Patrick O’Malley’s travel guide to Tempe, Arizona 🇺🇸

Originally from Bisbee in the southwest corner of Arizona, Patrick O’Malley has been a fixture on the global coffee scene for many years. Patrick founded the International Barista & Coffee Academy (IBCA) in 2010 followed by Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters in 2015, with both located in Tempe, near Phoenix. Patrick’s guide to Tempe highlights the best of life outdoors in the American Southwest.

*Patrick founded the International Barista & Coffee Academy (IBCA) in 2010 followed by* *Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters* *in 2015, with both located in Tempe, near Phoenix. Photos courtesy of Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters*

Filter: What do you like to do for fun around Tempe?

In Tempe there are loads of local specialty coffee shops, breweries and hiking, golf and mountain bike areas all close to the center as well as Tempe Town Lake for paddle board or just to chill next to the water. Phoenix and metro Phoenix is a valley and surrounded by mountains with great trails for hiking and biking, as well as some of the best golf in the country. We are an outdoor mecca (except summer).

Filter: If a good friend came to visit, where would you be sure to take them?

Normally when people come to visit, we are in Arizona so most want to visit the Grand Canyon and Sedona. I am from the southeastern part of the state, Bisbee, so I prefer to show them the true west—Bisbee and Tombstone—beautiful spots for camping, hiking and fishing, wineries (yes, Arizona produces some amazing wines).

Filter: What do you like to do to escape the city?

Camping, we take at least 3 camping trips as a company during summer to escape the heat, bond, swim, hike, eat, and enjoy the mountains. We generally go up to the Mogollon Rim, Forest Lakes area.

Filter: What touristy things in Tempe are worth the hype?

Papago Park, Desert Botanical Museum, and Phoenix Zoo all located just next to one another and located across from Tempe Town Lake, walking distance.

Filter: Where are your favorite quiet corners or hidden gems there?

All the above as well as South Mountain and Squaw Peak.

Filter: What's another coffee shop around there that you really admire, and what about them stands out to you?

I enjoy what Peixoto has built, wonderful people with a strong connection to coffee since Julia is the daughter of a coffee producer in Brazil.

Filter: How did you end up in the Tempe coffee scene?

I am from beautiful Bisbee, Arizona just next to Naco, Mexico. I tripped and fell into coffee in 1987 and never looked back, starting as a barman and espresso machine tech.

Filter: Can you share about your role starting your coffee businesses including Infusion and IBCA?

Everything about Infusion Coffee and Tea, Infusion Distribution (formerly Espresso Italia), IBCA, and 3 Coffee Guys (my partnership with Damian Burgas and Ricardo VIllegas) are all just a blur to be honest. I work so much and visualized these businesses. They feel so natural and they just happened to me.

Filter: If you could move to any place in the world just for the coffee scene, where would you move?

A coffee farm, most likely in Colombia, stay tuned—it's happening soon.

Filter: Anything you’d like to add?

The coffee industry is such a welcoming, friendly, and positive place to call home, I cannot imagine any other life other than coffee farm life.

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Connected to Patrick O’Malley’s International Barista & Coffee Academy, Infusion Coffee & Tea operates 3 locations in Phoenix, Arizona.

Infusion Coffee & Tea OG - Tempe

Infusion Coffee & Tea - Queen Creek Olive Mill

Infusion Coffee & Tea - Cave Creek

Food & Beverage

Peixoto

Outdoors