20 Feb 6th-Feb 12th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Coffee and Cocktails New espresso martini bar, Three Beans Cafe, opens in Old Town. BY PRESLIE HIRSCH A new kind of coffee shop has stirred up a buzz in Old Town Scottsdale, nestled off Fifth Avenue and Scottsdale Road. Three Beans Cafe specializes in coffee-inspired cocktails and aims to bring new life to the classic coffee house experience with nostalgic decor, unique drink combina- tions and classic nonalcoholic coffee favorites. Co-owners Eric Ferrone and Ed Oakes have worked together for over two decades, working their way up from barbacks to bartenders, then security and management roles and eventually oper- ating partners of other restaurant groups. Their leap into entrepreneurship began about two and a half years ago and culmi- nated with the opening of Three Beans Cafe on Dec. 11, 2024. Thanks to their extensive professional experience and guidance from industry peers, they’ve confidently avoided chal- lenges typical of a first-time restaurateur. “Having a good foundation of people that we’ve met along the way, and slowly piecing that together to be prepared for this opportunity, has provided us a pretty good safety net,” Ferrone says. The vintage design of the intimate 40-seat space, largely created by Oakes, a craftsman and handyman, pairs well with the singular TV playing old movies and music. The ambiance inspires quality conversations. “I know some of the posts and things that have been going out and reaching a lot of people say ‘bar,’ (but) we are not a full- service bar. We’re not trying to do vodka sodas, we don’t necessarily make mojitos or margaritas. We’ll probably grow into having one or two options down the road, but really, it’s a cafe experience,” Ferrone explains. Three Beans Cafe currently opens at 3 p.m. daily, but the owners hope to expand the hours to make the cafe a true all-day destination. “We’re whatever anybody wants us to be for them, at that moment. If you’re in there at 11 a.m. and you’re on vacation and you want a cocktail, you can get a cocktail. If it’s 11 a.m. and you (need to) wrap up this email or meet a client, it’s a traditional coffeehouse,” he says. “We can cater to each block of somebody’s day.” Since opening, Three Beans Cafe has gained buzz on social media, largely thanks to the continuing craze around espresso martinis. The once-vintage cocktails have experienced a full resurgence of popularity and are now a staple on bar menus once again. What makes a truly delicious espresso martini? According to Ferrone, fresh espresso is the key. “A lot of places use cold brew concen- trate, or they try to skip that step when ultimately, that’s the deciding factor for whether an espresso martini is truly an espresso martini,” he says. In addition to the cult classic, the cafe has six different variations of espresso martinis — one of which is rotating. The schedule for changing out menu selections is still to be determined and largely based on customer feedback. “Everything on our menu is particular to somebody’s taste in the sense of their spirit choice, not so much the flavors,” Ferrone explains. “For people that love tequila, the Mochisado is more of a choco- late-based reposado. We have a gin one on there that all the gin drinkers raise an eyebrow to, but we’ve gotten great responses with that. Our Old Fashion Espresso is also something that people really enjoy, and we even have an Aperol Spritz Espresso.” All of the coffee drinks are available in decaf, and the nonalcoholic cocktail offer- ings list is growing to support customer requests. As far as a food menu goes, the cafe recently partnered with JL Patisserie, a local, James Beard-nominated French pastry shop with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Founded by Jenna Leurquin, JL Patisserie will provide croissants and other sweet and savory pastries to comple- ment the cafe’s coffee-centric beverages. “They have a phenomenal reputation, and their products are very consistent. You can tell that they’re passionate about what they’re doing, similar to us, so they always have new creations,” Ferrone says. The cafe stays open late, with hours that rely on the crowds — typically about 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. In the near future, they aim to open at 10 a.m. daily. Three espresso beans are a staple garnish for coffee cocktails, strongly influ- encing the name of the establishment. However, that’s not the only meaning behind the name and the beans. “Some think of it as present, past, and future. And the idea behind that is you eat just two of the beans, present and future, and you leave the past behind,” Feronne says. “For others, they think of it as health, wellness and happiness.” Three Beans Cafe 7150 E. Fifth Ave., #100, Scottsdale Three Beans Cafe specializes in espresso martinis and other coffee cocktails. (Courtesy of Three Beans Cafe) Three Beans Cafe hopes to expand its hours and become an all-day destination. (Courtesy of Three Beans Cafe) ▼ Food & Drink
