Fourtillfour Cafe

Old Town Scottsdale has no shortage of places to spend a Sunday afternoon. But there is only one where you might park next to a vintage Porsche, wait in a line that wraps around the building and sip an espresso under a massive shade tree while someone photographs an exotic car twenty feet away. Fourtillfour Cafe is that place and it is unlike anything else in the Valley.

The shop is small and there is no indoor seating. Everything happens outside on a patio that somehow pulls it off beautifully. Car themed decor sets the tone without feeling like a gimmick. The vibe is warm and welcoming in the way that only a place with genuine personality can be. If you get lucky and snag the table under the big tree on the right side next to the old parked car, you have found the best seat in the house. Plenty of shade and a front row view of whatever rolls in that day.

One suggestion though. That attached garage sitting right there is wasted potential. Arizona summers are brutal and the Valley heat is not a joke. Opening that space up with some air conditioning would transform this place from a cool spot you avoid in July into a year round destination. Just saying.

The coffee is the real thing. Fourtillfour roasts their own beans in house and pulls espresso from their Sunday Motor Club blend, a mix of Honduran and Ethiopian beans. I tried a straight shot and it was smooth and naturally sweet with no bitterness anywhere. My instinct, based on experience with Ethiopian beans, is that the blend leans more Ethiopian than Honduran. That is pure speculation on my part but the floral sweetness in the cup felt very familiar. The house made syrups are worth exploring too. Bergamot and chile honey are on the list and either one tells you this is not your average cafe syrup program.

The Cars and Coffee events happen almost every Saturday morning from 8AM to 10AM. Check their website for the current schedule because it is worth planning around. They also run a car club and from what I can tell it seems like a way to build a community of enthusiasts around specific makes and models, possibly used to organize themed events. The details are a little unclear but the online form is on their website if you want in.

Fourtillfour built a community around coffee, cars and the atmosphere. It was packed on a Sunday afternoon when I visited with the line stretching outside. That is not an accident.