There are a few things college students love: free food, “class is cancelled” emails and long, romantic walks to the coffee shop.
Fortunately for students of the Downtown Phoenix campus who want a caffeine dose before hitting the books, there are plenty of places to camp out on a study-filled Saturday or to grab coffee in between classes.
Emma Biscocho, a junior public policy major, said she enjoys studying at coffee shops because the atmosphere gets her in a productive mindset.
“When I sit at home and try to do homework, there’s so many other things going on,” she said. “But at a coffee shop, it just has that feel of — this is where people are being productive. People get coffee to recharge and to get more energy.”
In addition to the work-conducive environment, Biscocho said being a regular customer at a coffee shop can make you feel like part of a community, especially for out-of-state students.
“You get to know the baristas and the other people that go there,” she said. “Even though downtown’s this big city, you can find these tiny communities in these coffee shops, and it’s less intimidating to be living out here.”
Here are twelve places within walking distance of the Downtown Phoenix campus to grab a cup of Joe.
Street Coffee 625 N. 7th St.
Street Coffee sits on the corner of Seventh and Pierce streets. The intimate environment and minimalist interior provide a quiet environment for intense studying.
The coffee beans at Street Coffee are roasted in-house. Try the Garfield — a latte with honey, mint and white mocha, or the Roosevelt, a raspberry lemonade. Street Coffee closes at 2 p.m. on weekends but is open at 7 a.m. daily, making it perfect for an early morning java run.
Want something sweet? Grab a giant cinnamon roll to pair with your beverage.
Grand Central Coffee Company 718 N. Central Ave.
Located on Central Avenue and viewable from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Grand Central Coffee Company wears many hats: coffee shop, bar and now restaurant. Starting April 7, the establishment will be open 24/7.
Sean Lopez, who works for the outside firm Synergistic Studios, operates social media for the establishment, commonly referred to as “The Grand.” He said the design visions of owner Steven Rogers have helped establish the unique aesthetic of the restaurant.
“He creates these sets, these environments that are embracing, welcoming, that people are comfortable in,” Lopez said. “That’s the goal. It’s to give people an experience while they’re there.”
Lopez said that while The Grand’s cold brew coffee and danishes are popular with customers, it is not just a coffee shop.
“We have events in the grand ballroom that’s adjacent to the building. That’s available for corporate functions and events,” he said. “It’s a place to get a great cold beer, it’s great for amazing cocktails, amazing food.”
Go green and try the avocado fries with habanero ranch and a matcha tea.
Jobot Coffee 333 E Roosevelt St.
Stickers in the establishment may proclaim that it’s “Not Jobot,” but the downtown Phoenix staple lives on.
Jobot, which recently moved from a small house on Fifth Street, is now right downstairs from students who live in Roosevelt Point.
Jobot is another late night option for students, open until midnight during the week and 3 a.m. on weekends. Feeling hungry? Grab a sweet or savory crepe with your cup of coffee.
Lola Coffee 1001 N. 3rd Ave.
Housed in a sunshine yellow building, Lola Coffee is frequently bustling. The shop has expansive patio space out back for customers who want to take their coffee and treats outside (and take a photo of the highly Instagrammable sign).
Follow their Instagram for frequent updates on the fun baked goods of the moment, like chocolate mint whoopee pies or hazelnut tarts.
For a quick pick-me-up, try the Sunshine — a combination of orange juice and coffee, to really wake up.
Tea & Toast 915 N. Central Ave.
“Hell yeah” proclaims the logo of Tea & Toast, one of the gems situated in DeSoto Central Market. Customers can order trendy avocado toast, or go a meatier route with a customer-favorite, bacon jam.
DeSoto has frequent events that may be of interest to students, such as trivia on Tuesdays and free yoga on Saturdays. Stop at Tea & Toast for some breakfast and a “Teaspressa” (perfect if you can’t decide between tea or coffee).
Be Coffee + Food + Stuff 214 E. Roosevelt St.
Located right on Roosevelt, Be Coffee is just a few minutes away for students who live in Roosevelt Point.
Be Coffee offers homemade sauces and syrups, as well as breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Customers can even cut the line by texting their order ahead of time.
Dressing Room is their full restaurant right next door for customers looking for something heartier.
Fillmore Coffee Co. 600 N. 4th St.
Fillmore Coffee Co. opened last October and is located on the ground floor of Skyline Lofts. Co-owner Mike Atwell said the establishment aims to be a study space for students, with bright lighting, big tables and music that’s never too loud.
“I would say 90 percent of the people that walk in on any given day, we’ve seen before,” Atwell said. “We do get those new people who walk by and they’re like, oh, I live right down the street, I had no idea. We’re definitely still reaching new people every day.”
Grab a latte in pretty much any flavor under the sun and anything with tomato chutney, such as the breakfast burrito, which Atwell said is a popular item.
“When we originally opened, we just had it on this butternut chicken wrap that we did, but we had such great feedback for it so we started putting it on everything," he said.
Songbird Coffee & Tea House 812 N. 3rd St.
Get comfortable at Songbird, which is just across the street from students who live at Roosevelt Point, on a couch inside or on a summery adirondack chair in the homey front yard.
Songbird often showcases the work of local artists, and relaxing live music from the establishment can often be heard carrying through the streets of Phoenix.
Try a nitro cold brew (infused with nitrogen) to add some pizzaz to your coffee fix.
City Central 111 E. Taylor St.
Those passing through the Beus Center for Law and Society at the Downtown Phoenix campus won’t object to the new coffee bar on the sixth floor.
The cafe is one of several City Central kiosks in downtown Phoenix. Try the strawberry truffle latte, which is just as sweet as it sounds.
Fun fact: The owner of City Central, Damian Serafine, is the uncle of Fillmore Coffee Co. owner Mike Atwell.
“He’s who got me into the whole thing,” Atwell said of the family coffee business.
Beneficial Beans Cafe 1221 N. Central Ave.
Make a difference with your cup of coffee at Beneficial Beans Cafe, an endeavor by the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center to support adults with autism.
The cafe is located in Burton Barr Central Library, so book lovers can get their literary and caffeine fixes in one trip.
Beneficial Beans offers fresh-brewed coffee, pastries and a full food menu that includes toast, soup, salads and sandwiches.
The cafe also sells coffee to make at home, t-shirts and plants for customers who want to take their support for the cause even further.
Fair Trade Cafe 424 N. Central Ave
With two locations, students can stop at Fair Trade wherever they are in downtown Phoenix. The more convenient spot to campus is located in the A.E. England building in Civic Space Park. (The other is at 1020 N. 1st Ave.)
Customers looking for something non-coffee related can try one of the fruit smoothies, like the Purple Haze, or a cost-effective tea at only $2.25.
Giant Coffee 1437 N. 1st St.
Bigger may in fact be better at Giant Coffee.
Located adjacent to Bunky Boutique and a hop, skip and a jump from the Phoenix Art Museum, students can hit up the area around Giant Coffee on McDowell for a day of art, fashion and coffee.
The shop is a favorite of Biscocho’s because of the decor and the open set-up.
“They always have these little plants on the table,” she said. “They have a bar area, but you don’t face the wall, you face outwards toward the people. You don’t feel like you’re just facing the wall, you’re looking out.”
Biscocho said she recommends the honey lavender latte.
Reach the reporter at lallnatt@asu.edu or follow @LibbyAllnattASU on Twitter.
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