Just Added & Recently Tasted
I am constantly hitting the pavement to find the newest cafe spots so look down here for my latest cafe adventures.
16 Listings
There is a specific kind of magic when a coffee shop graduates from a trailer to a real space. The vibes are rarely the same. The corners get sanded down. The personality leaks out. Somehow, 10:19 pulled it off.
Not long ago, you could find Leilani and Ty pouring drinks out of a vintage Airstream parked in front of Taqueria Factory on Arizona Ave. Now they have a real spot in Uptown Chandler and the place has range. Pastel waves wash across the upper walls. A gallery of clocks (a nod to the name) takes over another. The service counter is deep green with a light stone top running the full length. The pendant lights are woven. And a chunky white La Marzocco anchors the whole bar. It is retro without trying too hard which is the hardest kind of retro to pull off.
Now to the drinks because that is why we are here. The house coffee beans are a single origin Honduras from Little Jupiter Cafe which I also reviewed on this site. The beans are of washed process and medium roasted. Slight notes of cocoa powder, praline, brown spice, hazelnut and red apple. As a guy who favors light roasted single origin beans, I am into it. The espresso runs mellow rather than punchy but here it is doing a job. The drink program is built around bold flavored signatures and the espresso is meant to support, not steal the show.
And the signatures are where 10:19 really flexes. The menu pulls from Filipino, Korean and Vietnamese coffee traditions while still feeling like its own thing. The Brown Bear is a brown sugar latte topped with house made salted caramel foam and a little graham bear biscuit perched on the lid. Whimsy in a cup. The Espresso Split uses house made Korean style banana milk and sweet cream foam with a chocolate drizzle. And the Blueberry Cloud rounds things out with sweet cream foam and a blueberry drizzle.
We worked our way through two drinks on this visit, and both delivered. The first was the I'm a Star, their tiramisu latte, and it might be the slam dunk of the menu. Cocoa, mascarpone and espresso all sitting in perfect balance. No flavor elbowing the others out. The espresso is not bitter but it also does not bring much of its own personality which turns out to be exactly what a drink like this needs. The bean is a perfect pairing partner. The second was the Blueberry Cheesecake Matcha, which sounds like it could go sideways but absolutely does not. The matcha and blueberry sit in perfect harmony, and the whole thing is rich and smooth in a way that genuinely reminds you of cheesecake. Two for two.
A word of warning. The shop can be loud. Like, very loud when it is busy. This is not the place to grind out emails or finish your novel. This is the place to grab a drink, post up at the bar and chat with whoever is working the espresso machine.
10:19 is named after a moment in time that means a lot to the owners. A reminder to pause. To check in. To think about family. To wish.
And yeah, you should probably go make a wish.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
Signatures
10:19 Cold Brew β’ Brown Bear β’ Blueberry Cloud β’ Leche Flan β’ Espresso Split β’ I'm a Star
Coffee
Latte β’ Cold Brew β’ Mocha β’ Americano β’ Cappuccino β’ Espresso β’ Cortado 4oz
Tea & More
Matcha β’ Chai β’ Classic Black β’ Yuzu Peach Green β’ Earl Grey β’ Chamomile Medley β’ Lotus Energy Drink β’ Italian Soda β’ Chocolate Milk
Add Ons
Cinnamon Sprinkles β’ Raw Sugar Sprinkles β’ Brown Sugar Sprinkles β’ Cocoa Powder β’ Stevia β’ Sugar in the Raw β’ Caramel Drizzle β’ Chocolate Drizzle β’ Cold Foam β’ Salted Caramel Foam β’ Sweet Cream Foam β’ Mascarpone Foam
Flavors
Vanilla β’ Honey β’ Brown Sugar β’ Lavender β’ Maple β’ Blueberry β’ Caramel β’ Chocolate β’ White Chocolate β’ Condensed Milk β’ Strawberry β’ Passionfruit β’ Huckleberry β’ Housemade Tiramisu Syrup
Milks
Whole β’ Oat β’ Almond β’ Coconut β’ Banana β’ Housemade Banana Milk
πClick to View the Food Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
Pastries
Muffins β’ Coffee Cakes β’ Cookies
Explore Nearby Chandler Coffee Shops
Aristocrat Coffee Roasters
Levante Coffee
Momentto Coffee Roasters
Press Coffee Chandler
Peixoto Coffee Roasters
Mission Coffee And Tea
Bottle & Bean
Sagebrush Coffee Shop & Roastery
East Valley Coffee Guide
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Number and Street:
777 N Arizona Ave
Every once in a while a shop opens in the Phoenix area that makes you stop and ask, wait, that is here? Sable Boulangerie is one of those. A tiny walk up pastry and coffee shop tucked next to Liberty Market in Downtown Gilbert opened in mid May 2026 and the line out the door has not let up since.
I have driven over a few times. I gave up every time. The line was long. So this is a pre-review. If I cannot taste it yet, I might as well do the homework. So I spent some time reading up on the owner, the training, the flour (yes, the flour) and how this whole thing landed in Gilbert. Here is the story and why this place matters.
The owner is a Gilbert kid. William Porter grew up about 5 minutes from where the shop sits today. He went to Phoenix Country Day School and then attended Tufts University in Boston. And then did what very few Gilbert kids do. He moved to France. He enrolled at ENSP, a historic pastry school in Yssingeaux that operates out of a refurbished chateau (because in France, pastry school cannot just be a building. It has to be a castle). From there he went to Paris and worked under Cedric Grolet who is basically the LeBron James of modern French pastry. After Paris, he took a post inside the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the hotel that mostly hosts royals and billionaires.
And then he came home to Gilbert.
That last part is the most interesting question to me. Why Gilbert and not Scottsdale or Arcadia or Uptown Phoenix where a fancy French pastry shop would be a slam dunk on the marketing side? Porter is pretty open about it. Pastry, the way he wants to do it, is what he calls a grind business. It is a middle of the night, on your feet, no shortcuts kind of job. And to do that for years on end, you need family, friends and a community around you. So he came back to the place that raised him. There is something heartwarming about that.
A small note for the curious. The shop is named Sable Boulangerie, but the legal and web identity is Maison William Porter. In French pastry land, "Maison" is loaded. Think Maison Pierre Herme or Maison Cedric Grolet. It signals a chef-driven house and not a regular bakery. Porter trained under Grolet, whose own brand uses the same structure. So this is him quietly telling you what standard he wants to be measured against. Which is to say, do not walk in expecting a Paris Baguette (no offense to PB).
Now the nerdy part because I cannot help myself. Every bag of flour at Sable comes from a single mill in France called Antoine. Porter says the flour had never been imported into the United States before. He had to deal with FDA labels, customs paperwork and the joy of waiting for a shipping container to fill up before the boat could even leave port. He and his team then ran somewhere between 24 and 30 dough tests in Gilbert to re-tune the recipe for American eggs, Arizona humidity (or lack of rather) and the citric acid that apparently shows up in our domestic whole egg products. That is a level of fuss most bakeries would never bother with. It is also the kind of detail that tells you a lot about Porter's operation before you even taste anything!
The shop itself is tiny. Porter calls it a pastry lab rather than a kitchen. He runs it with one other person. Dough is mixed, laminated, shaped, proofed and baked in the same overnight cycle. By 8AM the croissants are coming out of the oven. The menu is small on purpose. Porter has said the pain au chocolat is his signature, not the croissant. He considers it the hardest pastry he makes. He has strong opinions about American versions of it (under proofed, meaty centers, peeling exteriors) and is openly trying to change minds.
A small note since this is, in theory, a craft coffee website. The coffee menu at Sable is tiny for now. Latte, Latte Vanille, Latte Pistache, Latte Hazelnut and a Paris Hot Chocolate. That is five drinks. If you order coffee by elevation and processing method, take a deep breath. But the place is very new. I am betting the menu grows in the future. Until then, I will be over there ordering a Latte Pistache once I get past the line.
So why am I writing about a place I have not eaten at yet? Because the story is already cool and because you should know what is sitting next to the water tower in old town Gilbert the next time you are out there. I am going to wait a few weeks for the early hype line to cool down then go back and actually try the coffee and the pastries.
A real review may follow. Or maybe not. Though honestly, with a resume like that (flour imported from a single French mill, recipes re-calibrated for American eggs and Arizona humidity, dough tested 30 different ways) the math checks out. The pastries are almost certainly going to be out of this world.
