Brian Clemens sent over the poster below last night, and asked me to help distribute it. The event he’s promoting is the much touted Latte Art Throwdown at the Phoenix Cooks event.
If you are interested in competing, you should contact Brian Clemens by phone at (480) 221-9775 or emailing brian at cartelcoffeelab.com. There will also be an after party at Press Coffee, which sounds fabulous, and so you’ll want to make sure you go.
The New Times has a nice photo gallery showing pictures from the Latte Art Competition at Echo Coffee held last Saturday. Thanks to Todd Welfelt for sending the link.
I missed out on a lot of fun, but hope to make it to the next one. The winner at this event was Steve Kraus from Press Coffee. You can see an awesome photo of his drink taken by Ron Cortez.
Below is a quick run down of coffee events here in the valley that I received from Brian Clemens, and have republished.
When: SATURDAY, August 21st 7-10pm.
Where: Echo Coffee in Scottsdale
Cost: $3 entry fee. 5 minutes to make 2 drinks.
More details: 2902 N 68th Street, #135 Scottsdale 480-422-4081
http://www.echocoffee.com/barista-jam-2010/
When: Saturday September 4th 9am-3pm
Where: Phoenix Cooks, held at J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge
Cost: $30 entry – Includes 2 tickets into the Phoenix Cooks event ($150 value) MUST COMPETE!
More details: Phoenix Cooks is an annual event showcasing the talent of great local chefs. There will be great food, classes, the latte art throw down, and much drinking. The $30 entry fee is ONLY for those competing. $30 fee will get you 2 tickets into the event, and you must compete.
When: Saturday September 4th RIGHT AFTER Phoenix Cooks
Where: Press Coffee – Across the street from J.W. Marriott/PHX Cooks Event
Cost: Food/drink for purchase
More details: Steve from Press is holding a get together for the coffee community after Phoenix Cooks. Probably lots of coffee too be consumed! Will be a great time for building into the coffee community.
Our friends at Cartel Coffee Lab are merging with Avenue Coffee in Tucson to form Cartel Coffee Lab, Campbell Avenue. They just announced the merger last night on Facebook and on their blog.
The state of Arizona has very little in regards to quality specialty coffee, and even the direction and incentive to strive for those standards. We saw Cartel Coffee Lab as one of the only voices in the state that echoed those standards that we, as the coffee shop Avenue Coffee, grew into over the past year.
I see statements like this, and while true to a large degree (Arizona is a desert), it comes off sounding like nobody in AZ has passion. I’m sure that wasn’t the intention. There are a growing number of people starting and running coffee shops in Arizona that do have passion for the bean, and keep high standards. I could rattle off a list of shops right now that I think deserve praise.
So, anyways kudos to the crew at Cartel! Oh, and the Tempe location has expanded hours! Beginning August 10, 2010 hours are 7 am – 11 pm, daily. Which sounds fantastic because often after work I’ll want to go somewhere, but it’s too late in the day.
Update: Brian from Cartel Coffee Lab wrote in to let me know about the following:
“[Avenue Coffee] will continue with business as usual until a switch over date, even when the sign reads “Cartel” they will be accepting “Avenue” punch cards. They will have a program where instead of 10 punches = free drink, that the customer can redeem the punch card early for a free drink. They will be phasing out the large batch brewing and moving over to cup-by-cup brew via the Hario V60 with NO free refills, but again, this will all be done in due time.
There is going to be an anniversary party plus unveiling of Avenue as Cartel Coffee Lab – Campbell Avenue on August 9, 2010 (8/9/10).”
Mitch (Roaster at Press Coffee) told me about the Tambaroo yesterday. It’s an interesting little product designed to make cleaning up your French Press pot easier.
The little magnets hold the Tambaroo to your plunger, and make everything stick together, making cleanup easy. Watch this video if you want to know how it works.
Steve Kraus pouring a cappuccino at Press Coffee.
The folks at The Coffee Bump have kindly offered to give away a free Bodum Chambord 4-Cup French Press (valued at $37.99).
To enter to win, just leave a comment here, or on Twitter using the the hashtag #arizonacoffee. Your comment must be a funny joke or story. It can be original, or something you copied from somewhere else. Please keep it clean.
One winner, chosen at random, will be announced on June 25th. When you leave your comment, be sure to include an email address so we can contact you! Offer valid only in the United States. One entry per person. Thanks, and have fun!
I’m pleased to introduce the newest sponsor of Arizona Coffee is The Coffee Bump.
They sell coffee makers, grinders, and Bodum products. Thank you for your support!
The Coffee Bump
5890 De Zavala Rd. STE 107
San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: (210) 615-6611
Press Coffee has a new toy — a Trifecta Coffee Brewer.
I’m going to get a video of it in operation very soon.
I’m currently enjoying some Kenya Tekangu coffee from Lost Dutchman Coffee Roasters.
Some fascinating coffee spending statistics worth taking a look at.
Do people from Phoenix really spend more money on coffee than San Francisco residents?
Brian Clemens posted some interesting thoughts on syrups. The main question he asks is whether coffee bars should offer syrup flavors. Brian stops short of providing his own opinion on the matter, though.
Giant Coffee is now open… the coffee shop many people predicted would never open (rumors were it was supposed to open last fall some time — when it was nearly completely furnished). It is located downtown, near the art museum.
According to Matt Pool, the owner, they are using Four Barrel Coffee and they “brew only single origin for drip & pour over,” and they service “Straus organic milk.” The shop is equipped with a La Marzocco & other Fetco equipment.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 7 am to 3 pm and beginning on June 15 daily from 7 am to 7 pm (7 days a week).
Congratulations to them on opening! You can follow them on Twitter at @giantcoffeeAZ.
Giant Coffee
1437 N 1st St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Twitter: @giantcoffeeAZ
I received several interesting emails today, which I thought I’d share below (this was the first day I had received emails of this sort, so I’m curious to see if it continues).
John S. wrote:
If you start selling coffee on the Internet, I will buy it to support Arizona!
John
Mike wrote:
Go Arizona. I support the new law.
Kathy wrote:
Hi, I was wondering if you sell your coffee by the pound and if so, how would I go about ordering? I’m from the Chicago area and wanted to send some business to AZ…so why not with my favorite drink?! 
Thanks!
Rebecca C. wrote:
How can I buy AZ coffee. Seattle is boycotting AZ because of the ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION BILL. Has no one read it? STARBUCKS is in SEATTLE. If they want to play this game, then I think those of us who stand with AZ should join their game…and play to win!
Marvin H. wrote:
Love your site. Didn’t know there were local brewers. However, it would be
nice if you had an East Valley section, and if you listed the approximate
location (major crossroads) next to each link. Going to each website to then
have to navigate and find their address is very cumbersome. Thanks and keep up the great work.
And in case anybody new is reading this that is interested in supporting Arizona coffee roasters, you can find my list here.
