The Coffee Vein opens in Tucson

Continuing my quest to be the definitive guide to coffee in Arizona I have news of a new coffee shop in Tucson. It’s called The Coffee Vein and it’s at 1545 N. Stone Ave just north of PCC. Here’s a map.

• Photo of the establishment — looks really classy
• It looks like her first employee is an avid CoffeeGeek.com poster and he posted an announcement on their forums
• The Arizona Daily Star has the full scoop including some background into the owners
• I don’t think they have a web site yet
• Opened on Dec. 17

From everything I’ve read this place sounds really good. I’m interested to try this drink they call the White Cell (2 shots espresso with vanilla condensed milk). It sounds similar to the Spanish Latte at La Grande Orange.

Next time I’m in Tucson I’m planning to stop in. If you’ve visited please leave a comment.

Here’s my favorite part from the article:

Since she was 17, Raymond has worked in the coffee industry serving as a barista and manager for no fewer than seven shops and cafés — starting with her first job at One Cup at a Time in El Con Mall.

She frequently toyed with the idea of starting her own business, but fear of failure kept her from moving forward, she said.

Then along came Huffstetler, whose time spent managing his father’s local dental practice was on par with Raymond’s years of service in the coffee business. The two hit it off, though not romantically, at first. They began dating in earnest only last April.

Their comfort with each other comes through in their conversations, which often begin with one person speaking and end with the other.

“We have been friends for 12 years,” Huffstetler said.

— “It’s a slightly romantic story,” Raymond added.

— “Which we won’t go into.”

— “No, I’ll go into it,” she says, letting out a quick laugh before launching into their history together.

“We fell in love really quickly,” she continued. But “It wasn’t like you meet someone at a bar and say, ‘Hey, let’s start a business.’ ”

Both knew what they wanted in a café, and borrowed what they described as their best memories from other coffee bars and cafés.

“We like to have a melting pot of cultures and clientele,” Huffstetler said.

He describes The Coffee Vein as a place where Harley-Davidson bikers, students and artists could feel equally comfortable. “I think people take ownership of the places they visit. They know what they want and how they like it made.”

“It’s like a bar without the alcohol,” Raymond added.

The name refers to a comment from a former employer of Raymond’s that she had coffee, not blood, running in her veins.