This place has nice intentions. The coffee is not good and it costs about three to four times more than it's worth. It's bustling with students must be a hot spot. The crowd is fine there's no worries about that but it is loud. The furniture is uncomfortable and most designed to accommodate young people studying. They were out of most of their baked goods except some weird green cake....no thx. Probably won't be back prices for unpleasant coffee....not appealing for us. read more

I am not a huge coffee drinker, in fact I never drink plain coffee. But, I have been wanting to go here since reading an article in the New Times a few years ago about the Clover machine, and how this place was one of the few places in the country that had one before Starbucks bought the manufacturer and ended the sale of the machine. Fast forwards to today: I finally went to grab a bag for my girlfriend and roommate. I hate the smell of crappy coffee being made in the morning and how it infects my entire house. I can tolerate and even enjoy a nice bean. After 3 or 4 trips in the area at night without the actual address, I came up empty handed because there is no sign on the street and it is hidden behind another building. Finally I wrote down the address and managed to find it during the day. First impression: There is a magnetic field that attracts a disproportionate amount of dirty ass, homeless-looking, transient-type folks. If I owned the joint I would call in an exterminator and mobile pet groomer. Spray pesticide on them to kill the fleas, and give them a full-service pet grooming which should include de-matting, shearing, a shampoo, tick collar, nail trim, and an ear cleaning. My dog held his nose walking by these people. Maybe they have a must-have-showered-within-the-last-week rule for indoors because the clientele seemed more hygienic. Minimal decorations, and it is very clear that they are not going to wow you with glitz, glam, christmas cd's or sizes that mean large in 3 different languages. Unlike many people on here, I actually was helped by a very friendly gentleman (w/ dreds). He helped me choose a bag, and get me a drink to go. I went iced latte to go (it was warm out) and got a Guatemalan bag for the coffee drinkers in the house. My latte was unsweetened and quite tasty. They have some very primitive-looking coffee brewing techniques and machines which are pretty cool. All employees had a smile on their face, engaged in some small talk with a few people and promptly made my drink in a few minutes. I don't know if they canned all the snotty employees or seeing someone that is 6'4" brings out their nicer side. I can only speak of my experience and it was short and sweet. I would like to comment on the most snotty-douche-y review I have ever read. Note to Phoenicians, if you use the word CenPho, you are exhibiting tool-like behavior. End of discussion. If you look down your nose and say that a certain establishment does not belong in said CenPho because it isn't cool enough to be around you, you are moving towards the extreme side of the tool spectrum. If you have to use profanity in a review you can add the title of tasteless. My hunch is they saw Mr. Lord of Culture coming from a mile away. You stay in CenPho and let us folks stay in a city and area without the need for catchy nicknames. Oh yeah, the word poser died in the 90s, catch up. Someone as trendy as you should know that. read more

Their espresso is absolutely the best. Every single barista that's made my latte has foamed the soy perfectly. Small, thick, creamy bubbles. I used to slang coffee, and I know. Small, thick, creamy soy bubbles. Most places don't steam it correctly, but Cartel? They're consistent and quite friendly. Usually they've got a pretty decent selection of tunes going, and I'm happy they're not afraid to play it loud. read more

I'm quite sure that we stopped by this joint at just the right time on a Friday afternoon. Not too many hipsters, not too many students and the right blend of randomness. The interior design is kind of a modern / do it yourself type of vibe - which is quite unassuming and warm. I instantly liked it because I found out not only do they have awesome coffee, but they make their own craft beer. I ordered a flight, offering a sample of all they have on tap and really enjoyed what they had to offer, especially the Desert IPA. They have tons of space to stretch out and open up your laptop, and the service was quite friendly. A little bit of people watching and we were on our way next door to Casey Moore's. Definitely a worthy place to stop by for a beverage! read more

Cartel Roasting - Amen. Their Desert Pale Ale is divine. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

