'Cult classic' white espresso among new offerings as Blackbox Cafe reopens with new owners

The wildly popular smooth white espresso caramel coffee drinks known as the "Hot Matt" and the "Cold Matt" are among the original drink and food items served up by the new owners of the Blackbox Cafe, 1437 Court St.

The cafe first opened in 2021 inside a transformed 1968 gas station and just reopened Monday under new owners Elizabeth Harmes and her fiancé Matt Russell. Russell is a retired Colorado State firefighter and Harmes runs an information technology company, teaches classes at Pueblo Corporate College and has worked tirelessly as an advocate for people with disabilities through her Special Needs Community Connections nonprofit.

Harmes said she spent a lot of time in Pueblo coffee shops getting work done while on the move for her various commitments.

"I missed out when the Blackbox sold a year ago, but I stumbled upon it one day when I stopped in and saw a for sale sign," she said.

"It's been a challenge for us to start new careers and get it going. I've taken a bit of a break from my other work, but I am going to converge everything here at the cafe."

The 'cult favorite' drinks and food

Part of the challenge for the new cafe owners was a water problem that caused them to close temporarily for repair work, but when it reopened Monday, the fans of the "Matt" coffee drinks, named for Russell, were ready to get their fix.

"They are a cult favorite around here," Harmes said with a laugh. "They are made with a white espresso coffee, which is really smooth and tastes different."

The Hot Matt features caramel and pecan, while the Cold Matt is an iced latte with caramel and chocolate.

The couple completely revamped both the drink and food menus. So far, customer favorites include the pecan scones and the white espresso scones, which Harmes bakes twice a day.

"They are gluten-free and it's been unbelievable to have such a positive response. Everyone has said they cannot tell the difference," Harmes explained.

With the goal of making the cafe inclusive, the menu has allergy-free options like gluten-free and peanut-free items, as well as other healthy options. The owners also have taken many of the classic Blackbox staples and transformed them.

"The caprese sandwich is another favorite. It has red pesto, tomatoes, and cheese melted on fresh, homemade bread and topped with arugula and a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle," Harmes said.

The flatbread pizza also features the popular red pesto.

Hiring employees with special needs

The Blackbox owners have hired two special needs residents to help them gain new life skills as they work alongside job-shadow assistants and join the same staff hired by the previous owner.

"We are working with the state to job-skill the special needs population and help them gain new life skills so they can work on their goal of being independent. They can start off washing dishes, doing food prep, and then move into customer-facing jobs like making coffee drinks," Harmes explained.

"It took a ton of community partnerships to help us get here. The job-shadow assistants help them with daily tasks with the goal of them eventually being able to perform the work without assistance, whether they go on to a different job or stay here and work," she said.

"People are ready for us to be open and they have been really nice. We just ask for patience and understanding so we can stay true to our vision."

Part of that vision will include hosting an inclusion garden and special needs bingo nights for local residents.

Russell has been busy refinishing floors and tables, redesigning the entire space, building benches, making shelves and even helping clean and do some plumbing work. The Purple Heart recipient also has been willing to taste test new recipes and taken the "Hot Matt" and "Cold Matt" jokes in stride, Harmes said.

The cafe's hours are 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday to accommodate customers on shift change from nearby UCHealth Parkview Medical Center. Those hours are extended from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday to take advantage of the "beautiful outdoor seating space," Harmes said.

To view the cafe's full food and coffee menus, visit theblackboxcafe.com.

More: Uncharted waters: Pueblo mom launches inclusive swim program for people with special needs

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Here's what's new at the Blackbox Cafe as it reopens with new owners