It’s hot outside, it’s hot inside of your car, it’s hot everywhere — that is, until you swing open the door at 1525 N. Wilmot Road.

A honey bear latte from EspresSoul Café.
Stepping into EspresSoul Café, you’re enveloped by the cool air conditioning, like being wrapped in an ice-cold blanket in a desert oasis.
Owner and front-of-the-house barista Eris Movahedi greets you with a friendly smile as she hands you an iced chai latte. And what a treat that latte is: fluffy coffee cream mixed with a rich chai base.
Summer in ´óÏóAPPis brutal, but you can beat the heat AND enjoy some great drinks by checking out these new cafés and coffee spots that have popped up around town recently.
EspresSoul Café
1525 N. Wilmot Road
Originating as a popular vegan espresso truck, EspresSoul has opened its first brick-and-mortar shop. It is serving all your favorite coffee drinks, as well as specialty drinks including the South Asian Babe — a chai latte with a coffee soft top; the Baklava — a pistachio latte with a silky soft top; and the Ferrero Rocher — a hazelnut cocoa latte topped with a luxurious hazelnut cream. They also have a selection of pastries and treats you can pair with your drink.
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Whether you choose a latte, a matcha or a smoothie, it’s likely to be love at first sip.
Jamie’s order: While I’m obsessed with the South Asian Babe and the Blueberry Lavender matcha, my go-to order recently has been an iced Honey Bear latte, sweetened with honey and cinnamon.
Zedamo Coffee & Tea
2719 E. Broadway

An iced vanilla latte from Zedamo Coffee & Tea.
On Z-Street, you can grab a meal at Zemam’s Ethiopian Cuisine, sip on an international beer while watching a soccer game at Zerai’s International Bar, and now, you can start your mornings at Zedamo Coffee & Tea. This new coffee spot is a collaboration between the Gebremariam family and Savaya Coffee. At Zedamo, you’ll discover the essence of Ethiopian coffee culture.
Jamie’s order: I got a classic iced vanilla latte and was so impressed. It was the perfect balance of sweet, complimenting the strong, bold espresso.
Decibel Coffee Works
2631 E. Broadway
Back in January, Decibel Coffee Works moved into Sol Block, joining local favorites such as Rocco’s Little Chicago and The Broadway Beer & Wine Bar. Its new space has all its classic coffee drinks, a few spots to sit and relax in, ice cream and a giant glass case filled with tasty pastries. It even has a nice shaded patio area so you can enjoy some fresh air without battling the heat.
Jamie’s order: Calling all matcha lovers — Decibel has a great matcha latte that really highlights the earthy goodness of the drink, without being too sweet.
The Cuban Corner
919 N. Stone Ave.

A cortado from The Cuban Corner.Ìý
Not only does it serve amazing Cuban food, but you can also get your daily caffeine boost here. On the menu, it boasts various Cuban coffee drinks, including its cortado — a miniature creation of espresso and sweetened condensed milk, served in the cutest little mason jar. But don’t let the size fool you, it packs a punch. It also has a coffee flight on the menu for those who want to try a little bit of everything.
Jamie’s order: I fell in love with the cortado and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, and I will definitely be going there often for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Yellow Brick Coffee
115 N. Church Ave.

Yellow Brick Coffee recently opened a new location at the Pima County Historic Courthouse, 115 N. Church Ave.
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This local coffee shop recently opened up a new location at the Pima County Historic Courthouse. Now, when you are walking downtown, you can stop by for some shade and a sweet drink. In addition to its drink menu, it also has some grab-and-go items like breakfast sandwiches, salads and turkey sandwiches. Their Instagram also features a raspberry matcha latte that looks like summer in a cup.
Jamie’s order: I stopped by to try the B.A.N.A.N.A.S. latte, and it did not disappoint. It is a latte that’s flavored with its house-made caramelized banana syrup, cardamom and graham cracker.
Scented Leaf Tea House

Hibiscus and fruity thai iced teas at Scented Leaf Tea House.
2627 E. Broadway
This local tea spot has ´óÏóAPPhooked. You can find it downtown, on University Boulevard, on the east side and now it’s on Sol Block. Scented Leaf’s fourth location opened up recently, ensuring that everyone can get their tea fix. All its classic on-tap teas are here, including an array of mesmerizing fruity, glittery concoctions. They also share the shaded patio with Decibel, so if you want tea and your friend wants coffee, you don’t have to compromise.
Jamie’s order: I always get the strawberries and cream matcha, which is a matcha latte topped with strawberry cold foam. This cold foam tastes exactly like strawberry shortcake, and pairs amazingly with the matcha.
Check out these hidden gems, too:
De Novo Market & Tap
177 N. Church Ave.
This colorful grab-and-go market in downtown ´óÏóAPPserves up some stellar coffee and pastries. It has cinnamon rolls, chocolate croissants and horchata cold brew on its menu. I stopped by the other day to try The Banker, a drink that includes espresso and coffee, topped with a fluffy, sweet cream. It was delicious and kept me awake all day long. I will definitely be back to try a horchata latte and one of the wraps.
Kouki Café
Check its Instagram to see where it is popping up.
As I was researching new coffee shops, I stumbled upon Kouki Café’s Instagram and was instantly intrigued. This coffee pop-up is inspired by Japanese car culture and can be found at places like the Foothills Community Market and the Green Valley Farmers Market. Everything on its menu looks amazing, but I’m definitely going to their next pop-up to try a brown sugar shake espresso with a banana cream cold foam.
Rofle Rofle
4500 N. Oracle Road
This dessert spot in the ´óÏóAPPMall food court also makes amazing-looking drinks for those with a sweet tooth. Some include an iced butter cream latte, an iced mocha and a taro milk latte. It even has a matcha latte that comes topped with a dollop of creamy banana pudding. Did I mention this place also serves croffles (croissant and waffles)?
The top stories from the ´óÏóAPP’s Caliente section for this week.