Caffio Espresso Bar

Every city has its hidden pockets. The little places you have to know about to find. Caffio is one of those. It is tucked way in the back of Pueblo plant shop, which means to find the coffee you first walk through a gorgeous mini nursery. And what a walk it is.

Let me set the scene. The espresso bar operates out of a vintage 1985 VespaCar (Piaggio Ape). That is the little three wheeled Italian truck parked right inside the shop. It is imported. It is real. It is not some prop a marketing person cooked up to look cute on Instagram. Owner Anthony Fiorelli built this whole thing as a tribute to his Italian heritage. You feel that the second you see the Vespa sitting there among the leaves.

So the vibe. The vibe is out of control and I mean that in the best way. Picture an open air back patio shaded by green leaves. Plants frame everything. Sunlight filters through the overhead covers and throws dappled shadows on the ground. There is a gentle hum of conversation and the quiet steam of the espresso machine. The rustle of the plants blocks out the distant Phoenix traffic. It feels like a private garden sanctuary that someone smuggled into the middle of the city.

And here is the part that got me. I visited on a Saturday morning in July and it was in the 90s outside. But in that shaded little corner it did not feel hot. The greenery does something. It makes the air feel cooler and fresh. It feels like the desert forgot to follow you in. A desert oasis in the most literal sense.

Now to the coffee, because this is a coffee shop after all. As of my visit, Mr. Fiorelli was pulling a medium dark blend. Half El Salvador and half Colombia. He pulls it on an Astoria Rapallo AL manual lever machine. Regular readers know I am a guy who favors light roasted single origin beans. I usually do not get excited about dark roasts. So I went for a latte fully expecting to nod politely and move on.

I was wrong. It was lovely. The body was velvety with subtle notes of toasted nuts and a delicate dark chocolate. The El Salvador brings a smooth sweet brown sugar background. The Colombia provides the depth and a deep cocoa foundation. That manual lever pull creates a texture that softens the bold roast. A pleasant molasses sweetness balances the finish while the espresso cuts cleanly through the milk. Maybe it is the lever machine. Maybe it is the personal touch of Mr. Fiorelli making the drink himself. Whatever the magic is, it worked on a guy who does not usually go for dark roasts.

A quick word on the syrups, because it says something about the man. There are no house made syrups here, but do not fear. Mr. Fiorelli is health conscious. Instead of the cheap commercial chemistry syrups, he uses the good European stuff. You will see bottles of 1883 Maison Routin sitting there. They are called 1883 because they have been crafted in the French Alps since that very year. Real natural ingredients. No preservatives. It is more expensive syrup but no artificial junk. So smart.

There is a small assortment of pastries too if you need a little something. But mostly you come to Caffio to slow down. You come to sit under the leaves and sip something made with care.

So picture it one more time. A traditional Italian espresso bar. Running out of a vintage Vespa. Hidden inside a plant nursery. Pulling shots on a manual lever in the middle of the urban desert. It should not work. On paper it is four ideas that have no business sharing a room. But you walk back there, the traffic fades, the air goes cool and the espresso hits your tongue. And suddenly you are not in Phoenix anymore. You are in a tiny corner of Italy that only exists behind a plant shop. Go find it.