Sanchez opened The Drip Café in 2023 after launching “Project Revive,” a Christian discipleship-based reentry program that provides housing, employment assistance, addiction recovery, and other vital services for homeless individuals. The café functions both as a traditional coffee shop and a workplace for those who have completed the recovery program.

Café With a Mission Faces Early Opposition

Even prior to its grand opening, the café attracted criticism online. Social media users accused it of promoting anti-LGBTQ views due to a doctrinal statement on the affiliated ministry’s website describing homosexuality as sinful. That ministry, “Recycle God's Love,” was founded by Sanchez and his late wife Carolyn in 2012 and offers physical and spiritual support to the homeless population in Denver.

On opening day, a demonstration led by the Denver Communists formed outside The Drip Café. Protesters accused the business of aligning with a “right-wing church” and promoting hate. Sanchez said the hostility caught him off guard, especially given his primary goal of serving those in need through Christian compassion.

“It was really strange,” Sanchez said, noting he had never made hateful statements. “We started getting messages saying we hate gay people before we even opened. We found out the group was targeting us solely because we were Christian.”

Protests Continue Despite Outreach Efforts

Since the café's debut, demonstrations have persisted during art events on the first Friday of each month. Initially weekly, the protests now involve 10 to 20 people who gather with signs and slogans outside the shop. Sanchez has attempted to engage demonstrators in conversation, but said most choose to remain silent or yell at him and his customers.

Some of the incidents reported include protesters following elderly patrons into the café and shouting, as well as yelling at a blind Black Christian DJ performing outside the venue. Property damage has also occurred, with attackers spray-painting the building and breaking windows. Images of a hanged figure and stickers reading “Keep Santa Fe Gay” have appeared on the café’s exterior.

In response, the café began offering live worship music during the monthly art walks as an alternative to the surrounding protests. Sanchez said his faith teaches him to respond in love, even when met with hostility.

Ministry Aimed at Healing and Renewal

“Recycle God’s Love” was born out of Jamie and Carolyn Sanchez’s personal calling to serve unhoused individuals beginning with small Bible studies and meal programs. Over time, the ministry grew with the participation of local churches and volunteers, now delivering essentials such as food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual guidance.

Following his wife’s passing in 2018, Sanchez expanded the project by launching “Project Revive” in 2022. The program's goal is to help individuals find stable housing, obtain vital documents, access addiction services, and find meaningful work. Sanchez said several people have already completed the program and have been hired by The Drip Café.

“We've had a few people go through the project so far, and it’s been very successful,” Sanchez noted, emphasizing the transformation he has seen in participants' lives.

Activist Group Defends Protests as Advocacy

Representatives of the Denver Communists say their demonstrations are not against Christianity but against a specific theological interpretation that they claim causes harm to the LGBTQ community. They argue that their position finds support among progressive Christian denominations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

“Jamie and his bigoted coffee shop don’t have a monopoly on Christianity,” a spokesperson stated, accusing the café of profiting from exclusionary beliefs. Some Christian pastors have reportedly joined the protests, backing what the group characterizes as a broader campaign for queer rights.

The group also described the demonstrations as grassroots training for future LGBTQ advocates. They acknowledged they may not be able to end the café's lease but stated the effort is still valuable for building momentum within their movement.

Community Divided Over Faith and Inclusion

Sanchez strongly rejected claims of affiliation with hate groups, particularly in response to accusations that he or his café staff used slurs or had ties to neo-Nazi movements. “That’s very silly,” he said. “I’m a brown-skinned Hispanic, and I’ve only ever offered them free coffee and kindness.”

Despite these efforts, Sanchez said many protesters remain unmoved by his openness. “They’ve told me to kill myself, and my response has always been ‘I love you, and you’re welcome to come in peacefully.’”

He added that Christ’s message of hope is what continues to guide his actions and outreach. “I understand people may be feeling lost or hopeless,” Sanchez said. “I'm simply trying to share the way I believe they can find peace—through Jesus.”