Arizona Coffee

Isn’t this an awesome idea for marketing coffee? It’s nearly as good as the trash can marketing that was done in New Zealand. A cup of Folgers coffee was printed on vinyl and placed on top of steaming New York City manhole covers. Holes cut out of the vinyl let steam rise through. Headline around cup reads “Hey, City That Never Sleeps. Wake up.” Great idea.

Via Coloribus

I ran across an article in the newspaper about Xtreme Bean. They were featured because of their music and entertainment variety. I didn’t know it but Xtreme Bean has music 4 nights a week. There is a growing trend among independent coffee houses to have music. I really like it.

Here’s a few quotes from the article:

Xtreme Bean hosts musical acts four nights a week. Artists set up in the coffee house’s limited space between the piano and a leather couch.

Owner Jack Wells, 74, bought Xtreme Bean about six years ago with his wife. His son runs the day-to-day operation.

Wells also performs there.

The Phoenix resident said he’s been playing piano off and on most of his life. He and friends entertain patrons each Monday night with ragtime tunes.

“Ragtime is making a resurgence,” Wells said. “Students hear it and they like it, but they don’t know it’s ragtime unless you tell them.”

From the ’70s until the early ’90s, the building was a bank. One of the current study rooms is a converted vault.

After that it became another coffee shop, which since has moved.

Outside there are an abundance of tables under a breezeway.

Beverly said Xtreme Bean in May will begin hosting an open-mike session Sundays where beginning artists can have their performances recorded on video or audio.

“It’s how a lot of people get started before they can get a gig,” Beverly said.

The shop is open 24 hours Fridays and Saturdays and closes at 11 p.m. during the week.

I’m at The Village Coffee Roastery (Via de Ventura / Hayden) listening to some conversation while I work. I have my headphones on but sometimes I secretly turn them off and listen to the people around me. They never know it. They’re talking about coffee and complaining about how the cost of coffee has increased lately.

I always come here when I want an amazing Chai Latte. I’m not sure what they put in them — the mix is delightful. The texture is creamy and light. Almost as if mixed with a bubble infusion. I’ve voted for their chai at times as the best in the valley. Right now I’d agree with my prior statement.

This coffee shop also roasts its own coffee beans and distributes to a variety of restaurants. They’ve got the roaster set up right in the coffee shop. It’s not the most romantic sight today. There are buckets, boxes, and leftover coffee bags sitting on the floor nearby. I have been here on Saturday’s when they roast coffee and it gets really smokey.

So give it a try next time you’re in Scottsdale. They have plenty of seating and on weekends they usually have someone to play tunes. Plus the free wifi doesn’t hurt which is what brought me here today.

It seems like 6 months ago that a friend told me about Copper Star Coffee. She said “it’s opening soon in an old converted gas station.” Well apparently it opened on Thursday. All I know about it is that it’s independently owned and the delay was due to paperwork of some kind.

Where it’s at: Seventh Avenue and Indian School Road.

If you go, let me know how you like it. I’ll be over in that direction one day this week so I’ll be sure to stop in.

I received an email from Rebecca Clark this morning letting me know about Three Roots Coffee House in Tempe.

I just recently came across your site–it’s always nice to find a new coffee addict! As a Seattle transplant and espresso snob, I’m always looking for new places to try out (Lux was a nice discovery about a year ago).

I have at least one addition to make to your database: 3 Roots Coffee, which is located next to the Mat Corner at 1020 S. Mill Ave. in the Tempe area. They have WiFi, artwork, some reasonably good espresso, and lots of nice snacks.

Thanks Rebecca!

Phoenix New Times wrote a brief review two years ago and even an announcement when they opened in 2003.

Three Roots Coffee House
1020 South Mill Avenue, Tempe
(480) 966-4949
Directions: It’s just south of 10th Street on the west side of Mill Ave.

I ran across an odd article in the newspaper recently. The headline is New ‘Sopranos’ cigar line is on fire — What cought my eye though was that the owner is serving coffee and its become somewhat of a sensation (at least, the article makes me think that). Brazillian coffee to be exact. What’s fascinating is that a lot of coffee’s come from Brazil, and when you think about it there’s really nothing too exotic about that. Even so, the owner has managed to create a story out of that and kudo’s to him. I’m not a cigar guy — so I’ll pass on this one.

Here are a few quotes from the article:

Balcer spared no cost in designing his Brazilian-themed lounge.

The floor and counters are built around hand-cut Brazilian stone. With Sinatra or Cuban jazz playing in the background, customers sit around a central kitchen where they can sip a Brazilian espresso while puffing on one of 40,000 cigars Balcer has in stock.

Balcer’s coffee is a story in itself.

His hand-made Brazilian coffeemaker, which costs about the same as a small Mercedes, has a computer that allows pinpoint control of brewing to reduce acidity and increase flavor.

“Starbucks is (nothing) compared to this,” Balcer said.

Brazilian coffee is served because it has a rich, dark-chocolate taste that brings the palate to life just before smoking a cigar, he said. Balcer also offers ports and brandy.

Balcer has been surprised by the across-the-board demographics of his customers. He expected to attract older men who have moved from the East Coast. He did not anticipate the number of 20-somethings and women who enjoy a cigar and espresso.

Wired Magazine had an article last year about how a company out of Seattle built a hugely popular software application entirely at a coffee shop. The software developers worked for seven months out of Zoka coffee shop.

