ditzl  ·  eats  ·  Albuquerque
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. 2013 Guest espresso $2.50 Green chile burrito $7 Shares a courtyard with Sidetrack Brewing Same owner, both Visited 30 Aug 2026

What it looks like

Eleven photographs, taken between 7:21 and 8:32 in the morning.

Interior: white painted brick, white exposed roof joists, string lights, pendant lamps, long communal wooden tables, local paintings on the wall, 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.
An Americano in a white Zendo Coffee mug printed with a Z, 2013, Albuquerque New Mexico, beside a marigold in a glass vase on a wooden table.
The Americano. Coffee poured over the oat milk, not under it — the barista was clear this is the only correct way.
The 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 lattes including Zia, Aztec, Golden and Turkish 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.
Food menu board: Sister Bar Burritos, green chile burrito with eggs, tater tots and shredded cheese for 7 dollars; red chile vegan burrito 7 dollars; Sunday bagels 5 dollars; assorted pastries.
Sister Bar Burritos. Green chile with eggs and tater tots, $7. Sunday bagels — rosemary olive oil is marked new.
A shared courtyard between two businesses: the Sidetrack Brewing door on the left, the Zendo door on the right, with 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.
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.
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.
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.

The barista wrote down the city

The barista handed over two sticky notes. This is the pulse of a city, in a stranger's handwriting.

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.

The barista’s Albuquerque

Transport
  • ART bus system
Food
  • 505 Food Hall
  • Duran’s Pharmacy
  • The Shop ★
  • Tiny Grocer — Old Town
Sights
  • Old Town
  • Tingley Beach / the Bosque
  • Albuquerque Museum
A second handwritten sticky note reading: Safe travels, with a smiley face, signed by the barista.
“Safe travels :) — the barista”

Tom’s write-up

Unedited, in his words.

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
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