Over the past few years I have have made it a point to try the best coffee shops in Tucson when I am in town. My top recommendations include:
A fun new find on my last trip was Barista del Barrio at 1002 N Grande Ave. I read about it as the owner Flavia Brionesis was nominated as a semifinalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest. This is a casual burrito and coffee shop. Be prepared to wait in line as it is very popular. I enjoyed my horchata latte and churro donut. It was well worth the wait!
Exo Roast Co.: Locals recommend Exo at 403 N. 6th Ave., near the Warehouse Arts District. I tried it and enjoyed the coffee and the atmosphere. Stop in as you explore the galleries.
I saw that they opened a second location south of downtown at 196 W Simpson in the colorful Barrio Viejo with colorful adobe houses, Mexican cantinas, brewpubs and the new galleries on S. Convent Ave. I went and loved how they turned an old house into a rustic coffee house. I highly recommend that you try it. At night it becomes Crisol Bar on Wednesday to Sunday. Here they have a focus on agave spirits and mezcal along with small plates of food.
Caffe Luce: Sparkroot Coffee, at 245 E. Congress is now Caffe Luce. It is a great spot for coffee downtown in an attractive two level store.
Caffe Luce also has a location at Main Gate Square at 943 E. University Blvd., #191, near the University of Arizona. They feature coffee drinks and pastries.
Nearby is Snakes & Lattes Board Game Cafe & Bar, a Toronto based coffee shop, located at 988 E. University Blvd. They offer coffee, drinks, food and a library of many playable games.
Down the street is Espresso Art Cafe. This is trendy coffee shop, cafe, hookah lounge along with live music and local art. 942 E. University Blvd.
I recently heard of a new cafe, Yellow Brick Coffee, that opened in March, 2023. It is located east of the University at 800 N. Country Club Rd. Ste. 3180. It is owned by a brother-sister team who have been roasting their coffee since 2011. I am excited to try it when I am back in town next summer. In addition to coffee drinks, they have menu of pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads and more.
Ombre Coffee: This is a new find. On a recent trip I found this local coffee roaster in Broadway Village at 2936 E. Broadway. I enjoyed it as I recovered from a long delayed flight from Chicago! It is in the same center as Bario Bread, Cashew Cow and the Bisbee Breakfast Club Broadway.
Nearby is Zedamo Coffee & Tea at 2719 E Broadway. This is a new Ethiopian coffee shop opened May 2025. I read in Tucson Foodie that is was created as a collaboration between Z Street and Tucson’s Savaya Coffee Market. I went the next month and enjoyed a latte after arriving in town. It is an attractive cafe next to their Ethiopian bar Zerai’s International Bar and Zeman’s Ethopian restaurant. The group is called Z-Street. I also just saw Zerman’s featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network with Guy Fieri.
In 2025 their partner, Sawaya Coffee Market, was named one of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops.
Cartel Coffee Lab: With other locations in Scottsdale, Tempe, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Austin and in Tucson, they are known for sourcing, roasting and brewing good coffee. They have two Tucson locations, 210 E. Broadway and 2516 N. Campbell. I enjoyed the downtown location on Broadway which is next door to Brick Box Brewery. I went back on my June 2024 trip. The macha latte with lavender was excellent.
Presta Coffee Roasters: Presta Coffee Roasters now has three locations in Tucson. One at 2502 N. 1st Ave. which is on the site of their roastery and one in the Mercado San Agustin at 100 S. Avenida de Convento. I loved it on my last trip for a Saturday morning break. I found a great mango empanada at La Estrella Bakery next door, and enjoyed people watching in the courtyard on a beautiful morning.
The newest one is located at 501 E. 9th St. which is located just east of N. 4th Ave.
In 2025 Presta Coffee Roasters was named one of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops. “At Presta, they treat coffee with great care, preserving the work of the producers and sharing their knowledge about the multiple facets of specialty coffee. When sourcing green coffee, Presta works with key farmers and buys beans from the same farms every year, though they are also open to bringing in coffee from new producers.”
Decibel Coffee Works is a great addition to Tucson and can be found in the Mercado District in the MSA Annex that was created from old shipping containers. 267 S. Avenida Del Convento. I stopped in on my last trip and bought two great scones for my breakfast at my hotel.
In May 2026 I went to the new Decibel Coffee Works location at 2631 E. Broadway, near Zedamo Coffee & Tea. I liked this location and its staff and had a great latte before heading to my early lunch.
Next door is the Scented Leaf Tea House at 2627 E. Broadway Blvd. It has large menu of teas and tea drinks. The highlight for me is the 2025 mural by artist Joe Pagac.
Before my visit to Decibel, I stopped by Cal’s Bakeshop at 2707 E. Broadway Blvd. This is a bakery, started in 2021 that is known for its menu of 100% vegan pastry and specialty coffee. Highlights include a variety of brioche donuts, conchas, cronuts, and espresso drinks crafted with Salvadoran roasts. I bought a great crème brûlée macaron which I enjoyed at Decibel.
One of my favorite new finds from a recent trip, thanks to a local friend, is Ren Coffeehouse, located north of downtown in St. Phillips Plaza at 4300 N. Campbell Ave., #24. I loved the outdoor courtyard as I enjoyed a great latte and a pastry after my early flight from Chicago to Tucson. They feature a menu of coffee drinks, smoothies, breakfast items plus salads and paninis. In March 2026 they moved their popular Bakery by Ren next door.
In 2024 I stayed in downtown Tucson before heading to Canyon Ranch and enjoyed going to HeeMee Coffee + Bakery for an iced latte to start my day of exploring. They serve fresh pastries and cakes handmade daily from scratch alongs with Intelligentsia Coffee espresso and drip coffee from the local Yellow Brick Coffee.They also have a food menu. 20 E Congress St #110
In May 2026 I went to their second location in Main Gate Square at 800 E. University Blvd. I enjoyed a great iced latte! It is an attractive space as well.
American Eat Co. is located at 1439 S 4th Ave. This is a food hall featuring numerous comfort foods plus a beer and wine bar and coffee and ice cream. Currently there are nine local vendors including. I Café con Leche. Here you can buy coffee drinks and great ice cream. Don’t miss the piña colada flavor.
The popular The Coronet Restaurant is now located at 198 W. Cushing St. They moved to this historic property in 2020 and expanded three entities; a casual counter service cafe, a culinary-inspired cocktail bar and a fine dining restaurant. Their casual Coronet Cafe is open for coffee drinks and cocktails and food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Located on the grounds of the Tucson Museum of Art is Café à La C’Art at 150 N. Main Ave. This is a charming, colorful cafe with a great patio. Located in the historic Stevens House from 1865, it gets great reviews. I stopped in for coffee as I was exploring the Presidio District in downtown. It is open for breakfast and brunch from Wednesday through Sunday. In addition to food items, it has a large menu of coffee and tea drinks. I went back in May 2026 and loved the iced lavender latte.
Nearby Café à La C’Art at 200 N. Court Ave. is Brandylion Tea & Spirits. This is a small bar serving a large menu of teas, sweets and savory bites along with a large menu of cocktails made with brandy and other spirits plus beer and wine.
