MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO STOP HERE! We walked in to get a little coffee and after being greeted by the gentlemen at the front and seeing the young lady in the back preparing some new bakery items I knew this was the place. We ordered some pastries and coffee. We loved them so much we got some more to go so we can enjoy later in the day in our hotel. Absolutely among best home made fresh bakery items I have had. Stop by and support! read more

This breakfast/pastry/coffee joint is a MUST visit place in Tucumcari - historic point on Route 66! Right across the street from many wonderful motels (walking distance!!) it sits on the corner with plenty of parking, easy to access. The building is bright and fun colored, and really has a 50s touch to it. The cafes interior was so warm and welcoming. Cushioned chairs, newspapers, lots of plants, Route 66 books laid out to read ... it is absolutely a peaceful place to spend your morning. Butter yellows, rich greens, and brick walls! Just so homey. I ordered an iced hazelnut latte, coffee cake and peach and ginger yogurt parfait! AMAZING! The coffee was a great mix of strong coffee flavored and sweet hazelnut. Coffee cake was yummy with small walnuts throughout, moist cinnamon parts and a crisp top! My yogurt parfait was my favorite, the peach and ginger addition being a compote. So unique and delicious, I'm so glad I tried it. Drew got two quiches and a strawberry lemonade! He loved both. The staff was extremely welcoming, helpful and kind to us while ordering, and offered to box up my coffee cake for the road. Making conversation about where we are from and what brings us here, they really made us feel at home all the way in New Mexico! read more

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What an unexpected delight! This is a must-visit. Welcoming, cute as a button, easy parking, friendly staff, and absolutely great baked goods. There are even treats for your dog. It feels like it really kept the spirit of Route 66. I saved this place for any time we come through town, and so should you. read more

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Friendly people. Excellent piñon coffee. Lots of options in baked goods, sandwiches, and souvenirs. We stopped by both mornings for the coffee, crustless quiches and some baked goods. The server was super friendly and very helpful. Since we came during low season and in the middle of the week, some pastries may be a little past due. Suggest asking the server to suggest what's new and fresh. I had the crustless quiche...very yummy, cheesy with bacon bits - warmed up..yum. Please support local businesses and patron this awesome place. read more

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Ten stars out of five; this place was the best of the best. Where do I start? Coffee: delicious with a variety to meet all tastes. See the pic of the menu with pricing and variety dated May 2026. Speaking of pricing, very reasonable pricing for gourmet quality foods. $2 for an oversized cookie with a discount if you buy six?! Count me in. And, yes, they lived up to their shelf appeal. Muffins too at $3.50 with discount for more. Plenty of gluten free and/or sugar free products also for this who require that. I don't, but couldn't resist the banana nut muffin. And it STILL tasted delicious, plus the kind lady heated it up for me to eat in-house on a replica of my grandmother's plates! Blue willow!! The lady behind the counter (and the other attendants) were all so kind and patient. I asked details of pretty much everything there, including the gift store section where I bought a Route 66 100 year anniversary patch. Their postcards are unique, which is always a treat as I collect them. Did I mention the seating runs the gamut from vintage dinette sets from the 50's to velour wingback cozy chairs and bar stools too? And the coffee is free when eating in, complete with dinette mugs you can use or paper; your choice! I got a London Fog tea, my favorite. And they prepared it perfectly; I'm serious! Even Starbucks doesn't get it right sometimes lol!!!! We also got a chicken & rice hot meal which was filling. Nope, don't know these folks, just passing thru in an rv. Which brings me to the one cautionary item: drive in via the side street, not directly off Route 66, if you have a long or low vehicle. There is a dip at the Route 66 parking lot entrance. We used our tow vehicle so were fine but I did notice that when leaving. Definitely will swing by again at the next opportunity. Thanks for reading all this. Just can't say enough about this little gem. read more

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We were on the search for coffee and found this place on Route 66 right off of I 40 West. We walked into a warm greeting and pastry chefs working in the back making everything by hand. It smelled great and we got a few hand pies for the road and filled up on coffee. They had Americanos and Piñon chocolate drip. The spinach and ricotta hand pie was lovely as was the ham and Swiss. THE TED LASSO BISCUITS WERE AMAZING! Get some for the road! Looking around, we saw some cool local postcards and magnets to spread Tucumcari, NM love! They let us sign the wall! read more

Carlson Coffee - THE BEST PART was these Ted Lasso Biscuits!! So good! Soft and crunchy and buttery and not too sweet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Super cute coffee and pastry shop in the heart of historic Route 66 nostalgia. If you're anywhere near Tucumcari, NM don't miss this stop. The Azteca coffee will wake you up. Ask for a pen to leave your mark on their bricks. More than coffee-- they offer baked goods, souvenirs, and memorabilia. Happy 100th Birthday, Route 66! read more

Carlson Coffee - Exterior shot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

