Coffee in AZ

[Doug in Mesa]

Are there any good roasters in AZ? I know this isn't Seattle but in Olympia, WA where we used to live there was a local coffee joint that offered coffee beans from around the world. We would like to locate Brazilian coffee if possible. Thanks!

[oryza]

What's that coffeebar/tapas place around 7th and Camelback attached to the dance studio? I went there once and had a wonderful cappucino and seem to recall something the barista said about fresh roasting coffee

(sorry so vague; it was early and hadn't had my caffeine IV drip for the morning)

[hohokam]

That's Lola. I love the tapas, but was underwhelmed by the Americano I had there right after they started their morning coffee service. Maybe the next time I run low on beans at home I'll give them another try.

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Lola
800 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014

[drewb123]

I enjoyed Lola bu they don't open till 7 and I get started early so have only had it 2x now. I have had the iced american and really enjoyed it.

I was a Mama Java's regular on 36th/indian but she raised the prices about .75 cents and is more then starbucks which i really enjoy so i am a starbucks goer these days.

I love the new drink double shot on ice with the syrup and 1/2 and 1/2 awesome! they have it in a can as well.

[hohokam]

Who has what now?

[drewb123]

what?

[sweets951]

Village Coffee Roastery in Scottsdale has the best espresso in town!

[davep]

I second that!

[Maggie Kramer]

When I'm in Phoenix I really like Lux. Its a nice but but a few too many MacBook Pros. :-) I did like the cap though. I see you're in Mesa and I really enjoy Seattle Espresso on Val Vista and Guadalupe. A nice diversity of people especially in the EV! They use Illy and make a nice "wet" cap. Try it and LMK how you like it!

[KitchenMaid]

Check out Coffee Cartel Lab in Tempe. They roast their own coffee on the Clover, the $11,000 machine that's been in the news because Starbucks has recently taken over the company. At Coffee Cartel they have beans from Brazil and Guatemala and it's seriously some of the best coffe I've ever had. Here's an article about them in the AZ Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepub...

[hohokam]

Thanks for linking that article--it makes the shop sounds like a business I'd want to check out next time I'm in Tempe.

ps. I believe the Clover is a brewing machine, not a roaster. For 11 grand, though, one might expect it to be brewing machine/roaster combo that also washed the cups and swept the cafe floor. ;-)

[KitchenMaid]

My mistake - the Clover is a brewing machine, not a roaster. This place does roast their beans out back though. You've got to check out the Clover...it's so tiny for such an expensive machine!! The best thing about this place is that when you go, talk to the owners (Jason and Amy) and you will get a fascinating spiel about coffee. When I went, Amy explained to my friends and I all about different kinds of beans, and the varying components of a good cup of coffee. She then gave us samples of each kind of coffee so that we could follow along. You can tell that they truly love what they do--the coffee is amazing.

[davep]

Don't forget about the Village Coffee Roastery. It is at the top of my list along with Lux. They roast their own beans in house as well. Great coffee, great people!

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Village Coffee Roastery
8120 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

[samspaw]

Tucson has one of the best in the SW now....Right down next to the U of A, it's called Caffe Luce Coffee Roasting Co. They have only been open about a year but it is hands down the best roaster/cafe I have found in AZ. They roast right there in the shop...really cool to watch! The owner was originally part of caffe vita in seattle. Definitely check them out..... good luck

[trenterelli]

I get all of my coffee from Passport Coffee - Arizona Coffee Roasters. They import beans from around the world and roast them on premises. In fact, you call ahead and tell them what you'd like, they roast it, and you pick it up in their office in the Scottsdale airpark - it's not a coffee shop. The beans are still warm. Their Portofino espresso from Italy is great. www.passportcoffee.com

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Passport Coffee & Tea
7585 E Gray Rd, B Scottsdale, AZ

[Beaver Street]

Late for the Train in Flagstaff is a great coffee roaster in Northern AZ. They have a few bricks and mortar locations up here, but you can also buy online:

http://www.lateforthetrain.com/

[hohokam]

Place links for brick-and-mortar vendors

Papa Perk's no longer has a retail location

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Lux Coffeebar
4404 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Cave Creek Coffee Co
6033 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Raging Sage Coffee Roasters
2458 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

Duck & Decanter
1651 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Raging Sage Coffee Roasters
1923 E Copper St, Tucson, AZ

Grinders Coffee Co
17 E Dunlap Ave # 2, Phoenix, AZ

Blue Sky Coffeehouse
34 Easy St, Carefree, AZ 85377

Matador Coffee Roasting Co
7302 E Helm Dr # 1002, Scottsdale, AZ

It's About Coffee | Roasters | Distributors
1000 E Butler Ave Ste 102, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Ground Control
14140 W Indian School Rd Ste B1, Goodyear, AZ 85395

Duck & Decanter
1 N Central Ave #105, Phoenix, AZ

Duck & Decanter
3111 N Central Ave Ste 110, Phoenix, AZ 85012

[themis]

Ground Control has Brazilian; it's quite good, as well as about a dozen varieties of single-source beans. Sean Rassas, the roaster, is very passionate about his product. He became inspired to work towards his certification while stationed in Aviano.