For now, all I can tell you is this. A Gilbert kid trained in a French castle and worked for one of the most famous pastry chefs alive then did a tour at the Burj Al Arab and came back home to bake croissants for his neighbors. Gilbert just got a very fancy tenant and a zip code upgrade.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
Drinks Latte β’ Latte Vanille β’ Latte Pistache β’ Latte Hazelnut β’ Paris Hot Chocolate
πClick to View the Food Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
Tourte de Seigle The Tourte de Seigle, or "Rye Bread" in French, contains very little gluten and is normally leavened with sourdough starter. Its signature dark brown color is due to the rye flour. Rye flour is made by milling rye grains, offering a distinct earthy, slightly tangy flavor and darker color than wheat flour.
Baguette Tradition To be recognized as a baguette de tradition under French law, it must adhere to strict standards β beginning with the use of authentic French T65 tradition flour.
Pain Suisse The Pain Suisse is a Viennese pastry consisting of double laminated croissant dough on the outside enveloping a vanilla cream with chocolate chips.
Pain Au Chocolat The Pain Au Chocolat is the crown jewel of SABLE. It is by far the most difficult Viennoisserie to perfect. Our Pain Au Chocolat uses an extra bitter-sweet chocolate bar that pairs very well with a latte or cappuccino!
Croissant Itβs the measure of a baker, the first proof of discipline, patience, and respect for ingredients. At SABLE, itβs made the way it should be β with authentic flour, real butter, and time. No shortcuts. No compromises. SABLE begins here.
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Vanilla Flan
Brioche Tete
Explore Nearby Gilbert Coffee Shops
Charlee Rose Coffee
Casita Coffee
Light Heart Coffee
The Bookish Shop
Commons Coffeehouse
Decadent Macaron
Coffee Rush
East Valley Coffee Guide
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Number and Street:
228 N Gilbert Rd
Every once in a while, a coffee shop opens up and tries to do too many things at once. Bakery. Florist. Coffee bar. The result is usually a Frankenstein situation where nothing gets done particularly well. A Flourshop on 7th Street is the opposite of that. It is three things and it is good at all three.
I am a sucker for a good shop origin story because the backstory usually shows up in the cup (or food). So I did a little digging. According to a 2018 interview with Your Jubilee, Andrea Tuck taught herself to bake while finishing an ASU degree in Global Business and Marketing. After graduation she waitressed at her mom's Italian restaurant and started slinging pastries for private clients out of the same kitchen. Andrea comes from a long line of Italian women who ran restaurants, so the kitchen pedigree is real. Eventually the side hustle got too big to share a kitchen. She spotted a for sale sign on a space in Central Phoenix, signed within a week and A Bakeshop was born in 2014. By 2022 she had outgrown that spot too, moved into something bigger on 7th Street and added coffee and a flower bar to the lineup. That bigger spot is A Flourshop.
When you step inside, the design hits you right away. You get an immediate split personality moment. On one side, exposed brick walls are warm and a little moody. On the other side, crisp white walls with light blue tables that feel airy and modern. Light wood furniture ties it all together. Big windows pour in Phoenix sun. There are fresh florals scattered around because, well, there is a flower bar in here. You get to pick your mood depending on which seat you grab.
So what about the food? The pastries are kind of out of control. I tried the Lemon Blueberry Croissant and the Strawberry Shortcake Croissant side by side, and let me be honest, the Lemon Blueberry won by a landslide. Fruit forward, layered like a fancy European dessert, the kind of thing you would expect at a patisserie in some little French town. The Strawberry Shortcake (with real strawberry cream piped on top) was no slouch either. Pastry prices run from $7 to $11, which is not cheap, but you can taste the scratch work and the daily floral refresh in everything.
Now, the coffee. Some purists might raise an eyebrow at the Nuova Simonelli Appia Life pulling shots here. No pressure profiling. No flow control. Volumetric and timer based pulls only. But (and this is a big but) the bean is doing the heavy lifting. The espresso is Moxie CODECH, a washed Guatemala from a farmer cooperative in Huehuetenango. Bourbon varietal. Limestone soil. Roasted light to medium. Chocolate up front, nougat in the middle and a soft fruited finish. It is the kind of bean that makes a milk drink sing. And here is a nice touch. The hot latte is offered in one size only. To me, that is a green flag. It usually means the shop has dialed in the exact ratio between the espresso pull and the milk volume, so every cup is calibrated the same way. I am a big fan of shops that pick one size and obsess over it.
The drip is Moxie El Nevado out of Colombia, and I have to gush for a second here. El Nevado is one of my favorite beans ever. I am normally the guy chasing high end Ethiopian Gujis, Sidamos and Harrars (you know, the fruit bombs), but El Nevado has me converted on the Colombia side. Dark chocolate. Caramel sweetness. A soft stone fruit finish that sneaks up on you. It is crazy good. There is also a ROC2 nitro cold brew if that is your thing.
Quick parking note for first timers. The lot right next to the shop is fair game, but every sign in the area reads Red Bricks Center Parking Only with zero mention of A Flourshop. Do not let that scare you off. A Flourshop sits inside the Red Bricks center, so you are good to park there.
So here is the deal. A bakery alone could carry a shop. A floral bar alone could carry a shop. A craft coffee program pulling Moxie beans could absolutely carry a shop. A Flourshop runs all three at full speed. That is exactly why it lands on theΒ Top Craft Coffee Shops page at AZCoffeeShops.com without me thinking twice about it.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
COFFEE
DRIP β’ COLD BREW β’ NITRO COLD BREW
SPECIALS
BANANAS FOSTER β’ STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE LATTE β’ BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MATCHA β’ FLORA'S ELIXER
ESPRESSO BAR
DOUBLE SHOT β’ LATTE β’ CAPPUCCINO β’ CORTADO β’ AMERICANO β’ MOCHA
DRINKS
LEMONADE β’ ARNOLD PALMER β’ STRAWBERRY SWEET TEA β’ CHOCOLATE MILK β’ HOT CHOCOLATE
TEA
ORGANIC HOT TEA β’ ORGANIC ICED TEA β’ MATCHA LATTE β’ BLUE MATCHA β’ CHAI β’ DIRTY CHAI
GRAB & GO
GREEN JUICE β’ BOXED WATER β’ SPARKLING WATER
SYRUPS
VANILLA BEAN β’ ALMOND BISCOTTI β’ CARAMEL β’ BROWN SUGAR CINNAMON β’ CHOCOLATE GANACHE β’ WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE β’ LAVENDER β’ LOCAL HONEY β’ STRAWBERRY β’ SWEET β’ SPECIALTY
MILK OPTIONS
WHOLE β’ 1% β’ HALF & HALF β’ OAT β’ ALMOND β’ COCONUT
πClick to View the Food Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
CROISSANTS
BUTTER CROISSANT β’ HAM & CHEESE CROISSANT β’ CHOCOLATE CROISSANT β’ ALMOND CROISSANT N β’ STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CROISSANT β’ LEMON BLUEBERRY CROISSANT β’ SPINACH ARTICHOKE CROISSANT
PASTRIES
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN β’ LEMON CHERRY MUFFIN GF/V β’ VANILLA SCONE β’ BANANA BREAD GF/DF
EGG & SAVORY
QUICHE β’ BREAKFAST BRIOCHE
SWEETS & TREATS by Bakes111
MACARON GF N β’ PETITE CUPCAKE β’ RICOTTA COOKIE β’ PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH N β’ OATMEAL CREAM PIE β’ FROSTED SHORTBREAD
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Hadas Cafe Lounge
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WhereUBean Coffee
Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters
Urbo | Urban Bodega
Window Coffee Bar
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Number and Street:
803 N 7th St
Let me set the scene. You walk down the street, past a giant tiger mural, and you find yourself staring at a gritty concrete facade with a rolling garage door. The signage is there if you look for it. Lowercase. Quiet. Polite. The whole thing reads hidden and low key. Exactly what aftermarket is going for.
Push through the door and the vibe flips on you. Raw faux concrete walls. Exposed ceiling joists. A skylight pours sunshine across the open floor plan. Sleek leather seating. Modern art on every wall. A vintage blue Piaggio Vispa scooter parked like it is part of the show. The espresso bar is tiled in a sharp geometric pattern, and the red cushioned bar stools (very comfortable by the way) pop against all that concrete. It is the kind of room you photograph before you even order.