If you can stand the strong hipster vibe, this is a very solid place for the fresh roasted coffee lover. Yeah they have decent espresso drinks, but your ol cup o joe is where it's at. At home, I use a v60 and don't mind indulging in some good, fresh-roasted coffee, and this happens to be one of the closest locations in the east valley you can get it at. If you're in the shop, you can choose your beans and method of brew (aeropress, v60 and chemex). If you're unsure of choice, the barista is always happy to answer questions. As far as a place to spend long hours of work or study, probably not the best due to the huge flux of ASU students, minimal outlets and terrible parking. But in the end, this shop stands out for me because it's huge, a great place to hang out where everyone can enjoy a drink - coffee or beer (they also have a variety of beer on top) and my favorite roaster in the valley. read more

My $6.00 iced soy latte was bomb! It's coffee the way it should be; not that fake foo foo stuff we pay for at places that don't really profess to know about coffee bean origins. Here at Cartel you see the coffee beans in action. Love the ambiance at this place; it's a "see & be seen" type of vibe, so grab your prescription glasses, MacBook, iPhone and get ready for some of the best coffee you've ever had. Order a pour over which is made with one of the daily coffee varietals of your choice for a true taste of how this place gets down. They do coffee right. Reminds me of one of my favorite spots in Cali - Portola Coffee Lab inside the OC Mix - I love this place! read more

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Get your drink to-go because they serve those faster. They forgot about my drink so I waited total 30 minutes for a mocha. Lighting is dim and music is loud, not really the best study space as some have claimed. Probably a good place to chat, but still a bit too loud for a deep conversation. Stars are for the cleanliness. At least they have that going on. read more

Ok Cartel... I've been a regular customer for years. I love the coffee, the tea, and the cool vibe. But today at the Tempe location, I stayed for an hour and a half for a business meeting and came out to a "warning" from TEAM security on my car. "1 HR means 1 HR"?! Really? I'll just go to literally ANY other coffee shop next time. read more

Cartel Roasting - This is what you can look forward to if you park in the parking lot and don't leave promptly after exactly 1 hour at the Tempe location. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I put forth that we need to institute a new standard of measurement to be used for comparing coffee shops. Furthermore, I think that Cartel Coffee Labs should use this place as a standard for this new unit of measurement. I have to assume it's called a "Coffee Lab" for a reason. Too many coffee shops these days are retail stores, where coffee is an incidental thing in all the yelling, stupid names, and fancy colors. If you look at the menu of Cartel Coffee Lab, there are a total of 13 items. It's all about the coffee, plain and simple. Then again, there's really nothing simple about it to those who take their coffee as seriously as this place does. The artistry of their baristas is not to be trifled with. These people can make a latte so pretty, you really won't want to drink it (until you do, then you're happy you did). On top of that, the selection of coffee varietals is impressive. I've only tried one, but that alone was better than anything Starbucks tries to pawn off on the masses. Perhaps the use of the term "Lab" is because they've actually stepped beyond anything any other coffee shop has done. Either way, the formula that they came up with works better than anything I've come across before. Then again, maybe I'm being too hard on the other places. It's not that they have an intrinsically inferior product, but the reason for these places has been lost behind t shirts and mugs and open mic nights and selling you a card containing the same money you'd use on the place anyway... I digress. Cartel Coffee Labs is a great place with a fantastic product. If their WiFi is weak or the back corner gets dark, I honestly don't care. Their coffee is excellent and I'll be coming back for more. read more

-COFFEE: good & tasty mocha -SERVICE: friendly -CROWDED long lines - no where to sit, if you wanted to sit and sip... -DECOR: Hip, urban industrial -PARKING: not so convenient if you want to run in and run out. read more

Okay, so its probably unfair for me to review cartel. I went there to pick up beans. It was pretty clear that the beans I was buying weren't roasted recently. (They told me they were about to roast.) But, I was desperate. In all fairness, the beans smelled awesome. Yet, the taste didn't get close to the smell---not delicate at all---much more grocery store like. I will go back and try when their beans are fresh. Atmosphere looked great. I was more than slightly (ehmmm) insulted when they suggested that I was dropping off my kid for college. Last I checked, I wasn't nearly of that age group. read more

