BlueBox Coffee

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.