Whether taking a coffee or taking-in the great weather, Tucson, Arizona is always hot stuff. Whether hot, iced, espresso, or blended, three great coffee shops top the rest in keeping the java brewing for all tastes.
Coffee X-Change – in Midtown Tucson
Every college town needs an all-night coffee shop, and about a mile north of University of Arizona, is Tucson’s own Coffee X-Change at Campbell and Grant. It is the only 24/7 coffee café,serving pastries, sandwiches, and free wireless access with lots of electric outlets to accommodate students’ all-night cramming sessions, along with a great cup of coffee.
The mid-town location attracts all ages, from toddler to octogenarian, with senior citizen discounts, student discounts, and a children’s menu. Favorite buys are muffins, croissants and the breakfast egg sandwich.
The only downside is they charge a quarter for a cup of water even when other items are purchased on the same order. However refills of water, coffee, and tea are free. It is an odd thing to find a charge for water in most Tucson establishments, but Coffee X-Change makes up for it in good service and quality of the drinks and food they offer. Employees are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable in attending to customers’ needs.
Coffee X-Change is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Find it at 2443 North Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719, phone (520)327-6783. The price range is low: Under $9.00 for a breakfast or lunch sandwich or salad, and $1.50 to $5.00 for drinks, pastries and desserts, depending on size and specialty ordered. Discounts include: student and senior citizens.
Between downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona, in the eclectic 4th Avenue district, the Epic Café has indoor seating, free internet access, and outdoor seating where dogs on leash are welcome. It earned Tucson Weekly‘s ” Best Café Hangout Award” seven times between 2000 and 2008.
In addition to a variety of coffee and tea selections in hot, cold and blends, Epic Café offers ice cream floats and milkshakes in five basic flavors. Customers are always encouraged to request their own special flavor selections, including sarsaparilla. Milk shakes and floats price range is from $3.50 to $4.35. Coffee, espresso, teas and blended drinks range in price from $1.70 to $4.80.
Epic Café is also known for its great food. Breakfast is served all day from 6 AM to 11 PM, with tasty choices from egg sandwiches to breakfast couscous and the perpetual favorite of lox and bagels. The menu boasts fourteen kinds of sandwiches of “epic proportion,” salads and daily soups. Breakfast and lunch selections range in price from $3 to $8: with egg sandwiches, bagels, pastries, basic BLT sandwiches and the unique turkey dip. It is a hot spot for dessert too, with sixteen choices to delight everyone’s sweet tooth.
It is a favorite for dessert and coffee after concerts and events, and being so close to University of Arizona, also with students cramming for exams. With more than sixteen choices, Epic Café desserts delight the pickiest sweet tooth. They offer giant cookies, brownies, baklava, flan, cobbler, epic vegan snack bars and more. Dessert prices start at only $0.75 and max-out at only $4.85. Whole cakes, pies and mousse can be ordered, ranging in price from $22 to $30.
Find the Epic Café at 745 N 4th Ave Tucson, AZ 85705, phone (520)624-6844. It is open 6 AM to Midnight, seven days a week.
Cup Cafe – in Downtown Tucson
Inside Tucson’s historic downtown Hotel Congress, is the Cup Café, a favorite with locals and visitors alike. Unlike Epic Cafe and Coffee X-Change’s counter and cash register service, Cup Cafe offers full table service bistro with attentive staff, and top notch coffee, espresso, teas and full meal menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cup Cafe is the only coffee shop offering a full bar and signature cocktails. Being authentically historic, you won’t find internet access as you step back in time to the 1920s-30s decore of the hote’s first blush.
Cup Café offers seven basic types of coffee drinks, with customer personal requests welcome. Price is $1.75 to $3.50. Refills on regular/decaf and soft drinks are free. Meal menu prices range from $5 to $12 for breakfast or lunch, and $5 to $20 for dinner. They also offer a roast chicken dinner for two at $35, with 1 hour preparation allowance.
Cup Cafe is open every day, even on Holidays because it is associated with Hotel Congress. Evenings and weekends can be especially busy, so reservations are recommended. Breakfast is served 6 AM to 4 PM, lunch from 11 AM to 4 PM and dinner 4 PM to 10 PM, Sunday through Thursday; Open until midnight Friday and Saturday with limited menu choices during last hour. Find it in downtown at 311 E. Congress Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701, phone (520)622-8848 or toll free 1-800-722-8848.
