Arizona Coffee

Thanks to “Silver Bear” for pointing out this news.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/1031ar-eatdrink1031.html

Café Zentro: Hsiu F. Pinder took over the former Monarch Coffee location on Aug. 4 and spruced it up with cozy sofas and artwork. She used to operate a coffee shop by the same name at Washington and 48th streets in Phoenix, but light-rail construction and rising rents prompted her to move.

She sells signature drinks such as a raspberry kiss and peanut butter cup as well as light fare that includes salads, wraps, croissant sandwiches, bagels and lox, and breakfast burritos.

The CoffeeBuzz: Carol and Dimitri Lazarescu of Ahwatukee bought this shop in early October from Andy and Tanya Held, also of Ahwatukee, who opened it in September 2005.

Andy wanted a career change; he is going to do photography and Web design. Tanya also co-owns Tilt Gallery in Phoenix and works full-time at South Mountain Community College. The Helds were on a first-name basis with many customers and hosted rotating art exhibits, many featuring area high school students.

The Lazarescus, who live a mile from the shop, will continue to host art exhibits. They had been shopping for a business to buy and looked at “everything from delis to tanning salons,” Carol Lazarescu said.

They figured this was a perfect fit because it blends their love of coffee and culture. Dimitri has been a violinist with the Phoenix Symphony for 25 years and plans to occasionally serenade customers.

I was browsing the Amazon.com Blog and stumbled upon a post about Dannon Coffee Yogurt. They describe it as “the perfect mix of sweetness with a mild coffee flavor.”

I don’t know, I’m not so convinced, and I won’t be rushing to buy any.

This sounds like a winning combination:

Janet van Winkle, who calls herself the “Soup Princess,” is renting space in Drip Coffee Lounge, offering a daily homemade organic soup.

What made her go from consulting to stirring big pots? Her admiring friends told her she should sell her soup.

The plan is to eventually open her own small place and offer a rotating list of lunchtime soups. Right now she’s looking downtown.

Among the soups in her repertoire are mixed bean with greens, tomato with chickpea, chicken soup with escarole and little meatballs, vegetarian lentil and beef barley. A bowl goes for $6.75, served with bread from Simply Bread.

Drip Coffee Lounge
2325 N. Seventh St.
Phoenix, AZ
Phone: (602) 363-2900
Website: www.dripcoffeelounge.com

Tom Pelino writes:

Chris –
I wanted to send you notification that Anna Bean’s Coffee & Gelato has opened Oct. 24th. I would love to have you stop over and take a look around (NE corner of 32nd St. & Union Hills).
Thanks,
Tom

The Tribune has done an article about Rich Aroma Coffee’s program to send coffee to the troops. It’s a rehash of the article I posted a link to last week, with some extra details and a photo.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/100723

The New Times reports that the Willow House is closing and apparently there is a live music farewell bash tonight.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2007/10/farewell_willow_house.php

I just got word that the Willow House, the popular McDowell coffeehouse hangout, will be closing on Sunday night, following a farewell bash with live music performances organized by DJentrification.

Then this was posted in the comments by Randall Denton:

I am the manager at Willow House and I just wanted to clear up a few things:

First of all, we aren’t closing, we are moving (most likely to 17th ave and Van Buren).

Second, the reason we are moving is because we just can’t afford the rent of this building anymore. We were faced with either moving or closing for good. We understand this building needs drastic renovation, but Paymen (the owner of the Willow House Building, NOT the owner of the Willow House Coffee Shop Business) is unwilling to put even a penny into this building, while he continues to raise our rent year after year. We want to stay here and we want to fix up the building so it looks nice and clean, but we’ve already invested over $20,000 over the past five year alone on top of rent. We just can’t afford to continue putting our own money into this place just so it doesn’t fall apart. It needs drastic work and we feel it is not our responsibility to provide all of the funds for such work. It is also our impression that Paymen is ready to sell this property and has made us an offer we couldn’t possibly accept with the intent of forcing us to relocate.

Third, say what you will about our barristas, clients, artists, or any other aspect of our shop, the fact is Phoenix loves the Willow House. We’re the longest running coffee shop in Phoenix, we’ve won tons of awards from various phoenix publications, and we have continued to increase our business despite the opening of both a similar deli (Zoe’s) and a corporate coffee shop (Starbuck’s) a block away from us.

