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Zendo Coffee storefront: red brick, a hanging sign reading zendo coffee, tall windows and a wooden bench on the sidewalk.

Zendo Coffee

413 2nd Street SW · Barelas, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Est. 2013Desde 2013Desde 2013Guest espresso $2.50Espresso invitado $2.50Espresso convidado $2,50Green chile burrito $7Burrito de chile verde $7Burrito de chile verde $7Shares a courtyard with Sidetrack BrewingComparte patio con Sidetrack BrewingDivide o pátio com Sidetrack BrewingSame owner, bothMismo dueño, los dosMesmo dono, os doisVisited 30 Aug 2026Visitado 30 ago 2026Visitado 30 ago 2026

What it looks likeCómo se veComo é

Eight photographs, taken between 7:21 and 8:32 in the morning.Ocho fotografías, tomadas entre las 7:21 y las 8:32 de la mañana.Oito fotografias, tiradas entre 7h21 e 8h32 da manhã.

Interior: white painted brick, exposed white roof joists, string lights, long communal wooden tables, local paintings, menu boards behind a wooden counter.
White brick, exposed joists, string lights. Local work on every wall and long communal tables that put strangers elbow to elbow.Ladrillo blanco, vigas a la vista, guirnaldas de luces. Obra local en cada pared y mesas comunales largas que sientan juntos a desconocidos.Tijolo branco, vigas à vista, luzes penduradas. Arte local em todas as paredes e mesas comunitárias compridas que juntam estranhos.
An Americano in a white Zendo Coffee mug printed with a Z, 2013, Albuquerque New Mexico, beside a marigold in a glass vase.
The Americano. Coffee poured over the oat milk, not under it — the barista was clear this is the only correct way.El americano. El café vertido sobre la leche de avena, no debajo — el barista fue claro: es la única forma correcta.O americano. O café servido por cima do leite de aveia, não por baixo — o barista foi claro: é a única maneira certa.
Espresso menu board: guest espresso 2.50, macchiato 3.00, marocchino 2.75, cortado 3.75, cappuccino 3.50, flat white 4.50, latte 4.50, and Zia, Aztec, Golden and Turkish lattes at 5.25.
The board. Guest espresso rotates at $2.50. The Aztec latte is dark chocolate and cayenne; the Turkish is honey, cardamom, clove, nutmeg.La pizarra. El espresso invitado rota a $2.50. El latte azteca lleva chocolate negro y cayena; el turco, miel, cardamomo, clavo y nuez moscada.O quadro. O espresso convidado gira a $2,50. O latte asteca leva chocolate amargo e pimenta caiena; o turco, mel, cardamomo, cravo e noz-moscada.
Food menu: Sister Bar Burritos, green chile burrito with eggs, tater tots and shredded cheese 7 dollars; red chile vegan burrito 7 dollars; Sunday bagels 5 dollars.
Sister Bar Burritos. Green chile with eggs and tater tots, $7. Sunday bagels — rosemary olive oil is marked new.Burritos del bar hermano. Chile verde con huevo y papas, $7. Bagels los domingos — el de romero y aceite de oliva viene marcado como nuevo.Burritos do bar irmão. Chile verde com ovos e batata, $7. Bagels aos domingos — o de alecrim e azeite está marcado como novo.
A shared courtyard: the Sidetrack Brewing door on the left, the Zendo door on the right, a cart lettered ZENDO between them.
Two doors, one courtyard. Sidetrack Brewing on the left, Zendo on the right. One owner holds both — the sister bar on the food menu is next door.Dos puertas, un patio. Sidetrack Brewing a la izquierda, Zendo a la derecha. Un solo dueño para ambos — el bar hermano del menú está al lado.Duas portas, um pátio. Sidetrack Brewing à esquerda, Zendo à direita. Um único dono para os dois — o bar irmão do menu é ao lado.
Outdoor patio with picnic tables, string lights overhead, hanging plants, and a large mural of stylised mountains and sky.
Out back. A mural of mountains, picnic tables under string lights, and shade for when Albuquerque asks for it.El patio. Un mural de montañas, mesas de picnic bajo guirnaldas y sombra para cuando Albuquerque la pide.Nos fundos. Um mural de montanhas, mesas de piquenique sob luzes e sombra para quando Albuquerque pedir.
Three artworks on white painted brick: an adobe church form in ochre, a terracotta panel of curved lines, and a white tree on an orange ground.
The walls are a gallery. Adobe forms, a white tree on orange — labelled and priced, rotating like a show.Las paredes son una galería. Formas de adobe, un árbol blanco sobre naranja — con ficha y precio, rotando como una exposición.As paredes são uma galeria. Formas de adobe, uma árvore branca sobre laranja — com ficha e preço, rodando como uma exposição.
A restroom sign with two figures reading: WHATEVER, JUST WASH YOUR HANDS.
The restroom sign. “Whatever, just wash your hands.” The whole place in six words.El cartel del baño. «Lo que sea, solo lávate las manos». Todo el lugar en seis palabras.A placa do banheiro. “Tanto faz, só lave as mãos.” O lugar inteiro em seis palavras.

The barista wrote down the cityEl barista escribió la ciudadO barista escreveu a cidade

The barista handed over two sticky notes. This is the pulse of a city, in a stranger's handwriting.El barista entregó dos notas adhesivas. Este es el pulso de una ciudad, en la letra de un desconocido.O barista entregou dois bilhetes. Este é o pulso de uma cidade, na letra de um desconhecido.

A handwritten purple sticky note listing transport, food and sights recommendations for Albuquerque.
Handed over the counter, 30 August 2026. Transcribed beside it — the note is the record.Entregada sobre el mostrador, 30 de agosto de 2026. Transcrita al lado — la nota es el registro.Entregue no balcão, 30 de agosto de 2026. Transcrita ao lado — o bilhete é o registro.

The barista’s AlbuquerqueEl Albuquerque del baristaA Albuquerque do barista

TransportTransporteTransporte
  • ART bus system
FoodComidaComida
  • 505 Food Hall
  • Duran’s Pharmacy
  • The Shop ★
  • Tiny Grocer — Old Town
SightsLugaresPontos
  • Old Town
  • Tingley Beach / the Bosque
  • Albuquerque Museum

Tom’s write-upLo que escribió TomO que Tom escreveu

Unedited, in his words. Translations are of the labels around it, never of his account.Sin editar, en sus palabras. Las traducciones son de las etiquetas, nunca de su relato.Sem edição, nas palavras dele. As traduções são dos rótulos, nunca do relato.

I arrived in Albuquerque for my first visit, ever not knowing anything about the city, and I stumbled upon Zendo coffee. I was instantly greeted by the kind, helpful barista. Zendo coffee shares a building with sidetracked brewing company and is owned by one person. When I walked in to Zendo, the vibe told me that the universe had put me in the right place as you can see by the pictures. It has a very southwestern feel to it.

The staff at Zendo is second to none. You can tell that each of them love their jobs and the place seems to have a local cult following that is very obvious from the interchanges of communication. I had my 1st cup of coffee as an Americano, which the barista poured the coffee over the oat milk, which is the first time I’ve ever seen this done. Usually the milk is poured on top of the coffee. When I commented on his technique, he was quick to say this is the only way to do this correctly.

The Americano is a work of art just as the pieces hanging on the wall and the entire chic motif of this cute little coffee shop. And all of my travels I would rate this coffee shop definitely in the top three if not, my favorite the staff is incredible and the coffee follow suit.

— Tom Whittaker, in person, 30 August 2026
Directions →Cómo llegar →Como chegar →