I visited Echo Coffee even though it's far from my neighborhood because my friend Carylann is the chef. So that's my full disclosure.
I ordinarily don't enjoy Scottsdale-I never feel dressed "right" and I hate navigated the parking downtown. I don't venture into the city often, but I would definitely hang out here. The shop is easy to find; it's on the corner of Thomas and 68th on the northwest corner. The parking lot is plenty big. When you enter the shop it's modern without feeling pretentious or too hipster-y. Ample seating and gorgeous lighting by way of large windows and light fixtures.
The coffee menu is straightforward and I like the way they prepare coffee. It's unusual and feels true to the product. They pour hot water into a coffee filter for each cup, and it pours through into the mug. My friend Susan ordered a cappuccino which was appropriately sized. Each beverage was served with a tiny shortbread cookie-nice touch and something I've never seen done in Phoenix in any coffee shop.
The food menu was small but had a nice variety of pastries, sandwiches, and quiches. I tried a bacon/spinach quiche and it was delicious! Carylann also brought us out a piece of coffee cake. Drool. I am still thinking about driving back for seconds. The top was crumbly and generous. She told us a story about when she was a little girl, she'd always order coffee cake and wish it had the topping inside the cake as well. So she included a topping layer on the inside of hers! Yum!