Happy Friday, everyone. Hope you’re feeling caffeinated!

I wanted to share a coffee shop I went to recently for the first time called The Coffee Builders, off of Seventh Street and Buckeye Road in Phoenix. 

The entrance to The Coffee Builders is pretty memorable. (Jessica Swarner/The Copper Courier)

I remembered reading about the shop when it opened in 2023, so when it happened to fall in between two appointments I had one morning, I decided it was a good time to stop by.

I grabbed an iced tea and admired the food menu, which included interesting eats like a Champagne grilled cheese and the ube waffles. There are also lots of specialty drinks, including a $20 cabernet latte that mixes espresso with cabernet sauvignon.

What I enjoyed the most, though, was the interior design, which features woodwork by Porter Barn Wood. Thomas Porter opened the coffee shop on the company’s property, making it a space that is both showroom and lunch spot.

There’s also a nice patio next door with lots of seating that made me wish I had had more time to stick around and sip my tea.

What’s the most unique coffee drink you’ve had? Let me know!

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 28: US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for US Attorney for Washington, DC. Jeanine Pirro in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

When Paula Mercado was chosen for two prestigious government fellowships last year, she felt like it had all been worth it.

After Mercado graduated from the University of Arizona, she moved from her home state of Arizona to Washington, DC, to pursue a career in foreign affairs.

And after years of hard work, Mercado applied for the State Department’s Colin Powell Leadership Program and the Presidential Management Fellowship after graduation.

She had been so nervous last winter to find out whether she was chosen for either program that she handed her phone to her sister to read the answer. Mercado was accepted into both programs.

But that feeling didn’t last long. Shortly after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, he ordered a federal hiring freeze.

Both of Mercado’s job offers were rescinded and there was little opportunity elsewhere because of his broader mission to downsize the government and lay off thousands of federal employees. Approximately 317,000 federal employees left the government in 2025, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Mercado’s experience is just one way that Trump is reshaping life for Arizonans.

Here are some events going on in Arizona this weekend, including festivals celebrating jazz, film, and soup.

Whether you’re seriously searching or just looking for fun, here are some Phoenix rentals that grabbed our attention this week.

What started as a plan to protect each other’s packages in downtown Phoenix turned into a friendship with the kind of spontaneous hangouts that often become rare–and proof that renter life doesn’t have to feel isolated. 

Do you want to support The Copper Courier’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 125,000+ subscribers?

Email advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner with stories from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect, Jessica Swarner, and Trinity Murchie. It was edited by Paula Solis.

The Copper Courier is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.