Manual Lever Espresso Coffee Shops in Arizona
Manual Lever Espresso Coffee Shops in Arizona
Manual lever espresso machines are rare and highly specialized. Instead of using automated pressure, these machines rely on a hand pulled lever, giving baristas full control over the espresso shot.
Only a few coffee shops in Arizona use manual lever machines. Here is where you can find them.
Desert Grave Espresso is the kind of coffee shop I want people to stumble into and then tell their friends about later. It sits in Jerome with that slightly offbeat mountain town energy that makes the whole visit feel a little more fun than a normal coffee run.
Getting there is part of the experience. I come in usually from the south on Highway 89A and the road earns its reputation fast. Tight curves and switchbacks climb around Mingus Mountain and a few miles before Jerome the views open up into something that is impressive. Clarkdale sits in the valley below. Old mining ruins cling to the hillsides all around you. Pictures do not do it justice. Just go and experience it for yourself.
Jerome itself carries a specific kind of history. It was once a booming copper metropolis of 15,000 people. When the mines closed in the 1950s it nearly emptied out completely dropping to fewer than 100 residents. That collapse is where the ghost town reputation comes from. The Jerome Grand Hotel (a former hospital where thousands of miners reportedly died) still clings to the side of Cleopatra Hill today and is keeping that legacy alive with well documented hauntings. All of that history is present in the air when you walk around town. Desert Grave Espresso fits right into it.
The shop is tucked inside the New State Motor Co. building down the stairs. It has that compact tucked away charm that works so well in a place like Jerome. The space has a cactus theme with vibrant earthy colors that feel inviting. The shop is the creation of Ezra and Jeneisha. Her ceramic work is displayed alongside the coffee bar and there is a variety of craft items and merch for sale. A small couch by a window overlooking the valley is exactly where you want to sit.
Ezra treats coffee as an art form. You can see the pride he takes from extraction to presentation. He pulls espresso shots on a Flair 58 Plus, a manual lever machine, which is exactly the kind of setup that caught my attention and made me want to make the drive from Phoenix. A lever machine puts full control in the hands of the barista. Pressure, timing and technique all fall on the person pulling the shot. When it is done right (and here it is) the result is espresso that tastes unmistakably human. Smooth, balanced and just plain pleasant. Nothing fussy. Nothing overcomplicated. The flavors from the beans came through really well. They also offer house made syrups if you want to go that route.
Coffee enthusiasts will be right at home here. But honestly so will everyone else.
Jerome deserves a coffee shop this good... Turns out it has one.
👉Click to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Espresso & Coffee
Peppered Espresso • Americano • Cappuccino • Cortado • Drip • Espresso • Drip Coffee • Aerocano
Lattes & Mochas
Latté • Mocha
Tea & Other
Tea • Chai • Cocoa • Steamer • Dirty Chai • Tea Latté • Matcha • Chai Tea • Cappuchino
Winter Specials
Peppermint Mocha • Spiced Orange Latté • Vanilla Rose Latté • Maple Bourbon Latté
Add Ons
Extra Espresso • Housemade Soft Top
Syrups
Orange • Vanilla • Lavender • Rosemary • Pistachio • Honey • Caramel • Prickly Pear • Rose • Peppermint • Almond • Lemon • Blueberry • Chocolate
Milk Options
Oat • Whole • Half + Half
Number and Street:
116 Main St
Downtown Gilbert just got a coffee shop built by parents who were tired of having nowhere good to take their kids. Villa Meola Coffee is that place and it is worth the trip.
Michael and Callen Meola are the couple behind it. Before this shop existed, they spent years searching for places with enough space for their two young daughters to roam around without anyone losing their mind. Instead of just accepting that nothing quite fit, they built the place they always wanted.
The name "Villa Meola" is what they always called their own home. The whole idea is that you feel invited the same way a friend would invite you over. Walking around the space, you get that.
They ended up partnering with Mario Cimmino of Gelato Cimmino, the authentic Italian gelato shop right there in Downtown Gilbert. The two businesses now share the space which gives the whole place a strong Italian character that goes well beyond the menu.
And speaking of Italian character, the espresso here comes out of an Astoria machine with a manual lever. There are maybe a handful of shops in all of Arizona running human powered manual levers. Unlike modern pump-driven machines, the lever puts the extraction entirely in the hands of the barista. It is harder to master but produces a creamy texture that a pump-driven machine simply struggles to replicate. Even the pressure profiler expensive machiens with all the fancy electronics strugle to replicate a pull like a human would. The beans are from Momentto Coffee roasters and is a medium roasted blend with a full body and zero bitterness. That combination shows in the cup.
The drinks are named after Italian classics. Limoncello, Cannoli, Caffe Forza, Spumoni. We got the Spumoni, named after the molded Italian gelato. It is deeply chocolatey with pistachio pieces at the bottom and a subtle cherry note running underneath. If the cherry had a bit more presence, this drink would be almost unfairly good. We also got the Cannoli Latte, which uses house made almond milk and actual cannoli cream on top in place of cold foam. Gentle cinnamon notes, everything done right.
