Storyteller and Jackrabbit Java

Coffee house, bookstore, and gift shop in one downtown Thermopolis building. Storyteller pairs with Jackrabbit Java for the on-site roasting, and the combined operation makes it one of the more genuinely interesting stops in this part of Wyoming, which doesn't have many of them.

The building is old and cozy. You can browse books and gifts (Legos included, which is an unexpectedly delightful detail you don't usually find at a coffee shop) while waiting for your drink, and the browsing is part of the experience rather than a stalling tactic. Friendly small-town atmosphere where regulars get their usuals remembered without having to order. Seating is on the limited side, which is the main constraint on long stays and the reason this works better as a stop than a destination.

The Super coffee is the move: drip with an added espresso shot, simple and effective and named with the kind of small-town directness that the rest of the menu shares. The soy dirty spiced chai is the named alternative for anyone avoiding straight coffee, and the dirty chai in general is what regulars order without thinking. A scone alongside is the right pastry call. The veggie breakfast burrito is a real breakfast and the right order if you're driving cross-country and won't see another decent meal for hours. Lattes do what they should.

For travelers crossing Wyoming on US-20, this is the kind of stop that turns a coffee break into something memorable rather than another gas-station refuel. For locals, the place functions as a community living room with caffeine and a small books selection. The on-site Jackrabbit roasting elevates the coffee program past what a town this size usually supports.

Short laptop sessions work fine. Don't expect to camp here all day. Seating doesn't allow it and the room isn't built for that kind of use anyway. Browse the books on the way out.