Located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, The Coffee Builders is now open and serving up lattes with the same intricacies as craft cocktails. This coffee shop has quickly become a go-to breakfast and lunch spot.
Porter Barn Wood, known for its custom home renovations, recently converted its former storefront into The Coffee Builders, which has quickly become a local hotspot with a cozy wood interior with accents of navy blue, brass hardware and greenery. To the right of the restaurant is an expansive patio, perfect for sipping a cup of coffee as the weather gets cooler. The inviting atmosphere makes it the stellar place to chat with a friend, get lost in a book or catch up on work.
“My original plan for this space was to build an experimental showroom or ‘testeraunt,’ as I like to call it, for our hospitality clients to demonstrate exciting new materials, finishes and service items,” says Thomas Porter, owner of Porter Barn Wood and The Coffee Builders. “After we started building it out, I decided we should go all in and create a one-of-a-kind breakfast and lunch experience. Working with so many talented chefs and restaurateurs across the country and being obsessed with great food, we were inspired to create our own space to showcase some of the amazing dishes and unique culinary aspects we’ve discovered over our years of searching the globe for culinary and design inspiration.”
All of the specialty coffee drinks are crafted to perfection with the presentation of a cocktail. You can’t go wrong with any of the drinks on the menu, but a few of the standouts are the Chocolate Pistachio (a rich chocolate mocha with nutty hints served with a chocolate and pistachio-coated rim, finished with latte art); the Orange Blossom Special (a bright citrus latte topped with foam and an orange garnish); and the Strawberry Latte (a perfect balance of fruity flavors and rich espresso). If you aren’t feeling adventurous, don’t worry! The Coffee Builders has your basic drip coffee, Americanos, lattes and more, ensuring there is something for all coffee drinkers on the menu.
“I knew my drinks couldn’t look like any other latte you see at other coffee shops. I wanted the drink menu and presentation to match the vision Thomas had,” says Johnny Rios, coffee consultant at The Coffee Builders. “The overall experience you get from ordering a craft cocktail at a speakeasy is what I was going for when creating the menu for The Coffee Builders.”
The breakfast and lunch menu features sandwiches, lavash (similar to a flatbread pizza), salads, waffles and smørrebrød (Danish open-face sandwiches). Some highlights on the menu include matcha waffles, which are tender and fluffy, topped with a sweet whipped cream that has a light matcha flavor to complement the fresh strawberries it’s served with. You can never go wrong with an avocado toast, and the Avocado Dream was no exception. The base of the toast is a hearty bread topped with ripe avocados, microgreens and tomatoes, garnished with beautiful edible flowers. As for lunch, Porter says his favorite item on the menu is the roasted garlic-honey-Sriracha BBQ chicken lavash. It’s the perfect combination of tangy BBQ, sweet honey and tender chicken.
The Coffee Builders is open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit thecoffeebuilders.com.
901 S. 7th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034