Of all the fine places to kick back and caffeinate in greater Phoenix, these 10 are our current favorites.
Cafetal Coffee
777 S. College Ave. #101, TempeCafetal Coffee is a "crop to cup" style spot and this Tempe cafe serves coffee imported from the owners' family farm in Colombia. Family photos decorate the walls along with a large mural of a map showing the journey across the Americas that the coffee travels. A small food menu reflects the family's roots, including empanadas and arepas served with fresh salsa. This Tempe hangout is perfect for students doing homework or locals looking for a comfortable spot to sip from a large mug filled to the brim with rich coffee. Settle into a table, snack on some empanadas and watch as regulars chat with owners who know both their names and orders.
Case Study Coffee Lounge
4802 N. 16th St. If you’re shopping at the Camelback Colonnade, make sure to stop in at Case Study Coffee Lounge for your caffeine fix. This little shop is located at the end of a strip mall on 16th Street. Inside, sturdy, handcrafted chairs give a hint that the owner used to be a custom furniture builder. After developing an allergy that prevented him from woodworking, he turned his craftsman’s eye to creating coffee. The attention to detail is evident, from the rich espresso to the homemade syrups that flavor specialty lattes. We’re partial to the unusual herbal flavors of the sage and rosemary syrups used in the brown sugar and vanilla lattes. For snacks, the cafe offers sweet and savory toasts and pastries. They have also partnered with local purveyors to host burrito pop-ups, so check social media for the latest menu offerings. 
The Coffee Builders' breakfast and lunch menu offers a variety of dishes and pastries inspired by recipes found in Germany, France and Denmark.
Grace Stufkosky
The Coffee Builders
901 S. Seventh St., Building C Find great coffee in an unexpected place at The Coffee Builders. This new cafe opened as part of the Porter Barn Wood complex on Seventh Avenue south of downtown. Located in the parking lot of this custom woodworker, is a small white building serving major flavor. The idea for the coffee shop was born from the owner’s decision to build a showroom to display the kind of architecture and design they can build for restaurants. But the team didn’t stop there. They asked why build a display cafe when they could build a real one? To that, all we can say is thank you. This little coffee shop is a gorgeous space to spend a few hours. Order a strawberry pistachio latte or an orange blossom white chocolate special at the counter and settle into one of the comfy booths. Admire the geometric wooden ceiling that bounces light from the small table lamps in this space filled with rich wood and jewel-toned furniture. For something a bit brighter, head out back to the small but comfortable patio to enjoy your Smorrebrod open-faced sandwich or Lavash flatbread.
Driftwood Coffee
8295 W. Jefferson St., Peoria Driftwood Coffee might be the most unexpected business in Peoria. Located in the heart of Old Town, among antique stores and auto garages, this modern, bright coffee shop, despite the contrast, is all about community. Owners Luke Bentley and Lance Linderman intentionally created a space where people can drink coffee, enjoy a snack and just be together. The coffee shop serves a mixture of coffee from local and national roasters. These beans are used in classic coffee drinks along with specialty options including the Cookie Butter Latte and the House Espresso Tonic made with tonic crafted at the shop. There's also a small retail section selling art and local ceramics to elevate your coffee experience. 
Fourtillfour
7105 E. First Ave., Scottsdale Fourtilfour, a little coffee shop tacked onto the corner of a repurposed house, is a hidden gem in Old Town Scottsdale. This tiny space features a roll-up garage door, a small counter and standing room for a couple of customers to peruse the menu. After receiving a decadent lavender honey latte customers can retire to the patio, shaded with brightly colored umbrellas, or wander out into the garden, a serene space that makes the rest of the city wash away. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the serenity is disturbed slightly by Fourtillfour’s weekly car shows. Check out the online calendar to find the theme of the week, which ranges from Porsches to vintage offroad vehicles. Peruse the shiny wheels with a truly quality coffee in hand. 
Futuro
909 N. First St. White walls, white tables, and you guessed it, white chairs decorate this minimalistic coffee shop in downtown Phoenix. Despite the decor, Futuro is full of bright flavors. Jorge Ignacio Torres opened the coffee shop in 2016 and since then, has been serving menus, entirely written in Spanish, that infuse flavors from his childhood. Favorites include the Lechera, an espresso drink made with sweetened condensed milk and piloncillo, or unrefined cane sugar and the Cafe de Olla, a cinnamon, anise and citrus sip. For those looking for a little less caffeine, the cinnamon-filled wild rice, almond and oat milk horchata puts a spin on the classic. 
Classic coffee drinks and seasonal options are on the menu at Peixoto Coffee Roasters.
Peixoto Coffee
Peixoto Coffee Roasters
11 West Boston Street, #6, Chandler 3150 E. Ray Road, #100, Gilbert Black-painted walls and a sleek wooden bartop set the mood at this trendy coffee shop in Chandler. But the story behind it is as bright and flavorful as the drinks. Peixoto Coffee's quality reflects an uncommon maturity. The shop primarily roasts and serves coffee from owner Julia Peixoto Peters’ family farm in Brazil and photos around the space highlight coffee fruit ripening, being harvested and processed. A simple painted map on one of the exposed brick walls puts things in geographic perspective. Peixoto serves a core menu of coffee staples, along with a rotating menu of seasonal specials. Summertime calls for the creamy coconut cold brew, while winter months make the perfect time to sip a hot, rich creation from this skillful coffeehouse. The espresso is dark, the drinks are creamy and the flavors are rich. Peixoto also now has a second location for customers to sip and savor their drinks within Epicenter at Agritopia.
Provision Coffee
711 E. Missouri Ave. #115 Over the last couple of years, Provision Coffee has undergone an evolution. But despite its move to uptown Phoenix from its former Arcadia-area location, the quality of the coffee has remained a constant. Provision previously sold coffee from its architectural home on 32nd Street. In September 2022, the business expanded and opened a towering three-story cafe on Missouri Avenue and Seventh Street in uptown Phoenix. Now, the Arcadia location has transitioned into a retail space called Seedhouse, which still serves some Provision drinks, and Provision's main location is at the uptown shop. On the menu, classics such as Americanos and cappuccinos are available, along with seasonal offerings including the sweet and tart passionfruit-infused latte and spiced honey habanero mocha. The cafe also serves cocktails, brunch and evening bites including tapas and flatbreads. 
The Squash Latte at Valentine is an unusual texture, but the flavor brings you back for more.
Tirion Boan
