Ren Coffeehouse at St. Philip’s Plaza quietly opened on Sunday, April 15.
Wisconsin native Lisa Ocker found the 1,200-square-foot space, which had been previously occupied by Arizona Cyclist, after a bike ride and visit to the farmers market in the plaza. While the farmers market has a couple of coffee options, she and her husband wanted a space to sit and relax with their coffee after their bike ride.
With experience owning Patina Coffeehouse in Wisconsin, Ocker decided to open her own coffee shop in Tucson. Not to be confused with the cactus wren bird, Ocker decided on the name Ren because it means kindness or humanity in Chinese.
The space features a modern aesthetic with round white ceiling lamps and shiny metallic accents. Framed La Marzocco Italian prints on the wall highlight a combination of espresso gear and nature themes. The menu features a variety of drinks, salads, sandwiches, and baked goods.
“Most important to me is serving clean food, so when people come in, they know it’s organic without heavy pesticides,” Ocker said. “We use organic milk. And we have a lot of healthy options. People can come in and feel good about what they eat and drink.”
While sandwiches are served on Barrio Bread, other items are house-made, Ocker said. For the beans, Ren is sourcing organic and fair trade from Colectivo Coffee Roasters in Milwaukee.
Gluten-free options include muffins, cookies, oatmeal, peanut butter protein bars, raw energy bars, and more.
Drinks are geared towards staying healthy and boosting energy, Ocker said. Plans include adding Kombucha and nitro cold brew on tap.
Ren Coffeehouse Menu Highlights
- Golden Milk – turmeric, coconut milk and coconut oil, cinnamon, honey
- Ginger Spritzer – fresh ginger, lemon, sparkling water
- Fat Americano – Americano blended with coconut oil for a frothy drink
- Avocado Toast – avocado, arugula, tomato (poached egg extra)
- Oatmeal Porridge – flax, chia, maple syrup
- Patina Panini – arugula, beets, goat cheese
- The B.F.P. Panini – brie, fig, arugula, pear
- Buddha Salad – mixed greens, daily veggies, avocado
- Tropical Matcha Smoothie – sweet matcha, pineapple, banana, coconut milk
- Frozen Hot Chocolate – “yep.”
Additionally, a large refrigerator offers bottled beverages, many of which with electrolytes, geared towards bicyclists finishing their bike ride.
Operating hours are 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.
Ren Coffeehouse is located at 4300 N. Campbell Ave. For more information, call (520) 638-6290 or keep up with Ren Coffeehouse on Facebook.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
