Press Coffee, Scottsdale Quarter (Original Location)

A beautiful cappuccino in a classic, hard-to-photograph black cup on a black saucer, made at Press Coffee Roasters, Scottsdale Quarter.I’m leaving Phoenix today after an all-too-short week-long visit, which included a weekend in the Grand Canyon. However, I couldn’t go without sharing on the unexpected highlights of my stay with you. Speciality coffee is not something I was expecting to find on this trip since I was on business and staying out to the northeast of the centre, in North Scottsdale. However, on my second evening there, having wandered the block from my hotel to the Scottsdale Quarter (I think of it as an outdoor shopping mall), I stumbled across Press Coffee Roasters, which immediately set off my Coffee Spot radar!

Press Coffee is both a roaster and a small chain of coffee shops in Phoenix and the surrounding cities! Press Coffee has been going since 2008, with the Scottsdale Quarter branch opening in 2010. There are two blends on espresso, along with decaf, plus five single-origins on filter, made using the Seraphim automated pour-over system through either the Kalita Wave or Chemex. There’s an espresso blend and single-origin on the obligatory batch-brew, plus cold-brew and nitro cold-brew. If you’re hungry, breakfast/lunch is served until 2.30, with cakes available all day.


July 2021: Press Coffee has relocated to a larger space at the other end of Scottsdale Quarter. You can see what I made of it on my return to Phoenix at the start of 2023.


You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • Press Coffee Roasters, in the Scottsdale Quarter, as seen approaching from the east...
  • ... and seen here from the opposite side of the street.
  • Alternatively, this is the view coming from the west, where you'll find the outdoor seating.
  • In case you worried you were in the wrong place, this handy sign will reassure you.
  • The view of Press Coffee Roasters from outside the doors.
  • Nice welcome mat...
  • ... and handy opening times on the window to the right of the door.
  • Stepping inside, and there are two rows of tables on either side of a broad, central aisle.
  • The seating on the right...
  • ... and the seating on the left (as seen from the back). It's laptop central!
  • Talking of the back, this is where you'll find the counter, running along the left-hand wall.
  • Works of art line the walls on the right (which are all available for sale).
  • One of the pictures in detail, a photo of old Toronto.
  • Obligatory light-fitting shot.
  • There's a notice board behind the espresso machine with the current blends.
  • Not a bad accolade!
  • The counter is large and uncluttered. The Synesso espresso machine comes first...
  • ... followed by its three espresso grinders (two blends and decaf).
  • Next comes the two-headed EK-43 grinderfor the filter coffee...
  • ... followed by the brew-heads of the Curtis Seraphim automated pour-over system.
  • The beans on offer are displayed in glass jars next to the Seraphim.
  • There's also cold-brew and nitro cold-brew, with the bulk-brewers behind.
  • The merchandising shelves are opposite the espresso machine.
  • Twitch is the house espresso blend...
  • ... while Spitball is the current guest espresso blend.
  • Meanwhile, the Early Edition blend was on bulk-brew while I was there.
  • The menus are up on the wall behind the till...
  • ... with coffee on the left...
  • ... and the food on the right.
  • There are also cakes next to the till.
  • The business end of the Synesso espresso machine.
  • My decaf cortado from my first visit.
  • I'm always impressed by anyone who can do latte art, let alone in a small glass!
  • I'm particularly impressed when the pattern lasts to the bottom of the glass.
  • On my return, I had an awesome Guatemalan filter coffee through the Seraphim.
  • I also had breakfast: poached eggs, toast and avocado on the side.
  • I rounded things off with a cappuccino, made with the house-blend, Twitch.
  • I'll leave you with some shots of the Scottsdale Quarter itself...
  • ... where the central area has rows of palm trees, plus a pool/fountains.
  • Sadly the fountains were switched off the morning I was there.
  • However, it's even prettier at night, when the palm trees are all lit up.
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I made two visits to Press Coffee Roasters. The first was on the evening of my serendipitous discovery, when I wandered in for some late-night coffee. Unfortunately, just as I was about to ask to take some photographs, the whole block suffered a power cut, so I returned on Friday morning, my last day in Phoenix before heading out to the Grand Canyon.

