Had the best experience Friday morning! Amber makes early morning flights a joy with how friendly and efficient she is! Such a hard a worker and deserves the recognition for stay so kind and cheerful, even when passengers are being horribly. read more

This place is just as I remembered it. Same ambiance and set up. Although I have had a few more European trips since my last visit and can appreciate the European-esque stand up espresso bar setting more. I ordered a cortado for here since I don't usually see this on the menu except in Europe and other coffee bars and having a real glass is always nice. The cortado was okay. It doesn't compare to the ones in Europe and the service was really slow. But good enough for 5:30 in the morning. read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I love Cartel coffee and the fact that they have an airport location is fantastic for those early morning flights. The best thing about this location is that even being a high traffic airport location they still put the same care and quality into every order just like at the standalone locations. The staff is always friendly and helpful especially when trying to decide which drink to go with. The real impressive thing for this staff is that they can turn out the drinks quickly and with quality even when there is a line. Speaking of the line it's usually less than sub-par overpriced chain location just down the terminal. If you need a wake up while at the airport be sure to come over to this location by gate C14. It's worth the walk if you are in the C gate area (or are on a long wait in the other gates). read more

Came here to Cartel Coffee Lab in C section of terminal 4 at the airport. Quite frankly, we didn't want to walk all the way out to the Starbucks that was in the area after the TSA check so it was nice to stumble upon this gem. I got a small iced mocha and it was pretty good. It was definitely better than what Starbucks has to offer. My drink did take a while to make but I'll chalk it up to the baristas carefully crafting my beverage. My flight was delayed by 20 minutes so I wasn't going anywhere anyway. My friend got the spicy coffee (I forget the name) and it was quite unique. I've always wanted to try something like that but couldn't commit to a full drink. It was definitely spicy. I'm sure it's an acquired taste and lots of people like it, but I probably wouldn't want to be as adventurous next time. I'll have to try some of their different offerings next time I'm there. read more

My go-to in the Phoenix airport. Great coffee! They keep the line moving. Plenty of patrons but not nearly the wait you'll have at the chains in the airport. Excellent food options (including a vegan burrito that is SO delicious), a variety of house made pastries and niche refrigerated drinks and snacks, staff is always super sweet, competent, and presh. Would recommend. read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Asked for a pour over and the barista said. " we are down a person today so we're not doing any pour overs." Bummer. So... No coffee at the coffee store. Hmm. Not good. I went to Pete's and they sold me some coffee. Oh well. read more

I MISS YOU CARTEL COFFEE! You were my go to for coffee while at work at the airport every day. Your coffee is wonderfully delicious. Smooth, never burnt, or over heated, never to strong.Just close to a perfect cup of coffee. I Wish you guys were here! Not only was your coffee good your staff was attentive and never hoovering. On many occasions their would be friendly chatter and laughter. At this airport location at least when I went there their was always at least one vegan muffin or bakery item. Which on occasion I would get. But I mostly went there for the oh so delicious coffee. Thank you Cartel Coffee Lab, you are the best. read more

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Always Time For a Coffee Stop! SITREP I was in a rush. Not a RUSH rush. But a RuSH to get situated at my gate since boarding was to start happening in 10 minutes. THE SETUP I like to give myself some buffer time when standing in line at an eatery/coffee shop because you never know really how long they will take to get your order done - I certainly didn't need a repeat of my Nathan's burger situation at McCarran airport in Las Vegas where my "5 minutes" (as clearly annunciated by them in the King's English) turned into 25 mins w/ a large side of attitude from the 2 staff there. In addition, when given the chance, I like to try a different coffee branding (other than my go-to "Starbucks") that I may not have tried before, and that also looks inviting. SPEEDY Luckily, Cartel was smooth sailing with getting my large mocha-to-go for my Southwest flight back to Sacramento. AND they did my Mocha as a sugar-free option, which I appreciate. ON PRINCIPLE However, whether here, or Starbucks, or Peets, or a fast food place, etc., I get really torqued for any shop that charges nearly $5 for a mocha that I should - and do - get for between $3-$4 at a non-airport location. Please note: just because you (inset business name) are at an airport location doesn't justify nor support the business metrics for overcharging customers. This is along the GOUGING you see at the Coachella Music Festival charging $6 for a tiny bottle of water or a Movie Theater charging $6 for a medium soda. Somehow the notion came along that "Trapped Audience = Demographic to Abuse". I'll never accept that. therefore, this is a minus one-star whomever the over-charging business is, just to be clear. THE LOWDOWN A great coffee stop in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport! read more

