Posted Mon Dec 7, 2009, 5:04pm Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
I could have used the update this morning! :)
Nice woman at Harlow Gardens said Elixer were a victim of the economy. Closed two months ago and sold the Studebaker to somone in Austin.
Had a good tasting machiato at Le Buzz. Milk was nicely textured but not really microfoam--it sat mostly on top, but not unpleasing. Was surpised by the "new" location and full kitchen. The Astoria is a 3 group I believe and there are two Mazzers, a Super Jolly and perhaps a mini. Oddly though we were there almost 2 hours I don't think I heard the grinder once. The pastries & baked goods are very good though--looks like the same pastry chef as 10 yrs ago. The drip coffee is good, but maybe a bit too darkly roasted for some. The beans in the griders looked pretty oily for espresso. Still I have a soft spot or Le Buzz and it's a good place to kick back.
Safehouse was a bit to "alternative" for my taste, but I had a fair espresso with thin crema. The coffee was good I thought. I didn't not the equipment.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll hit some shops down closer to the University. First on my list was VanGo! Oh for the love of Clover! Fortunately there's a Clover back in Alexandria VA at Grape+Bean.
Psyd Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1,468 Location: MON AZ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astoria Argenta SAE II,... Grinder: Rio and Astoria (Mazzer)...
Posted Tue Dec 8, 2009, 1:47pm Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
jd2020 Said:
I could have used the update this morning! :)
...Elixer... ...Closed two months ago and sold the Studebaker to someone in Austin.
...Le Buzz... ...Milk was nicely textured but not really microfoam... ...The Astoria is a 3 group... ...and there are two Mazzers... ...I don't think I heard the grinder once.
Safehouse... ...had a fair espresso with thin crema... ...I didn't note the equipment.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll hit some shops down closer to the University. First on my list was VanGo!
Ehm, hopefully this is in time. VanGo (as noted in my update) has closed, and the Clover, the SWRBC, and the Intelli beans have all moved down the street to Avenue. You won't be disappointed. This, and Luce near the Main Gate of the UofA are the places where you'll get the attention to detail that you're expecting.
LeBuzz and Safehouse lose a star for mostly the reasons that you cited, but I don't score the customers or atmosphere. VanGo was a four star place even as it was surrounded by bike cops and was outdoors in a parking lot, and Blue Bottle's Linden shop in San Francisco looked like a back-alley soup line. Still four stars
I was almost sure that LeBuzz had a two group. I remembered that I could kick their butts on the exact same kit with the exact same beans. Last time I was there, I got a pound of their espresso blend, and not only am I using the same machine (Astoria) but the same Majors and even the same cups! Talk about your weird co-incidences! Safehouse has a three group spring lever machine pictured below. I can't identify the grinder, though.
Woody Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 579 Location: Hood River, OR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Vivaldi I Grinder: Mazzer SJ Vac Pot: Hoover Drip: yuck Roaster: Behmor
Posted Tue Dec 8, 2009, 4:28pm Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
Regarding Phoenix- I just got back yesterday and made 2 trips to Cartel. Very good espresso, roasted in house, you can walk right up to the roaster while they are roasting and chat. Brought home some of their espresso blend- single origin! I asked if they blended their espresso blend pre or post roast, and she informed me of the single origin. Pulling shots on a Synesso.
The other place not mentioned a lot is Lux Coffeebar. Both of these deserve a big thumbs up. Lux near downtown Phoenix, Cartel right near ASU campus in Tempe.
Jon
*edit* The other thing I learned about their roast- He said they never take anything into 2nd crack
Psyd Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1,468 Location: MON AZ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astoria Argenta SAE II,... Grinder: Rio and Astoria (Mazzer)...
Posted Tue Dec 8, 2009, 5:35pm Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
Woody Said:
The other place not mentioned a lot is Lux Coffeebar. Both of these deserve a big thumbs up. Lux near downtown Phoenix, Cartel right near ASU campus in Tempe.
Uhm, other place? Not mentioned a lot? I dunno about Lux, but I talk about Cartel a bunch! ; >
Anyhoo, you'll be glad to hear that Cartel just opened up another location downtown, 1st St. and Washington. Three group Synesso, Clover, Compak K10 WBC grinder, same great coffees.
Woody Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 579 Location: Hood River, OR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Vivaldi I Grinder: Mazzer SJ Vac Pot: Hoover Drip: yuck Roaster: Behmor
Posted Wed Dec 9, 2009, 10:32am Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
Oh I meant there wasn't much in detail about Lux in this thread. My daughter is in Chandler so Lux is quite a hike. I mentioned this at Lux and they recommended Cartel. Anyway the folks at Lux and Cartel are really friendly, and don't mind conversation. Lux roasts in house also.
OK, I knew that, but I was wondering what the "other" one that was lacking was! ; >
Yeah, I've noticed that there is a lot of camaraderie in AZ coffee, at least amongst the serious contenders. There is this weird thing where the baristi from one coffee house will tend to hang out at another. I'm guessing so that they can get someone else to pull shots for them, or for a change of coffee, or something, but it's usually really friendly and sometimes reciprocal.
Woody Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 579 Location: Hood River, OR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Vivaldi I Grinder: Mazzer SJ Vac Pot: Hoover Drip: yuck Roaster: Behmor
Posted Wed Dec 9, 2009, 3:31pm Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
Ah...I see
Woody said:
The other place not mentioned a lot is Lux Coffeebar. Both of these deserve a big thumbs up. Lux near downtown Phoenix, Cartel right near ASU campus in Tempe.
Should be:
The other place not mentioned a lot is Lux Coffeebar. Both of these deserve a big thumbs up. Lux near downtown Phoenix, Cartel right near ASU campus in Tempe.
Just brewed some of the espresso I brought back from Cartel. Fantastic. Is there such a thing as too smooth?
Posted Sun Mar 14, 2010, 6:08pm Subject: Re: Notable Espresso/Coffee Houses in Phoenix/Tucson areas
Chris-
I figured I'd update here and give you some hope for Seattle, once again... ...I'm offically back on the payroll and plan on hanging around for the time being until, at least, I finish up my degrees.
After a revelation or two, I'm back to taking a paycheck to pay the obligatories while I have fun at what I'm doing.
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