Arizona Coffee

Sharing a video showing how simple it is to use a French press to make coffee.

The new Bunna Coffee location is at Baseline and Power roads, in east Mesa.

Bunna Coffee & Tea Market now is in a 1,536-square-foot-space with seating for 54 people inside and 16 people on the patio. Surrounded by small businesses, the shop serves the densely populated neighborhoods of Gilbert and east Mesa.

Read more at AZCentral.

I was watching this video on Kickstarter about coffee and noticed they had these excellent quotes at the end of the description:

“I like cappuccino, actually. But even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all.”
– David Lynch

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”
– T. S. Eliot

“If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.”
– Abraham Lincoln

“It is surely easier to confess a murder over a cup of coffee than in front of a jury.”
– Friedrich Durrenmatt

Mike Funk, the owner of Firecreek Coffee Company emailed me today to let me know they are building a new coffee roastery. He sent along this photograph of their new roastery.

Mike said the new location is under wraps, but gave a few hints: Swimming Holes, Corkscrews, Carhartts and Hiking Boots.

Provision Coffee is already roasting over 100lbs of coffee each week, according to Lawrence Jarvey. Learn more about Provision Coffee in this video interview they did with ABC 15 earlier today.

(more…)

According to The New York Times, it is the espresso.

If you want to order the most unconventional, unexpected drink at an espresso bar, ask for an espresso. Not many do. Americans might drink espresso drinks, but we rarely drink straight espresso[...]

Is that really true? Doesn’t anybody just order a shot of espresso any more? I do.

This just in: Press Coffee is closing their original location at the CityNorth complex in North Phoenix. The location will be closing after business on April 30th. This particular location originally opened in 2008.

After speaking with Steve Kraus, owner of Press Coffee, they cited their recent success with their Scottsdale Quarter location, and their upcoming location at Sky Harbor as reasons for closing CityNorth – that they wish to focus on new opportunities. The CityNorth location failed to pick up the growth they expected (probably due to the CityNorth complex’s slower than expected growth – it’s only half built after 4 years).

Additionally, they’ve recently opened a new and expanded coffee roastery / showroom on Broadway in Phoenix, to service their expanding wholesale coffee-roasting business. They have one roaster and they say a second roaster will be operational soon.

Their new location at Sky Harbor Airport is scheduled to open in late May, in Terminal 4 between Gates B6 – 14. Very exciting, and that location at the airport will be serving wine, food, and of course coffee.

I just received an email from Phil Bryson about a new coffee shop. He is the co-founder of a new coffee shop in Tucson called Brewd Coffee Lounge. They opened 3 months ago in the downtown area of Tucson. The coffee “lounge” is family operated by Phil his wife, Kate. Congratulations to them on opening.

They serve coffee from Adventure Coffee Roasting, based in Tucson as well.

Brewd Coffee Lounge
39 N. 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 623-2336
Twitter @brewd1
Facebook: facebook.com/brewdtucson

It looks like there’s a mess at Citizen Espresso Bar – the old Lola location on Campbell and Central. It appears to have started on April 19th, when the lead barista, Tiffany, was forced out by her mother, Sherry Dew.

Tiffany Dew published this message on the coffee shops public page on Facebook which drove speculation on Twitter:

“This message is to let you all know that Tiffany and her incredible vision for Citizen Espresso Bar and our community is no longer.

As of last week, Tiffany was threatened and forced to leave her own coffee bar for the last time by her investor = mother.

The amazing morning team assembled has also been terminated and so has the in house baker and baked goods. Your new Citizen owner / operator will now be souring [sic] you fine Costco and Fry’s baked goods a portion of the week.

Tiffany and I want to thank all of you for your support in what we truly felt was an amazing opportunity, vision, and concept for the community… and we were just getting started.

There is much to this disgusting story — but for now know our hearts are broken by someone we trusted and approached to partner in the creation of Citizen.

Love, Tiffany and Mitzie”

(more…)

A photo from a cupping this morning at Press Coffee. Alex pours hot water on the coffee in this photo.

I’ve spoken to a few people from AZ who are all headed up to Oregon this weekend for the SCAA show.

The two main attractions are the SCAA’s 24th Annual Exposition and Symposium and the United States Barista Championship.

Who’s going? It sounds like a lot of fun – lots of people to meet and see.

Check out this community dinner menu at Liberty Market:

1. Stumptown “Hair Bender” espresso dusted sea scallops
2. Salad of local, seasonal greens with green (unroasted) Ethiopian coffee vinaigrette
3. French pressed brodo with pork stuffed agnolotti
4. Mr. Espresso “French Roast” marinated filet
5. Cortado pot de crème

April 30th at Liberty Market.

(more…)

Is this really how coffee shop owners feel? When I pay with a credit card are they really thinking this every time?

Two events are happening Saturday in Tempe you will not want to miss:

Free coffee tasting at Lost Dutchman Coffee Roastery from 1:30-4:00 pm.

Cortez Coffee Company is hosting their grand opening for their coffee market from 8 am – 7 pm.

Longtime valley coffee roaster Ron Cortez is announcing the grand opening of his new coffee bar and market at Cortez Coffee.

They’re opening on April 14th with an event this Saturday, April 14th. Click here for driving directions.

Hours are 8 am – 7 pm daily, Monday through Saturday.

They have a barista for the evenings that is a DJ, and this Saturday will be featuring guest baristas. Each Saturday, they are offering coffee classes (green, roasting or coffee brewing), and you can call for reservations.

Cortez Coffee Company sent along the following information:

Coffee nerds beware! After almost 2 decades of roasting coffee for some of the best local coffee shops, Tempe-based coffee roaster Cortez Coffee is finally opening its doors to the public with the debut of their new coffeebar and coffee market. This Saturday, April 14th, will be the grand opening of the new face of the Cortez Coffee Company, by flaunting their unhealthy obsession for all things coffee.

Come down to the shop to sample one or a dozen of the 19+ single origin coffee selections Cortez roasts on a daily basis, check out the frankenstein’d espresso machine at the front bar offering the most ground breaking unlisted menu of coffee drinks in the Phoenix area, heck… the world even!

If you’re drinkin’ what they’re pourin’ make sure to pick up a bag of whole bean coffee to go, or if you’re feeling the urge to cross over to the darkside of coffee, take home a bag of green coffee and a home roaster to start roasting your own joe.

The market will offer a huge selection of whole bean roasted coffee and for the first time in the history of awesome shopping experiences, a green coffee market with small batch roasting stations for you to create and roast your own coffee blends while you’re enjoying a cup of coffee by some of the most creative baristas in town.

(more…)