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| - Giant Coffee does not have the vibrant name expected of a premiere coffee shop like Lux or Cartel Coffee Lab. But don't let that deter you from going. I came to Phoenix for a one-week business trip and had the opportunity to sample coffee in the downtown Phoenix area. Most of the coffee shops were somewhat homogeneous, but Giant stood out as my favorite.
Out of all the coffee shops I tried, Giant was the only one that served both espresso beverages and pourover coffee. Pourovers are extremely popular in LA but not so much in Phoenix. In Phoenix, the menus are typically limited to espresso variations (macchiato, cappucchino, mocha) prepared on a La Marzocco machine. Unlike what its name suggests, the coffee at Giant are not enormous like the counterparts found at Starbucks. The largest size served at Giant is 12oz.
Giant sources its beans from Four Barrel and offers organic Straus milk, products which are from the Bay Area in California. I appreciate Giant's attention to detail. Straus barista milk specifically compatible for coffee is used. This milk is richer, sweeter, and creamier than the ordinary milk available at chain shops.
Breakfast is one aspect that Giant Coffee fares better than LA coffee shops. Breakfast in LA is usually limited to simple pastries. However at Giant, oven baked eggs, proscuitto, and levian toast are available for $8. In LA, this type of food can be found at diners but not at boutique coffee shops. The difference is that at Giant, I could eat a delicious full breakfast AND sip on a cup of crafted coffee before work. At LA, I would have to choose one or the other.
During my next visit to Phoenix, I will be sure to stop by at Giant. The environment was comfortable, the beverages were carefully-crafted with premium beans and milk, and prices were slightly lower than those at local coffee shops.
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