Love Muffin: Where Baristas and Banditos Meet

Moab, Utah, outdoor adrenaline-junkie headquarters, is also home to a unique coffee shop called the Love Muffin Cafe.  And there is a lot of affection in the air from loyal locals and curious visitors who line up to get their daily fix by way of a Barista, a Bandito and a Breakfast Muffin.

According to a Moabite getting his morning coffee, the badass Bandito caricature that represents Love Muffin became the almighty muffin ambassador when thousands of banditos (like the Hells Angels) descended upon Moab one day.  Being afraid of the unknown, extra police were recruited; people stayed in their houses, locked their doors in fear that the big bad bikers would terrorize the town.  The banditos’ visit turned out to be as harmful as grandma stopping by, but it made a lasting impression.

Thus the motto was born, “Not too tuff for the muff.”

And Love Muffin’s espresso drinks, baked goods and green chile burritos are something to melt even the coldest of hearts.  Since I’d eaten bacon at least twice daily in Moab, the Breakfast Muffin was the simple choice out of a gorgeous display of banana, raspberry, and raisin be-speckled baked goodness. The Breakfast Muffin is like eating blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon in one glorious bite.

After asking bartenders to off-road Hummer drivers to massage therapists about what their favorite breakfast place in Moab was, Love Muffin always was the ‘muffin top’ of the list, followed by EklecticCafe and Jailhouse Café.

It got my vote in four categories:

Moab’s Best Espresso Drink

Most Creative Bacon Breakfast Item

Most Entertaining Mascot/Logo

Best Place to Mingle with Locals in the Morning

Next time you visit Moab, Utah to take in the Delicate Arch or go jeep crawling in Hell’s Revenge, stop in to get a bandito-mean cup of Joe paired with a amorous muffin at Love Muffin.

Love Muffin, 139 North Main Street, Moab, Utah. Open 7 am – 1 pm.

For more on the place John Wayne described as ‘Where God Put the West’, visit www.discovermoab.com

Photos by the author.

PhotosMoab,