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Best of Phoenix ? 2007 Award Graphics
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUSE, SOUTHEAST VALLEY (2007)
Into the Bean
1710 West Southern Avenue, Mesa
480-890-0579
www.intothebean.com
We've been big fans of this small coffee house, located across the street from Mesa Community College, since owner Luis Prado opened his doors in 2004. We dig the place's weird, shabby-chic vibe (including a multitude of Christmas lights and bizarre paintings from local artists) its eclectic baristas, as well as the constant stream of musicians who perform here throughout the week (like outrageous gay Christian troubadour Paisley Yankolovich and soulful guitarist Paul Raia). But the biggest draw has to be the Bean's line of imaginative signature drinks, like the decadent "Mocha Dong" (a frozen concoction of Hostess Ding-Dongs, chocolate sauce, coffee, caramel, and ice) or the "Rich Wake-Up Call," which consists of a mixture of Red Bull and espresso. We hear the latter is the kinda thing you should down before driving to another state or polishing off
War and Peace
in one sitting.