I got coffee here a couple of times during my short stay in Tucumcari. I love their House drip coffee; it's a perfectly balanced medium roast coffee that's so yummy and easy-drinking--I could definitely drink it every day! The ambiance inside this coffee shop is relaxed. The barista (I believe her name is Alison) was so friendly and nice; she has great customer service and I enjoyed talking with her! I tried one of their cinnamon rolls and unfortunately I wasn't a fan as it was hard and didn't seem freshly baked. I am so thankful that I was able to get some great local coffee out in Tucumcari. I definitely recommend this place for their coffee and their nice, relaxed atmosphere. read more

Love the down home cozy ambiance here ! This town appears to be a very lovely very low cost place to live. Really really nice people here. Will come back! Right off the historic Route 66 read more

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yum yum coffee yum yum cake yum yum ambience yum yum route 66 yum yum service yum yum gift shop

Hot vanilla lattes and breakfast burritos were so yummy! Very cute, clean and friendly shop off the 40. We were traveling from Cali and this was exactly what we needed before taking off to Tennessee. read more

A sweet, cozy spot on old 66, Carlson's is warm and friendly. A large variety of sweet and savory baked goods--and homemade chicken dog treats--will satisfy everyone in your group. We had a peanut butter bar, apple cake, blueberry muffin and a croissant, all freshly made, and the chocolate pinon house bland (a touch sweet, might not need sugar). It's a must-stop for us in Tucumcari and I'd encourage everyone to support these lovely folks and their delicious treats! read more

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Carlson Coffee is open from 6a-6p seven days a week. In Tucumcari, that alone is 5 stars! :) The shop is in what appears to be an old Pizza Hut. It's cute inside with Route 66 decor, and the brick walls are signed by prior patrons...indicating where they're from. We arrived at about 6:30am and were greeted warmly. They do offer several gluten free items, which is great! My partner got a breakfast burrito and black coffee, and I ordered a decaf vanilla latte. We waited no more than 5 minutes for our order. Coffees were great, and my partner really liked his burrito. We'll definitely stop in again when on this route. read more

Carlson Coffee is a wonderful oasis in the heart of Tucumcari, New Mexico. We were driving down I-40 and feeling a little fatigued. We definitely needed a coffee pick me up but when we walked into Carlson's we found so much more than coffee. The bakery is overflowing with temptations all baked in house. We ordered our coffee and added a cranberry white chocolate cookie, a pumpkin blondie, a chai spiced biscuit with lavender drizzle, and a pumpkin whoopie pie. The pastries were phenomenal and the cookie was delicious! We loved our quick stop at Carlson Coffee. The coffee was a nice jolt and the tasty baked items were extremely yummy! Yay! read more

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Looking for locally owned restaurants, we stopped at this quaint place. It had a good selection of bakery items and coffees which were delicious. The older two owners were very polite and welcoming. Unfortunately, the young lady at the register lacked customer service skills. She was unaware of the ingredients of the drinks, suggestions, or any charisma. If not for the other two store personnel, who were generous and kind, I would have rated lower. Good for a stop between Albuquerque and Amarillo which is a restaurant desert. read more

We were looking for something to perk us up and found that Carlson Coffee was open til 6 pm which was a plus. It's located in an old Pizza Hut. There were cases of baked goods inside as well as the beverages, and a variety of seating available. I ordered a Cafe Azteca cold, and it had some good heat!! The server said she believes it's cayenne that gives it the spice. Mr. Carlson made it himself, and we chatted with him a bit before buying some cowboy cookies and heading out. Nice folks. read more

Had a delicious ham and cheese croissant and wonderul cafe latte. They have a HUGE array of pastries, breakfast and lunch items, plus now they are offering Pozole! I stocked up on cookies, doggie treats, sourdough crackers and much more for my trip back to Tucson, AZ. The Carson's are so friendly and they have made a beautiful cozy, welcoming cafe in their small town. Another gem on Route 66 worth experiencing! read more

What a great place! I am going to support small businesses anytime I can and when I saw this place it was perfect. I had the breakfast burrito and it was one of the best I've had! Will definitely keep coming here when passing through. Customer service was amazing. read more

Awesome bakery in cute town of Tucumcari. Great mix of gluten free and standard bakery items . Super friendly service and clean restrooms. Bring a pen and sign your name on the bricks! read more

Dozens and dozens of homemade pastries, as well as great coffee. Highly recommended!! Their homemade dog cookies are also phenomenal!!! read more

This is a very charming coffee house. The sourdough low sugar banana nut muffin was amazing and the Americano was perfect!