[arizonagirl]

Went to Ground Control this weekend. The coffee was really good. And they sell by the pound

http://www.foodhuntersguide.com/2009/...

[ggdinero]

Check out Cave Creek Cofee Company:
http://www.cavecreekcoffee.com/

[Booklegger451]

My favorite in-state roaster is Old Bisbee Roasters ( http://www.oldbisbeeroasters.com/ ). Seth has some mean beans.

[jillbay]

I agree that Seth at Old Bisbee Roasters ( http://www.oldbisbeeroasters.com/) has some of the finest beans I've ever tried. Great price and free shipping with 2 lbs. or more. I buy a lot of artisan beans online and his are a cut above the average bean.

[kittyfood]

Another place that roasts onsite is Papa's Perks at 67th Avenue just south of the 101, on the west side (same strip mall as Sportsman's). I usually like very dark roasted Guatemalan or Costa Rican beans and they only had Kenyan in dark roast, but they told me that they will roast any beans to order if you call a couple of days ahead.

[DeansHouse]

Wohoo - did they reopen? Last I heard they closed - maybe 2 years ago (?) - I had $25 on my card there that they still owed me, would love to get it back! I drive by there daily & have never seen a sign. Did they move spaces within the complex?

[Leanne]

Matador Coffee- It is awesome! Mario the owner has moved back to the valley after living in Seattle where he owned his own coffee shop and began studying roasting. He has his own roaster on site and it's some of the best coffee I have had in town. Give him a call for pricing and pick up [phone].

[amkirkland]

If you wish to go the "roast your own" route, you can get green beans from "grinders." He'll sell you his beans for half the roasted price, which makes it about the same as sweet marias, except no shipping and more convenient. However, do check out sweet marias, because their selection is really great.

Lux has the best coffee I've had roasted in Phoenix. The espresso was smooth and rich. i haven't had a brewed cup yet though. Lux is on central just north of the true downtown. The best cup of coffee I've had in Arizona was at the Blue Sky Cafe in Care Free, but they get their beans from zoka, which you may already be familiar with. I'd drive up there just for a cup, but for you it may just be an average cup.

I propose that you visit all the roasters you can and report back to us who has the best! You can start with Grinders (about 7th and dunlap I think). Whole Foods also roasts their own, but I don't trust their roasters, and I really dislke that they store them in open air.

[Grey]

Lux has great coffee.
http://www.luxcoffeebar.com

[crsin]

While I've never actually been to Lux, they serve Lux coffee at Rancho Pinot and I was really impressed with it (probably one of the best cups I've had served at any restaurant). I enjoyed it enough to seriously want to make the 30-45 minute trek to stock up on beans at the coffeeshop. It's really great stuff.

[ccl1111]

We are big fans of Lux. We actually drink decaf at home (for quite a long time now with 2 little ones). Lux's decaf rocks - as good as any regular coffee we've found.

We make the trek to Lux from East Scottsdale every week or two to stock up on decaf beans. Sometimes we're picking up beans for the rest of the family & walk out of there with 5 lbs worth. Good prices too!

[JK Grence the Cosmic Jester]

There's Raging Sage Coffee Roasters down in Tucson, but I'm not familiar with their selection of coffee. You could always take the leap and start roasting your own coffee, it's easy , economical, and delicious. Check out Sweet Maria's for more info... www.sweetmarias.com

[Tillman]

Raging Sage was God-awful a year or three back, for French roast anyway.

Cheers -- Pete Tillman

[ricestein]

Raging Sage is still god-awful. Decent espresso, but the coffee isn't good.

For a while, we were buying coffee from Safehouse, which is the retail front for Roaster X. Also, decent espresso, and they make a nice toddy blend. But it sounds like we should start shopping in Phoenix.

[ricestein]

All right, this "link to a place" button is giving me some trouble. Let's try that again.

Hmm, no luck. Well, the address is 4024 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ.

[hohokam]

Hmm...Google maps and their own website give the address below for Roaster X

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Roaster X Coffee
718 E 46th St, Tucson, AZ

[hohokam]

Duh. Sorry. Still working on getting caffeine into my bloodstream.

Link for Safehouse...

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Safehouse
4024 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ

[Grey]

Duck and Decanter has a good selection:
http://www.duckanddecanter.com