There is an abundance of local shops in the Valley serving up solid, well-sourced, damn-good coffee. Some offer cold brew on tap. Others focus on beans flown in directly from Brazil or Colombia. Of all the fine places to kick back and caffeinate in greater Phoenix, these 10 are our favorites.
Bang Bang Coffee
10 W. Vernon Ave. Visiting Bang Bang Coffee is a whimsical experience that stands out among Valley coffee shops. Take a jaunt up to the tiny building off Central Avenue and forget you’re in Phoenix for a second. The red brick walls with white trim and a weathervane on top seem like they would be more at home in Boston. Place your order at the window and find a seat in the sunshine under the palm trees to remind yourself that this outdoor spot is uniquely Arizona. The drinks menu includes drip coffee, cold brew, espresso drinks and specialty lattes served hot or cold. We’re partial to the Woodsman, made with caramel and maple and the white chocolate and hazelnut flavored White Lodge. Pair your morning joe with a bagel from local baker Bagelfelds or enjoy a hot, fresh waffle, griddled on the spot and topped with maple syrup, Nutella or homemade raspberry lemon compote.
Cafetal Coffee
777 S. College Ave. #101, Tempe Cafetal 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. Some of the food items reflect the family's roots, including arepas and pandebono, a Colombian cheese bread. Other morning staples include bagel sandwiches and avocado toast. 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. Make sure to check out the seasonal menu whenever you visit for the latest flavor-packed creations. Settle into a table, enjoy some snacks and watch as regulars chat with owners who know both their names and orders.
Aruma Cafe
2011 E. Apache Blvd., #143, Tempe Aruma Cafe is the kind of place where you can start your day with a coffee and a concha or a carajillo and chilaquiles, however your mood strikes. This Tempe cafe and wine bar comes from the culinary power couple Nadia Holguin and Armando Hernandez, who own Tacos Chiwas and Cocina Chiwas. The latter is located just a few paces away from Aruma in the carless community Culdesac. The cafe is bathed in baby pink tiles and bountiful sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows. You can easily get some work done at the bar or in one of its cozy booths while sipping a standard coffee or espresso, but we’re partial to an earthy matcha or nutty mazapan latte. The cafe also serves horchata, aguas frescas and Mexican hot chocolate, along with a taut menu of breakfast bites. Thursday to Saturday nights, Aruma Cafe stays lit after dark, serving wine, amari, shareable charcuterie and ceviche.
Step into the cool space of Old Town Peoria's modern coffee shop, Driftwood Coffee.
Driftwood Coffee
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, is a modern and bright coffee shop. Despite the contrast, the space is all about the local community. The owners 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 Cereal Killer Latte and Elderflower Shaken Espresso. There's also a small retail section selling art and local ceramics to elevate your coffee experience.
Fourtillfour
7105 E. First Ave., Scottsdale Fourtillfour, 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 off-road vehicles. Admire 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.
Peixoto Coffee Roasters
11 West Boston Street, #6, Chandler 3150 E. Ray Road, #100, GilbertPeixoto 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. 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 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. On the menu, classics such as Americanos and cappuccinos are available, along with seasonal offerings including the sweet and tart passionfruit-infused latte and a minty mocha with Oreo crumbs. The cafe also serves an extensive menu of cocktails, brunch and evening bites including quiche, pastries and artisanal sandwiches. Find a seat on any of the three levels of this towering, sunlight-filled cafe.
WeBe Coffee Roasters
15244 N. Cave Creek Road At WeBe Coffee Roasters, the distribution of space provides a great insight into where this shop's priorities lie. In the front, a few tables share bench seating as customers hang out and work on their laptops. Then, divided by the ordering counter, the back roughly two-thirds of the space is dedicated entirely to coffee. There are multiple roasting machines, stacks of bagged beans and all the necessary equipment to make the magic happen. This is the perfect spot for coffee nerds to geek out. However, there’s no snobbery here. The coffee-curious are welcome and the expert baristas are happy to share their knowledge. This vibe is reiterated on the shop’s website, which specifies that “specialty coffee newbies (are) welcome. If you don't know what a washed process, geisha, or ristretto is, you're in a safe place.” The roaster serves coffee by the cup, bag and also offers a monthly coffee subscription service for those who want to experiment at home.
Window Coffee Bar
903 W. Camelback Road635 W. Glenrosa Ave. #109 Coffee fans have two opportunities to find Window Coffee Bar’s creative drinks. There’s the stand-alone store on Camelback Road with plenty of seating and a moody feel illuminated by pink and orange neon. And there’s the bright, sunlight-filled spot within The Royale, a collection of small businesses in the Melrose District. Here, there are a few tables but the little cafe serves more as a spot to drop by and take coffee to-go. At both locations, you'll find Window's delicious coffee creations. Try the Burnt Cream Latte which has a hint of sweetness and warmth, whether served iced or hot. We also love the two-toned Cookie Macchiato and the subtly spicy Aztec Mocha. For non-coffee drinkers, there are green matcha and purple ube drinks, along with lemonades, iced teas and Lotus energy options. Grab your drink, make sure to take a photo with the glowing signature neon signs and enjoy your morning pick-me-up at either location of Window.