These people are experts in their field. Experts. You want quality, This place delivers. They do not skimp on anything. The mocha's are made with the most amazing chocolate - egads, I wish I had one now. I wish this place was local to me - but I certainly make an effort to get there as often as I can. Thinking about going now . . . who's up for it? read more

There is a good reason why this place doesn't post their prices: it's because if they did, most folks would walk right out. This is the first place ever that makes Starbucks seem inexpensive. They have only 2 sizes of drinks, a tiny 8 oz and one that is probably 12 oz. Originally I wanted a Mocha and that was going to be 5 bucks (before tax), so i switched to a regular coffee which costs almost 4 bucks for the 12 oz size. That was my que to laugh this place off as a joke, especially in a college town, and head over to Circle K, where there were 12 choices of coffee waiting, all for under 2 bucks. ASU college kids must have more of daddy's money because nobody was buying $5 cups of coffee back in the good ole days. No outdoor seating either. read more

Pretty cool little coffee joint. I had me a shot of espresso along with what appeared to be club soda. Definitely something new to me. Espresso was super strong so I understood why the chaser was necessary. Too strong for me actually and my friends told me the coffee there is extra potent. Truthfully, I felt out of place being here. This place was made for the following: 1. Students 2. Hipsters I'm neither of the 2, but I can respect them. Oh to be young and angry again! Indeed, my neatly tucked in shirt and polished shoe is not welcomed - haha! Good thing I didn't wear a suit might be mistaken for being "The Man"! In any case, I gather this place is a wonderful spot for hanging with friends and study groups. - Enjoy! read more

The coffee is great but the service is TERRIBLE! Waited 25 minutes as 4th in line because the barista is chatting to his peeps and going slower than a slug in ice. The counter crew needs to lose the attitude and realize good service is what keeps customers. There are other great coffee shops like Lux and Drip in Phoenix. I will not go back to Cartel. read more

I ordered a doppio espresso. I was told cartel refuses to serve doppio espresso without water or milk because it "compromises the taste". The guy sat there and argued with me about it when I could have cared less. I didn't know buying espresso meant I had to argue with a grown man trying to justify why he's working a teenagers job. Apparently 3rd wave coffee means terrible customer service by rude little twerps. I will never visit cartel again and I live down the street. I visit the starbucks on hardy twice a day for a $2.54 coffee each time. This would be cartels money if they didn't serve coffee with masturbatory pretension. read more

Chatted up co-owner Amy a recent weekend morning and she was just a genuine lovely friendly person. Told me how her husband's love of coffee brought him to Guatemala (where they purchase their beans), converted her a little over a year ago to the addictive brew, and led them to open up Cartel mid-January of this year. Despite having been a convert to the whole coffee thing, Amy made me a very smooth, very effective $2 Americano - served up in an eco-conscious 100% corn takeaway cup. They roast their beans on premises and have places to lounge and meander within their space. It is very spacey, somewhat warehousey - which isn't exactly my groove but nevertheless, I will be back with more friends and time to spare in the near future. Quality and good prices are at the forefront of this operation. read more

I was totally hoping to give Cartel a 5 star review, because the service, vibe, and concept are AMAZING. Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly impressed with my coffee. I ordered one of the dark roast single brews, and just like every other locally owned/operated coffee house it was weak, and sour... not much better than Pike's Place from Starbucks.. so sad! I don't consider myself an expert on coffee, but I've had some incredible stuff in SF, and can't find anything that comes close, locally. Also, when I see all of these super high reviews, I come to wonder how much of the product judgement is placed on fluffy drinks, like mochas, or lattes. I judge a coffee house on dark roast with cream.. no sugar.. no choco yum yum.. no hazelnut delights.. just.. coffee.. and good basic coffee in Phoenix doesn't seem to exist. :( read more

