Blog Archives
New Coffee Shop in Uptown Phoenix
Chris Tingom, from Arizona Coffee posted on his blog that he recently heard from Nick Horten, a barista at Papa’s Coffee, which recently opened in uptown Phoenix:
Hi, I’m a Barista at a new coffee shop here in Phoenix. Papa’s Coffee just opened up last week, and we’re located at 5521 N. 7th Ave. We’re inside an Ice Cream shop called Mary Coyle’s, and a few of our drinks incorporate their ice cream into our coffee. We use Coopedota and Tres Generaciones coffee from Coasta Rica.
Our hours are 5-10 Monday – Friday and 6-10 Saturday and Sunday.
We’re still trying to fine tune everything, but within a few weeks we hope to start an Open Mic Night and an ASU night.
Papa’s Coffee
5521 N 7th Ave (map)
Phoenix, AZ 85013
The Downtown Phoenix Warehouse District Gets a New Coffee Shop
[Source: DowntownPhoenix.com]
Upon walking into Gideon’s Coffee, Downtown Phoenix’s newest coffee bar located on the corner of Jackson Street and Second Avenue, it doesn’t take long to pick up on a theme.
The logo on the door features a Scales of Justice fashioned out of coffee cups. Upstairs you might overhear a woman speaking legalese on the phone. Even the name, Gideon’s Coffee, is taken from the 1963 landmark Supreme Court case of Gideon vs. Wainwright, which ruled that state courts are required under the Sixth Amendment to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who are unable to afford their own attorneys.
“What can I say, I have a passion for coffee and the law,” said David Kephart, sole proprietor of Gideon’s Coffee and a personal injury lawyer who before starting his own practice spent three years with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. ”This is a great way to combine those passions.”
During the process of getting Gideon’s off the ground, Kephart focused on imitating the finest qualities of his favorite coffee shops.
He chose his roaster (Echo Espresso, which supplies beans to many of the top shops in Central Phoenix and Downtown), his syrups (1883, a French import that Kephart calls the “Cadillac of syrups”), his methodolgy (100 percent French Press) and his go-to barista (Kaylee, pictured, whom Kephart recruited from another shop).
And if the space looks familiar, well, it’s because 209 W. Jackson Street used to be the home of Royal Coffee Bar, now located at the Phoenix Public Market. When he relocated his law office and launched the coffee bar, Kephart says he benefited greatly from the move in-ready quality of the building, having been a coffee bar in its former life.
“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel here,” said Kephart. “I bought my equipment used, added new counters and I was ready to go.”
Gideon’s is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and serves up a variety of hot and cold French pressed coffee drinks. Gideon’s also makes their own chai, a combination of aromatic spices that galvanize popular chai tea latte drinks.
The Downtown Phoenix Public Market gets some ASU love
ASU’s State Press Magazine has a new blogger focused on downtown Phoenix. Here is her firat post of the new academic year.
[Source: Chelsea Brown, State Press Magazine]
Photo by Chelsea Brown
As you may or may not know, right across the street from the Cronkite building on the Arizona State University Downtown campus is an awesome public market — the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, to be exact.
The market includes two different stores, the Urban Grocery and Wine Bar, and also Royal at the Market coffee shop. Urban carries various fresh veggies and fruit, as well as various packaged snacks, canned foods, and dorm room essentials. Did I mention that they carry amazing ice cream too? Well, they do! Oh, and don’t forget to check out Urban’s daily sandwich/salads/soup specials. Might I recommend the veggie sandwich, and the soup of the day.
Also, if you’re in a rush and just feel like picking up a cup of coffee and a pastry before class, I highly suggest stopping by Royal at the Market (Royal for short). The baristas at Royal seriously know how to make great lattes, drip and pour over coffees, as well as any kind of tea you could possibly want, and will always greet you with a smile or a simple hello when you walk through the door.
For those of you feeling adventurous (even you Tempe campus dwellers), the market is located at 14 E. Pierce St., (corner of Central Avenue and Pierce Street), closest to the [ASU Downtown Campus] light rail stop, and is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Note that the market is not open on Mondays.) Currently, Royal’s hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Wednesdays when they’re open until 8 p.m. for the farmers market. Also, the market does take Sun Dollars, and usually if you ask for a student discount at Royal they will give you one.
On a lasting note, if you’re in the downtown area on any Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning, the market hosts a open air farmers market where you can find fresh veggies, packaged goods and some delicious treats. (Did someone say Boba tea? Mmm.) Wednesday hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (1 p.m. starting in October.)
Thanks for reading, and check back next Thursday for a new post about a sweet downtown place!
