A specialty focused spot pouring carefully dialed espresso in downtown Mesa. The menu stays small and the shots stay serious.
Visit Pair Cupworks
Local & Independent
Best Coffee Shops in Mesa, AZ
I will be straight with you. Mesa is not a craft coffee town. Compared to Phoenix, Tempe or Gilbert, the specialty scene in Mesa is thin and a lot of the “coffee shops” are either drive-thru chains or sugar stops rather than places that respect the bean. I am not going to pad this list to make Mesa look like something it is not. What I can tell you is that a handful of spots genuinely punch above the city’s weight. Hooligans pulls the best espresso in Mesa, full stop. Pair Cupworks is right there with them on quality too even if the location does it no favors. A few others below are worth your time. The rest of Mesa I will leave to Google Maps.
Downtown & Historic
Coffee Shops in Downtown and Historic Mesa
The walkable core along Main Street, where the historic district mixes local art, Filipino flavors and specialty espresso.
Part cafe and part local art gallery. Jarrods pairs coffee and a deep tea list with rotating work from Mesa artists, a quiet and creative corner of the historic district.
Visit JarrodsA Filipino inspired cafe on West Main Street serving ube, taro and tiramisu lattes, coffee jelly drinks and fresh pandesal. Open mic and community events keep the space lively.
Visit Barako
East Mesa & Eastmark
Coffee Shops in East Mesa and Eastmark
The east side is home to the best espresso in the city and the most searched local cafe in Mesa.
If you want the best espresso in Mesa, this is my first stop. Hooligans pulls a shot that outclasses nearly everything else in the city, in a relaxed neighborhood setting.
Visit HooligansThe most searched independent cafe in Mesa, and for good reason. A dependable espresso program and a comfortable room have earned Moka a loyal local following.
Visit Moka & CoA bakery and coffee shop in one. Bak and Jo pairs fresh baked goods with a solid cup, which makes it an easy pick when you want a bite with your coffee.
Visit Bak and Jo
West & North Mesa
Coffee Shops in West and North Mesa
Easygoing neighborhood cafes spread across the west and north sides, good for an everyday cup or a longer sit down.
A bakery and coffee shop in one. Bak and Jo pairs fresh baked goods with a solid cup, which makes it an easy pick when you want a bite with your coffee.
Visit Bak and JoA relaxed neighborhood coffee shop with an easygoing and welcoming feel. A reliable everyday stop on the west side of Mesa.
Visit Pura Vida GrindsA full cafe and coffee house serving espresso drinks alongside a food menu, which makes it a good choice for a longer sit down visit.
Visit Higher GroundsExplore All Mesa Listings
23 Listings
Coming soon. Stay tuned!
Number and Street:
109 W University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85201
Paris Baguette is a stylish and spacious bakery and cafΓ© with a well-organized, inviting atmosphere that feels like "a little piece of Europe.". The chill vibe makes it popular for solo visits, dates, or working sessions.
They offer a full range of coffee drinks including lattes, espresso, cappuccinos, and brewed coffee, plus frappes, smoothies, and teas. The bakery features an incredible variety of fresh, high-quality pastries, breads, and artfully crafted cakes. Customers particularly rave about the "dangerously good" fruit & custard pastries, croissants, and sweet buns. The self-serve setup lets guests browse both sweet and savory options at their own pace.
With ample seating and friendly staff, Paris Baguette provides a welcoming experience for anyone looking to satisfy their sweet tooth or enjoy a delicious meal and quality beverages
Number and Street:
1919 W Main St
Hidden gem in Mesa: Pair Cupworks roasts their own beans and pulls espresso shots with the precision of surgeons. This is where passion becomes craft. Single origin pour-overs, rare varietals, phenomenal shots. This is a destination for coffee enthusiasts who understand that craft matters. Run by passionate and incredibly knowledgeable baristas who pull phenomenal shots on their La Marzocco Linea espresso machine, every drink here reflects excellence. As an in house roaster, Pair has a deep connection to their product. This shows most in their slow bar where each pour-over is treated as its own meditation.
The menu is a coffee lover's dream. A rotating list of single origin pour-overs and espressos with unique and complex flavor profiles. Their standout Colombia is a perfect example. Whether you're geeking out over a rare Geisha varietal or enjoying a perfectly crafted cappuccino, the care and precision here is exceptional.