Lastly, although moving is a really sad consequence of the gentrification of downtown Phoenix, we look forward to the change of location because all the possibilities it opens up. The new building has all the hook ups for a coffee roaster, so we’re talking right now about acquiring one of those. We are going to be getting ceramic for here cups. We’re talking about expanding our lunch menu and doing breakfast food now as well. We’re even talking about trying a trial run for staying open 24 hours after we get situated. Concerning us and our customers, I’d like to think that change is not all bad.

That’s what the photographer said to me a moment ago. So I’m doing my thing and posting a blog!

Update: Photographer left. I think he took 500 photos. Lux is REALLY the happening place at 8 am. They have a bunch of old records and they’re playing 80s techno music. This is where all of the cool people hang, apparently.

Some of my favorite blogs are listed, including Arizona Coffee. Check it out at readphoenix.com.

On Friday I’ll be at Lux for an hour starting at 8 am. It’s really casual (I’m getting my picture taken for the newspaper) and so I’ll just be hanging out there for an hour. If anybody wants to join me for an impromptu meetup, join me then.

Can’t make it that morning? Then I’ll also be at Coffee Plantation (24th St & Camelback) at 7 pm for the Viddler.com meetup.

Are their any coffee shops around town that have regular chess nights? I’d like to get back into the chess scene a little bit, but don’t want to be in a tournament quite yet.

Mona writes:

You need to add “The Grind” on Baseline and Stapley. They make the best soy lattes and cappucinos I’ve ever had. The foam is amazing! Free WiFI too and super comfy chairs. The decor is beautiful! They also have a drive thru.

This review was contributed by Joey Robert Parks:

So I’m there now. Nice and quite. I’m the only one here. Only open 2 weeks so that’s understandable. The environment is all Hawaii. The music (Beach Boys, Regaee, etc.) is okay, but I’ll probably burn out on it pretty quick. Wouldn’t you know it, I left my headphones at home. Damn. I need them, too, ’cause I need to transcribe an interview. I’m all set up, with the wireless humming, my espresso in it’s paper cup (’cause they don’t have “for here” cups.) Three outlets near three of five tables, so a few options where I can plug my in my laptop. Chairs are cushy, but the back is this ornate looking, carved palm-tree and I’m not sure it will hold up under 2-3 hours of sitting. We’ll see. The guy who works where right now, the manager, is real nice. Their muffins are made fresh here in the morning (from a lump of dough they get from somewhere else). I’m drinking an espresso now. It’s not bad. They use Kona (from Hawaii) for their espresso beans. They also have smoothies; I thought about getting one, but didn’t want to drop $3.75 for a small.

All that said, I’ll probably be back. If for no other reason than to have a change of pace and some people who don’t know me. I love the whole “where everybody knows your name” feeling I get from Lux and Mama Java, but it’s not too helpful when I really need to get some work done and I’m chatting with all my coffee-friends.

There you have it. An impromptu, no-edit, first draft, stream of consciousness review of Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffee.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies Café
3722 E. Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (623) 388-3158

Joey is an independent writer and Phoenix native. His article about the renovation of an Artisan Loft in Phoenix was the featured cover story in the July/Aug issue of ‘Desert Living Magazine’ and he’s hard at work on Creative Village® (a field guide to idea innovation), for philanthropist Dale Jensen (Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grand Prix Arizona, Vegas Grand Prix). When he’s not looking for sharp objects to run over with his car, he’s on the lookout for the next great wi-fi equipped coffee spot. He can be reached at joey@joeyrobertparks.com

This isn’t about Arizona, but I thought it was fun and interesting.

http://www.coffeesofhawaii.com/company/news/show/19

Via Brandflakesforbreakfast

Where do you go to learn about events in Arizona? May I suggest Upcoming from Yahoo, it’s really good, and free! Try it now at http://upcoming.yahoo.com. Notice that it defaults to displaying locations in your area.

Joe & Sharon write:

ALOHA! Chris,

Just want to let you know that we are having our Grand Opening Weekend on Oct 26-28 2007 come by and check us out.

Mahalo

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies Café
3722 E. Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (623) 388-3158