and maybe on the next day, I need to receive. This is more reciprocal. Liam was very adamant that we use a coffee mug in the mural to show that Milagros is a welcoming space, not just a quick handout and go do your thing. We want to communicate; here is a free coffee, and we want you to stay and be a part of this community, according to Kaiser." 

The mural is on a blackboard Kaiser created by painting an MDF board with chalkboard paint. Using dust-free chalk, Kaiser and her mother, Gina Louise, drew the mural and sealed it. The sealing process required several applications of chalk and drawing over a previous image, followed by resealing. The mural includes several Valley icons, including a sandhill crane, the Great Sand Dunes, and a potato flower. 

"From conception to completion, this probably took about a year and a half ago. A year ago, the design concept was finalized. The mural was completed about two months ago and installed in mid-July. Kaiser added, "The drawing of the mural was just me and my mom."  

Kaiser is a self-taught artist and the Director of Communication and Engagement at La Puente. Her mother and co-artist, Gina Louise, has had a career as a graphic designer. 

While admiring the mural, patrons can imbibe the excellent coffee at Milagros, which is sourced from Solar Roast Coffee in Pueblo, the world's only commercial solar-powered coffee roaster.  

There is a wide assortment of breakfast foods, and the breakfast burritos are excellent. On a recent visit, a burrito with fresh avocado, peppers, onions, and tomatoes was a delicious bargain at $8. 

Milagros Coffee House is located at 529 Main Street in Alamosa and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Milagros invites the public to visit, enjoy excellent coffee, and experience the warmth and community spirit that the new mural embodies.