While the portions run on the modest/small side, it reflects the specialty coffee philosophy of letting the coffee shine rather than volume (though at full price). You're paying for quality and craftsmanship over quantity. The upside is that what you get is expertly crafted. The banana latte that I ordered during my last visit for instance, was perfectly balanced and not too sweet to overwhelm the espresso.
The space itself is worth mentioning. Located at the back of a shared space with a cider bar and a pizza place, it's small but intentional. Sunlight streams through windows. Seating is generous. The vibe is focused and welcoming without being pretentious.
See why Pair Cupworks is featured in my curated best coffee shops in the East Valley
With its unwavering dedication to the art of coffee and refusal to compromise on quality, Pair Cupworks is one of the most essential coffee experiences around. This is where coffee becomes craft... becomes art.
Number and Street:
31 S Robson #103
Located inside Lonestar Music Depot in Mesa, Lone Star Coffee Bar is a cozy spot for both coffee and music lovers. Serving locally sourced coffee and pastries, this shop provides a relaxed atmosphere perfect for a quick stop or a longer creative session. With its welcoming vibe, itβs an ideal place to enjoy a great cup of coffee while surrounded by the unique energy of a music depot.
Number and Street:
126 W Main St
Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters is a local roaster with multiple locations, including a flagship cafe in Tempe. The shop is known for its extensive selection of direct-trade, single-origin coffee beans and a dedicated slow bar featuring various brewing methods like V60 and Aeropress. In addition to a full espresso bar, they offer a vast menu of loose-leaf teas from around the world.
Number and Street:
6033 S Sossaman Rd
The Fix Drive Thru Coffee is a drive-thru and walk-up coffee stand with a focus on speed and a wide variety of flavored beverages. The menu features an extensive list of specialty lattes, freezes, smoothies, and plant-based energy drinks, alongside classic espresso options. They also offer a selection of pastries and baked goods sourced from a local bakery.
Number and Street:
5135 E McKellips Rd
Black Rifle Coffee Company is a national veteran-owned coffee chain that roasts its own wide variety of coffee blends ranging from light to dark roasts. The shops feature a strong patriotic and military-support theme offering a large selection of merchandise alongside their coffee, food, and ready-to-drink canned beverages. The menu includes a full espresso bar, pour-over, and numerous signature flavored lattes.
Number and Street:
5105 S Power Rd
Caffenio is a highly popular coffee chain from Sonora, Mexico. It has opened its first U.S. location in Mesa operating as a high volume drive-thru and walk-up kiosk. The brand sources its own "Pluma Hidalgo Oaxaca" espresso and offers an extensive menu of hot and cold beverages. The offerings are heavily centered around sweet and flavored drinks, such as the Kfreeze (a cappuccino frappe), Rockino, and various Blended drinks made with ice cream, alongside unique specialties like Horchata and Oaxaca Coffee.
Number and Street:
1262 W Southern Ave
Mesa Coffee Shops FAQ
Local answers from cafes I have visited across Mesa.
>Mesa has a deep bench, but a few names come up again and again. Moka and Co is the one locals search for most, and Pair Cupworks draws a serious specialty crowd. For an all around first visit I point people to those two, then Coffee Rush Mesa for a quick, reliable cup. Each is a local independent, not a chain.
Yes. Mesa has a growing specialty scene with shops that focus on single origin beans and carefully dialed espresso. Pair Cupworks leans hard into the specialty side, and Beanchain Coffee is worth a stop for a more refined pour. If you care about where the beans come from, these are the places to start.
Moka and Co is one of the most searched independent coffee shops in Mesa, known for a strong local following. It pairs a solid espresso program with a comfortable space that keeps regulars coming back. It is a genuine neighborhood favorite and an easy recommendation for anyone new to the Mesa coffee scene.
Downtown and Historic Mesa hold some of the most walkable coffee in the city, close to the Arts District and Main Street. Pair Cupworks is a downtown anchor for specialty coffee, and the area rewards wandering between a cup and the local shops. It is the best pocket to explore on foot.
For a true espresso focused visit, Pair Cupworks and Moka and Co pull the shots I send people to first. Both take the espresso side seriously rather than treating it as an afterthought. Go early if you want a quiet table before the mid morning rush fills the room.
Yes. If you want a photogenic sit down, Bak and Jo pairs a bakery and coffee counter in a warm, inviting space, and Pair Cupworks keeps a bright, clean look that reads well on camera. These are the spots I recommend when the vibe matters as much as the cup.