Now here is the twist. aftermarket is not the only thing happening in this room. It coexists with BELHAUS, the contemporary art gallery and film lab. They share the space, mutually. One door. Two (well, three) souls under one roof. The art on the walls is from local artists and most of it is for sale. Same goes for the clothing. The newsstand by the bar, modeled after a vintage Parisian street kiosk, sells original works on paper, prints and small objets. Part cafe, part boutique, part creative studio, part something I cannot quite name.
OK, the coffee. The bar is anchored by a beautiful red Faema Jubilee espresso machine. The beans come from Caffio Espresso Bar which is less than a quarter mile down the road. The house blend is a medium roast made of Brazilian and Nicaraguan beans. I ordered a small latte (comes with a double shot) and the flavor was rich and comforting. Milk chocolate up front, warm caramel in the middle and roasted nuts on the finish. The espresso has enough weight to cut through the milk instead of vanishing into it.
Now the part I really want to call out. The syrups are house made. All of them. No Torani bottle. No giant jug with a label you recognize from Costco. Made by hand, by the team, in their own kitchen. Order a Lumio (named after a small beach in Corsica) or a Bizou (named after their late studio dog) and you can taste why that detail matters.
The pastries come from Chaconne Patisserie out in Scottsdale. I did not try one this visit. The case looked great though. Next time.
One quick note for first timers. Google Maps is going to lie to you. Punch the address in and the pin will dump you on Grand Ave staring at the front of the building complex. The actual aftermarket entrance is around the back on McKinley. Street parking is easy and free. I took a bunch of pictures for reference so check them out before you go.
aftermarket is the kind of place where the coffee is dialed, the art is real and the room itself is the show. A shop that does not believe in capital letters, big signs or store bought syrups. Every detail here means something, even the door you cannot find on Google Maps.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Coffee & Espresso
Espresso ⒠Mkt. Drip ⒠Macchiato (tradizionale) ⒠Americano ⒠Cortado ⒠Cappuccino ⒠Caffè Latte ⒠Shakerato
Tea & Specialty
Matcha Honey ⒠Lumio Burnt Honey ⒠Vanilla Latte ⒠Caffè Mocha Noi Cacao ⒠Bizou Fleur d'Oranger lo al Honey ⒠Caffè Bonbon Musovado ⒠Chai ⒠Dirty Chai ⒠Bébé Chocolat ⒠Amaretti Black Tea ⒠Caffè Leccese Orgeat
Summer Menu
Caffè Leccese ⒠Root Beer Cold Brew Float ⒠Pineapple Sage Matcha ⒠Pineapple Sage Latte ⒠Pineapple Sage Tea ⒠Peach/Mint Matcha ⒠Peach/Mint Latte ⒠Peach/Mint Tea ⒠Hibiscus Lemonade
πClick to View the Food Menu
Assorted Pastries
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Hadas Cafe Lounge
Indigo Room Coffee
Serafina Coffee Roasters
WhereUBean Coffee
Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters
Urbo | Urban Bodega
Window Coffee Bar
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Number and Street:
1301 Grand Ave
Mill Ave is a lot. Foot traffic, noise, students, scooters, the whole circus. So it is kind of wonderful that one of the coolest coffee stories in town is hiding right in the middle of it. Gio's sits tucked inside a brick courtyard in the Mill Avenue Shops and stepping in off the street feels like slipping into a quiet little secret. Pink bougainvillea spilling over the walls. Shaded benches. Green plants everywhere. It is a hidden oasis, and you would never guess it was steps from all that chaos.
As of this writing, the shop has only been open about a year but the coffee behind it goes back way further than that. Like four generations further.
Here is the story. Gio's is a true farm to cup operation, and I mean the real deal. The owner, Giovanna, comes from a family of fourth generation coffee farmers in Peru. The beans come from the family farm, Finca Maria-Canani, up in the mountain region of Villa Rica, where her family has been growing coffee for over 100 years. Giovanna and her husband roast the beans themselves out in Orange County, CA where they lived before landing in Arizona. So when you order a cup here, you are not just drinking single origin Peruvian coffee. You are drinking washed process, organic, single farm micro lot coffee from one specific family that has done this for a century. That puts Gio's in rare company among the farm to cup coffee shops in Arizona.
Now, real talk. The beans are roasted dark. My regular readers know dark roast is not my personal happy place, because the darker you go, the more those special origin characteristics get buried. Peruvian coffee is famous for chocolate, caramel and nutty notes. In my cup, the toasted nut notes came through loud and clear, which honestly surprised me. But the chocolate and caramel got mostly muted, with just faint hints hanging around. That is just my palate talking though. Plenty of folks live for a bold dark roast and if that is your lane, you are going to be very happy here. Me personally? I sat there daydreaming about what these beans would taste like at a medium roast. Oh man.
I also grabbed an Alfajores while I was there. If you have not had one, it is a little cookie sandwich. Two thin cookies with a filling tucked between them and powdered sugar dusted on top. Gio's buys the cookies but makes the filling in house and it hits this sweet salty caramel note that is not over the top. It pairs great with coffee or tea. They make a few other house made items too, like ground beef empanadas, though I did not get to those this visit.
The space itself is lovely. White painted brick walls against a dark ceiling, warm woven pendant lamps glowing over wood tables. There is seating inside, but this is really a patio spot at heart. The covered courtyard is going to be perfect once the weather cools down. Both Giovanna and the barista (Ms. Sofia) were genuinely warm and happy to talk, which makes the whole thing feel even more personal.
Gio's is not chasing trends or novelty drinks. It is built on something much harder to fake, a real family, a real farm and a hundred years of growing coffee. Dark roast or not, that is worth seeking out.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
TRADITIONAL HOT
Gio's Organic Coffee β’ Americano β’ Cappuccion β’ Espresso Single / Double β’ Coffee Latte β’ Caramel Latte β’ Mocha Latte β’ Vanilla Latte β’ Chai Latte (Dirty) β’ Matcha Latte β’ Hot Tea β’ Hot Chocolate
TRADITIONAL ICED
Gio's Cold Brew β’ Iced Americano β’ Iced Coffee Latte β’ Iced Caramel Latte β’ Iced Mocha Latte β’ Iced Vanilla Latte β’ Iced Chai Latte (Dirty) β’ Iced Matcha β’ Fresh Iced Tea
BLENDED ICE ESPRESSO DRINKS
Blended Caramel β’ Blended Cinnamon β’ Blended Mocha Latte β’ Blended Valilla Latte β’ Blended Hazelnut Latte β’ Blended Chai (Dirty) β’ Blended Matcha
Flavor
Extra Flavor
Milks
Malted Milk β’ Almond Milk β’ Soy Milk β’ Coconut Milk
πClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
BAKERY
Assorted Pastries β’ Assorted 1lbs (mini) loafs β’ Avocado Toast β’ Empanadas β’ Alfajores
GIO'S SALADS
BEET & AVOCADO SALAD β’ STRAWBERRY SALAD β’ GREEN SALAD
More Great Coffee in Tempe
All Coffee Shops in Tempe
Aden Coffee House
Laymoon Cafe
The Cafe @ Regroup
Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters
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Number and Street:
414 S Mill Ave
Soundtrack Coffee sits on Grand Avenue in Downtown Phoenix inside the Chilte restaurant at the Egyptian Motor Hotel. It is just west of the Roosevelt Row core but the area has its own energy. Grand Avenue leans more eclectic and industrial with adaptive reuse buildings and design forward businesses lining the corridor.
Before you even walk in, the neighborhood sets the mood. A striking Dia de los Muertos mural stands directly across the street. Two large figures with sugar skull face paint glow against a dark background. A candle and rose anchor the composition (honoring memory and spirit). It is a bold piece of public art and a fitting visual entry point for what comes next.
The Chilte building itself has a clean white brick exterior with a whimsical black silhouette of a camel and palm tree painted on the wall. Large glass windows wrap the ground floor and let you see right into the coffee space from outside. A small patio with black tables and red chairs sits out front (a solid morning spot if you want to watch the Grand Avenue foot traffic). The whole setup feels open and welcoming without trying too hard.
Inside, the artistic energy continues. A large portrait of a woman in a red luchador mask hangs on a warm wood slat wall dominates the room. Two green velvet armchairs sit beneath it. The floors are polished concrete. The furniture is a mix of wood tables and mid century style chairs. In the back wall, a gallery of smaller framed art fill the space. The vibe is loud and colorful but still comfortable enough to sit and drink coffee for a while.
