I received an email from Dylan Jung, a barista in Sedona, AZ. He wrote in to let us know about a new coffee shop owned by Pink Jeep Tours.
A view of their pink La Marzocco.
Look at that fantastic patio!
Dylan writes:
The photos I took are outside and inside with Manager Bob McLain. They just opened in the last 6 months but I thought I would share photos I like to call “It’s pink!” I figured everyone would really get a kick out of the pink La Marzocco. They are owned by Pink Jeep tours so obviously they figured it would be a good idea to have a cafe people could hang out in while they are waiting for their tour.
They are using Ritual Roasters out of Carlsbad CA.
Press Coffee (in North Phoenix) has just introduced their new espresso blend called Dethstaar. It goes on sale officially today.
I had a chance to taste test it last week, and give it two thumbs up. The blend contains Ethiopia Sidama Natural Process (Full Natural), Kenya AA-Mbegu Tamu, and Costa Rica Tarrazu.
Tom Maegdlin, the creator of the blend, describes the taste like this:
Aroma: Ripe oranges and blueberry, deep dark chocolate. Post h20: Lingering citrus and red wine. Flavor: deep orange and strawberry, cardamom and bitter-sweet chocolate.
Lunch on your own (grab some friends and eat local) – Pane Bianco, Maizes, St. Francis (now serving lunch), Local Breeze, Seamus McCaffrey’s, Two Hippies, Cibo. All suggestions are off the light rail.
Everyone is free to attend all or some of the stops on this two-day crawl. I’ll be at many of the Saturday shops and also the cupping at Press Coffee on Friday, but not in Tucson (sorry!). Please pay for your own coffee drinks.
If you want to follow along, check Twitter (@arizonacoffee or @amautacoffee). We will post the exact agenda as we go, so if you plan to join us at any one destination that’s the best way to stay in touch.
Fresh roasted coffee makes an excellent gift this Christmas season, for yourself, friends, or clients. It’s also a great time to support your local coffee roasters! Here is a list. I’m placing my order today!
Downtown Phoenix now has another great coffee experience waiting to be devoured. The new Cartel Coffee Lab opens today in Phoenix. The new location is on 1st St. and Washington St., next to a Burger King.
Jason Silberschlag invited me to check out the grand opening festivities last night. They threw a great party — the coffee drinks were flowing, and there was a lot of great food to eat, and we even had some champagne — and at the end we had an impromptu latte art throwdown (pictures will be posted later).
Posse Grounds Coffeehouse opens today in Sedona, AZ. The shop is run by John Berreman (the owner), Tyler Johnson, and Sarah Johnson (manager and Tyler’s wife). It features a La Marzocco Linea espresso machine.
Located in the Village of Oak Creek in Sedona, the coffee house sports free wireless internet, espresso drinks, and from the looks of it, a cozy atmosphere.
When Richardson’s Restaurant burned to the ground in July one of its neighbors was also affected. Luci’s Healthy Marketplace took the opportunity to make improvements to the shop and added a coffee bar.
Luci’s is located on the corner of 16th St. and Bethany Home Rd. and is named after Lucia, the owners wife.
The first time I walked into Luci’s their senior barista, Chris Mace, recognized me almost immediately (even though we had never met). I was very impressed with this and Chris went out of his way to make me some drinks (even throwing away a few). He give me a tour of the coffee bar, and introduced me to the staff. I also met Ken Schnitzer, the owner.
Ever since the Phoenix New Times posted photos of Giant Coffee (which hasn’t officially opened yet) I’ve been wanting to get over there to see what it looked like. Today was that day.
Matt and Erenia Pool of Matt’s Big Breakfast are opening the shop. It is on 1st Street south of McDowell. The exact address is 1437 N 1st St.
For months friends have been encouraging me to visit Conspire and today the weather was nice so I stopped in for a visit. Since Conspire has very limited indoor seating it isn’t a good choice for a large group, unless the weather is nice.
If the weather is nice, you have your choice of about 3 park benches in the yard. That’s where I sat (along with some friends).
The inside of the shop is small and cozy, with bar seating. It’s a single room with a variety of grocery / art products. Along the front wall is a counter with an espresso machine. The barista on hand today made my drink and asked me if I wanted my drink “for here.”
My cappuccino was $2.75 and they did a great job with it, as you can see in my photo. I’ll definitely be back for more.
The exterior of the building is painted with a mural. There are images of sharks, contraptions, and other shapes on the side of the building.
While seated on the park benches you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with the people walking past.
Covering a coffee shop that serves coffee I dislike is often difficult. A recent “critique” I posted struck a nerve and created a litany of comments both favorable and negative. At the core of the debate was the question about whether Arizona Coffee should post negative reviews and to what extent a negative review hurts that business.
I generally approach it one of two ways:
Say nothing and just post the photos. Those who care about coffee will see the photos and translate for themselves. Sometimes readers will post their own comments saying what I didn’t.
Include my own comments about what is wrong with the coffee and hopefully include how it could be better.
I’ve done a bit of each over the years. It is safe to say this is the first time an unfavorable “critique” has turned into a full on debate. It is definitely not the first debate, however. Most likely it is because people really care about the coffee shop in question (that’s a good thing).
Tara from Ground Control made an interesting point. Not all baristas have the same training, skills, or desire and really great baristas aren’t easy to find and hire.
There are a lot of shops around town that are content with their product. Perhaps I miss-judged Fair Trade Cafe and judged them at a level they don’t care to play at?
Should a coffee shop be expected to produce a quality product all of the time? And to who’s standard?
Is it okay for a baker to occasionally sell bread that didn’t rise?
On Saturday I had the opportunity to meet John Berreman the owner of Posse Grounds Coffeehouse in Sedona. They actually haven’t opened yet but will be located in Oak Creek. I spoke with John while he was attending the Barista Jam and it sounds like a great new shop and I have a sense the quality will be top notch.
Downtown Phoenix now has another great coffee experience waiting to be devoured. The new 