Downtown Dispatch is dedicated to all things downtown Phoenix. If you’re looking for a new place to eat, you’ve found your guide. If you’re looking for a new boutique to shop at, I’ve got what you’re looking for. If you just want to find that perfect cup of coffee, I can tell you where to go. Welcome to the blog of Chelsea Brown, a Journalism senior, caffeine addict and self-proclaimed foodie who loves blogging and taking photographs. Reach me at cebrown4@asu.edu.
There’s a new Giant in Phoenix
[Source: ABC15.com]
Photo Credit: Taz Loomans
Many people have heard of or have had the pleasure of eating at Matt’s Big Breakfast or having a cold brew at Roosevelt’s in downtown Phoenix. Matt is now taking on the coffee bean with his new idea of bringing gourmet to coffee using high quality ingredients.
Don’t call Giant Coffee the next hot spot or trendy hangout, just think of it as a relaxing getaway where you can get a flavorful cup of Four Barrel Coffee from San Francisco artfully topped with Straus Organic Barista Milk. Many delights to choose from when it comes to nibbling, Tammy Coe customs are plated and served, even breakfast burritos. Matt wants to keep items fresh so everyday after 3 pm select items are half off.
If Giant Coffee is anything like Matt’s other two creations this place will be around steaming and pouring high quality coffee for a long time. Come in, grab a smile and relax.
Details:
Giant Coffee
1437 N 1st St (map)
(602) 396-7215
Open 7am-7pm, seven days a week.
Downtown coffee talk with Phoenix’s mayor, Sept. 23
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon will hold a coffee gathering on Wednesday, September 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at Phoenix College, 640 N. First Ave. The mayor will provide an update on federal-stimulus funding, including city projects that have begun and projects that are working to create jobs. Participants are urged to ask questions about issues of interest or concern to them. To RSVP, send an e-mail or call 602-261-8983.
Visit with Phoenix’s mayor, talk about downtown, June 19
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon invites downtown residents and those interested in downtown Phoenix to join him at his monthly mixer on Friday, June 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Skylounge, 132 E. Washington St. Click here to RSVP. Then everyone is welcome to attend the Third Friday Concert Series at the Downtown Phoenix Civic Space.
Talk Phoenix light rail with the mayor & light rail honcho, Aug. 5
Rick Simonetta, CEO of Valley Metro Rail, will join Mayor Phil Gordon to (1) provide a passenger’s perspective of riding the new light rail system and (2) share practical information about riding the rail. You’re welcome to voice your opinion as well.
- Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008
- Time: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Place: Mi Amigos, Arizona Center, 455 N. 3rd St.
- Parking: Available at the Arizona Center parking garage (located at the southwest corner of Fillmore and 5th St.)
Coffee will be provided. Click here to RSVP.
Downtown Phoenix library to open coffee shop
[Source: Angela Deligiannis, Arizona Republic] — Phoenix’s Burton Barr Central Library plans to open a new coffeehouse in the spring. The Open Book Cafe will be the first coffeehouse at a library in Phoenix and is part of a growing national trend, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a non-profit research organization. “It will provide a convenient place for library customers to meet and dine,” said Victoria Welsh, spokeswoman for the Phoenix Public Library.
Having a place to get a beverage without leaving the library was the No. 1 request of library patrons in a survey last year, Welsh said. The coffee shop will be on the first floor of the library at 1221 N. Central Ave., near the entrance on the west side of the building, facing Central Avenue. Construction is under way and will be completed by spring, Welsh said. Open Book Café will offer wireless Internet access, outdoor seating, and areas for studying and relaxing. The library will partner with the Arizona Business Enterprise Program to select a vendor, Welsh said. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
Phoenix spared (so far) from Starbucks closures
Starbucks has not identified which 600 stores it plans to close between now and March 2009, but the news is “filtering” through baristas, the press, and others. If you know of a Starbucks that’s closing, let the Seattle Times know (as they’re compiling a nationwide Google map). And for coffee alternatives in our fair city and state, click here.
July 19 update: The Starbucks in Eloy, AZ is set to close. Details here.
Visit the mayor over coffee, May 10
Mayor Phil Gordon invites downtown residents and those interested in downtown Phoenix to join him at his quarterly Community Coffee on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at Palette, 606 North Fourth Avenue, at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fillmore. The Mayor’s guest, Phil Richards, Chair of the Phoenix Parks and Preserves Board and Initiative campaign, will provide information about the Initiative, also known as Proposition A, which is on the May 20, 2008 ballot. Following will be Q&A and a “meet and greet” with Mayor Gordon. Click here for more information.
