Cafecito

Somewhere in downtown Yuma there is a garden with a saguaro standing guard over it. I am still not sure how a place this cool hides in plain sight.

Cafecito lives inside a historic building about a mile off Interstate 8. The Tesla Supercharger near Gateway Park is a short walk away. So you get a road trip stop with a built in excuse. Plug in, walk over and stay longer than the charging session needs.

Start with the patio because you cannot help it. Bougainvillea plant spills over everything. A beautiful towering saguaro anchors the courtyard like a tall and prickly host. Seating is spread out and the whole space is tucked back from the street so the traffic just disappears. You sit down and forget you are in the middle of town. If the weather cooperates then this is where you want to be.

But I need to tell you about the hallway.

The front room sets the tone first. There is a floral patterned sofa, wooden live edge tables and houseplants everywhere under exposed ceiling beams. Then a long tiled passage pulls you toward the baristas at the back. I say pulls because I kept getting distracted. Halfway down is a vintage music lounge. Guitars and mandolins hang on the wall. There is a patterned couch and a piano sitting there too.

That is the trick of this place. Every room is its own little nook, with vintage couches scattered around. The old building keeps its character.

Now the coffee. Cafecito sources beans from Spirit Mountain Roasting Co. They are a local roaster on the Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation just north of town. The sourcing stays close to home.

The cortado I had is built on a medium roast blend of Ethiopian and Guatemalan beans. The Ethiopian side whispers bright and floral. The Guatemalan side brings chocolate and a hint of caramel. The body is smooth and creamy with a clean finish. Mine ran a bit bitter but workable.

From the seasonal menu, we also tried the hot pumpkin butter latte. It was a little sweet. There is a little saltiness in there that I enjoyed. Somebody at that table has different taste buds and I will not say who.

The drink I would drive back for is the Iced Cafecito Mocha. It is the signature and it drinks like dessert. Sweet, yes. Overdone, no. The chocolate tastes high quality. Here is what won me over. Most iced mochas fall apart once the ice melts. This one stayed balanced to the last sip.

The menu is vegan friendly. You will find pour overs and house steeped cold brew next to the usual espresso lineup. Families fill the place and it hums like a real community hub.

Cafecito knows exactly who it is. Charge the car. Then forget about it for a while.