King Coffee Brings a Fresh New Face to an Old Tempe Favorite

King Coffee, a new near-campus coffee shop, opened four weeks ago in the space once occupied by 3 Roots Coffee House (RIP). The storefront has seen some turnover since the iconic hippie cafe closed its doors a few years ago, but we’re hoping King Coffee will stick around…

32 Shea Makes Flavored Syrups, and They Taste Real Good

There are a lot of reasons to like 32 Shea. The patio is adorably cozy. The atmosphere is casual, the staff are attentive and kind. And there’s a chair in the bathroom! Not just a boring chair, a really nice cushy one, perfect for feeding a baby or taking a…

The Velo Bike Shop & Cafe Is Our New Favorite Thing

They say that the right number of bicycles (and coffee shops) (and cats) is always however many you currently have plus one more. Thankfully, Downtown Phoenix has found a great new source for both bikes and coffee at The Velo Bike Shop & Cafe. Sadly, you’ll have to find a…

When Good Restaurants Have Bad Coffee

The Henry is undeniably beautiful. The Sam Fox Concept is bright and sunny, has a gorgeously polished interior, sumptuous seating, and a patio that summer dreams are made of. The food is, in classic Sam Fox style, simple but well-executed, the cocktails are top-notch, and the whiskey list is long…

5 Coffee and Chocolate Pairings for Your Valentine

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s probably about time you start figuring out the best way to please the coffee lover in your life. Rather than that same old boring bouquet of flowers, why not switch things up this year and give that sweet-but-maybe-a-little-bitter boo of yours…

3 Ethiopian Coffees to Try in Metro Phoenix

The arrival of east African coffees is, for coffee folk, a harbinger of spring. Fall harvests lead to vibrant winter arrivals from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and of course, Ethiopia. These coffees act as a little glimmer of sunshine among the murk and muck of wintertime. Ethiopian coffees, in particular, always…

Solo Cafe Tempe Offers Shaves, Haircuts, and … Pourovers?

We had heard a lot of positive things about Solo Cafe in Tempe before we went there for the first time – everything from “they have my favorite coffee in Tempe,” to “my fiance and I went on our first date there,” to “Solo looks like how coffee shops looked…

Olivia Wingert of Souvia on How to Brew Better Tea

Souvia Tea isn’t the kind of place that commands attention, but when you visit you might not want to leave. Located in a strip mall in north Phoenix, the shop is quiet, clean, and unassuming. Its soft, sweet aromas, floor-to-ceiling tea cannisters, and myriad steeping devices kind of make walking…

Pie Social 2014 Roundup: Thoughts From the Judges’ Table

If you weren’t at this past weekend’s Pie Social, you missed out on a terrific time. The “What Should Go Here?” lot on Roosevelt Row was filled to bursting with happy pie makers and pie eaters. See what you missed — in our slideshow. I was there on a special…

Pie Social 2014: The Winners!

Hey, Phoenix — have you recovered? Hundreds of you showed up on Roosevelt Row Saturday to consume hundreds of pies and vote for your favorite at our fifth annual Pie Social. There can only be one grand prize winner, and we’re here to tell you who won in the People’s…

So You Went to Bikini Beans in Phoenix: Now What?

So, you made the choice to pick up a cup of coffee at Bikini Beans. No big deal, right? It’s just a cup of coffee. A cup of coffee made just for you, stud, by a teenaged girl in a little bitty bikini. Here’s a brief guide to coping with…