http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/the-coffee-vein-opens-in-tucson Great coffee comes in small doses Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:08:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/the-coffee-vein-opens-in-tucson#comment-1504 Sat, 06 May 2006 00:30:26 +0000 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/the-coffee-vein-opens-in-tucson#comment-1504 I've been a coupla times, and the place is really nice. It has somehow, without walls, simultaneously seperated the bar-stool crowd from the couch-and-lounge-chair crowd from the table surfers while keeping them in the same space. Violating some law of physics, to be sure, but making it a place where the kid with 14 lbs of piercings, twelve tats (counting the sleeves as one) and a mauve and hot-pink 'hawk can sit in proximity with the MBA student and the law assistant in his suit and tie and everyone is comfortable. Shoot, in Tucson, we could be describing one person! Anyhoo, on to the important stuff. The coffee. I've had a double capp and a dopio, and both were exceptional. If you are a coffee afficianado, and Starbucks is what you do in an emergency, this is your place. They import their coffee from Vivace in Seattle, because David Schomer (the owner of Vivace) knows what he is doing and is considered a reference in thw world of baristi. Speaking of knowing what you're doing, the baristi that I've been exposed to have been excellent. That's be Mike and Martha, although I can't imagine any of the others being too far away, skill-wise. This is a coffeeshop that knows how to put together an espresso, and cares about what's in the cup. Just how it should be. At least one of the baristi there is a member of the Barista Guild of America. I'm pretty sure you're not going to find that at your neighborhood drive-thru Siren embossed frappucino palace... I’ve been a coupla times, and the place is really nice. It has somehow, without walls, simultaneously seperated the bar-stool crowd from the couch-and-lounge-chair crowd from the table surfers while keeping them in the same space. Violating some law of physics, to be sure, but making it a place where the kid with 14 lbs of piercings, twelve tats (counting the sleeves as one) and a mauve and hot-pink ‘hawk can sit in proximity with the MBA student and the law assistant in his suit and tie and everyone is comfortable. Shoot, in Tucson, we could be describing one person!
Anyhoo, on to the important stuff. The coffee. I’ve had a double capp and a dopio, and both were exceptional. If you are a coffee afficianado, and Starbucks is what you do in an emergency, this is your place. They import their coffee from Vivace in Seattle, because David Schomer (the owner of Vivace) knows what he is doing and is considered a reference in thw world of baristi. Speaking of knowing what you’re doing, the baristi that I’ve been exposed to have been excellent. That’s be Mike and Martha, although I can’t imagine any of the others being too far away, skill-wise. This is a coffeeshop that knows how to put together an espresso, and cares about what’s in the cup. Just how it should be. At least one of the baristi there is a member of the Barista Guild of America. I’m pretty sure you’re not going to find that at your neighborhood drive-thru Siren embossed frappucino palace…

]]>