Ten Favorite Coffee Shops in Phoenix

Giant Coffee's brew in a pretty little cup. Finish up then hit Bunky Boutique next door.

​Coffee is our morning lifeblood, and while we're more than guilty of slumming it at a Circle K to get our fix, we don't really consider that hot plate-warmed caffeine sludge a real cup of coffee. You don't have to chew real coffee, for one. Likewise, the dried out bagels and scones from Starbucks ain't gonna cut it in terms of morning nibbles. When the thought of burnt beans and stale danishes starts to get us down, we head to one of these local coffee shops and let a talented barista steam our troubles away.

Oatmeal cream pie and espresso.

​10. Nami We know it's the new kid on the block, but even though Nami's known for its pastries and signature tsoynamis, we're big fans of the coffee. The ambiance of this bright, modern coffee and dessert shop is also a bonus. The pour over coffee with soy and agave sweetener is a hot cup of happiness, and it's the only coffee shop in the valley we've seen with champurrado, a super thick cup o' Mexican hot chocolate. Naturally, one of Nami's many pastries go great with their brew (sourced from Royal at the Market). The Winkies and Nami Cakes put Twinkies and Ding Dongs to shame, and the oatmeal cream pie almost makes us want to go vegan. Almost.

9. Echo Coffee

Organic shortbread cookie on the side.

​Echo brews several organic varieties of beans, and the baristas are always more than happy to guide you toward the blend that you'll most enjoy. Our favorite is the Titus, which isn't acidic or bitter and has a sweetish aftertaste that lets us sip our cup o' joe sans sweetener. As variety is the spice of life, Echo also offers organic rice milk, almond milk, and soy milk in addition to the traditional creamers. The environment is bright and airy, with huge leather couches for sinking into with a book, or smaller tables for working on a laptop. Coffee served in-house comes with a free little cookie on the side, and more substantial nibbles like pastries, quiche, or hot and cold sandwiches are also available. Trust the Best Darned Grilled Cheese or the Jamaican Jerk Beef sandwich if hunger strikes.

A cup of joe from Press Coffee Roasters.

​8. Press Coffee Roasters
For a coffee shop in Scottsdale, Press is surprisingly cheap for such high quality product: half the price of mega chain menus for double the flavor. Their Twitch blend espresso is a smooth roast worthy of the name. And while they offer a ton of different roasted blends, they aren't snooty about you befouling their creation with chocolate sauce and sugary syrups. Try an iced coffee or one of their frappes, which are more like the east coast hand-shaken milkshakes than the aforementioned mega chain's frozen blends. The breakfast sandwiches with turkey and pesto? Also totally worth it.

​7. Copper Star Coffee
Cruising through the Melrose District, you may well have driven right by Copper Star Coffee and not even known it. Housed in a retro gas station, this kitschy cool coffee shop makes a mean cup of joe and even has a drive thru for the caffeine fiend on the go. Copper Star has no problem making you a simple cappucino, an elaborate dulce de leche latte, or any other combination you can dream up. They also make their own baked goods (we recommend the cheese danish) and sandwiches like curried chicken salad (also highly recommended). Curl up on one of the colorful, comfy couches and enjoy the friendly neighborhood vibe.

​6. Giant Coffee
When the weather's perfect, Giant Coffee is our go-to shop, because the glass storefront opens completely to allow in fresh spring air. Snag a lightly sweet honey vanilla latte or a hot mocha made with high quality chocolate and homemade whipped cream. Kick back at the communal tables to get some work done, or sink into a leather armchair with macchiato in hand. Don't forget to check out Bunky Boutique next door, which shares space with Giant Coffee, or take a quick walk over to the Burton-Barr library to return those over-due books.