UPDATE:
11/3/15 this is what the owner, "Justin S", wrote in response to my review:
""
11/2/2015 To set the record straight our staff is made up of adults. Nearly half have been with us for over a decade. We currently don't employ a single high schooler but you're welcome to apply.
""
RESPONSE FROM YOURS TRULY:
1) Justin S., don't try to outwit me: you will lose.
2) if you're a business owner, it's bad form to constantly upbraid your customers, as you seem to do to every 3-star and below review for "The Jav" on Yelp: grow up.
3) i'd imagine your offer of employment at your $10/hr strip mall coffee shop was in jest....but if it was sincere, i regret to inform you that i am already employed, handsome. but thanks anyway. god bless.
REVIEW:
decent enough coffee and tea spot. over the years the service here has improved DRAMATICALLY. couple years back, the service here was slow as sh*t. but these days, i have to say, the people behind the counter greet you with a smile and are on top of it. good training.
be warned however, that on weekdays this is THE spot for Biltmore area playas. a who's who of handshakes, back pats and air kisses. well maybe not air kisses, this is Phoenix, not L.A....but if it **were** L.A., there would be that. obviously they're doing something right if the C Phx "in crowd" converges every morning. i'd say anytime after about 10 a.m. and this place will have plenty of seating - been here in a.m./lunch and dinner times.
what's lacking......well to start when the weather is less-than-ideal, too hot or too cold, there is not enough seating inside (they do have overflow seating in the adjacent gelato shop...but if i meet someone at a cafe i don't wanna sit in a damn ice cream bazaar). the kitchen is also small and they have a small selection of baked goods and pastries that often sell out. no menu items here. not sure if they make anything in-house, but what they do serve is pretty good. not enough selection and not enough product.
coffee/tea......i'm pretty happy with their selection of teas. they usually have a few ice brewed ready to go and can hot or cold brew quite a few.
---the espresso drinks is where Hava Java falls into the category of "Most Other Arizona Coffee Places" where their beans are good enough but the barista execution is just meh. i've been here enough times and interacted with most of the employees; they are mostly very friendly and cool and i always tip at least something, but i'm sorry to say these are not exactly Portland or Seattle All Stars when it comes to latte skillz. everyone can make coffee but a barista is a skilled technician that takes practice, training, and knowledge of beans. Hava Java employees are mainly high school and college kids - usually the best have been at it for years. (i kinda sound like a barista writing this, but i am not, in fact i have never worked any food job. i do have chefs in my family though and just understand food/drink.)
look, for a strip mall hangout for pros in the a.m. and students mid-day, Hava Java is cool and pleasant enough. three stars. read more