If you find yourself awake for that dreaded 8 a.m. class — or if you never went to bed in the first place — consider visiting the brand-new addition to Colorado Springs’ breakfast scene: Jeff’s Bagel Run.
Jeff’s Bagel Run held its grand opening on Feb. 27. It offers a variety of bagels and spreads, including vegan options, as well as a sizable menu of fun coffees and drinks.
Jeff’s Bagel Run is located 15 minutes away from campus. They are open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For those planning to go during the breakfast rush, be warned — Jeff’s boasts very limited indoor seating, so depending on the crowd, breakfast might be to-go.
With bagels and spreads only costing $2.25 each, Jeff’s Bagel Run isn’t likely to hurt your pocketbook the way breakfast spots like Einstein Bros. and Urban Egg would. We paid $24 for two bagels, two side spreads and two specialty drinks.
Jeff’s main selling point is its boiled, never toasted bagels. This method gives the bagels a soft, airy texture. All of the bagels are baked fresh throughout the day. Jeff’s also posts its bagel of the day menu on its website each week.
The sweet
For sweet breakfast lovers, try the blueberry bagel. This bagel struck the perfect balance between subtly sweet and bready, so I didn’t leave with a stomachache. I also ordered the banana pudding cream cheese spread on the side.
The banana pudding spread contained pieces of Nilla wafer, which heightened the banana flavor. Overall, a good time — but maybe with their cinnamon sugar or plain bagels. Together, the blueberry and banana flavors were competing.
The banana pudding cream cheese. Photo by Ava Knox.
On theme, I ordered the banana bread cold brew. While a good drink and suitably sweet for me, I found the cold brew to be fairly standard as far as specialty drinks go. The cinnamon in the drink did most of the heavy lifting, and I found the coffee itself to be a bit thin.
The next time I stop by, I’ve got my sights set on their cannoli and brown cinnamon sugar spreads. All part of a balanced breakfast, of course.
The savory
If you’re looking for something more savory, go with the sesame bagel. Essentially a plain bagel with sesame seeds, this one is pretty neutral and offers space for a more fun cream cheese. The seeds added a nice crunch and some extra protein, making this an excellent on-the-go breakfast — as long as you remember to wipe away the seeds that scatter with every bite.
I also ordered the vegan chive and onion spread, but don’t let the vegan title scare you away. It had the same consistency as dairy cream cheese, plus it is approved by a non-vegan. With pieces of fresh chives and onions, it added a subtle tang that paired nicely with the plainness of the bagel.
To contrast the savoriness, I ordered the lavender lemonade to drink. It’s hard to go wrong with one of these, but Jeff’s has it perfected. It was the ideal blend of sweet, tart, and refreshing; better yet, it only cost $4.
The banana bread cold brew and lavender lemonade. Photo by Ava Knox.
Despite the chaos that comes with working during a grand opening, the customer service was exceptional. The employees answered any potential questions we could have, plus gave a brief background on how both the bagels and spreads were prepared in-house.
In addition to their made-to-order menu items, Jeff’s Bagel Run also offers catering and delivery. They have a mobile app that allows customers to earn points toward a free bagel.
Our order from Jeff’s Bagel Run. Photo by Ava Knox.