I’m not sure what makes Starbucks so appealing to so many people, aside from the rinse/repeat consistency across the entire franchise. It’s more like a candy store than a coffee shop. When I picture a coffee shop, I can’t help but revert to memories of the old Brookshires, Bob’s Big Boy, Cocos, and Denny’s atmospheres. Granted, some of those are still around, but they’re no different than they were before. I would guess that the amount of coffee that these shops serve has dropped off dramatically since the introduction of mass-marketed franchise coffee houses.

Dating all the way back to the late 80′s early 90′s I can recall the bohemian atmosphere that Coffee Plantation offered with that edgy, young, artsy feel. Of course, I was younger, just leaving my teens when the majority of my play time was spent on Mill Avenue in Tempe, AZ, which is where the Coffee Plantation was, and is no longer. There are two locations remaining, but they’ve lost their appeal. I know that the owner is working on remodeling, but I have found a new place to lay my iGadgets.

Now that we have Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Coffee Plantation, and a myriad of gas stations with “gourmet coffee” being served daily, where is one supposed to turn?

Scottsdale finally has a great place to go to sit quietly with a genuine cup of coffee, individually dripped right in front of you to ensure consistency and a perfect experience.  The name of this place is Echo Coffee, owned and operated by Steve Belt, and he’s done it right.  From the roasting to the decor, this comfortable, easy-going, socially vibrant coffee shop is the perfect solution to a stale work-at-home environment.  And if you’re looking for lunch, you’ll be treated to an amazingly simple selection of healthy, organic salads, sandwiches and pastries created specifically for Echo Coffee by Carylann Wooten, formerly of Liberty Market in Gilbert, Arizona.

If you’re someone who enjoys a mellow atmosphere with good coffee, a young professional clientele, and ne’er the sound of a blender, then Echo Coffee should fit well into your day.