There’s not much to Press Coffee. It occupies a rectangular unit towards the Scottsdale Quarter’s southern end. About four times as deep as it is wide, with the short side facing the street, the front is entirely glass, with double-doors in the centre. Outside, a short row of two-person tables lines the pavement on the quiet street, stretching from Press to the corner of the block.

Inside, the layout’s simple, two rows of two-person tables lining either side of a broad, central aisle. The back half of the store, which houses the counter, is slightly narrower, missing a chunk on the left. The counter runs up the entire left-hand wall and along the (narrow) back wall, while there’s a corridor-like space on the right where you can queue to order and wait for takeout orders, although in Press, in contrast to many American coffee shops, your coffee is brought to your table, so there’s much less of this milling around, waiting for your coffee and/or your name to be shouted.

The counter itself is long and uncluttered, the Synesso espresso machine first, followed by its three espresso grinders, a two-headed EK-43 and finally the two brew-heads of the Seraphim. The till is at the far end, facing the front of the store, menus on the wall behind and cakes to the right. An in-built shelving unit on the right-hand wall opposite the espresso machine has bags of coffee for sale, along with the usual merchandising you find in American coffee shops.

On my first visit I had an excellent decaf cortado. The coffee came strongly through the milk, resulting in a very smooth drink, plus the milk held its latte art all the way to bottom of the glass, something that’s always a good sign. I was, though, very taken with the Seraphim. I’d never seen one in a coffee shop before and, keen to see it in action, I returned on Friday morning for breakfast (an excellent poached eggs on sourdough toast with a side of avocado).

After a discussion with the barista, I selected a Guatemalan single-origin. It was either that or a fully-washed Ethiopian which, while smelling amazing in the jar, was probably far too subtle for me first thing in the morning.  My coffee was served as it should be, in a carafe, with a cup on the side, and it was sublime. The Guatemalan was the perfect choice, full-bodied, with a fruity flavour which mellowed and sweetened as it cooled.

Before I left, the barista made me a cappuccino with the house-espresso, the delightfully named Twitch. There is also a second espresso blend, which was Spitball during my visit, described to me as “funkier”. The guest changes every month or so, while the single-origins are seasonal and, once they’re gone, they’re gone. My cappuccino was excellent, by the way, the coffee coming strongly through the milk, perfectly complimenting the milk’s natural sweetness.


December 2016: Press Coffee, Scottsdale Quarter was a runner-up for the 2016 Best Filter Coffee Award.

January 2017: You can see what I made of another Press Coffee location, Skywater Apartments in Tempe.

January 2019: You can see what I made of the latest Press Coffee location, Waterfront in Old Scottsdale.

January 2020: Check out Press Coffee’s new coffee shop/roastery which I visited on my return to Phoenix.

January 2023: I finally managed to visit Press Coffee’s new Scottsdale Quarter location on my return to Phoenix.

15147 N SCOTTSDALE ROAD • SCOTTSDALE • PHOENIX • AZ 85254 • USA
www.presscoffee.com +1 480-718-9762
Monday 06:30 – 19:00 Roaster Press Coffee (espresso + filter)
Tuesday 06:30 – 19:00 Seating Tables, Tables (outside)
Wednesday 06:30 – 19:00 Food Breakfast and lunch (until 14:30), Cake
Thursday 06:30 – 19:00 Service Order at Counter
Friday 06:30 – 19:00 Payment Cards + Cash
Saturday 07:00 – 19:00 Wifi Free (with code)
Sunday 07:00 – 19:00 Power Limited
Chain Local Visits 25th, 28th October 2016, 17th January 2017
31st January 2018, 7th January 2019, 15th January 2020
New Location: 17th, 19th January 2023

Liked this Coffee Spot? Then check out the rest of Phoenix’s speciality coffee scene with the Coffee Spot Guide to Phoenix.

You can also see what I made of the other Press Coffee locations that I’ve visited.


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17 thoughts on “Press Coffee, Scottsdale Quarter (Original Location)

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  2. I am so glad you found Press! My son(s) and I go there every morning. Everyone who works there is amazing and as you discovered, the coffee is top notch. By far the best in AZ, if not the universe. <3

    • Hi Erica,

      I couldn’t agree more! Both the staff and the coffee were awesome. I wonder if you were there when I was taking the photos? I was in on Friday (28th October) from around 7.30 to 8.30 🙂

      Brian.

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