Solo Cafe
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.
