Semplice Cafe opened their doors on Breck’s Main Street just a few months ago at the beginning of January. Their menu is full of grab and go, clean eating food with lots of vegan and vegetarian options, and some carnivore choices as well. We have had so much fun working with Michelle and Jamie these past five months and wanted to share a little more about these guys, what inspired them to open Semplice, and what brought them to Breck in the first place!

What’s your name, what do you do? Tell us about yourself.

Michelle: “Michelle, co owner of Semplice. From Connecticut. Moved to Denver in 2009 and then to Breck in 2016. We were getting ready to move from Denver, I am not a city girl, I’m from a small town in Connecticut. A friend opened the Canteen and needed help. I am the General Manager at the Canteen as well.”

Jamie: “Jamie, co-owner of Semplice with Michelle. I was born in Philly and have spent the past 10 years in Breck. I moved here for mountain biking.”

Favorite thing to do in Breck?

Michelle: “Trail run.”

Jamie: “Mountain bike in the summer, snowboard in the winter.”

Favorite Trail?

Michelle: “Peaks Trail and Flume Trails.”

Jamie: “Bakers Tank to Aspen Alley and Side Door.”

What made you want to open Semplice?

Michelle: “Jamie and I met across the street at the Canteen, he was bartending and I was managing. I’ve been vegan for seven years, vegetarian for five before that. Jamie is pescatarian. Denver was developing a decent food scene, and Breck was behind, we couldn’t find anywhere to eat. Piante is my favorite, but we wanted to fuel ourselves with good clean food that allowed us to get out and run 5 more miles.”

Jamie: “Michelle is vegan, I’m pescatarian. We wanted a place for grab-and-go options with a cup of coffee. We both lived across the street and we were always looking for options.”

What’s the worst part about opening a coffee shop?

Michelle & Jamie: You never get to drink your hot cup of coffee, it’s always cold because you’re busy doing other things and forget about it.

What do you miss most about ‘normal’ (life pre-COVID-19)?

Jamie: “I miss having people come in and check out the shop and interacting with people. I miss not having to bend down and talk through a window.”

Michelle: “Getting to interact with guests. Now, you’re talking through a window, customers can’t stay long, they can’t hang out to chat and we don’t get to see where they’re coming from. Personally, I have a three year old and four month old at home. The three year old can't go on the swing set, can’t go to friends’ houses. I miss doing things with my kids that they really want to do. I mean, they like hiking, but eventually are like, 'okay, where’s the slide at?’”

How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? How many days a week?

Michelle: 2-3 cups everyday.

Jamie: 2 cups everyday. 

Why do you need coffee?

Michelle: “Why not? I have always drank coffee and I don’t want to say it’s a vice, but I love it. I love the taste, the smell, makes your soul feel warm, plus the caffeine, I love it all.'“

Jamie: “Gets all the ‘gears’ going. The brain, the body. I started off as an earl grey tea guy and switched over to coffee 20 years ago when my girlfriend introduced me. She was a barista.”

Favorite activity to drink coffee while doing?

Michelle: “Camping while the sun is rising.”

Jamie: “Camping. I love waking up in the morning, and my girlfriend crawls down to make a french press and hands me a cup while I am still in the tent. I lean up to check out the view and then sip my coffee.”

Name best duo: Coffee + ______

Michelle: “The sound of the ocean.”

Jamie: “Everything bagel and cream cheese.”