Brews and birds: Nonprofit animal rescue opens coffee shop

Sanctuary Coffee, which opened in March, supports Colorado Springs’ only avian and aquatic sanctuary, Fins and Feathers. The rescue cares for and adopts out owner-surrendered pet birds and freshwater fish and can now sustain its goal even better with this new addition.
Courtesy of Sanctuary Coffee
A new coffee shop in the Springs is serving up blends and brews with one mission: to benefit birds.
Sanctuary Coffee, which opened in March, supports Colorado Springs’ only avian and aquatic sanctuary, Fins and Feathers. The rescue cares for and adopts out owner-surrendered pet birds and freshwater fish and can now sustain its goal even better with this new addition.
Proceeds made from the coffee stall, which is on the same lot as the rescue, goes to fund Fins and Feathers, said cafe manager Angelina Easom. Easom is the daughter-in-law of sanctuary founders Gabe and Roxann Cooper, who started the rescue in 2014.
The drive-thru offers several types of customizable drinks, including coffee, Red Bull blends and teas, as well as an assortment of breakfast foods. The drinks are named after the sanctuary’s birds, Easom said, like “Rocky,” a popular chocolate milk latte, and “Archie,” a Red Bull drink with coconut and blue raspberry flavors.
Several patrons will bring their pets with them to get coffee, which is always a highlight, Easom said.
“We even have people who will bring their birds through the drive-thru. So that’s really cool to see,” Easom said.