BlueBox Coffee

Drink Ordered: Small Cappuccino
Coffee Roaster: Coffee Beanery (Roasted off-site)
Chai: Pacific
Syrups: Torani
Food: Cookies and packaged pastries
Stamp Card: Yes
Wifi: Yes – provided by the mall
Pricing Comparison: $$$

Website: coffeebeanery.com

The Coffee Beanery location I visited is inside the Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa, AZ. The mall itself was relatively busy, but the coffee shop didn’t have a single customer inside. This made me wonder if it just wasn’t a coffee time of day for the mere mortals, or if this was an unspoken warning to stay away. In the end, I would have to say that it is a little of both.

The barista was very friendly, and asked my wife and me a number of questions to help us decide what we want. She was actually very good at this, unlike some baristas I have encountered in some much “nicer” coffee shops. While we were trying to figure out what to order, another customer walked in. The barista immediately called her previously unseen coworker out from the back. One thing this shop obviously had right was the concept of great customer service.

On first glance, the shop itself looked clean and organized. For the most part, the image of cleanliness and organization was accurate. The outer walls were lined with bins of beans, and shelves of drinkware for sale. The shelves were definitely clean, and there didn’t seem to be so much as a mug turned backwards on any of the shelves. What really disturbed me was the way that a company that roasts their own beans was willing to store those beans.

The bins of beans were clear plexiglas bins with loose closing lids. As if the exposure to light and air were not enough of a problem, the bins also looked like they had not been emptied and cleaned out in over a year. The buildup of rancid oils would be enough to ruin the flavor of even the freshest beans in one of those bins. While I wasn’t able to confirm this, I would like to think that this store was not an example of how the company accepts quality, but simply one franchise.

The barista made our coffee relatively quickly, and even offered to top my cappuccino with ground cocoa or spices. When I picked up the cup, it felt about the right weight for a cappuccino. I was beginning to have high hopes for the overall experience, and thought that possibly the only thing wrong with this shop was the way they stored their beans for sale. This illusion quickly dissipated.

After receiving our drinks, we went to the mall play area, about 175-200 meters a way. By the time we got there, the foam in my cappuccino was already half gone, and a couple of minutes later I basically had a flat latte. Despite the small quantity of milk, the espresso still tasted very weak. The espresso did have a pleasant spice flavor, and a mild nutty aroma. But that was only for the brief moments before the little flavor there was simply vanished. Even my wife’s Iced Fudge Ribbon Mocha tasted cheap.

In the end, the experience was pleasant enough, the baristas were helpful and very friendly. Unfortunately, that isn’t enough from a coffee shop. If you want to be treated well, this is an excellent place to go. If you want coffee, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

Drink Ordered: Small Cappuccino
Coffee Roaster: Cortez Coffee
Tea: Maya
Chai: Third Street Chai
Syrups: Monin
Other Beverages: Tea lattes, loose leaf teas
Stamp Card: No
Pricing Comparison: $$

Having read the mixed reviews online, I was not sure what to expect from Solo Cafe in Tempe. The coffee shop is located next to a salon in an old strip mall. The shop was fairly busy, but there were still tables available both inside and outside. The interior almost had the feel of an old 1920′s home. There was an old wood stove by the door, and a velvet sofa and chairs by the bookshelves. On the shelves was a collection of books, board games and an impressive collection of records. I don’t know if the record player itself works, but I plan to find out on my next visit.

The barista seemed very friendly, which was nice while we were ordering, but wasn’t so nice when someone she knew came in behind us while we were waiting on our drinks. After about 10 minutes, our drinks were ready. The barista put them on the sidebar, which felt a little awkward, because it meant I had to step past the register to pick up my drinks.

The cappuccino was a little on the wet side, but had decent foam. When I reached the bottom of the cup, there was a decent amount of foam left. The espresso had a slightly sweet, nutty aroma. This matched the flavor as well, with the espresso tasting of a smooth mix of nuts and honey. The espresso was a little weaker than I tend to like it, but still an excellent flavor.

Overall, this was a good experience. If you just want somewhere to relax, maybe get some work done, this is a great coffee shop. I wouldn’t stop by Solo Cafe if I was in a hurry to get somewhere, but it is a nice place to relax, have a conversation, or bring a laptop and get some work done.

Drink Ordered: Small Cappuccino
Other Beverages Available: Tea, Wines, Draught Beers, Spirits
Pricing Comparison: $

After my son recovered so quickly from his surgery last week, we decided to take a day trip in Sedona. As soon as we got to Sedona, what did I do? I looked for the best coffee shop I could find, of course. The woman at the visitor’s center didn’t seem to know what good coffee was available, other than what was on the main street with all the other tourist shops. Naturally, I wasn’t looking for the tourist coffee, I was looking for the best cup of coffee available in this little town. I believe this is what I found at Heart of Sedona Coffee.