Soundtrack Coffee is not a traditional cafe. It is a daytime coffee residency inside Chilte. The concept was started by Joe Ramirez in 2023 under the name Slow Pour as a home based coffee project. He taught himself how to make coffee and built a following through home pickups and private catering. Over time he renamed the project Soundtrack Coffee and leaned into a punk rock and vinyl collecting identity that now defines the brand. He popped up at local events and eventually caught the attention of Chilte's owner who was looking to activate the morning side of his restaurant and bring more energy to the space during daytime hours. The lobby style layout already had the right feel for a morning coffee concept. Ramirez was ready for the full commit to coffee. That push turned the pop up into a permanent residency in April 2026.
The menu has the usual lineup of cortados, americanos, flat whites and matcha drinks. But the specialty menu is where things get interesting. I noticed a vanilla bean and piloncillo latte, a black charcoal and black sesame caramel drink, a Mexican fried ice cream inspired drink made with Cornflake syrup and cinnamon and an ube latte with citrus bitters and optional horchata syrup. These are not typical coffee shop specials. They read more like a cocktail menu. Ramirez also makes bagels and doughnuts under a separate name (Crumb Slut) and those items rotate in.
For espresso, they pull shots on a Linear Micra machine using Moxie beans. The single origin is called "CODECH" and it is a washed Guatemala from the Bourbon varietal. The roast is designed primarily for milk based espresso but works for drip or cold brew as well. The flavor profile leans about 60% chocolate with nougat and soft tropical berry notes rounding it out. In a latte, the chocolate and nougat come through cleanly and the berry notes sit quietly in the background. It is a smooth and approachable cup that does not demand much from you. A solid choice for milk drinks.
Soundtrack Coffee is one of the newer specialty coffee concepts in downtown Phoenix. It has a clear personal origin story rooted in a home business rather than a chain or franchise model. The brand blends music culture with dessert style coffee drinks and restaurant collaboration in a way I have not seen much of in Phoenix. For now the residency is the focus but maybe it could grow into something bigger down the line. I will be watching.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Slow Jamz
Espresso shot β’ Cortado β’ Americano β’ Flat White β’ Iced Latte β’ Matcha Latte
Specials
Ube Latte β’ Black Sesame Charcoal β’ Mexican Fried Ice Cream β’ Vanilla Bean Piloncillo β’ Korean Banana Matcha
Add Flavors
Vanilla β’ Lavender β’ Toasted Hazelnut β’ Strawberry β’ SF Vanilla
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Hadas Cafe Lounge
Indigo Room Coffee
Serafina Coffee Roasters
WhereUBean Coffee
Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters
Urbo | Urban Bodega
Window Coffee Bar
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Number and Street:
765 Grand Ave
Medjool Cafe is a new craft coffee and baklava bar inside Princess Pita's Midtown Phoenix location on N Central Ave. This is Princess Pita's 5th Phoenix area location and its first cafe concept. Their Instagram describes it as "coffee meets culture" with craft brews, matcha, baklava and more.
Parking is at the back of the building. As you walk toward the entrance you are greeted by a large mural painted on the cinder block wall. The artwork depicts a vibrant Mediterranean scene with three women harvesting olives from a tree. In the center a stone press pours fresh green olive oil into a ceramic jar. To the right the mural displays a glass carafe of oil, a bowl of whole olives and white doves flying against a colorful rainbow background. The piece was painted specifically for Princess Pita and it sets the tone before you even reach the door.
Walking past the mural and as you feel the sun before stepping into the shade of the patio, the air cools slightly under a wooden pergola. Large black planters line the walkway and guide you toward the glass entrance. It is a quiet transition from the busy street into a calm and secluded dining space.
Medjool Cafe sources its coffee beans from Top Cup Coffee House out in Gilbert. The house espresso uses Brazilian beans roasted dark. As my regular readers know I am a light to medium roast person and I do not have much tolerance for dark roasts. So I opted out of trying the espresso. Instead we went with the Banana Pudding Matcha and it was excellent. The flavor was spot on and I would order it again without hesitation.
We also grabbed several varieties of baklava to take home. Every single piece was incredibly flavorful. Everything we brought back was amazing and did not last long.
Medjool Cafe is easily one of the coolest new cafe spots in Midtown Phoenix. The Mediterranean atmosphere is beautiful, the baklava is worth the trip alone and the matcha proved that the drink menu has real quality behind it. I would love to come back and try the coffee if they ever bring in a lighter roast option. Until then I will be back for the baklava.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Iced Signature Lattes
Date Vanilla β’ White Choc Pistachio β’ White Choc Biscoff β’ Spanish β’ White Sands β’ Baklava β’ Banana Pudding Matcha β’ Date Cream Matcha β’ TiramisΓΊ
Classics
Espresso β’ Macchiato β’ Cortado β’ Cappuccino β’ Americano β’ Latte β’ Mocha β’ Iced Shaken Espresso
πClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Moxie Coffee Co.
Indigo Room Coffee
Futuro
WeBe Coffee Roasters
The Coffee Builders
Daydreamer Coffee
Collective Coffee
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Number and Street:
2603 N Central Ave
Maleta Cafe at 147 E Adams St. in downtown Phoenix has a menu of travel inspired creative specialty lattes, house made syrups and quality beans worth seeking out. It is tucked inside the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center (ALAC).
Adams St. is one of my favorite street in downtown Phoenix. It has shade, a cozy feel and one of the most spectacular murals in the city running 190 feet along the block. And now it has a specialty coffee shop that actually belongs here. Maleta Cafe feels less like a shop that rented a spot and more like something that grew out of the building itself. That is because, in a way...it did.
Owner Ms. Maria Miranda spent roughly 10 years volunteering at ALAC before she ever pulled an espresso shot there. She came in as an ASU intern and eventually helped shape the center through social media, event planning and art curation. She also brought serious coffee experience with her including time behind the bar at Aruma Cafe in Tempe. Maleta Cafe is the result of all that history and of years of travel. Her signature drinks are named after the places she has been and the flavors follow.
Walking in through the double glass doors and you get the picture quickly. On your left, small wooden bistro tables sit against a white wall covered in colorful framed artwork. Directly ahead, a large ornate gold framed portrait commands the room and tells you exactly where you are. On the right is the service area where Maria works. There is a simple bench and a small white side table nearby if you want to wait for your drink while taking in the exhibits.
But do not stop there. Once you have your coffee, keep going. The gallery opens up into multiple large rooms with plenty of seating and art covering every wall. A hallway leads you deep into the back toward a quiet nook with two accent chairs. Loop further and you pass through a photography area and a music room before coming back around to the front. Leave the laptop in the bag. Put the phone away. Every time your eye lands somewhere, there is a painting, a sculpture or an installation waiting for you. Sip your coffee and just take it in. The building has a real campus feel to it. ALAC was built in 2009 specifically because Phoenix lacked a Latino cultural center, and walking through it, that origin story makes complete sense.
Now, the coffee. The beans are from Pair Cupworks (a name this website knows well) and the current offering is a Mexican Chiapas roast with notes of chocolate, brown sugar and raisins. Maria does a single size for her lattes, which is actually a smart call and I respect that. You get a proper double shot and the right balance every time. I had the latte and it was exactly what a well made espresso drink should be. My only gripe is a personal one. I kept wishing for a natural processed beans like an Ethiopean. Something with more floral and fruity character. But that is just me being spoiled. Most people prefer the cleaner, less fruity notes that a washed coffee brings and the Chiapas delivers that really well.
My wife ordered the Cairo. It arrived with a small Egyptian flag on top and a piece of actual date fruit sitting right there in the drink. Maria told us that is how they serve it in Egypt. Something she picked up from her travels there. The caramel and cold foam finish tied it together nicely. Balanced, not too sweet and genuinely fun to look at.
And then there are the cookies. The buttered toast strawberry jam cookie has been living rent free in my head since I visited. Maria's friend bakes the goodies and they are amazing 10 out of 10! Enough said.
One more thing worth mentioning. Maria told me she is considering adding pour over service in the next few months. I noticed the Chemex already on the shelf, so it sounds like this is closer to happening than not. This is super exciting for the slow bar fans.
ALAC sits right between the Phoenix Convention Center and Symphony Hall with the Hyatt Regency across the street. It is a well positioned spot for commuters and visitors alike. And if you are visiting from out of town and happen to love murals and art, this stretch of downtown is a goldmine. The 190 foot welcome mural runs right along Adams St. and just around the corner on Central Ave. is "Timeless," a 144 foot piece on the side of the Renaissance Hotel that actually changes appearance as the sun moves across the sky throughout the day. Come for the coffee. Stay for the walls.
βΆClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Specialty Coffee
Doppio β’ Americano β’ Drip β’ Cortado β’ Cappuccino β’ Latte
Spring Specials
Cairo β’ Perth β’ Tainan
Matcha
Strawberry β’ Passion Fruit β’ Coconut β’ Mango β’ Guava
Milks
Whole Milk
βΆClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Food
Salted caramel cinnamon β’ Crumble coffee cake β’ Buttered toast & Strawberry β’ Jam Cookie β’ Taiwanese chocolate castella β’ Cake
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Moxie Coffee Co.
Indigo Room Coffee
Futuro
WeBe Coffee Roasters
The Coffee Builders
Daydreamer Coffee
Collective Coffee
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Number and Street:
147 E Adams St.
Fair Trade Cafe in Downtown Phoenix, AZ is a Latina owned coffee shop and community space in the heart of the Roosevelt Row Arts District. The full menu is listed below.
I first heard about Fair Trade Cafe when the owner Stephanie Vasquez appeared on Arizona Family (Channel 3). She was talking about everything being made fresh with no preservatives and I was already sold before the segment ended. Add the fact that it sits in one of my favorite parts of Phoenix and a visit was inevitable.
Stephanie opened this place in 2007. That kind of staying power in Downtown Phoenix means something. The shop operates around a "coffee with a conscience" philosophy. The coffee is shade grown, organic and fair trade sourced. The food is made in house. The mission is genuine and you can feel it in the room.
And what a room it is. High ceilings, rotating local art on the walls and a vibe that feels decorated with actual culture rather than a designer's idea of culture. Every month a different local artist gets the walls. The work is available for purchase too. It is a quiet but meaningful way to support the local art scene and it gives the space a personality that changes with the city around it.
There are two places to sit outdoors. The front area faces the street/train and has more foot traffic and energy. The back patio is tucked into an alcove behind the building and feels almost hidden. I split my time between both and the back patio was the better find. Shaded and calm. A small escape from the Phoenix sun.
Now, the coffee. The beans come directly from Cayetano Coffee, a family farm in Mexico that grows single origin beans and does not blend them. They sun dry the beans for three weeks, which is the kind of process that usually signals natural processing and all the fruity complexity that comes with it. So I had high hopes going in. I ordered the latte in the small size (worth noting that both sizes get the same number of shots) and was let down. The roast was so dark that it essentially erased everything the farm worked to build into those beans. Think of it like ordering a great steak and getting it well done. The raw material is there. The execution is not. My advice is to skip the espresso drinks entirely (unless you are a fan of dark/strong coffee).
Go for the matcha instead. I also had the Matcha Madness Flight which comes with three different matcha drinks. This was the right call. The flight includes a Maple Sea Salt matcha latte topped with sea salt cold foam, an Earl Grey matcha latte and an Ube matcha latte topped with house made ube whipped cream. All three were genuinely good but the Ube was the standout. Rich, distinct and not cloying. This is where Fair Trade Cafe shines and it is not particularly close.
I also tried the lemon bar. It is house made like all the desserts here, but it was too sweet for me to finish. That was a little unfortunate.
Service was slow but fine. Be prepared to wait five or more minutes for your drink especially in busy time. Free parking is available in the garage attached to the building from the back side. Fair Trade Cafe is a cool place to hang out in the Roosevelt Row Arts District.
βΆClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Specialty Coffee
Cup of Coffee β’ Cold Brew β’ Cafe Au Lait β’ Espresso β’ Americano β’ Cappuccino β’ Latte β’ Mocha
Not Coffee
Tea β’ Chai β’ Cocoa β’ Milk β’ Italian Soda β’ Organic Lemonade β’ Orange Juice β’ Matcha
Smoothies
Finikera Fresca β’ Desert Sunrise β’ Chica Fresa β’ Copper Citrus
House Specialties
Cafe Helado β’ The Phoenix β’ Jefita β’ Black Magic Woman β’ Gueritta β’ Guerita
Milks & Flavors
Whole β’ Nonfat β’ Soy β’ Almond β’ Breve β’ Coconut
βΆClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Baked Goodies
Pastry Bread β’ Cookies β’ Topped Bagel β’ Croissants β’ Stuffed Croissants β’ Buttered or Plain Bagel β’ Steel Cut Oatmeal
Breakfast Sandwiches
Breakfast Bagel β’ Breakfast Croissant β’ Breakfast Burrito β’ Chorizo Breakfast
Soups, Salads & Small Plates
Soup of the Moment β’ House Salad
Hot Sandwiches
Fair Trade Cuban Panini β’ Truffled Grilled Cheese
Cold Sandwiches & Wraps
BLT β’ Smoked Salmon Bagel β’ Turkey Wrap β’ Turkey Sandwich
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Moxie Coffee Co.
Indigo Room Coffee
Futuro
WeBe Coffee Roasters
The Coffee Builders
Daydreamer Coffee
Collective Coffee
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Number and Street:
1020 N 1st Ave
The West Valley does not get a lot of love in the media. I have said it before. Good coffee options in Goodyear are not exactly abundant. So when someone builds something worth talking about right off the I-10 at Estrella Parkway (literally one exit and you are there), it matters.
Enroute is bright and spacious. Polished concrete floors. High ceilings. Soft pastels and botanical accents everywhere. The service counter has this beautiful light blue bar with classic wainscoting detail. A white stone countertop running its full length and leafy green wallpaper on the back wall that ties it all together. It is calm without being cold. The whole area outside feels new too. Medjool palms lining the Estrella Parkway. Shopping centers that still look like they just came out of the box.
But here is the thing. Enroute is not trying to be a minimalist third wave coffee bar. It is trying to be the best neighborhood cafe in Goodyear. The menu is one of the broadest I have seen at an independent shop. Specialty lattes, loose leaf teas, matcha, chai, lotus energy drinks, protein smoothies, Italian sodas, a full food menu and a kids menu too. This is the place you bring a group with wildly different tastes and everyone finds something.
And the coffee? Espresso shots are pulled on a gorgeous Nuova Simonelli machine using a naturally processed Brazilian single origin roasted by Union Coffee Co. For drip and other coffee options, they switch to a light roasted Brazil and Colombia blend that skews brighter and more delicate. I had a straight latte with double shot of espresso and it was great. Smooth, well extracted and no bitterness hiding behind milk. A lot of shops can build fun signature drinks but completely fall apart at the espresso. Not here. I also tried the seasonal Ube Caramel latte cold and it was fantastic. Not too sweet and refreshing in a way that made me wish it had a permanent spot on the menu year round.
Comfy chairs, strong wifi, outlets everywhere and everything sparkly clean. People come here to stay a while. Enroute is exactly what you want to find one exit off the freeway in Goodyear.
βΆClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Coffee Bar
Drip Coffee β’ Cold Brew β’ Americano β’ Latte β’ Single Flavored Latte
Specialty Coffee
Mocha β’ Caramel Drinks β’ Signature Lattes β’ Signature Frappes! β’ Specialty Lattes
Caffeine FREE!
Creme Frappes! β’ Italian Soda β’ Orange juice β’ Lemonade β’ Hot Cocoa
Smoothie
Smoothie β’ Snickerdoodle Protein Smoothie! β’ Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie β’ Banana Split Protein Smoothie
Lotus Energy Drinks
Signature Lotus Drinks β’ Build Your OWN lotus
TEA
Matcha Green Tea β’ Chai Tea β’ Tea! (Loose Leaf)
March (Seasonal)
Screwball Cold Brew β’ Groundskeeper Matcha β’ Batter-scotch β’ Pot O' Gold β’ Cinniccati Chai β’ Four Leaf Clover Lotus
βΆClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Sausage Breakfast Pizza β’ Parkway Breakfast Burrito β’ Bagel Breakfast Sandwich β’ Avo Bravo β’ Artisan Avocado β’ Iconic Cozy Crunch Bowl β’ Chicken Strips β’ Goat fig yourself Flatbread β’ Chorizo Sammy β’ Bacon Breakfast Pizza β’ Chorizo burrito β’ Bagel & Cream Cheese β’ Sassy Avocado β’ Yogurt Parfait β’ Hot n' Buttered Cinnamon Roll β’ Blanco Flatbread β’ Ham, egg and cheese Croissant
Sandwiches & Wraps
Turkey Avo Panini β’ Birds n Bee's Sammy β’ Crispy Chicken Sandwich β’ Jesse's wrap
Kids Friendly
Kids Chicken Strips and Fries
Explore Top Phoenix Coffee Shops
All Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Moxie Coffee Co.