This is a great vibe up front, once you pass the bar, it gets a little weird. They are trying to keep 1/2 the location 21 years and older for a BAR/Alcohol scene. Both areas are sweet. Just, c'mon - this is Cartel "COFFEE" Lab man. Why do you have to make me uncomfortable when space is limited??? Otherwise they have some sweet local derivatives of foreign lands coffee they assemble in their lab. I suggest you READ the flavor before ordering. And give it a bit of time, they have professional CHEMISTS on board who extract your brew. LOL. Cool vibe, rare tunes, weird MF peeps, but hey man we are all weird in our own way, just not so much on the outside always. CCL is an B+ for me. read more

Cartel Roasting - Lekempte - Rhubarb, subtle berry in velvety body - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

One of the best places for Coffee in the Valley! My go-to coffee house near my office, Cartel serves up single origin coffee in different pour over sizes. I love the hipster quality to the space and the people, even though I am almost always the only person in a suit. Given its close proximity to ASU, I imagine many of the denizens are students of some capacity. Every once in awhile I encounter a long line, but mostly the staff moves drinks very quickly. While it is very loud in the front, If you need to study or have a meeting, head to the back space behind the coffee bar, and its dramatically more quiet. read more

I like the coffee here. Its been good every time I go. Sometimes the music is a little loud and I think thats a bit much - but maybe I am just getting old. I don't know. I actually like to have a conversation with the person I am there with. Call me old fashioned, but the music doesn't need to send my drink flying off the table like I am in an 80's Maxell commercial. read more

Definitely hipster... trendy.... good lattes? Hell yeah!! Walked in today and ordered a hot small (still a double shot) latte with half&half... the first sip really blew me away! Can't say I've had one this good since this little cafe in Cordoba, Spain. The gal at the register was friendly and helped me pick between half&half and soymilk.. I liked their simple syrup pump... didn't like that they had no cinnamon/nutmeg shakers because I love that in my lattes.. but glad I didn't pervert what is to be (so far) the best US latte I've ever had. Damn, I wish I lived closer. Place was hard to find and, yeah, no prices... and if you're not a hipster, you really do get noticed and stand out. read more

Speed is not their thing. Maybe they need more coffee! But the cute little apple design in my coffee was worth the wait...not to mention the BEST cappuccino ever! read more

Cartel Roasting - An apple coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

To follow up again: I went back some time ago and they still failed to correctly pull a shot of espresso. I also left a direct message for them, a private message that should have been a "retain a customer" slam-dunk, but they didn't get back to me. They're just not interested in correcting training/mechanical issues nor responding to consumers who reach out. I deserve better, and in this town I can get it at any number of shops within a few-mile radius. read more

A big sigh and a "meh" which is the sound of me shrugging my shoulders and saying a begrudging "ok". ^^ That's how I feel when people ask me to go to this place. I am by no means a coffee snob which is probably why I really don't like this place. All I ever want is either a) a normal coffee with sugar and cream or b) a latte/cappuccino that I don't have to make my "shot face" when drinking it. (Does that make sense? I make a pretty ugly face when I take shots because they're gross and I don't want to make that face when drinking a coffee drink.) Unfortunately I've never really enjoyed their basic coffee or their "fun" drinks. (And I've tried. About every time I go I try something new.) I really like the downtown location for the atmosphere and the food but found that this location did not match up to that. This location seemed dark and quite frankly messy- everywhere I looked just seemed disheveled and a bit dirty. I was going to order a brownie but was deterred when I saw a few flies and fruit flies in the case- which I totally get can happen and normally I roll with it but it was the icing on my unhappy cake. I do not think I will agree to going to this place again..... maybe the downtown location but not this one. read more

When you walk in, be prepared to wade through a sea of Macbooks to the "MacRegister". Pretty sure the term "hipster" originated as a password for PC users to get through the door here. Atmosphere is half of the experience for the coffee shop lounger and though this place has zero personality, it's definitely neck-deep in "trying too hard". As far as the coffee goes, it was nothing exceptional. However, I will give them credit for not burning the hell out of the espresso, which seems to be a popular trend these days. The staff was also friendly which brings a 1 star rating up to a 2 because friendliness is just as important as quality when I'm giving my money to an establishment. Peeking through the reviews, I saw, "free range, organic only, vodka marinated, all natural (american spirits only, thank you) smoked people to eat" so if someone could cue me in on that, I might reconsider this place (yeah cannibalism) since there was nothing else spectacular enough to make me willing open that door again. read more

