I’m curious to hear the public’s feedback on the best restaurants in Arizona with great coffee. There are too many great restaurants to count in this fine state, and my bet is that a few restaurant owners are real coffee aficionados. Which restaurants serve up locally roasted coffee? Which restaurants have espresso machines and know how to use them?
Jason Ayers Barrio Café on 16th Street & Thomas serves a good mexican coffee in a french press at your table. 0 Reply September 10, 2006
Amanda Lux Coffee Bar in Phoenix roasts their own coffee & their lattes are good. But I much prefer Seattle Espresso (not to be confused with Seattle’s Best the Starbucks spin-off). They use Illy coffee from Italy and they know how to do that perfectly-timed shot. In my book, Seattle Espresso makes the only latte that requires no sugar, honey, cinnamon, etc. It is always smooth and never, never bitter. They have a few locations: 1840 E Warner Rd #136, Tempe 710 West Elliot Rd, Tempe 891 N. Val Vista Dr #d-101, Gilbert 4722 E. Ray Rd. Phoenix 0 Reply September 10, 2006
Chris Tingom Amanda, that’s right! And right next door you can get some wonderful sandwiches from Pane Bianco. And now that it’s a bit cooler outside (at least, it feels that way being September), we can enjoy the patio seating. http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/pane/contact.html 0 Reply September 10, 2006
Charlie The B-Line Cafe, on 4th Ave, in Tucson. You can’t go wrong, the homemade pies go great with anything off their Faema E61. This is not a good week to start a diet. 0 Reply September 11, 2006
Chris Tingom I’ll add one: The Rose Restaurant in Prescott. I wrote about it here. 0 Reply September 11, 2006
Austin I find its a rare thing to find good coffee at a resaurant. Every now and again i try something somewhere but no dice. I am a big fan of the B-line though. I’ll have to write this list down. 0 Reply September 11, 2006
Raymond the coffe shop it’s new they are on ray just west of higley they make great coffee and food 0 Reply September 12, 2006
MikeFTrevino Now, are we talking about food places that serve great coffee or great coffee places that serve food. There is a distinct difference. It all depends on what they title themselves as or which is the most dominant product. Epic cafe serves an ok cup as well as sandwiches and pastries, they are a coffee shop that serves food. 0 Reply September 12, 2006
Amanda If we’re talking restaurants: The Orange Table in Scottsdale serves up a great cup of joe, (lookout cause there is powerful mojo in ’em!) and their food is excellent as well! They also have a very unique coffee soda. Yep, Coffee Soda! (www.orangetable.net) I also like the My Florist Cafe on McDowell and 7th Ave. in Phoenix for a good bite to eat and a cup of coffee over one of their chocolate deserts. Mmmm. 0 Reply September 12, 2006
Jason Ayers The Paisely Violin serves really good sandwiches and soups, and they’ve been consistent for the past 4 years. Although they use the brand-name Segafredo Zanetti beans, they make a really good cappuccino and offer daily specials of unique flavor combos. 0 Reply September 13, 2006
Chris Tingom Dang! There are a lot of really great recommendations here. I will have to give them all a try! I’ve never heard of The Orange Table or The Paisely Violin, but both sound great. 0 Reply September 13, 2006
Chris Tingom Oh, we’re talking about anything, Mike. I would be interested in coffee shops that serve great food. The one that comes to mind is the old Romancing the Bean in Scottsdale. They had a wait staff and a full on menu. Maybe it’s the same at the Tempe location. 0 Reply September 13, 2006
Amanda Chris: Romancing the Bean (the one at the Pavillions off of Indian Bend & Pima) has been closed for several months now. I meant to try them before that, but everytime I was down there, they were either closed or dead (as in no people). This valley seems to kill independant coffee shops… and sometime it’s because the owners keep funky hours, close too early and don’t have comfortable seating -my biggest pet peeve! For any coffeeshop owners reading… For gosh sakes: Get some cooshy vinyl/leather (easily cleanable) couches and chairs people! I cannot enjoy a latte on some hard wooden stool. Also, offer free WiFi, and stay open LATE (yes, even on weekends!) and play some classy subdued music. The night owls, college kids, and all us 8-5 wage slaves will thank you with repeat business!!! (Am I off my rocker, or do other feel the same way?) 0 Reply September 14, 2006
