Story time! Growing up I hated the taste of coffee. I thought it tasted like mud & I even hated tea (don’t know what I was thinking). I drank 5 cokes a day and was living my best fat kid life. Then as I got older, I cut out soda and learned to love unsweetened green tea. Now, I’ve always been a morning person so I never truly needed the caffeine. But the caffeine in green tea definitely helped.
As I became more interested in Instagram and taking “aesthetic” photos, I found myself at more and more coffee shops. That turned into slowly drinking sugary lattes that didn’t taste like coffee which then turned into drinking vanilla lattes to now having coffee multiple times a week.
Now, I don’t love the taste of coffee still but I’ll slam a honey lavender latte any day of the week. Plus I find that I am much more productive when I work at coffee shops so they go hand in hand. Because of my new found love for coffee, I have been on the hunt for the best coffee shops in Phoenix. So if you’re visiting and need a good coffee shop or just an Instagram worthy spot, consider one of these shops!
I’ve also included my favorite order in case you’re not sure what to get!
The Henry
The Henry has made it on a few different lists for me. Did you know that this adorable restaurant not only serves incredible food but also has a coffee bar that you can visit? And their lattes are delicious! You can also order breakfast and lunch at the bar which I have yet to do but I am definitely going to try it in the near future!
My order: The Wildflower (espresso, vanilla, chai, steamed milk)
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Lola Coffee
If you’ve read my Phoenix Hipster Guide, then this one might sound familiar too. Located downtown, Lola’s is a great place to work outside when it’s not 500 degrees out (thanks, Arizona). There’s also a lot of indoor seating if you’re not trying to catch on fire during the summer months!
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Lux Central
I absolutely love Lux, though I rarely go there to work since it is constantly packed and can be hard to find a spot to sit. But that just proves it’s one of a hell of a place, right? Not only are they known for their coffee but they also have some seriously good pastries and food so be sure to come with an appetite. PS, if you’re looking for something a little bit stronger than coffee, they also have cocktails.
My order: Hot vanilla latte
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Dark Hall
This one is for all of my vegans! While more and more coffee shops are carrying oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc., having a coffee shop that prides itself in being vegan is still rare. Dark Hall is one of those unique spots, with both vegan coffee and vegan pastries. Plus a couple of cute walls where you can take coffee selfies.
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Cartel Coffee
Ahh Cartel, one of my favorites. Unfortunately, since I’ve moved out of Tempe, I haven’t been to Cartel recently but boy do I miss it. With multiple different locations in the valley, this is the place to go if you just want a seriously good cup of joe. It’s also a great place to bring your laptop and crank out some work.
My order: Iced chai latte (literally the best chai I’ve ever had)
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Copper Star
Located in the Melrose district, this is a great spot to stop and quench your thirst after an afternoon of vintage shopping. The coolest part about this place? It’s in an old gas station! Grab a latte and take a stroll around the surrounding neighborhood and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to California.
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Giant Coffee
This traditional coffee serves organic and locally roasted coffee and pastries. It’s right near my favorite library in the valley so grab a coffee to go and hit the Burton Barr library. If that’s not your thing, it’s also attached to Bunky Boutique which houses goodies from a bunch of local companies so get your shop on!
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Songbird Coffee & Tea
One of my favorite things about downtown Phoenix is the number of businesses that are nestled in old brick homes. Songbird Coffee and Tea is one of those gems and is located in a historic home that was built in 1904. There’s something so cozy about curling up with a coffee and your laptop in a space with that much history. Makes you feel like you’re at home. I mean just look at this place.
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Futuro
Futuro is all about minimalism. It shares a space with a hair salon so if you don’t like the smell of hair product, it’s probably best to avoid staying here for too long. But if you’re at the nearby Churchill or Roosevelt Row, make a pit stop for an afternoon pick me up.
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Four Till Four
When I was a bridal consultant, I worked right across from here and it was very hard to not grab a drink every time I worked. Though the space is small, they have made a name for themselves in the valley. They hold weekly car shows and other events. Visit on a Saturday and you will find vintage Porsches lined up on the nearby street.
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Provision
Okay, so if you read this and decide that you only have time to make it to one coffee shop in Phoenix, make it Provision. I promise you, you won’t regret it. If you follow me on Instagram then you’ve probably seen me here every single day. And it’s true, I’m here every single day. It’s not only home to my favorite drinks but I love working here too. I feel so motivated. Now I could go on and on about Provision but I’ll keep it short. Moral of the story is GO!
My order: Honey lavender latte or passionfruit caramel latte (and sometimes a cocoa zucchini loaf if I want something sweet)
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Do you have a favorite coffee shop in the valley that didn’t make it onto this list? I’d love to hear about it!
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