Indigo Room Coffee
Futuro
WeBe Coffee Roasters
The Coffee Builders
Daydreamer Coffee
Collective Coffee
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Number and Street:
15605 West Roosevelt St
Aristocrat Coffee Roasters is a new specialty coffee shop in Downtown Chandler, AZ. The menu includes espresso drinks, Greek coffee, pour-over (coming soon) and desserts.
Paul Roupas is Greek. He named his coffee shop after his favorite saxophone (which hangs proudly on the wall). He worked alongside his father in the restaurant industry for years and carries a long list of SCA certifications under his belt. And somewhere along the way he fell deeply in love with coffee. That combination of hospitality instinct and coffee nerd energy is exactly what Downtown Chandler needed.
When I walked into Aristocrat for the first time, the first thing I noticed was the machine. Sitting on the bar was a black Kees Van Der Westen Spirit espressoΒ machine. I had seen one years ago at a coffee shop out on the west coast during my travels. I thought I would never see one again. Here it was, in Chandler. Paul knows what he is doing.
Currently, espresso is made using single origin Mexican Chiapas beans. I am not always a huge fan of Chiapas, but Paul pulled a latte that was phenomenal! The Kees does not hurt. And here is something I appreciate: hot lattes come in one size. One. If a coffee shop offers you three or four size options, that is usually not a good sign. Every size change throws off calibration and you lose the balance of the drink. At Aristocrat, you do not have to worry about that.
My wife ordered a Freddo Cappuccino (half sweet). For those unfamiliar, it is a popular Greek iced coffee made with a double shot of espresso shaken with ice and topped with thick cold frothed milk. I may have stolen a few sips when she was not looking. It was layered, creamy and perfectly sweet. I highly recommend it.
Paul is also obsessed with roasting quality. He measures the moisture content of green coffee to make sure it lands in the optimal range. He roasts on a Probat which is about as serious as it gets for heat retention and thermal consistency. This is some serious high tech equipment here.
Pour-over options are not ready as of my first visit (mid-March) but they are coming very soon. A Chemex setup is already in place and counter mounted heat lamps are already installed. That kind of detail tells you everything about what to expect.
Parking is easy. There is free street parking and a free city garage right across the street. There is also a nice patio for the cooler months.
Aristocrat Coffee Roasters is in soft opening right now. And honestly, as someone who lives in the East Valley, I find that exciting. This neighborhood does not always get first dibs on the best things. But here is a shop with a world-class espresso machine, a roaster who measures moisture content in green coffee, SCA certifications on the wall and Greek coffee on the menu. This is the kind of place that other cities brag about having. It is right here in Downtown Chandler. Go now, while it is still quiet. You will want to say you were there early.
βΆClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change.
Coffee
Drip of the Day β’ Espresso β’ Americano β’ Cortado β’ Cappuccino β’ Latte β’ Cold Brew/Nitro β’ Pour Over β’ Freddo Espresso β’ Freddo Cappuccino
Not Coffee
Hot Tea β’ Iced Tea β’ Lemonade β’ Energy Drink β’ Bottled Soda β’ Hot Chocolate β’ Matcha Latte β’ Chai Latte
Milks & Flavors
Skim β’ Whole β’ 1/2 & 1/2 β’ Oat β’ Syrup
βΆClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change.
Pastries & Sweets
Muffins β’ Danishes β’ Lemon Raspberry Bars
See more local Arizona coffee roasters that prioritize meticulously sourced single-origin beans
Mythical Coffee Roasters - Gilbert
Sagebrush Coffee Shop & Roastery - Chandler
See my list of the best roaster cafes in Arizona for more shops that roast their own beans in-house.
Number and Street:
201 S Washington St
Rosebud Bakery in Tucson, AZ has a menu full of house made pastries and specialty espresso drinks worth getting up early for. And I mean that literally.
I went in on a Sunday afternoon around 1PM and half the pastry case was already gone. The regulars know something the rest of us do not. They show up early. So take the hint: plan your visit for the morning and you will be rewarded. Go late and you will be doing the walk of shame past an empty display case.
The place itself is tiny and charming in the best possible way. You can sit right at the counter and watch the team work in an open kitchen directly in front of you. It has that rare quality where the space feels lived in and warm but not sloppy. It was packed when I got there and I completely understood why.
Now here is where I need to be upfront about something. I walked in expecting the bakery to carry the show and the coffee to just be along for the ride. I was wrong. Spectacularly wrong.
The coffee here is exceptional. Rosebud pulls their shots on a La Marzocco Linea (the real deal) and they source their beans from Ruby Colorful Coffees out of Wisconsin. My first reaction was honest skepticism. We have a ton of great roasters right here in Arizona and Tucson. Why go all the way to Wisconsin? And then I tasted the espresso.
Ruby's Creamery blend is their flagship and it earns that title. The flavor profile runs through fig, cherry, almond and dark chocolate. The blend pulls from Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Peru. And the name is not just branding. It genuinely produces a creamy espresso that is hard to forget. One of the best lattes I have had (and I have had a lot). They also offer only a single size for their lattes. Regular readers know what that signals to me: a perfectly calibrated drink. No guessing. No upsizing your way into a watered down mess.
I should mention the Creamery blend may be seasonal so I honestly do not know what Ruby beans they will be serving when you get there. Worth the risk either way.
On the bakery side, the Oatmeal Date Cookie was genuinely great. The Orange Cardamom Cinnamon Roll and the Asparagus Goat Cheese Galette were solid but maybe slightly below the level the hype suggests. Go with managed expectations on the savory side.
Rosebud Bakery arrived on my radar as a pastry destination. It is leaving my memory as a coffee destination that also makes good pastries. That kind of surprise is rare and it is everything. Get there early. Order the latte. Thank me later.
βΆClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Coffee & Espresso
Espresso Shot β’ Cortado β’ Cappuccino β’ Latte β’ Mocha β’ Americano β’ Drip Coffee β’ Cold Brew
Other Beverages
Blackberry Vanilla Latte β’ Matcha Latte β’ Chai Latte β’ Golden Milk β’ Rosebud Iced Jamaica
Hot Tea
Herbal Mint (Peppermint, Chamomile & Lavender) β’ English Breakfast β’ Earl Grey
Milks & Flavors
Oatmilk β’ Cardamon β’ Cinnamon Piloncillo β’ Honey Lavender β’ Blackberry Vanilla Syrup
βΆClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Savory
Mushroom Gruyere Quiche β’ Tomato, Greens, and Feta Quiche β’ Ham Gruyere and Mustard Croissant β’ Asparagus Goat Cheese Galette
Sweets & More
Rosebud Granola β’ Orange Cardamom Cinnamon Roll β’ Basil Lemon Parmesan Scone β’ Oatmeal Date Cookie
βΆClick to View the Bread Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Sourdough & Specialty Breads
Sourdough English Muffins β’ Sourdough Focaccia β’ Sourdough Loaves β’ Wholegrain Baguettes
Explore Tucson Coffee Scene
Tucson Coffee Guide
Exo Roast Co.
Bar Crisol/Exo
Chappopin Cafe
EspresSoul Cafe
Haute Coffee
Red Captain Coffee Company
Savaya Coffee at the Flin
Savaya Coffee at Williams Centre
Savaya Coffee at Synergy Plaza
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Number and Street:
844 S 6th Ave
Sometimes a shop tells you what it is right in the name. Layla's Bakery Cafe puts the bakery first. And after one visit, that order makes a lot of sense. This is a family owned whole grain bakery and they specialize in incredible European style pastries and sourdough breads made from scratch.
The space is a real charmer. Towering ceilings, soft natural light, corrugated metal panels up high and clean white walls down low. The floors are stained concrete tiles. There is Indigenous art on the walls, traditional pottery on the shelves, desert landscape paintings and green plants spilling off ledges. Cozy booths with light cushions hug the perimeter and dark high-top counters anchor the middle of the room for the in and out crowd. It is industrial meets Southwestern and it works.
The front patio deserves its own paragraph though. It sits slightly below ground level, so you are not getting any sweeping views but it might be one of the nicer patios I have parked at in a while. Birds, trees, plenty of umbrellas for shade and tables to spare. The staff is warm and welcoming on top of it all. A great spot to camp out for an hour.
