What makes Golden so golden? You'll hear the answer again and again: the people. These are the folks whose dreams and doings give Golden its spirit. In this series you'll get the long & short of it, a glimpse into the people who've created the places that you come to visit. 

Our next feature: The Wandering Fern Cafe

Tropical Espresso

Credit: Dave Best

If you’d like a space to kick back for a while and sip a delicious coffee, the Wandering Fern should be on your list. This spacious and airy cafe is a perfect hang-out place to take a minute and catch your breath mid-trip. Inspired by the tropical cafe culture of Australia, owner and founder, Jamie Froats, crafted a space for maximum relaxation.

Leading up to 2019, Jamie launched her clever brainchild, the Wandering Fern, a mobile espresso bar. Cruising around Golden with her truck and trailer, she could sling high-quality coffee at different public events, like farmer’s markets, live music, and weddings. Now, 3 years later, she’s transformed the Wandering Fern into a sturdy, brick-and-mortar shop with the same vintage vibes and delicious espresso.

The Wandering Fern Mobile Cafe

Credit: Dave Best

“I wanted to create somewhere that I would want to spend a lot of time at”, she says, speaking to the relaxed atmosphere of the room, “I love to see people come in and hang out on this couch and have coffee dates.”

The Wandering Fern storefront started to take shape in the summer of 2022 and Jamie opened her doors a few months later. Green walls are hung with black and white photographs, and the wood features bring a warm, spacious feeling to the room. The greenery of a living plant wall feels refreshing and lively when you walk into the cafe. 

The Wandering Fern’s philosophy extends beyond just a welcoming atmosphere. Sustainability and ethical ingredients are also at the forefront of Jamie's mind. As well as partnerships with other local business owners. The plant wall, for example, is a collaboration between the Wandering Fern and its neighbor from down the road, Golden Floral Co. These types of partnerships can be seen across her shop. The candles and teas on her shelves come from other female-business owners. The coffee is sourced from Columbia and is part of a female-producers program, a co-op that supports women and their family farms in Columbia.

Golden is full of businesses owned and operated by women, especially along the main street of downtown where the Wandering Fern is. "There's a lot of women supporting women, everyone works together and it's super great. It's really cool to see," she says.

The menu sports delicious and creative breakfasts, like avocado toast (pro tip: add halloumi) and berry toast. Alternatively, dig into a hearty organic oat bowl with . And the coffee is crafted like a work of art. Order a steaming Americano or a delicious Chai Latte, or try one of the specialty drinks that The Wandering Fern is constantly crafting. Add flavor with a shot of small-batch hand-crafted syrup, like the lavender latte.

Kick back, relax, and take in downtown Golden.