Arizona Coffee

Coffee Buzz in Ahwatukee has closed according to The Arizona Republic.

U.S. Starbucks stores get 70% of business before 2 p.m.

Thought that data point was interesting, and worth mentioning. Source: USA Today.

I don’t know about you guys, but when I heard that Starbucks has a new store in Washington that serves beer and wine, I was surprised. Surprised because it’s a huge stretch from coffee. I mean, it’s one thing to serve breakfast and food… but beer and wine? It’s just interesting, because I’m curious if people will go for it.

On that note, there are many AZ establishments that do serve beer and wine, and it works fine because that’s what they’ve done from the beginning. Places like Liberty Market, Press Coffee, and Ground Control sell adult beverages. And from what I can tell, it works very well and adds to a healthy bottom line.

A very different kind of Starbucks is on tap. It will serve regional wine and beer. It offers an expansive plate of locally made cheeses — served on china. The barista bar is rebuilt to seat customers up close to the coffee.

Most conspicuously, the place looks less like a Starbucks and more like a cafe that’s been part of the neighborhood for years — yet that’s “green” in design and decor. This is the calling card of independent java joints that have been eating and sipping away at Starbucks’ evening business for decades. U.S. Starbucks stores get 70% of business before 2 p.m.

You can read the full story, and watch a video at USA Today.

I missed the AZ Latte Art Competition held recently at Phoenix Cooks, but I heard it was amazing. There are some sweet photos on Flickr taken by Chanelle Richadson that you don’t want to miss.

Reading the comments on AZCentral is rarely worth the time, but this one struck me as interesting:

Very few people have a palate that can actually discern difference between roaster-fresh coffee and stale coffee that’s been sitting in a warehouse for 3 months. That’s why places like Starbucks and McDonalds do so well.

It’s a comment on this article about ROC2.

So, is that true? What’s the best way to introduce people to fresh locally-roasted coffee?