One of the cool things about Phoenix Sky Harbor is that they are bringing in locally own businesses into the terminals for all to try, I like that a lot! I was searching for coffee and walked by Starbucks and saw the line was out the door so I just kept heading towards my gate and thank gawd I did, when I turned the corner I found Cartel Coffee!! Oh yes I was very happy. The staff was friendly and helpful, I walked right up and ordered an large mocha, this was a great looking cup of coffee great tasting too! Loved it If your looking for a cup of joe, you should skip Starbucks and head on over to Cartel Coffee forsure! read more

Cartel Roasting - Large mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

A top notch coffee shop in an airport!! They know how to brew a quality pour over. Four types of single origin coffee to choose from. Good knowledge and excellent customer service. Not over priced or pretentious. Nice to have a Starbucks alternative. read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I couldn't agree more with Lindsey D's sentiment- that it's totally worth the walk to Terminal 4 to enjoy a cup of coffee that delicious and local! Not to mention, actually worth the money. Cartel coffee is truly a gem not only in Phoenix, but we're lucky to have to stores in Tucson. They don't compromise on quality, so don't plan on taking that cappuccino to go! Sip on that coffee and enjoy....take a moment to block out the hectic energy of the airport. That's what this coffee stop is all about. They roast their beans locally and bake all of their own pastries fresh. A rare find in any airport. read more

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Why 5 stars? Because this is the best coffee you'll ever find at an airport. --- --- --- Of every airport I've ever been to, I've never found a coffee spot as awesome as this. You really don't feel like you're inside an airport while you're waiting on your beverage of choice. I think it might be an optical illusion, and not actually inside the walls of Sky Harbor. Not only are the drinks delicious, but the trendy decor is as hip as it gets. And while service can vary hour by hour, the barista who happened to help me was incredibly friendly. There aren't a ton of details one can procure from a four minute experience, but Cartel was as good as it gets across the board: taste, service, and ambiance = 3 thumbs up! read more

I am absolutely, positively, in love with this place. Possibly one of the best coffee places I've been to, let alone coffee places in the airport. I am so happy that my flight was delayed (haha! thanks Southwest) so I could get a chance to check out this place which wasn't near my gate. This place is small, but it packs a punch. You can get a pour over in 4 different ways, you can get what is called a One and One where they pull two shots, one into an espresso and one into a macchiato with some kind of dairy or soy so you can try it both ways. I am a little surprised that they were unwilling to accommodate Cron J's request for three shots of espresso over ice, because they were sure extremely accommodating to me. If you are a coffee snob, definitely check this place out. Their espressos are smooth, lattes are velvety and pour over coffees are downright delicious. read more

Nice, quaint location here at the Sky Harbor Airport in the Southwest terminal. Got a small cold brew. Nice flavor and just strong enough for an evening drink before heading home on a delayed flight. Paired it with a peanut butter cookie I got in Downtown Phoenix at the open air market on Saturday. This combination was a good pairing. Liked that they had simple syrup out. I'm not a big fan of packaged sweetener anymore. Maybe I'm lazy, maybe it's the unnecessary packaging, or that I hate that sugar doesn't melt well in a cold beverage. It still is a plus for me. Thank you Cartel for my little beverage that brought a smile with my cookie. read more