It is interesting from the perspective of the coffee shop owners. It’s gained them a little bit of publicity and of course the software developers bought coffee.

Here are some quotes from the article. If you’re curious, the software they made is called Delicious Monster (for the Mac) and it helps people organize books, DVDs, games, and other things.

“It’s cheap rent and a fun environment,” said Matas. “We go down there every day with our laptops and work. It’s an incredible place. They have two or three of the top baristas in the country (the awards are on the wall). We pay our rent by buying coffee…. They love us. We’re some of their best customers.”

As well as creamy lattes, the coffee shop offers wireless internet access and big, bench-like tables that several people can gather around. Often, Delicious Monster’s entire seven-person staff will work there.

“When we started, there was just two of us working in an office we set up in Wil’s house,” Matas said. “It lasted a week. When there’s just two of you, you can’t stay in one room all day.”

The coffee house is full of students and several other programmers, most of whom are contractors. Its collegiate atmosphere provides inspiration, not distraction. “It’s like a big library,” Matas said. “We don’t people-watch. We work. We work eight hours a day.”

“Zoka is pretty much their office,” said Reid Hickman, a Zoka barista. “It’s a pretty good deal. They hang out here all day and they often get lunch and dinner here. They take good care of us.”

Matas and Shipley launched the company last year. Living on savings and fueled by coffee, they banged out the software in seven months.

I heard about a useful business practice at Caribou Coffee. Everyone talked about good service, but everyone had a different idea about what it meant. To solve the problem, Caribou took video footage of exemplary service and distributed it to all their baristas.

I ran across the Gorilla Coffee web site last night and just had to share it with you. Check out the amazing design for this site. Such detail in the design. Now this is a web site! Imagine the possibilities. This web site has likely transformed this coffee house. Oh, it’s in Brooklyn, NY and the site says they serve Fair Trade Coffee 101% of the time. Don’t miss the cool t-shirt while you’re there.

The advent of wireless internet in U.S. coffee houses really sparked the work-from-coffee-shop movement. People wouldn’t be working from coffee shops nearly as much without Wi-Fi. I know a number of people that work from coffee shops (either daily or once or twice a week).

So what is it about working out of a coffee shop that appeals to so many? It is the buzz of coffee shop charm and the endless stream of new people to watch. Some might say it’s about creating restraints. Some might say it’s about getting away from people at the office. Others might say it’s because they like it.

A few weeks ago the Tucson Citizen had a writeup about people who work from the coffee shop. It’s worth a read.

I’ve never been out to Verrado but from this article it sounds like a potential hot spot for a coffee shop.

Verrado does have a smoothie shop and the Raven Grill up the street. Lang says she would like to see a coffee shop next.

Grazie’s owners, Maurizio and Sandi Cristiani, were attracted to the southwest Valley for its high growth rate. The pair also liked the lifestyle in Verrado.

The community bills itself as a “hometown” and centers on a pedestrian-friendly Main Street.

Eloy gets its first Starbucks. I wonder if there are any independent coffee houses in or near Eloy?

Maricopa, Florence, Apache Junction, Casa Grande and Coolidge are getting all the attention because of their expected growth. But it’s Eloy that will lay claim to Pinal County’s first stand-alone Starbucks. The 2,000-square-foot drive-through shop is expected to open this fall along Interstate 10 at Sunland Gin Road near the Interstate 8 interchange.

“It’s far away from the downtown part of Eloy,” Ma said. “It’s almost 10 miles away. It’s really not going to affect local people. It’s more for the freeway traffic.”

Arizona has 238 Starbucks locations. Pinal County’s only other location is at the Safeway in Casa Grande. Of the state’s 32 drive-through Starbucks, seven are outside of Maricopa or Pima counties.

Here’s a neat photo set I found with details on how to roast a small batch of green coffee at home. Anyone want to comment on his process?

This is a story I wrote back in October:

Down the street at La Grande Orange grocery store they have these wonderful Spanish Latte’s that I love to get however I have one slight dilemma when I order my drink…

“What’s your name?”

“Chris”

“Last initial?”

“T”

Several minutes go by as I wait for my drink to be prepared and then I hear it.

“Spanish Latte for Chris T.”

Except instead of sounding like it should, the words blend together. So it sounds like a drink for Christy. As far as I know I’m the only name that has this type of problem. Drives me nuts.

So what did I do to resolve this problem? I started using different last initials. Like I’d say “M” or “W” or “P” and that would solve the problem.

Until…

I walk in last week and I order a Spanish Latte and apparently I’ve ordered from this woman before and she’s learned my name.

Yeah, you guessed it.

She says “It’s Chris, right? Chris M., or W??”

Not much you can say than “Um, yeah, M” and that’s the end of the story.

I suppose it’s not half as bad as the day I ordered coffee with shaving cream all over my face. Yeah, I’ll have to tell that story again sometime.

I received an email from Mike (thanks!) about Coffee Talk. He wrote to let me know that Coffee Talk is under new ownership in the past few months. He says they have free wi-fi and a great lineup of music (including jazz sunday mornings from 10:30 to 12:30).

Sounds good and looks like a nice place to chill out on a Sunday morning!

Coffee Talk
48 N. Robson Street
Mesa, AZ 85201
(480) 844-2353