In the first part of 2010, I have fallen into the habit of taking pictures of the coffee cup at whatever local coffee shop I am visiting on Saturday morning.

I have been posting my coffee cups on Twitter and Facebook, and I was told I am gaining a reputation for capturing an interesting shot of my coffee cup. I will admit my photography skills have improved, because let's face it, how many ways can you snap a photo of a coffee cup???

All three of the left photos were taken at The Lux. This is the place I often visit on Saturdays. It is an eccentric and very popular cafe in downtown Phoenix with an eccentric feel - this is no ordinary coffee shop. They roast all of their coffee beans on site and serve their own coffee. It is so popular among the "coffee scene" in Phoenix that it feels like there is a "cult following" of this place.

Their web site online is www.luxcoffee.com.

I usually drink an americano. I try to keep it really simple: Hot water and espresso! I use some cream, but generally I stay away from the fattening, fancy-shmansy latte drinks and such. I think I have accepted the fact that I'm a coffee snob!

This is the neatest locally-owned and independent coffee shop in that locality.

-Photos by Phil Ladden in Phoenix, Arizona, who admits to being a coffee snob. He is a vacation cruise specialist with a blog: www.cruise-snapshot.com.