All drinks come out half sweet by default, which is the right call. Every drink also arrives with a small piece of biscotti (noticeably better than anything from a store shelf). You can buy extra pieces and you probably should. They are that good!
The space is big. There is indoor and outdoor seating, a large patio with umbrellas, a play area for kids and a little iron fence around the patio with a self closing gate so the kiddos do not wander into the street. There are books, games and plenty of reasons for a small kid to stay happily occupied while you actually enjoy your drink.
Gilbert needed a spot like this. A family friendly space with genuinely great coffee, Italian inspired drinks and gelato all under the same roof is not something you just stumble across. The Meolas built exactly what they were looking for. As it turns out, a lot of other people were looking for the same thing.
👉Click to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Villa Drink Specials
Cannoli • The Hot Italian • Limoncello • Spumoni • Bee-Scotti • Caprese Latte
Traditional
Espresso Board • Caffe Forza • Macchiato Board • Americano • Drip • Cappuccino • Caffe Latte • Caffe Mocha • Affogato • Cold Brew
More Drinks
Chai Latte • Italian Soda • Steamed/Iced Chocolate • Tea • Tea Latte • Kiddy Winnie the Pooh
Syrups
Cinnamon Vanilla Bean • Vanilla Bean • Cherry • Almond* • SF Vanilla Bean (Stevia) • Honey • Maple Syrup • Agave • Cocoa • Basil • Calabrian Chili
Milks
Housemade Almond Milk • Pistachio Whole Milk* • Breve • Half and Half
👉Click to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
To Eat
Breakfast Pizza • Vegetarian Breakfast Pizza
Pastries
Assorted Pastries
Number and Street:
339 N Gilbert Rd
Esso Coffeehouse is the charming, hidden gem every neighborhood wishes it had. This cozy, unpretentious spot is serious about its craft, roasting its own beans in-house to create coffee that is consistently rich, smooth, and delicious. While the classic espresso drinks are flawless, the real fun is exploring their wonderfully inventive menu, which features a huge list of house-made syrups and creative signature drinks like the beloved Honey Lavender and Bee Pollen Lattes.
In a delightful local twist, they even serve savory tamales, making for a perfect and unexpected pairing. Whether you're settling in for a study session or catching up with a friend on the beautiful, vine-covered patio, Esso delivers a genuinely warm and high-quality experience every time. It’s a true local treasure that absolutely deserves its spot among the best.
Number and Street:
4700 N 12th St suite 107
Williams Coffee Co. is a small local cafe with a book nook, organic and single origin sweetener options, fresh muffins and a focused coffee program that celebrates the craft seriously. The espresso is pulled from a blend but various single origin offerings are available. The piece of equipment worth calling out is the manual lever Victoria Arduino Leva. That alone tells you everything you need to know about the kind of shop this is.
▶Click to View the Drink Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Coffee
Espresso • Romano • Cortado • Con Panna • Iced Espresso • Flat White • Vanilla Flat White • Matte Black • Classic Cap • Latte • Cinnamon White Mocha • Mint Macadamia • Spicy Pumpkin Mocha • Caramel Pecan Mocha • Vanilla Lemon • Americano • Pour Over • Cold Brew • Drip Coffee
Non Coffee
Hot Chai • Chai • Hot Matcha • Matcha • Vanilla Matcha • Honey Rose Matcha • Tea • Fresh Juice
Latte Combinations!
Vanilla with lemon zest • White Chocolate with lime zest • Brown Sugar Cinnamon • Rose white chocolate • Sea Salt Caramel • Ancho Chili mocha
Milks
Whole • Oat • Almond
Syrups
Vanilla • Chai • Rose • Mocha • White Mocha • Caramel • Brown sugar • Cinnamon
▶Click to View the Food Menu
Note: Menu items are subject to change. Some items could be seasonal and may not be available.
Breakfast Menu
Avocado Toast • Avocado Toast with egg • Breakfast Sandwich • Yogurt, Fruit, Toast • Almond Butter Toast • Omelette
Food
Eggs Benedict • Avocado Toast (Tomato with feta or goat cheese, honey or pom glaze) • Avocado Toast (Ricotta, tomato, fresh pomegranate, mint, pom glaze) • Buffalo Breakfast Sandwich • Croissant Sandwich • Chef's Omelette • Assortment of pastries
Juice / Yogurt
Yogurt
Number and Street:
3170 W Carefree Hwy
Why Try Lever Espresso?
- More control over extraction
- Smoother and more nuanced flavor
- Crafted by highly skilled baristas
- Rare and unique coffee experience
What to Expect
More attention to detail in each shot
Smaller, quality focused shops
Is it worth trying?
If you enjoy espresso or want to try something different, manual lever espresso is worth trying at least one. It offers a more hands on and refined approach compared to standard pump-driven machines.
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.
Arizona Coffee Directory
info@azcoffeeshops.com