230 FOOD & DRINK BEST MATCHA FUTURO 909 N. FIRST ST. FUTURO2000.CO You could miss Futuro if you don’t know what to look for. The small, black text on a plain white wall and sliding doors at the Palabra collective don’t scream coffee shop. But the minimalistic space provides a neutral palette for the traditional flavors on offer. Try a café de olla latte topped with star anise and served in a handmade Mexican barrio mug, or a latte made with local honey and either espresso or matcha. Their matcha — sourced from Kettl, a 100% hand-harvested matcha company based in Brooklyn, New York — is worth the trip. At Futuro, it’s hand- whisked and shaken for a perfectly foamy, earthy serving. i i i BEST DRIVE-THRU COFFEE COPPER STAR COFFEE 4220 N. SEVENTH AVE. 602-266-2136 COPPERSTARCOFFEE.COM Want to distance yourself from the corpo- rate greed and scorched coffee of Starbucks without ever leaving your air-conditioned vehicle? Copper Star Coffee, inside a retro carhop in Phoenix’s Melrose district, has you covered. Pull up to the shop’s sticker- covered door and order one of Copper Star’s award-winning herbal lattes or bagels. Since coming into the neighborhood in 2006, the shop has adapted and thrived. Employees make the shop’s hummus and bagels from scratch and work to keep prices low: The breakfast sandwich is a mere $6, fit for a working person on the go. i i i BEST COFFEE SHOP MOXIE COFFEE CO. 4626 N. 16TH ST., #101 480-215-9987 MOXIECOFFEECO.COM Specialty coffee, that axiomatic breed of high-quality brews, wasn’t always so common across the Valley. Though relatively young on the scene, five-year-old Moxie Coffee Co. is one of Phoenix’s biggest boosters of premium pours. The roaster sources beans from farms in Guatemala, Colombia and Ethiopia, extracting light- bodied coffees with fruit-forward flavors. Customers regularly pack the low-key, modern Uptown cafe. A dozen deep, they’ll line up for Moxie’s award-winning brews of rare fermented coffee, a simple cappuccino or an Instagram-grade seasonal latte topped with a torched marshmallow. The cafe’s crew brings the service touch of a restaurant. No need to hover by the coffee bar; baristas deliver drinks to you. It’s a simple, mean- ingful way to encourage customers to get comfortable and enjoy the satisfying ritual of a well-made coffee. i i i BEST COFFEE SHOP TO WORK FROM STRIP MALL 3508 N. SEVENTH ST., #100 480-997-3892 STRIPMALLPHX.COM Coffee shop work sessions need fast Wi-Fi that won’t wimp out on big downloads. Strip Mall, located off of Seventh Street in central Phoenix, has the juice. The owners of bodega boutique Monsoon Market opened the coffee shop, cheekily named in honor of Phoenix’s shopping center of choice, in early 2025. It quickly became a poppin’ third space for folks looking to hang out and maybe even get some work done. The coffee is solid and the seating options suit whatever working position you prefer. Want to sit tall at a table? Strip Mall has it. Prefer to slouch into a couch and make your lap your desk? Go ahead and get comfy, friend. i i i BEST AFTERNOON TEA THE PHOENICIAN, A LUXURY RESORT COLLECTION, SCOTTSDALE 6000 E. CAMELBACK ROAD, SCOTTSDALE 480-941-8200 THEPHOENICIAN.COM/ DINE/AFTERNOON-TEA Afternoon tea at The Phoenician offers just a narrow window. The resort seats people for the traditional English experience between 2 and 3 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Once you’re inside, you’re in for the luxury and elegance that defines every- thing The Phoenician does. Choose a pot of classic Earl Grey or English Breakfast, then nibble your way through platters of savory sandwiches, scones and elaborately detailed pastries while you listen to live piano. Kids have their own menu suited to young palates, and gluten-free and vegan guests can be accommodated as well. We recom- mend the resort’s holiday tea, which adds a dusting of Christmas cheer to an already peak experience.