Arizona Coffee

Here’s a cool poster for a cafe somewhere. I have no idea what it says.

A friend and I go get lunch and coffee frequently at Baja Fresh on the corner of Indian School and Scottsdale Rd. I say frequently but it isn’t frequently enough. Today we did it for the first time in months. Anyways, we always eat lunch and then get coffee at Starbucks.

He orders a tall cappuccino (dry and without any milk, just foam). I usually get a Caramel Machiato or a cappuccino (that’s what I got today). Then we sit and talk, and watch the intersection.

So far just sitting there on occasion we’ve seen I think 3 car accidents, one car meets bicyclist accident, and today as we sat down they were cleaning up after another car accident. It must be the most accident prone intersection in Scottsdale. It’s a smart idea to bring your camera.

Anyways, the point of my post: We always ask for our drinks “for here” which is code for “please put it in a mug because we’re coffee enthusiasts and its always better in a mug – thanks.”

Do you ask for your coffee in a mug? And, do you ever give the barista a fake name just to hear them say it?

There are a lot of coffee houses in Phoenix and around Arizona that actually roast their own coffee beans. The coffee is always fresher and better at these places.

Where do you go to get fresh roasted coffee and what makes it unique?

Some that I know of include Cave Creek Coffee Company, The Village Cofee Roastery, Cafe Cortez (someone called today and I asked about a company with a similar name, this might be it), then there’s Rocket Coffee which I’ve not experienced. There must be a hundred more in the valley alone. Anyone? One in Flagstaff: Late for the Train (best web site of the bunch, too).

I’m sorry I lost your phone number otherwise I would have called you back. In your message you asked about coffee shop venues that might be appropriate for a group gathering and that would allow singing. Sounds like the group might be around 30 people. That’s a difficult question but Dr. Coffee is here to answer. At least we’re going to try…

Dr. Coffee says: Try calling Cave Creek Coffee Company, while not in Scottsdale, they have a large enough location that they may be able to support your request. They have a large building and the back patio has seating and room for music events. You’ll want to call ahead and ask. I’m simply recommending them based on the size of their facility. Not many Scottsdale venue’s could support a group of this size. Mama Java’s might on a slow night but it’s doubtful. You should look at The Coffee Plantation on 24th St. & Camelback Rd. It’s in the Biltmore Shopping Center and has a lot of outdoor seating. Depending on the time of day you might have enough space.

Why does Starbucks keep opening stores when they are seemingly everywhere? Read the annual report [PDF] from Starbucks and find out what they say. Also, check out the cool info graphic below from the report.