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| - It's a little before 10:00a on a quiet Phoenix Sunday. The midmorning sun glances off rocks and windows. A bare breeze gently pushes leaves, animates signs, lightly cools the hot spring desert air.
I am seated at the single table on the front porch of Street Coffee at 625 N 7th Street just south of the now-famous Roosevelt Row. Immediately to my left: a dog bowl for thirsty four-legged patrons and a healthy potted cactus.
This is my first time here. Upon entering, I was greeted by a pristine interior, ripe with purposeful elements of architecture and design: a custom welded steel barista bar, heavy raw wood beams, glossy modern lamp fixtures, local artwork.
I am alone in the shop except for the barista, Kim, who immediately welcomes me with a smile and easy conversation. I order a dirty iced chai and Kim tells me that Street Coffee makes its own delicious chai mix right here on the spot.
Kim also informs me that Street Coffee beans are roasted by a local roast master just two houses down (also owned by the Street Coffee crew). Delightful-looking pastries seduce me from their bright glass cage lined with string lights while Kim pulls a double-shot of espresso for my drink.
Before-pics of this structure decorate the wall of a quaint interior nook, presenting this building's past life as a house. Kim later tells me that the house once featured two floors and four bathrooms. (Now it's a spacious hipster shell of what it was.) Fresh paint cuts clean visual lines in tones of white and grey.
Seating is plenteous and comfortable with abundant room to breath between the seats. The lilting sounds of a smooth groove play from unassuming speakers behind the bar. Loud enough to hear without interrupting speech.
Later, I even have the unexpected luck of seeing Andy, the unpretentious genius behind Street's coffee. Andy is quite well known around these parts - he's been at this for decades, supporting many of the local spots with his quiet uncommon craft.
An hour passes calmly against the backdrop of this fresh new local haunt. Visitors come and go, filling the tall ceilings with the sound of footsteps and dulcet conversation. The sun stretches its arms, yawns, approaches its zenith in the Arizona sky.
CONCLUSION
An easy 5-star winner, Street Coffee is a legitimate player in the already-somewhat-congested coffee scene here in downtown Phoenix's blossoming artist's district. The coffee is good, the service is outstanding (genuine, kind, and unintrusive), and the atmosphere is everything I had hoped (and more).
I am especially thankful for the cleanliness and breathability of this spot and will plan to make it one of my new routine stops whenever I'm nearby.
***The utterly pristine quality and spaciousness of the bathrooms here alone would earn Street Coffee an extra 5 stars if Yelp allowed it!
If you've never been, here's another local haunt worth planning time for. Bring a friend (or don't), grab a drink (or two), fold to the temptation of a pastry, then put your feet up for a few with a good book or a quiet game of cards.
A NOTE TO THE STAFF
Kim - you were amazing. Thanks for the great drink. Thanks for taking the time to tell me about the place, for keeping everything so perfectly spotless and for helping me work out my internet issues. I'll see you again for sure.
Andy - great work, man. The coffee is delicious. Keep doing your thing!
Owner(s) - well done. This place is every kind of beautiful. I can't wait to show it off to all my friends! ;)
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