Heart of Sedona Coffee was tucked away in a shopping center on the west side of town, next to a grocery store. This was obviously a shop for the locals, not the many visitors Sedona hosts on a daily basis. I knew, when I didn’t even see it when my wife pointed to it as we drove by, that this was the shop I was looking for. Because rain was supposed to be coming in that afternoon, we decided to get our hiking out of the way first. Having never been to Sedona to know the good trails, we were naturally drawn to the trail leading up to Coffee PotRock. Our decision was confirmed in our minds as correct, when we saw that we had to drive down Coffee Pot Drive to get to the trail head. With the two children, in almost 100 degree weather, we didn’t make it far enough down the trail to get a decent picture of Coffee Pot Rock, but it was still a great hike, and the pictures I did get were no less amazing than if we had made it to Coffee Pot Rock.

After another hour walking through the tourist shops, we decided it was finally time for some coffee. Sure, we could have gone to any number of coffee shops on the main road, but why would I want to pay tourist prices for mediocre coffee. Maybe I would have ended up getting better coffee, but I doubt it. We headed back to Heart of Sedona Coffee. This was definitely not like the other shops I have reviewed up to this point. On the outside, it was just another strip mall coffee shop, but on the inside it was a rustic contemporary design. High-back wooden chairs surrounded the central tables, while more comfortable chairs and sofas were along the walls. The menu boards had large branches protruding from behind them. What I was the most excited to see was the La Marzocco espresso machine, and Monin syrups. Both of these are sure signs of a shop that knows what it’s doing.

While the baristas were not as outgoing as the ones I’ve met around Phoenix, they were far from unfriendly. The baristas at Heart of Sedona Coffee were refreshingly down to Earth, and fit well with the rustic contemporary atmosphere of the shop itself. The laid back mood led by the baristas continued with the customers. Not only did the baristas smile and greet us, but several of the customers did as well. Once one of the baristas pointed them out to us, my son couldn’t get enough of the children’s books they had on one of the shelves of books they provide for customers to enjoy.

The cappuccino I ordered was very wet, almost to the point of being a dry latte. Probably something they have learned to do because most American customers who order a cappuccino have no idea what a cappuccino actually is. Alas, the search for the perfect cappuccino carries on. Despite the wet cappuccino, the foam was thick and creamy, and the espresso was dark and earthy, just the right amount of bitter. The espresso had a pungent aroma, but not assaulting, and had hints of charcoal and mesquite in the flavor. The roast fit the down to Earth, relaxed feel of this coffee shop perfectly.

If you are ever in Sedona, it is well worth looking up Heart of Sedona Coffee. This is a friendly, casual coffee shop that is set up to accommodate you whether going to get some work done on your laptop, or just relaxing after a hike. Drive right on by the obvious coffee shops, and head to west Sedona on SR 89A for a better coffee shop.

Drink Ordered: Small Cappuccino
Coffee Roaster: Ground Control – Roasted on location
Other Beverages: Teas, Wines and Beers
Stamp Card: Yes
Pricing Comparison: $$$$

Website: groundxcontrol.com

This week’s coffee shop is Ground Control in Goodyear. I’m pleased to say this is another hidden gem. While not immediately obvious from the street, it’s worth spending a minute or two in the parking lot to locate this shop. I visited Ground Control on a Sunday morning. As would be expected, there weren’t any long lines and almost all of the tables were free. Even though the shop did not appear to be busy, there was still a fairly regular flow of customers in and out of the shop during my visit.

Ground control has a few tables outside, but other than that looks just like every other storefront in the shopping center. The inside, however, is a much different story. Anything but plain, the classic contemporary look begins with the oval espresso bar area in the center of the shop, rather than the more traditional placement at the back or side wall. Another, smaller, bar is located at teh back of the shop, next to the roaster where Ground Control roasts their beans twice a week. A selection of jazz, indie and soft rock music was playing at a pleasant volume – not so quiet that you would need to strain to hear it, but not loud enough to be overpowering. The large tropical aquarium is a nice finishing touch.

On display around the shop is a large selection of wines and beers. With their great food menu, and wide selection of beverages, Ground Control is perfect for any time of day. Whether stopping in for your morning latte, or going out for drinks or dinner after work, Ground Control has what you are looking for.

