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Coffee Etc. 2830 N. Campbell Ave. 6091 N. Oracle Road READERS' PICK: Long before there was a coffee house on every corner, there was Coffee Etc. Thirteen years ago, in fact, Steve Meinhausen ended his fruitless search for the perfect cup of coffee by opening his own shop on Campbell Avenue, in the storefront that later became Mina's Thai Restaurant. He says the gourmet coffee industry was then non-existent in Tucson. Starting with a small, loyal following that supported him through his first three years, Steve has climbed the proverbial beanstalk to a golden gourmet industry--and moved on to bigger and better locations in the Albertson's shopping center on Campbell Avenue and a brand new stop on Oracle Road. Coffee Etc. buys its beans from brokers in San Francisco and New York, representing growers from more than 26 countries worldwide. But the fun really starts here at home, where the beans are roasted and flavored on the premises. READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: A favorite for college students and other slackers, Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea offers several daily coffee choices along with a sturdy house blend for those who just want to "get Bent." Served in heavy ceramic cups with handles as thick as a baby's arm, this is the gourmet version of the same high-octane brew served out near the Interstate 10 to truckers eating six-egg omelets and talking about "why Clinton can kiss my ass." Yep, there are more than a few differences. At Bentley's, 1730 E. Speedway, you might have a whole-wheat bagel or croissant with your cup of Brazilian/Vanilla Bean while overhearing someone ask, "What do you call 50 armed and dangerous lesbians?" "Militia Etheridge." Let's just say that's not exactly the kind of joke you're going to hear at the TTT Truck Stop. STAFF PICK: Pizza used to be the category that provoked near-fistfights among Weekly staffers when decision-time was upon us. But coffee and cafés have replaced pizza as the subjects that arouse the most passion and undying loyalty, not to mention sneering looks and incredulous querries, "You really drink the espresso at Café X? You have got to be kidding." Well, we lobbied for our favorites, we cajoled and we threatened each other. And then we voted. We could've voted a dozen times and come up with a dozen different winners, depending on who was taking a powder and who'd changed their minds since the last vote. We, plain and simple, like a lot of cafés--Epic, Cup Café, Magritte, Milagro, Cuppuccinos, Pony Espresso, Bentley's, Common Grounds--the list is, thank goodness, long. It all depends on the time of day, the type of java desired, and the type of crowd and ambiance sought at the moment. Oh, we're so fickle. In the end, we chose, drum roll, Café Paraiso, mostly because of the nominator's final persuasion tactic: "How can you go wrong with a place that has two sizes of large--big and really big? And they're both cheap!" That got us. Who needs a $4 demitasse anyhow? At Café Paraiso, you can order a Tall (12 ounces) or a Grande (16 ounces)--and the prices hover around $2 for either size. And there's another reason we like Café Paraiso so much: Every time you order a Caffe Mocha, they make it fresh. They don't keep a jug of the stuff in the fridge, like some other cafés. Jeez, one might as well order plain ol' chocolate milk if it's prepared and stored that way. The folks at Café Paraiso are totally accommodating for all your quirky coffee needs. Want skim milk and sugarless chocolate? No problem. Want your espresso extra strong but not a double? Want your froth extra peaky? Just ask. No pained expressions from coffee amateurs here.
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