Hands down, the best coffee slash coffee experience I have ever had in an airport. It felt like a little oasis with prime people watching in a busy terminal with baristas that are kind and care about the process. Let's talk about the process. I have magnificent friends who are supreme baristas because they love the process. It's quite evident here that the all of the people and products here are dedicated to the process of creating quality. Come here for a drink made with intention and enjoy every sip. I ordered a cappuccino. It was perfectly made with just the right amount of flavor and foam on top. One of the best parts was I enjoyed it from a real coffee cup - not a to-go one. This is one of those places where I will intentionally be early for my flight so I can spend time here! read more

Cartel Roasting - Cappaccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This place is great. It first caught my attention with the interesting name (maybe an homage to Columbian coffee?), followed by the unique modern/minimalist decor and bright green color scheme. I wanted a hot tea as I usually do, and figured this place would deliver Starbucks style - in a teabag - I was wrong, but let me get to that in a second. The two guys manning this location were pretty hip looking for baristas - one of em took my order with an iPad mounted on this cool vertical swinging metal arm mount (which I later was told was made by the owner himself), swiped my card using a "square", and then flipped it over the iPad over to me to select my tip amount, sign with my finger, and choose where to send the receipt (email or print). I loved how seamless everything was, and that there were no clunky cash registers. The barista told me it would take a few minutes for the tea to steep. He then proceeded to make my tea using loose leaf tea in this awesome single serve quick steeping device, which dispensed right into my cup, letting absolutely no tea leaves through. He then pointed me towards the condiments, and they had pure cane sugar syrup in a squirt dispenser so I didn't have to mess with trying to get the right amount of granular sugar and making a mess while doing it. The tea tasted great (I just had a standard English breakfast tea), and was strong - just the way I like it. For $3 at an airport, and at this level of quality, I was blown away by the value. I'll be stopping by here anytime I'm in PHX Terminal 4 in the C gates. read more

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As far as airport coffee goes, this is some of the best I've had, since I personally get tired of Starbucks very quickly. They put a lot of effort into making the drinks, or so it appears, since I watched them weigh out the beans before starting. The serving sizes are small, but the latte I had was decent! I wouldn't mind returning during my next layover in Phoenix. read more

Hipster coffee bar in the airport. Just ordered an iced coffee and it was on point. No frills, no other bullshit like Starbucks does. Customer service was uber friendly even when I looked like DEATH from waking up at 4 in the morning to pack and leave for my 6am flight. Love that they had the liquid sweetener for iced beverages too. yum! read more

I go out of my way to come to this Cartel any time I'm at the airport - even if it means going down 2 extra moving walk-ways. The line here is usually somewhat long (I suppose it depends on what time you are here) but the workers move people through pretty quickly. I'm typically just a black coffee type person, but I've had their Lattes and Americanos here before as well. I like that their coffee is all locally roasted and very high quality. The only problem I had was last time I came in, the drip coffee tasted a bit burnt. This definitely won't keep me from coming back, but I may just get something different next time. read more

I travel a fair amount for work and the Cartel outpost in Terminal 4 (across from Gate C12) is the only place I've seen where you can get a pour over at the airport! 3 different ways no less (aero press, V60 or chemex)! Bravo Cartel! read more

finally, a real coffee shop inside an airport. The barista was very knowledgeable and will chop up coffee with you if you have the time. Hipsters and coffee lovers will love stopping by here. The best coffee I've had at an airport. I highly recommend the pour over if you want a hot cup and cold brew for a cold drink. Talk to the barista for recommendations on what kind of beans you want for your cup of coffee. Goods: +They roast their own coffee + Pour over coffee available + Cold brew coffee available So So: - More on the expensive side but it's an airport afterall. I'd definitely make my way over here if I had a layover and some time for a fresh cup of pour over. read more

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Looking for a large capaccino breve (my usual) I tried this place on a layover. They only have one small size capaccino so the nice person recommend a latte instead. $6.25 + $1.50 breve (x2) latter my wife and I were very dissapointed. It did not taste good. Very sour with a yuck finish. Just having some amazing smooth coffee in WA I was looking forward to more of the same. This wasn't it. Place is nice. People are friendly. Review score is based purley on the coffee taste. read more