When you go there, you feel like one of the cool kids! Atmosphere is inviting and relaxed. The coffee is great, but they are on the expensive side, especially because the sizes/portions are small. read more

Oh my! I can't believe that I've lived down the street for 4 years and finally decided to try Cartel today. Well, I did try to go once a few years ago, but couldn't find it. So FYI, the front door is right off of Ash (University is the cross street). This place deserves its high ratings. Truly one of the best cappuccino's I've ever had. So rich & buttery. Yum. And just the right amount of foam. The coffee was so good I bought a bag of their fresh roasted coffees to take home. $17! But I guess it's cheaper than going there for coffee everyday. The atmosphere was actually pretty nice. Yes, a bit hipsterish, but who cares. It's spacious and has large tables and plenty of seating if you want to come and get some work done. Free wifi too. I was actually very productive there today...maybe that delicious cup of cappi was the motivation. read more

This is a good spot to get good coffee, the smell of the fresh coffee is right on. There is a lot of room in this place so it's good for meetings and the sound isn't overbearing that you can't study. read more

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

Cartel serves the best coffee in the valley. Period. Which makes it one of my two favorite coffee shops. Seriously, everything I have ever tried of theirs has been spot on perfection. Specifically I obsess over their brewed coffee which is made by an advanced coffee brewer (Clover) with a roast that you pick to be brewed. Obviously this is the only method for producing a supremely great cup of coffee (ie: freshly ground beans [roasted recently on-site] placed immediately into an instant coffee maker that produces one cup at a time). I have never had coffee made for me in such a caring way anywhere else. Even in other (read: better) cities I have never visited a cafe that roasts, grinds and produces the coffee in front of me. It's top notch. If you don't want a brewed coffee (you should try it, come on!) then there are some good alternatives. The Excelente Latte is a wonderfully ingenious creation that is expressively Phoenician (or I guess more appropriately Tempeian). It's more or less a latte with horchata added. Served only over ice, it's great in the summer time. Their coffee beans are all organically grown, and I assume the owner must work very hard to source the beans personally because everyone that touches them is very knowledgeable about where they came from, when they were roasted etc. That alone is impressive. Cartel as a cafe is fairly unique... Cartel's atmosphere is just okay.. I wouldn't want to spend more time here than I had to. I just can't spend that much time in a decaying strip mall which happens to be the hub of Tempe's hipster scene... it's not that I don't love hipsters, but hordes of them get old.. I tend to prefer a more diverse set of patrons. The quality coffee that Cartel offers more than makes up for anything I could fault them for. So, in summery, I recommend the brewed coffees. Once you've tried their brew then I suppose you could go for a different drink next time, which I promise will also be wonderful. read more

This place is great! I'm definitely looking to head back here soon. I think it's really funny how the reviewers talk about snobby barristas - there's definitely an attitude but those reviewers need to work on their self-confidence because it's actually pretty funny. There's nothing like ordering a non-fat latte and hearing, 'next time you really need to order it with at least 2%, none of that skim bull****.' So true and so enlightening! Skim or no skim the latte was bomb and I'm really pumped to go back for more. Prices are reasonable, and the place has almost a warehouse type vibe going on, with plenty of seating for all of the iPad-toting workaholics. One last tip - the place is super tough to find, it's behind the little Ash strip mall that has Pollo Supremo in it. I'll definitely be back! read more

The coffee is smooth and delicious, not to mention delicately brewed and roasted on site. The staff is always friendly eager to help you to make an informed decision about your drink, and I have yet to get a smug look from any of them when I feign ignorance about any drinks. That little test tells me an awful lot about an establishment, and it goes without saying that, while Cartel is a coffee connoisseur's delight, it works just as well for those who might not have a handle on the finer details of this art. If there's anything to complain about this fine establishment, it's that there's always a crowd, lending it to being a less than ideal setting to sit and relax, due to a dearth in seating. But if you can find a spot to plop down, you're in perhaps the finest coffee establishment in all of Arizona. That's not an exaggeration. read more

