On a recent visit to Vietnam, my girlfriend, Zeke, visited a market full of vendors touting their wares. Since Vietnam is the worlds largest producer of the green bean, she found herself overrun with gift options for me (I’m such a lucky girl). One of the locals convinced her to buy this…weasel coffee. And I’m drinking it this morning! It is fabulous, thanks for another item to check of my bucket list 
I saw this at a truck stop yesterday. Instant coffee by the gallon … heated by a little solar panel. Hmmm … I sort of like the idea When you really need coffee and you have no other options, like on the open road for eight hours Peace, Lisa
Afterburner Roast by Ground Control
1964 was a great year!! One of my favorite events during this very historical time in our country was my birth at Luke Air Force Base near the White Tank Mountains of Arizona. LOL.
Last week I coerced my Mom into taking me to Base so I could reconnect with my past; to see what had changed and what had stayed the same after so many years. Our timing was perfect! Lucky for us we were able to see some of the new F-35 jets fly in formation, peel off one at a time then land one the flight line. As a kid, I remember parking next to the road at the end of the line watching the F-15s and F-16s land one right after another. I could sit there for hours … the precision, the sound, the strength, and oddly magical … it has always given me a thrill!
Still on a natural high, we took Litchfield Road south past the lower entrance and guess what we found? One of the biggest independent coffeehouses I’ve seen yet: Ground Control, owned by one of the training pilots at Luke, Sean Rassas and his wife Tara. They have successfully brought together their love of coffee, community, food, world class beer and wine. This is “where community happens”!
Luke AFB
They also roast their own coffee daily right there in the entry space that is both their roastery and the front counter. This multi-purpose room also serves as storage for their bags of green beans and the espresso machine where the baristas tamp out yummy shots of java. They recently delivered a select roast to Oskar Blues, a small brewery in northern Colorado. to brew up their very own coffee stout.
GET OUT OF HERE!!! How cool is that? ~Lisa
Ground Control 4860 N Litchfield Rd.
What its more beautiful than this?
At the counter @ Terra Java
Thanks to my mom’s gift of gab, I got the chance to chat with Omea Eaglerider, co-owner of this community gathering place in Central Phoenix.
Omea is a chef-turned-coffeehouse-owner. She had been leasing the kitchen in this coffeehouse, formerly Mama Java’s for eighteen months. Mama Java’s had been in business for eight years, but due to personal issues the owner needed to close the business. He turned to Omea, and a year ago offered her the opportunity to takeover the business.
Within 48 hours she said YES and combined her catering company “Terra Bites” with Mama Java’s creating “Terra Java Coffee House” where she can sell her world-themed foods to her coffee customers every day.
Coffee choice: They sell coffee varieties from Passport Coffee, roasted locally in the Scottsdale Airpark. Also offered are many other local and healthy food options.
Barista LOVE! They just sent one of their baristas to an international competition. I love it when owners support their employee’s passions, too.
Lovin’ the local flavor of Arizona!
Lisa
Terra Java Coffee House
3619 E. Indian School Rd