Even though it is an airport location, this place still has great, fresh-brewed coffee. Don't expect it to be quick unless you get the cold brew or daily coffee. They have been doing cold brew since before it was cool, and they've got it down, but... For a real Cartel experience, you need to get a cappuccino ("for here" only!) or wait 5 minutes for them to brew you a fresh cup. The pastries are nice, too. read more

Had an incredibly long layover in Phoenix (approx 6 hours to kill) and spent most of it sitting near my gate at Starbucks. Around lunchtime, I decided to take a walk around the airport to see if anything sounded good and nothing did. A friend from Arizona has always raved about Paradise Bakery, so I was curious to see how it measured up to all the Panera's I've ever been to. I know that it isn't really fair to judge a place by an airport location, but there was nothing appealing about it to me and topping that off with the fact that their credit machine was inop, I decided to look elsewhere. Cartel was right next door, and a quick search on my phone revealed that this is a locally owned business. I was sold. I ordered a latte, which was excellent, and a zucchini and goat cheese scone, which may have been the best scone I've ever had in the US. It was pricey, but there are definitely worse places to spend $8. I enjoyed that drink and snack way more than I would have enjoyed anything else in the airport. read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

How many times does it take to remember an order? I ordered a decaf iced latte, and handed my card to the employee. He put my credit card in the chip reader and then walked off and didn't come back so I had to reach over and grab my card out of the chip reader. One minute later, he hollers over the counter, what did you order again? So I said, "A decaf iced latte." Then he nodded and went back to supposidly make my coffee. Nope, he comes back and says, I forgot again, what did you want? - "A decaf iced latte." Thought that was the end but nope, he asked one more time if I wanted decaf or regular. (If you can't remember, I always find it helpful to write it down.) Let's just say that I finally got my drink but it wasn't good anymore because I had a horrible taste in my mouth after that whole ordeal. read more

Cartel Roasting - Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Flying from El Paso to San Diego I had a stop in Phoenix at the airport. A friend of mine suggested trying Cartel. Loved it. The cashier was friendly, attentive and quick. She took my order and it was ready in a minute. The large coffee ($4.00) was fresh and didn't need sugar or cream. I had 20 minutes before my next flight and this quick fix got me through it. Thanks Cartel! read more

"I would like 3 espeesso shots poured over ice" manager "we will have to add water to that" me "i dont want water with it" manager "thats our corporate policy" me "goodbye" Seriously guys you are making coffee, not creating high art. And you are located in an airport. I suggest that you listen to your customers and just taje their orders and money. Its called business. read more

Cartel Roasting - We know better than you. Our customers are stupid and need to learn how to enjoy coffee the right way. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

6 dollars for a large dirty chai which was 1/3 ice. Have these people lost their minds? Good coffee but way too overpriced. read more

Cartel Roasting - Large dirty chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Coming off my fifth 12-hour overnight shift in a row, all I wanted was to crawl into my warm bed and play coma patient for a few days. But the amazing Ashley S. somehow snagged us tickets for the Justin Timberlake/Jay-Z concert in LA, so sleep would have to wait! Bleary-eyed, I somehow made it through security and stumbled onto Cartel Coffee Lab in the Southwest terminal next to gate C13. The lime green countertop, smiling baristas, and aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans perked me up right away. My iced vanilla latte ($5.25) was incredibly smooth, rich and not too sweet, just the way I like it. The prices are pretty comparable to Starbucks, but I'd gladly pay an extra dollar or two for a better blend. Starbucks coffee always tastes a little burnt to me, and they typically overdo it on the syrups. Other than Cartel, you might want to check out the airport locations for other favorite local haunts, including Le Grande Orange (to-die-for sourdough english muffins) and Cowboy Ciao (OMG that chopped salad). Kudos to Phoenix Sky Harbor for supporting the local establishments! :) read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Coffee is ok, but I would pass on the food items. Ever wonder how long perishable food items set out of refrigeration? No telling. read more

