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
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.