Now to the coffee. Layla's runs Metador beans across the board. The espresso is Metador's Traditional Espresso, a light roast with promised notes of cinnamon and citrus. I am a light roast guy so I was pumped to see it on the bar. I ordered a small latte and it was just ok. The cinnamon and citrus that pulled me in did not show, or maybe got overpowered by the milk. It was not bitter and the balance was decent though. Just a polite and quiet cup. The drip is a different story. They run Metador's Sedona Blend, a medium roast of Mexican Altura and Papua New Guinea (PNG) beans, and the two origins fill in each other's gaps in a really pleasant way. The Mexican side keeps things bright and clean. The PNG side adds some weight and a little rustic depth. It holds up to milk or cream and or just straight black. It was a solid approachable cup and honestly the better move if you are stopping in for caffeine. Oh, and most syrups here are house made which is a nice touch.
But here is the thing. You are not coming to Layla's for the espresso. You are coming for the bakery. The Kouign Amann (pronounced queen ah-mahn) is the headliner. It is a French pastry that lives somewhere between a croissant and a caramelized sugar cake. Crunchy shell, dozens of flaky layers inside and a sweetness that knows when to stop. I would drive back just for this!
I also grabbed a Caprese sandwich on a whim. It was one of the few sandwiches they had without meat and I went in with low expectations just by the looks of it behind the glass. I left amazed. A thin layer of pesto, top quality mozzarella and the kind of bread that makes you stop mid bite to look at it. A really great sandwich that completely caught me off guard!
So here is the deal. If you are picky about your espresso shots, grab the drip or skip the coffee altogether. If you are here for the pastries and the food, you are in for a treat. Layla's is a bakery first and a really good one at that.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
Fruit Smoothies
golden tropic β’ summer berry β’ garden glow β’ desert sun
Drinks
Lemonade β’ Kombucha on tap
Coffee & Tea
Espresso β’ Americano β’ Cappuccino β’ Cafe Latte β’ Cafe Mocha β’ Turmeric Golden Latte β’ Dirty Chai Latte β’ Honey Bee Latte β’ Matcha Latte β’ Lavender Matcha β’ Iced Tea β’ Hot Tea β’ Cold Brew β’ Cafe Au Lait β’ Drip Coffee β’ Bulletproof
Drink Specials
Earl Grey Latte β’ Brown Sugar Cinnamon Breve β’ Cafe de Olla Latte β’ Purple Sweet Potato Latte β’ Green Tea Cooler
Milk substitutions
oat β’ almond β’ coconut milk
Flavors / Syrups
Caramel β’ Hazelnut β’ Chocolate β’ Honey β’ Chai β’ Maple β’ Vanilla β’ Housemade Vanilla β’ Housemade Brown Sugar Cinnamon β’ Housemade Honey Cardamom β’ Housemade Lavender β’ Housemade Earl Grey
πClick to View the Food Menu
Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal.
Lite Bites
Bowl of Soup β’ Buratta Salad β’ Hummus & Crudite β’ Strawberry Salad β’ Potato Salad β’ Pasta Salad
Brunch
Avocado Toast β’ Salmon Toast β’ Power Bowl β’ BLT Caprese β’ Chicken Caesar Salad β’ Breakfast Sandwich β’ Warm Bread & Butter
For the Kids 10 and under
scrambled egg & cheese sandwich β’ pb & j β’ grilled cheese
Checkout other cool cafes in beautiful Sedona.
Number and Street:
3190 W State Rte 89A #200
King Coffee in Tempe is a gem tucked into S Mill Ave across from the ASU Art Museum & the Music Hall. The vibe is chill & unpretentious in the best possible way.
Getting there is half the fun. The front of the building has a couple of spots but they are either handicap or capped at 15 minutes. The main parking lot is behind the building and is reached through a narrow single lane passage under a canopy of massive established trees. Walking from the car to the entrance feels like a brief escape from the city. The large trees cast shade over the walkway and give the whole approach a quiet almost residential feel.
The exterior is low profile and charming. Warm exposed brick, a muted coral pink roofline and window decals keep the branding minimal. A deep overhang covers a narrow patio with small bistro tables. Three doors face you when you arrive. Use the orange one. The blue doors lead you straight behind the counter into the barista's workspace (do not ask me how I know).
Inside, the room opens up nicely. Dark exposed wood beams run across the ceiling above polished concrete floors and warm interior brick walls. Wheeled high top tables with industrial stools make the layout flexible and functional. The whole room feels productive without feeling corporate. Students with laptops, people in quiet conversation and nobody in a rush.
Now, the coffee. The owner roasts all the beans off site and brings them in fresh. The espresso blend is where things get interesting. It is a medium roast combination of Sumatran, Ethiopian and Costa Rican beans. On paper that sounds like a lot. In practice it is one of the more pleasant espresso surprises I have had in a while!
Here is why it works. Each origin is pulling its own weight. The Sumatra provides the foundation which is earthy, full bodied and low in acidity. The Ethiopian brings the brightness and the "pop" (think fruit, floral lift and complexity). The Costa Rican plays the role of balanced mediator that keeps the cup from going in any extreme direction. Medium roast is the right call here because it hits the sweet spot where the Maillard reaction (the chemical process that develops chocolate, nutty and caramel flavors during roasting) has done its work without burning off the origin character of each bean.
Then add whole milk to the equation. During a medium roast, sugars in the bean caramelize partially. When that espresso meets steamed whole milk, those caramel notes bond beautifully with the lactose in the milk. The result is a cup that is smooth and delicious. I went in with modest expectations given the blend description. I was completely wrong and happily so. This is a winning formula and I genuinely hope the owner keeps it exactly as is.
The drip gets the Colombian exclusively which is a solid and reliable choice for a filter brew. The cold brew is made from the Costa Rican beans. This makes a lot of sense given how clean and approachable this origin is when brewed cold over time.
We also ordered the Strawberry Chantilly Latte modified as a matcha. They said yes to the mod without hesitation which is quite nice. This item was from the spring seasonal menu. It is built on a house made strawberry puree (not a commercial syrup) paired with matcha. The matcha was on the stronger side but it balanced beautifully against the brightness of the strawberry. The result was a delicious drink worth coming back for specifically.
A word on syrups in general here. The regular specialty drinks may use commercial syrups, which is standard practice at most shops. But the seasonal specials are where the kitchen puts in real work with house made ingredients. Seek those out. Do not be shy about asking what is currently house made versus commercial. The difference shows up in the cup!
King Coffee is the kind of place that earns its regulars quietly. No grand gestures, no performance. Just a well considered space, a genuinely good espresso blend and a staff that accommodates without making a fuss about it. For a Mill Ave spot that could easily coast on foot traffic alone, it does not. That says a lot.
πClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Coffee
Drip β’ Espresso β’ Cortado β’ Americano β’ Cold Brew β’ Cappuccino β’ Latte
Tea
Earl Grey β’ Chamomile Hibiscus β’ African Rooibos β’ Moroccan Mint β’ Southern Belle β’ Tea Latte
Lattes & More
Chai Latte β’ Matcha Latte
Other
Italian Soda β’ Grandma's Limeade β’ Fizzy Fusion β’ Hot Cocoa
Spring Specials
Sunny Daze Matcha β’ Strawberry Chantilly Latte β’ Citrus Spritz β’ Garden of Roses
Milks
Oat Milk β’ Almond Milk β’ Breve
Syrups
Vanilla β’ Caramel β’ Toasted Marshmallow β’ Lavender β’ Hazelnut β’ Maple β’ English Toffee β’ Mocha β’ White Mocha β’ Agave β’ Orange β’ Pistachio β’ Cinnamon β’ Honey β’ Peppermint β’ Brown Sugar β’ Almond β’ Coconut β’ Kiwi β’ Peach β’ Pineapple β’ Blue Raspberry β’ Raspberry β’ Banana β’ Blueberry β’ Strawberry β’ Green Apple β’ Lemon β’ Cherry β’ Blackberry β’ Sugar Free Vanilla β’ Sugar Free Strawberry β’ Sugar Free Caramel β’ Sugar Free Peach β’ Sugar Free Almond
πClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Sandwiches & Burritos
King's PB-B β’ Veggie Panini β’ Turkey Pesto Panini β’ Breakfast Burrito β’ Breakfast Panini β’ Veggie Breakfast Panini
Bagels
Plain β’ Everything β’ JalapeΓ±o-Cheddar β’ Cream Cheese β’ Butter β’ Peanut-Butter
Pastries
Gourmet Protein Cookies
Number and Street:
1020 S Mill Ave
The Coffee Builders is easily one of the most gorgeous coffee shops in Phoenix. It is a cozy space where every surface from floor to ceiling is a work of art.