Cartel Roasting - How long does this set out unrefrigerated? - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I'm from NYC/NJ area, and addicted to good espresso. I'd found this place while I'm transferring my flight to Las Vegas. The place looks hip and cool, so I had to try their espresso. Taste so GOOD, and it was so smooth with full aromatic flavor. Thus, I had to come back on my way back. I came back for quality espresso for myself, so I highly recommend to y'all. read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This is terminal 4 C wing. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much and this place surprised me. Legit coffee lab with different selection of beans. I went with a cold coffee of the day since it was pretty darn hot in PHX and I wanted a low investment. Pleasantly surprised. Very similar you'd get in a trendy coffee bar. Famous for: trendy coffee bar after the security line. read more

They actually take the time to educate you if you have a question about coffee. They do this or 4 obvious reasons: 1) they care about coffee 2) they actually like coffee 3) they're kind people 4) they've been trained a lot They have local spots which are beautiful, if AZ is your final destination check them out! read more

Cartel Roasting - Education and branding is everything - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

A few days ago I happened upon this real-deal coffee shop...in an airport! In my opinion if my cafe mocha is five star then I'll buy a package of their beans - which is exactly what I did. I loved watching the alchemists methodically make my mocha. Just when I thought froth art (see photo) was dead in airports I was given a liquid magic. Bravo to the Cartel scientists! read more

The signage is what pulled me in. There are a bunch of Starbucks and Peet's at this airport. I was really wanting something different. It is very warm in the airport so I decided to give the cold brew a shot. At first sight, I thought it was a little light looking. That didn't matter after tasting it. It starts off with a strong flavor which quickly fades away into the back of your throat with very little after taste. I really did enjoy it. About half the time i will add a little sweetener. No need here. Another big bonus for me was the very large ice cubes. I typically transfer my iced coffee to my 22oz Hydroflask for lasting cold enjoyment. Small ice cubes will quickly start to block the flip top opening. No problem with these. They were still larger then regular ice cubes after 2 hours. read more

Not bad at all. Got myself a hot mocha and the price for a large was about the average cost. Definitely a better quality of coffee. Friendly staff and the place was clean. If you're a coffee drinker and in the airport, stop here. read more

Awesome spot! Super clean and great friendly staff. The store was very unique and modern. Wasn't a typical coffee store. Would highly recommend the Iced Latte. It was very good. The staff at the register talked me through their options and why they do what they do. Because of that I landed a great drink! read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Like the service, spent extra time with me to get me want I wanted. Sample the coffee before I purchased it. Coffee in good high lead, flavor on the back end read more

Cartel Roasting - The store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Wow I don't know if it's because I'm exhausted and needed caffeine... but OMGOSH I just had the best cappuccino ever. I have to hurry and post before my flight takes off. Wowww I wish I knew her name so I could thank her properly!! She was brunette and talking about taking melatonin. Also she just made the almond milk cappuccino that last minute asked to change to oat milk! Best cappuccino I have ever had!! Thank you! read more

Cartel Roasting - Oat milk Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Was stoked to see this little coffee shop while wandering PHX during a long layover. The menu boards in the back showed Aeropress, Hario V60, Clever, and Chemex at MKT price, which was a definite surprise to see in an airport. I ordered an Aeropress. I was way too travel logged to really care about looking over their roasts, so went with the barista recommended Providencia. Nice to see them doing an inverted brew on a gram scale, pre-moistening the paper filter, weighing out the water, and timing. I didn't see them pre-warm the Aeropress, nor did they bloom the coffee. Still, the coffee was solid, with a great nose (though maybe any coffee would have done the trick at that point in my travels), and worth the $3.25 market price. I'm a little surprised to see most of those brewing techniques in a high-traffic, speed oriented, environment like an airport. My coffee definitely took a while (as expected), but I can't imagine what this place must be like when slammed (I was the only customer at 7 PM on a Sunday evening). Rad to have this option in an airport environment, and it's a shame I didn't have the time/energy to explore their roasts. Definitely worth the jaunt to Terminal 4 if you've got a layover in PHX . . read more

Cartel Roasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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