Great Summer Coffee Shop hangouts in Downtown Phoenix

Great Downtown Phoenix Coffee Shops & hangouts for 2011

Cartel Coffee Lab Coffee, Pastries and Sandwiches
Precise in its coffee mentality, Cartel brings its burgeoning empire to Downtown Phoenix, catering to the coffee enthusiast in an expansive bar and kitchen just off the light rail. Single-origin beans and for-here cappuccinos are the draw here, but the forthcoming menu of lunches, salads and scrumptious pastries promise to expand its already loyal following. Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1 N. 1st St., Downtown.

Copper Star Coffee Coffee and Tea
Part converted gas station, part Internet café, Copper Star has become a favorite with the Melrose crowd. From the outside, Copper Star still features its mid-century garage aesthetic, but inside, the room opens up to be surprisingly airy and comfy to lounge around. Expect an eclectic crowd depending on the hour, and a variety of pastries and kitschy items, plus hand-pulled espresso drinks. Sunday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 4220 N. 7th Ave., Melrose. (602) 266.2136.

Fair Trade Café (Civic Space Park) Coffee and Tea
Fair Trade’s second location, in the lower level of the A.E. England Building in Civic Space Park, is a new hangout for ASU students, parkgoers, light rail riders and passersby. The bright, sparce space is a stark contrast from Fair Trade’s original location, preferring to focus on the coffee instead of the aesthetic. Brewing strong, organic fair trade coffee and tea, just like the original, this space offers soaring views of ASU’s campus, Her Secret is Patience and reflective waterfalls in the park, and is attached to the Fair Trade retail store. Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 424 N. Central Ave., ASU Downtown.

Fair Trade Café (Roosevelt) Coffee and Tea
A Downtown tradition in just a few short years, Fair Trade Café brews intensely strong coffee, rich espresso and chocolately iced coffee — all with organic fair trade beans. It’s no wonder more than a few people have taken the café as their own office space. Fair Trade takes its namesake quite seriously, though, focusing on sustainable practices, small-farm beans and practical roasting techniques from its roaster in Tucson. The U-shaped storefront, on the street level of Roosevelt Square adjacent the light rail station, also features a number of quirky fair trade clothing items and coffeeware, and regularly hosts discussions, acoustic performances and screenings. Monday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 1020 N. 1st Ave., Roosevelt. (602) 354.8150

Giant Coffee Coffee and Pastries
The imported coffees are great, the atmosphere even better. Bright and modern without a thread of pretension, Giant Coffee is the latest creative venture from celebrated Downtown restaurateurs Matt and Erenia Pool (Matt’s Big Breakfast, Roosevelt Tavern). With a rotating collection of divisively decadent pastries and baked goods to fawn over while engulfing needed doses of premium caffeine, Giant Coffee is a serious coffee hideout that hits all the correct notes. Honey Vanilla Latte, anyone? 7 to 7. 1437 N. 1st St., Evans Churchill.

Gideon’s Coffee Coffee
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. 209 W. Jackson St., Warehouse.

Hob Nobs Coffee and Sandwiches
Located in a converted Historic Cotswold house at McDowell & 3rd Ave, this is also a great place for lunch, or a snack. Sunday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday 7 a.m. to midnight. 149 W. McDowell Rd., Roosevelt. (602) 253.9220

Jobot Coffee Coffee
7 a.m. to midnight. 918 N. 5th St., Evans Churchill.

LGO Coffee Coffee - OPENING APRIL 2011 (I can not wait for this to open, -  Until then visit their other location at 40th St & Campbell)
1 E. Washington St., Downtown. (in Cityscape)

Lola Coffee (Uptown) Coffee and Pastries
Instantly one of Uptown’s most respected coffee institutions upon opening, Lola Coffee had a bit of an advantage, as many in the area have been familiar with owner Daniel Wayne’s espresso roast for years from around the corner at Lola Tapas. The bright space along Central Avenue is home to pastries reincarnated from Sweet Pea, with a varied assortment of tarts, cookies, cakes, pies, frittatas and breads that changes daily. Wayne’s house roasts feature the smooth, creamy styling he’s been favoring for years, and the hip space, complete with mid-century modern furnishings, revolving art and bar stools lining Central, is welcomed by all. Monday to Thursday 7-7, Friday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 4700 N. Central Ave., Uptown. (602) 265.5652

Lola Coffee (Roosevelt) Coffee and Pastries
Melding the feel of Uptown’s Lola location with the carefully preserved history of the Gold Spot building, Lola Roosevelt is a soaring, bright space complete with an in-house roastery and bakery. Flourishes of the original Gold Spot building remain — concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and ample factory-style lighting — creating a warm, rustic setting overlooking the Roosevelt Street traffic. In keeping with the Uptown location’s tradition, the counter tops are stocked with freshly baked treats from Sweet Pea, now with the added bonus of accentuated fresh baking and roasting smells throughout the building. Monday-Thursday 7-7. Friday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1001 N. 3rd Ave., Roosevelt.

Lux Coffee Bar Coffee and Pastries
Located in a space charming, spare and urban, Lux is one of the original mainstays in Midtown coffee culture. The trendy coffee bar celebrates a loyal clientele both everyday humble and, at times, overtly image aware. Though never to be overshadowed by such atmospheric trimmings, Lux takes respectable pride in its product — the ultimate reason for its longevity — roasting all of its superior-sourced organic beans in house. In addition to said java, a daily selection of homemade baked goods is also available. Whether for the obvious people watching or serious coffee, Lux is a proven destination. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 4404 N. Central Ave., Midtown (602) 696.9976

Urban Beans Coffee 
Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 8 to 8. 3508 N. 7th St., Midtown. (602) 595.2244