If you’re a frequent driver along Country Club Road, it’s likely you’ve seen more vehicles in the parking lot near the iconic Benedictine Monastery. This is because the local coffee roaster, Yellow Brick Coffee, quietly opened its doors to its new flagship coffee shop at 800 N. Country Club Rd.
With an official Grand Opening taking place on Saturday, April 1 (it’s not an April Fools Day joke), co-owners and siblings, Anna and David Perreira, are excited to already be seeing coffee lovers and sippers mingling inside the shop. So far, it’s been smooth sailing — something the Perriera’s couldn’t have done without their awesome team.
“There are so many really special things about this job. First of all, the team is amazing, said David. “They all really got behind it and cohesively launched the whole project.”
Same Coffee, New Experience
One of the most unique features about the setup inside the new cafe is that they’re using a Modbar system that makes it easier for you to interact with baristas.
“The Modbar is essentially an under-counter espresso machine that creates a very limited obstruction. There’s basically no obstruction between you and the barista, and therefore, you’re involved and immersed in the experience if you want to be,” said David. “You can watch them pull the shot. You can watch them create their latte art. There’s nothing between you and them.”
“It’s almost like the machine was made for our philosophy of education and community. So, that’s something we’re really proud of — getting this machine. It exemplifies our model and our brand.”
With the significant increase in production and online sales, Yellow Brick Coffee’s original location found at 3220 S. Dodge Blvd. #1 will still be in flow. However, that spot will mainly be used for roasting and cold brew production. So, over at the new location on Country Club Road, the familiar whiffs of roasted coffee and sounds of espresso machines will make you feel at home, but there’s much more happening in the new space: a food menu.
What’s on the menu?
“We’re making pastries in-house, sandwiches and toasts, smoothies, and salads. We’re using a lot of local ingredients like bread from Barrio Bread. We’ve got Bubbe’s Bagels, local goat cheese, local honey, vegan pastries from Houlden’s Rise Above, and Better Than Provisions granola. There’s so much local and a lot of that was inspired by the support that we’ve had from a lot of our local community. Our growth has been based on local support so this is a great way to keep that in the community as well.”
Yellow Brick Coffee’s Cafe Menu
Breakfast
- Breakfast Sandwich – cage-free egg, arugula, bacon, tomato, avocado, and cream cheese on a bagel, sourdough, or croissant
- Parfait – yogurt, strawberry, banana, blueberry, and honey with cinnamon and vanilla granola
- Bagel + Lox – bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, pickled red onions, and dill
- Bagel + Cream – Bagel Options: original, everything, jalapeño cheddar, plain, and veggie cream cheese
On Bread (served with a side salad)
- Avocado Toast (V) – avocado mash, pickled red onion, and balsamic glaze
- Tucson Toast – avocado mash, cotija, arugula, heirloom tomatoes, lime, and cayenne
- Banana Toast – tahini, sliced banana, honey, and granola
- Goat Toast – goat cheese, fig jam, and topped with toasted walnuts and balsamic glaze
- Mediterranean Toast (V) – hummus, avocado slices, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, and lime
- Just Toast – Barrio sourdough with butter and honey/seasonal jam
Between Bread (served with a side salad)
- Roasted Veggie – sourdough, hummus, roasted red pepper, basil, roasted sweet potato, and balsamic glaze
- Turkey B.T.A. – turkey, bacon, tomato, arugula, pickled red onion, and chipotle aioli on toasted bread
- Jamon y Queso (Hot) – ham, cheddar, and pickles on toasted bread with mustard and mayonnaise
Salads
- Rocket – arugula, walnuts, cranberry, goat cheese, avocado, balsamic, and EVOO
- Rise + Shine – spinach, bacon, fried egg, roasted sweet potato, sliced avocado, red onion, and herb dressing
- Mediterranean – arugula, hummus, tomato, red onion, roasted red peppers, feta, cucumber, and tahini dressing
Smoothies
- PBC – peanut butter, chocolate, Greek yogurt, banana, and milk
- Green – spinach, dates, peaches, pineapple, turmeric, Greek yogurt, and milk
- Berry – mixed berries, banana, honey, Greek yogurt, and milk
Founded in 2011, Yellow Brick Coffee is a brew commonly found at other local businesses. I mean, I can even grab a cold brew at Casa Film Bar when I’m not sipping on a beer in front of their multiple television screens. And much like the narratives on-screen, they say every cup of coffee has a story to tell, too, and Anna and David of Yellow Brick are always excited to educate others on their single-origin coffee.
“We roast everything to showcase its flavor profile,” said David. “So, we taste everything we roast to make sure we have the quality control dialed in. We’re looking to highlight different notes in the coffee, whether it’s sweetness or acidity, we’re looking for balance.”
David once said that you “never want to end a good meal with a bad cup of coffee.” So, to complement the cafe’s menu, Yellow Brick Coffee is making its own chocolate sauce and vanilla and creating limited-run seasonal drinks.
“We’ve also got the Killer Bee made with cayenne and a local mesquite honey from a farmer called Fitz & Gentry Farms,” said David. They are pretty under the radar but. Then, we’ve got a Honey Sage everyone needs to check out soon.”
Grand Opening Celebration
Right now, the coffee shop is open daily from 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. but they’re hosting a special Grand Opening on Saturday, April 1. Even if you stop by before then you’ll want to pay a visit during the Grand Opening for unique drink and pastry specials.
“Anna and I started the company and we’re from Tucson — this is a Tucson-based company,” said David. “The new shop doesn’t really look like Tucson but it’s inspired by a lot of our experiences outside of the city.”
So, again, stop by now to congratulate them on the new space. They’re officially open every day from 6 a.m. – 3 p.m., serving the full menu, and showcasing some of Tucson’s finest brews and local goods.
Yellow Brick Coffee is located at 800 N. Country Club Rd. For more information, visit yellowbrickcoffee.com and follow Yellow Brick Coffee on Instagram and Facebook.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