The young barista who helped me was very energetic and upbeat. I knew I was in good hands when he thanked me for ordering a cappuccino, because not enough people order them this time of year. While a considerably wetter cappuccino than I like, it was what I would consider to be a perfect American cappuccino.  I have no doubt that if I had asked for a proper cappuccino, that is exactly what I would have received. The froth was thick and creamy, and had not turned back into liquid by the time I finished the cappuccino.

The espresso itself smelled of cedar, but also a bit sweet. The taste had tones of honey, pecans and cedar. This is one of the better espresso’s I have tasted, which can partially be attributed to the in-house roasting, and partially to using high quality beans, and perfecting the roast. What I found interesting about this roast was how light it was. Many coffee roasters take their espresso right up to the point of being burnt, or beyond. This espresso tasted closer to a full city roast, which made for a much more complex and enjoyable flavor.

Ground Control’s dedication to quality showed in everything I saw during my visit. Not only were the cafe and bar area spotless, I overheard several of the employees engaging in conversations about cleanliness and proper drink preparation throughout my visit. It would seem that quality is not only an expectation, but a way of life at Ground Control.

Drink Ordered: Short Nonfat Iced Latte
Coffee Roaster: Allann Bros.
Tea Brand: Republic of Tea
Chai Brand: Big Train
Stamp Card: Yes
Pricing Comparison: $$$

Website: goldbarespresso.org

For my first review, I visited a coffee shop in Tempe, tucked away in the back of a strip mall, across from what used to be a Bashas’. With a Starbucks right on the corner, one would think that this tucked away little shop would go completely unnoticed. I’ve driven past it a number of times myself, and had never really noticed it before. What I found most remarkable about this coffee shop was that despite the circumstances of its location, it appeared to be the spot to be.

At first glance, Gold Bar looks like just another of the many dive bars in the area. It’s a seemingly small storefront in a run-down strip mall, with a few tables outside. The only reason to believe it’s anything else from the outside is a couple of small coffee related signs. I was quite surprised with what I saw when I went through the front door. This hidden shop, in a bad location, was crowded. Not overly crowded, mind you, but busy. Almost every table had customers at it. It was immediately apparent that this is an excellent place to get some work done. Almost everyone had laptops out, and were enjoying any array of beverages that this shop offers. The only thing that didn’t surprise me inside was the decor. The tables and chairs were all mismatched, and showed signs of wear. Somehow, this worked for Gold Bar, adding to the charm, rather than distracting from it.

The barista behind the counter was a Hawaiian shirt clad older gentleman, very full of life. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and patient. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy his job. Even when my 2-year-old spilled his drink, or when another customer spilled hers, he seemed more than happy to be serving each customer who entered the shop. During my visit, the flow of customers never stopped, and each of them was a welcome addition. Occasionally, the line got two or three customers deep, but no one had to wait long for their drinks, and each one was more than a customer. The barista went out of his way to make sure each customer was treated more like a visitor to his home.

Gold Bar offers a large selection of beverages, as well as pastries, cakes and pie. They offer the best selection of chai teas that I’ve seen at any coffee shop, ranging from a classic spiced chai, to a green tea chai and even a chocolate chai. Of course, the most important thing for a coffee shop to get right, is the coffee. And get it right they did. Normally, I would try a cappuccino to determine the quality of a coffee shop, but a hot drink just wasn’t going to happen on a 110 degree day. Instead, I ordered a nonfat iced latte. This may not tell me how good the froth is, but it still tells me the standards used in preparing the drinks, and the quality of the coffee itself.

The espresso was roasted to exactly the right darkness. Some coffee shops claim that the “smokiness” of their espresso means that it’s a perfectly roasted bean. I tend to think that “smoky” can be translated “burnt”. The perfect espresso roast is brought right up to the point of becoming smoky, without crossing the line into actually tasting smoky. And that’s right where this espresso was at: dark and sultry, complex with a Brazil nut flavor, and hints of spice and buttery caramel.

Gold Bar is also very active. A quick visit to their website, and you will see that they know how to keep busy, and keep you entertained. They have regular activities, ranging from the classic live jazz music to game nights where they pull out a bunch of card and board games. On the game nights, you are even welcome to bring your own games to play and share. With everything this coffee shop does to make the experience enjoyable, it’s no small wonder why there was a constant flow of customers into the shop on a Wednesday afternoon. This is a place you just want to be.

Overall, I highly recommend Gold Bar. In a world overrun with chain coffee shops and small shops that don’t know how to make coffee, I am glad that the first shop I reviewed turned out to be a diamond in the rough. If you ever find yourself looking for coffee at McClintock and Southern in Tempe, AZ, pass by the Starbucks on the corner, and head to Gold Bar at the back of the parking lot.