It all Started With Coffea
I don't drink coffee. Actually, my favorite beverage has always been tea. What inspired me to write reviews of the top coffee shops? I'm happy you asked, though.
Mike, my service writer, was reading my license plate when I was at the dealership having my car serviced. Since my license plate included coffee, he inquired whether or not I was a coffee lover.
I started thinking back on the significance of my license plate before responding. My plate had nothing to do with the beverage but everything to do with culture. During COVID, I created a magazine called Arizona Coffea with the goal of highlighting the Black community in a positive light.
The magazine gave me the opportunity to share the stories of unsung heroes within the community. It was a project I cherished deeply, but, like all good things, it eventually came to an end.
Photo of Hava Java Coffee - Phoenix, AZ
While I love Arizona Coffea, my passion for it began to fade, and what once brought me joy started to feel like a burdensome chore. I knew I wanted to shift direction, but I had no idea what that change would look like or how to approach it.
Back to Mike... I mentioned that I was interested in coffee and wanted to explore the best coffee shops in Arizona. I wasn’t even sure where the idea came from, but once I said it, I found myself genuinely intrigued. Mike started recommending different coffee shops I should check out. He even handed me two punched cards for Hava Java Coffee. I’d never been there before, though I’d heard of it, and I knew it would definitely be one of my stops on this new coffee shop tour (more on that soon)!
Photo of Macy’s Coffee House in Flagstaff, AZ.
Mike also told me about Macy’s, a coffee shop in Flagstaff that’s been around since 1980. Locals and regular visitors to Flagstaff rave about Macy’s, known for serving some of the best European-style coffee in Arizona.
Mike and I had a wonderful conversation, sharing stories about our children, families, the holiday hustle, and so much more. This interaction inspired me to reimagine Arizona Coffea and step even further outside my comfort zone. It encouraged me to invite others to join me on a journey of exploring coffee shops, cafes, shops, and more, while connecting with my neighbors. I don’t know how this chapter will end, but I can already tell it’s the beginning of something beautiful. After all, there’s so much you can learn about a person over a good cup of coffee.