Decided to hop off the highway and take about approximately 10 minutes off our time headed towards Santa Fe. Great coffee, nice vibe, wonderful choices of baked items. The only reason I deducted a star is because I did have to ask for cream to be put out and fresh hot coffee in the container to help myself. They absolutely took care of the situation and coffee was wonderful. read more

The service was the best. The owner was very attentive and friendly. I got a coffee and a pastry. Both fresh and delicious. The ambiance is laid back and comfortable. I'll be back. read more

We didn't try the coffee, but the breakfast burritos and pastries were delicious. The place was immaculate and the service friendly and quick. read more

What a pleasant surprise to find this on our way through Tucumcari! One of the other coffee shops in town posted that they were unable to brew espresso that day, and caffeine was a must. Carlson's Cafe Azteca was surprisingly but pleasantly spicy. On our second trip, a pain au chocolate and iced espresso hit the spot. read more

Carlson Coffee - Pastry case full of goodies greets you as you enter! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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We love this place when we come through town! Coffee is Great, food is great and the hospitality is wonderful!! Buy goodies to take on the road, we always do! read more

We stopped by on our way home to Tennessee and I'm so glad we did! This place was something I see in bigger cities! There were many home baked goods, natural items for sale, and delicious coffee. The owner was incredibly friendly. The prices were awesome, too! I ate like a queen for $11. Tucumcari is lucky to have a place like this. We make the drive often, so I look forward to stopping by again! read more

Coffee was ok but all the pastries were extremely stale and lacking in flavor. The staleness may be because we came towards the end of the day and they had failed to make fresh pastries throughout the day but if that the case than they should be sold at a discount. It's dishonest to sell pastries at full price that you are on the verge of throwing them away (which is what we ended up doing after tasting them). read more

What a sweet find! Great coffee, excellent selection of bakes and truly nice people!!

Everything was delicious. The The chicken salad sandwich, the mocha, and the cheese danish. I like the decor, also. This is on Route 66.

Just a beautiful oasis in Tucumcari. Cute town seems lost by time and almost forgotten then you find this little pace. Great bakery, coffee, and lunch!! read more

What's not to like about this bright, airy and welcoming coffee establishment? Nice baristas, the latest Square payment system which conveniently emailed me my receipt, a clean bathroom and not at all crowded. The building itself is apparently historic and has bit of a retro chic look. And of course, coffee. My cappuccino was crafted more like a latte but it had a good taste and hit the spot. Husband had zero complaints about his oatmilk latte (the other alternatives offered are almond and coconut milk.) It was a treat to find this place on our long road-trip. read more

Carlson Coffee - View of the coffee bar from our table. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

We almost missed out, and so glad they open before the other coffee shop. It was just a bit further to drive, but coffee is a must when on the road. We were greeted by the nicest man (I assume the owner). Our drinks were made perfectly and tasted great! read more

So worth the stop, I got the strawberry cheesecake and it was amazing! We also got a hot chocolate for the little ones.

Awesome new coffee place in Tucumcari! Located in a historic building near the train depot - this is an exciting addition to the town. We visited twice while we were in town. We had a large order the first day and the staff were able to whip the drinks together, no problem. My family wanted 'starbucks drinks' and this place had what they wanted (they said it was better than starbucks :). I had the cold brew, which was bold and flavorful. They are able to make any kind of espresso drinks, frappe, and they also have non coffee drinks such as tea and homemade strawberry lemonade. The baked goods were also excellent and were made by a local baker. The pocket sammies were nice as well, like a hot pocket but actually tasty. Everyone that ordered frappes were very pleased. If you are in town or driving through, this is definitely worth a stop. Great drinks and a comfortable environment. Support local business!! read more

Carlson Coffee - Menu and ordering area. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Stopped in to this super cute spot for some caffeine and we were not disappointed!! Thank you so much to the barista doing all the work for us and everyone who came in after. They were very friendly and helpful and answered all of our questions. Cute spot with lots of vintage chairs and tables. Looks like they have events there as well. What a great place for the community. Excellent clean single bathroom with good toilet paper. Now, the coffee. I drink a lot of coffee. There was an iced coffee called Cafe Azteca with Mexican hot chocolate, cinnamon, and some spice! It was delicious!! Next time I'm headed through Tucumcari I know where I am stopping! read more

This was a superior human-to-human interaction. Ok, but the pastries are to die for too! We got the loaded banana bread slice, cream cheese croissant and pan au chocolat and they were so so delicious. I have already written home about them run don't walk, and order one of everything read more

Carlson Coffee - Loaded banana bread slice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

We were heading back from Michigan and Tucumcari was one of our overnight stops. We headed here before our last leg home. We were pleasantly surprised with a kind and cordial welcome from Michael. There were many options available including gluten-free. Human grade dog treats were also available for purchase. By far this was the best coffee we had on our entire trip which commenced nearly two weeks prior. If we ever pass through here again, we'd surely stop in! read more

Okay so DO NOT use the directions via Yelp, you'll wind up a block away in a residential area. Apple Maps works. Cute little place and clearly the gem of Tucumcari as the rest of this place seems rather forgotten over the years. It has a charm though about it that I'm absolutely loving! Don't be turned off by the distance from the 40; this is an easy coffee shop to get to (from Apple Maps lol). Coffee is good too! read more

We stopped here on our way during our travels. The breakfast burritos were amazing. The baked items and coffee were excellent . We sat and talked with the owner, he was so friendly and just all around great guy. Highly recommend. read more