Presta Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Tucson

I had a particularly strange encounter here this morning that was equal parts hilarious and confounding. My GF and I recently moved into the area and were excited to try this place due to the rave reviews. So why the one-star? Sit down, grab a cup of coffee (not from Presta), and check it out.

First, the vibe. The vibe is a cross between pseudo-intellectual-hipster & hotel lobby that’s been adorned with plants to mask the inherently ugly truth. Shockingly, hotel lobbies actually play better music. But who really cares about that? I’ve had amazing coffee from coffee-carts, so it’s no biggie. I don’t judge a coffee shop purely on the vibe alone.

I spend ~$60/week on coffee and try my best to spread that out between a few places. I walked in on a Friday morning, and there weren’t a ton of people, and to my luck, there was no one in line. I smile and ask for 2 iced mochas with only a single-shot in each. The girl at the register immediately replied with, “We don’t do that. We only do doubles.” Dumbfounded, I asked “Really? You can’t do a single? Are you sure?” And if it was possible then to pour out half of the double in each so that it equates to a singleish shot – my foolish, last-ditch attempt to give them my money. She responds with a deadpan, hollow smile that oddly matches the décor and unnervingly says: “no” through her teeth. I politely responded that it’s okay and I walked out.

Now, I know you might be thinking, “well, that’s only one isolated incident.” But it’s not just that singular incident, but rather what that incident implies. At best they are lazy, at worst they are…well, jerks. Perhaps my look didn’t match the vibe? Maybe they don’t welcome the overworked-scruffy-tech-dude type. Perhaps they only welcome the “we’re only here because this is what I think a cool place looks like, and I want to look super cool” (which is inherently uncool) type.

What a weird encounter. Fortunately, the morning was saved by the two amazing single (gasp!) mochas I got from Decibel Coffee which is right down the street – highly recommend! You work hard for your money. Don’t spend...

Presta is my go-to coffee shop in Tucson, whether I’m meeting a friend for a quick hang or getting some work done. They’ve always had some of the most interesting and high-quality beans in town, and when everything’s dialed in, the espresso can be outstanding: complex, balanced, and full of character. That said, I’ve noticed some inconsistency over the past year, especially with espresso shots that sometimes come out flat or pretty over-extracted. It feels like some of the newer baristas just haven’t received the level of training needed to uphold the standards Presta built its reputation on. It’s a bit of a shame, because the potential is absolutely there. I really hope management puts some focus back into training and quality control : this coffee deserves to be showcased at its best. Even so, Presta still stands out among Tucson’s coffee spots. And if you happen to stop by when Jess is behind the bar, you’re in good hands: the quality of their drinks are consistently excellent: they really know their coffee. They’re also great at making thoughtful recommendations and always up for a friendly chat about beans or flavor notes All in all, while I’m hoping to see that signature Presta consistency return across the board, it still...

The coffee was just OK, which was disappointing. The employees were unable or unwilling to answer basic questions about the flavor profiles of the various types of coffee available. They refused to give any recommendation when asked. There are very few options if you want flavor in the coffee, and they have NO sugar free flavor options. The decor is confused: a weird mix of obsessed with bike riding/industrial/retro. There is no way to comfortable enjoy coffee or food because there are no normal tables and chairs. They have couches and small little round end tables but the heights on the tables are not great. Wish I had taken pictures, it’s hard to explain. Basically, this is not the place to sit and enjoy a coffee and a snack. The pastry I tried was very good, but I was uncomfortable eating it with no table, crumbs were falling all over the couch. It felt very awkward, not an environment suited for conversation, not a place to hang out, and you can’t really sit across from your companion. I really wanted to love this place, I am so disappointed that it doesn’t live up...