“The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.”
~Sir James Mackintosh
Dr. Steve Spence, my friend and former colleague at the University of New Mexico, probably drank more coffee than anyone I've ever known. Walk by his office at any time of day and you'll hear the melodic, soothing sounds of his electric coffee grinder pulverizing roasted coffee beans into freshly ground coffee ready to be enjoyed. He grinds fresh before every brew and believes pre-ground (bagged) coffee is an instrument of torture. Unlike the rest of us who drink barrelfuls of coffee, he does not show or seem to feel outward worry, anger, or excitement. His calm, almost Vulcan-like demeanor exemplifies a composed, steady, and tranquil outward appearance, even in high-pressure or unusual situations. His calmness belies the stereotypical high-strung, high-stress stereotype associated with javaphile junkies.
Admittedly I'm is a relative neophyte to the lure of the coffee sirens (and I'm not nearly as sedate as Dr. Spence). Only in the past fifteen years or so have I rekindled my appreciation and love for the nuanced depth of flavors conferred by this stimulating and satisfying elixir. Few things in life have become as pleasurable to me as the tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee beans followed by the soul-warming, palate-pleasing flavors of a rich, gourmet blend. As an adventurous voluptuary, it also pleases me to no end that coffee actually has almost twice as many flavor-characteristics discernible by human senses than wine does (take that, oenophiles).
Several years ago (2007), while staying at La Posada--the crown jewel of Fred Harvey's luxury railroad hotels--in Winslow, we were introduced to an especially satisfying brew called Late For The Train coffee. We couldn't have enough of it and (sleep be damned) drank it until the late hours of the evening. Late For The Train is a playful nod to Flagstaff’s deep-rooted history as a bustling historic railroad town along the transcontinental line and Route 66, where the rhythm of the rails has always shaped the city's identity. Since 2007, five-pound bags of Late For The Train coffee have been replenished faithfully. It doesn't take especially long to go through a bag.
You've got to love Late For The Train's operational statement: "Here at Late For The Train, we love coffee and think you should too! Whether you want your coffee simply smooth or exploding with flavors...roasty dark, bright, or something in-between, we roast it just-right and just for you. We begin by putting your coffee through our very own Mountain Fresh quality test. We do this because we believe coffee should be more than great-tasting. It should make your day and help make a world of difference." Now, this is a statement that coffee-lovers can stand behind.
Largely because of Late For The Train coffee, we've been risking life and limb on Interstate 40 when we trek westward. We know that our reward for 330 miles of witnessing motorist madness and driver derangement, our reward will be a cup or ten of Late for the Train's magnificent elixir. Late For The Train is headquartered across the street from downtown Flagstaff's Heritage Square. It's within relatively easy walking distance from Northern Arizona University so you're likely to run into studious youth cramming for one exam or another. A summertime visit (July, 2026) meant a dearth of walk-in traffic. For the first time ever, we parked in front of the coffee house and were first in line. Baristas are very adept at filling orders.
My "usual suspect" coffee is a 20-ounce fireman's mocha, the most piquant coffee Late For The Train offers. It comes with a warning: "Spicy hot cocoa, steamed milk and espresso. this is for chili heads, not children." The spicy hot cocoa is courtesy of habanero, one of the most fiery of all chiles. The cocoa is made with habanero, vanilla, and almond with two shots of espresso added. It barely registers as "hot" for me, but it does absolutely titillate my taste buds. There's a reason Emporer Montezuma supposedly drank 50 cups of cocoa laced with chili every day. I might not be able to drink 50 cups, but maybe Dr. Spence could.
Aside from six mochas, Late For The Train offers frappes (a refreshing, iced beverage that is shaken, blended, or beaten until it develops a thick, frothy foam) and even an affogato shake. Made with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream and a double shot of espresso, it's smooth, caffeinated, and sweet (but not overly so). My Kim, who has never wanted to be in the presence of any affogato I've ever ordered, enjoyed the affogato shake as much as I did. It won't surprise me if she was to order one during a future visit.
Late For The Train Coffee
19 East Aspen Avenue, Suite A & B
Flagstaff, Arizona
(928) 773-0100
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LATEST VISIT 13 July 2026
# OF VISITS: 4
RATING: N/R
COST: $$
BEST BET: Affogato Shake,
REVIEW #1530