The interior is warm and moody. Dark horizontal wood planks run across the walls and match the rich walnut ceiling panels shaped into dramatic 3D origami style geometric patterns. The space does not get much natural light but that works beautifully here. The low lighting lets the wood tones and textures do all the talking and the smaller footprint makes the whole room feel like you have been invited into something personal. The service counter alone is a work of art. It is made of light marble with inset slats cut at varying angles to form a fan like geometric pattern that I could stare at for hours. Stone and gold accents give the whole place a "jewelry box" feel. And sitting on top of that counter is a gorgeous wide La Marzocco Strada espresso machine. Porter Barn Wood operates right next door and their craftsmanship is on full display throughout the shop. The name "The Coffee Builders" makes a lot of sense once you walk in.
For espresso, they use a Brazilian and Ethiopian blend. The Brazilian base provides deep caramel sweetness while the Ethiopian (a Yirgacheffe, I could tell immediately after tasting it) brings bright acidity. The result has a tea like quality that some people will absolutely love. I am personally more of an Ethiopian Sidama or Guji fan. A naturally processed Ethiopian from those regions would give you a heavier mouthfeel with berry like flavors instead of the black tea character of a washed Yirgacheffe. But hey, I am nitpicking. The latte was delicious.
The latte I ordered was a medium size. They offer two sizes for hot lattes (medium and large) but both come with the same double shot. The medium gave me a perfect espresso to milk ratio so I would recommend starting there. If you want the larger cup, throw in an extra shot so the espresso does not get drowned out (unless you love the extra milk).
My wife went with the Bourbon Vanilla Latte from the "Luxury Latte" menu. The vanilla was strong and pleasant, softening the bourbon notes in all the right ways. It was well mixed from top to bottom with no heaviness settling at the base. The sweetness level was perfect by default. No adjustments needed. No "can I get that with less sugar" negotiations. Just a perfectly built drink.
I also sampled their cold brew, which is made from Colombian beans aged in charred oak barrels before roasting. The process gives it a smooth bourbon sweetness and vanilla character without any actual alcohol. If you are into barrel aged anything, this one is worth trying.
Their drip coffee uses Sumatra single origin. Sumatra beans are typically wet hulled, which gives them an earthy and heavy body. Expect cedar or tobacco notes and the low acidity makes it gentler on an empty stomach if you are a before breakfast coffee drinker.
We showed up on a Saturday late morning and the place was absolutely buzzing. They had a Star Wars theme event going and the line stretched all the way to the door. It moved fast though (less than 10 minutes) and the barista assured me this is not the norm. Clearly people know about this place, and I get it. I would have loved to slow down and really soak in all the woodwork and design details but that will have to wait for next visit. Outside, a large courtyard patio with plenty of seating is enclosed by a wrought iron fence. The patio opens up to a covered parking area with even more tables and space to spread out.
I have been to hundreds of coffee shops across Arizona. Great coffee and beautiful spaces are not hard to find in this state. But it is a rare thing to walk into a room and feel the craft before you even smell the coffee. You look up and someone has turned the ceiling into a sculpture. You look at the counter and it belongs in a gallery. The Coffee Builders earned their name. Go see it for yourself.
βΆClick to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items are seasonal and may not be available.
Coffee
Drip Coffee β’ Pour Over β’ Espresso β’ Americano β’ Macchiato β’ Cortado β’ Cappuccino β’ Flat White β’ Latte β’ Mocha β’ White Mocha β’ Cold Brew β’ Nitro Cold Brew
Tea & Wellness
Loose Leaf Tea β’ Iced Tea β’ Chai Latte β’ Matcha Latte β’ Dirty Chai β’ London Fog β’ Turmeric Ginger Latte
Signatures & Specialties
The Collective Latte β’ Honey Lavender Latte β’ Sea Salt Caramel Latte β’ Rosemary Fig Latte β’ Seasonal Tonic β’ Espresso Tonic
Refreshers
House-Made Lemonade β’ Arnold Palmer β’ Sparkling Hibiscus β’ Fruit Shrub Soda
Milks & Flavors
Whole β’ Non-Fat β’ Oat β’ Almond β’ Macadamia β’ Vanilla β’ Caramel β’ Lavender β’ Rosemary Fig β’ Honey β’ Mocha β’ White Mocha β’ Sea Salt β’ SF Vanilla
βΆClick to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items are seasonal and may not be available.
Breakfast & All Day
Breakfast Burrito β’ Steel Cut Oats β’ Chia Seed Pudding β’ Greek Yogurt Parfait β’ Seasonal Quiche β’ Pastry Selection
Toast
Signature Avocado Toast β’ Ricotta & Honey Toast β’ Almond Butter & Jam Toast β’ Smoked Salmon Toast
Lunch
Collective Grain Bowl β’ Roasted Vegetable Salad β’ Pesto Chicken Sandwich β’ Caprese Panini β’ Daily Soup
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Number and Street:
901 S 7th St Bldg C
Some shops earn their name. Homage Coffee House (or HCH to the regulars) earns it twice over. The whole place is a love letter to old Glendale and you feel it the second you pull up.
Let me set the scene. Historic downtown Glendale is one of those rare Phoenix pockets that makes you want to slow down. Tree lined streets. Preserved brick storefronts. Shaded bungalows, antique shops and murals displayed everywhere. It has a small town pulse that the rest of the Valley mostly paved over years ago. And smack in the middle of all that charm sits a 1915 stone house painted a warm mustard yellow, with blue trim, a gabled roof and a front porch that basically begs you to sit down.
Real grass wraps the front and sides, which in this desert is borderline miraculous. There is a big mature tree out back throwing shade. Street parking is easy and plentiful and there is a small unpaved lot in the back if you would rather tuck away. Inside, a narrow hallway connects a few cozy rooms front to back, all of them soaked in natural light. Stepping in feels less like walking into a business and more like walking into someone's home.
There is a good story behind this place. The owners were not even planning a coffee shop. About six years ago they were hunting for a restaurant space, found this old house and fell in love with it. Then reality hit. A full kitchen meant a commercial hood, ventilation, plumbing, the works. So they pivoted. Their daughter already had barista experience, so coffee it was! They brought in a gorgeous 2-group yellow paneled La Marzocco Linea, started messing around with house made syrups and partnered with Xendu Coffee for beans. When Xendu later closed down, they sourcing from Press Coffee, the well regarded local roaster.
The hot drinks come in two sizes, but both pull the same number of shots, so I went small to keep my latte from drowning in milk. The beans are the Press Twitch blend, a medium roast that is part Nicaragua and part Mexico and serves as the Press signature espresso. Now, I will be honest. I am not usually a Press blend guy. But this latte pleasantly surprised me. I did not really catch the cherry and dark chocolate those beans are supposed to show, yet the cup was creamy, smooth and balanced. The small size let the coffee breathe instead of vanishing into dairy. And the temperature was dialed in perfectly, no scorched milk situation like you get at too many other shops.
And then downtown Glendale did its thing. The neighborhood charmed me so hard I could not leave. I wandered the antique stores, poked around the old streets and basically had to drag myself back to obligations. But not before circling back to HCH for round two.
This time I went for the popular Rosemary Lavender Latte, made with their own house made syrup. It was 110 degrees out, so iced was the only sane call. The Twitch blend made a surprisingly crisp espresso base and the herbal notes came across cool and refreshing (the ice probably deserves some credit there too). The lavender stayed subtle and never went perfumy, which is a real win. Best part, it was not too sweet. No sugar bomb here. A hot latte gets natural sweetness from the milk, but an iced one like this leans entirely on the syrup to balance the herbs and espresso. HCH nailed the balance perfectly!
If I am allowed one daydream, it is this. Glendale has so little in the way of single origin espresso or slow bar pour overs, and a place this special feels like the perfect spot to one day see a rotating guest espresso or a natural Ethiopia on a quiet weekend. Something fun to imagine for a community that would show up for it.
Until then, HCH is doing exactly what its name promises. It pays homage, and it feels like home.
Number and Street:
7021 N 57th Ave
Mission
Finding great coffee should be an inspiring experience. My name is Ozzy and I personally vet and curate the best independent coffee shops and roasters across Arizona to make finding the perfect coffee shop easier.
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