Cartel has been my go-to coffee house for single origin espresso and pour over, however as of late - I feel that the customer service has declined. Let me clarify: The last 3 times I have been to Cartel, the line was not long, there was not a stack of drink orders to complete, and employees were not incredibly busy -- however my wife and I had to wait at the register for at least a minute or more while employees converse with each other or a group of girls that caught their attention (in fact - the girls pointed out to the barista that we were waiting before he turned to acknowledge us), the baristas failed to make eye contact or conversation with me or my wife during the coffee making process or after (not even the usual "how was your espresso?" or even "Hello, here's your drink" ), and the overall wait times were excessive for 2 out of 3 of our last visits (just over 20 minutes for a clever coffee brew - 2 orders in front of us - baristas chatting with 2 customers and ignoring others). This does not taint my view of Cartel of a great place to get a quality cup of coffee - but when a barista under-extracts the espresso, hands it off without eye contact, and walks out of frame before you can mention the tart, thin tasting beverage - Cartel risks losing consistency which is just as important as quality. I don't want to gamble my time and taste-buds for an artisan beverage without a guarantee it will taste good and arrive in a reasonable amount of time. The great service provided by Seth, Jeff and the girls that worked there over a year ago seems to be diminishing with the increasing size of the location and additional beverage responsibilities that the new baristas have. I hope they turn it around because I find myself defaulting to less tasty coffee options due to expected consistency and customer service. Cartel is not a 'rush-in-to-grab-a-quick-cup-and-speed-to-work' coffee house, but when I want to sit down and enjoy an Americano, I do expect some small level of interaction and consistency with the baristas making my drink. read more

Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the amazing playlist blasting through the speakers. Yes, it was pretty loud, but when you've got MC Hammer jamming, loud is totally cool with me. Do these Millennials even know who MC Hammer is? Probably not. The atmosphere is great, but the coffee is even better. My hubby got one of those slow drip coffee things where it eliminates all the bitterness and really brings out the flavors of the beans. He was a big fan of his. I was loving my dirty iced chai. This is one of those places that helps make Tempe as cool as it is. read more

Cartel is one of the coolest coffee shops in the state. Whenever folks come from out of town, I bring them here because they always get a kick out of the place. Whether it's the wall of bicycle wheels, the iPad registers, the coffee roaster out in the open, the barber chair seat, the art work on the walls, the funny scribbles in the restroom, the garage opening in the rear--there is something to make you smile here and want to come back. I've finished many an essay here, applied for several jobs (not at Cartel, just using their WiFi to apply to other places), organized my budget, studied for finals, and even researched apartments here. The great service and ambiance just makes me feel at home. Every now and again, you may get some rude service but they honestly weed out the poor employees pretty quickly. I recommend a hot black coffee or if you're in for something sweet, go for the Dirty Whore (which is just a horchata but it's more fun to ask the cashier for a Dirty Whore). Don't get the desserts here though--they get them from down the street at Essence and charge you more for less than Essence would have given you. Kinda lame but whatever. read more

Out-of-this-world espresso and PERFECT foam. And their scookies (half scone half cookie) are AMAZING. I love e v e r y t h i n g here. Cartel: they're doin' it right. read more

Cartel makes a great cup of coffee. A seriously GREAT cup of coffee (or latte, or espresso). The staff are helpful if you need advice about what to get, and they know their brews. I had a very interesting espresso here recently, with notes of citrus at the front and chocolate at the finish. It was...different, but still good. This place is always busy. Always. However, you should have no trouble finding at least one seat open to sit and enjoy that great cup of coffee. read more

If star ratings were indicative of how hipster a place is, then Coffee Cartel Lab on University is a five star. But fortunately, the service, coffee and consumables were excellent too, so it gets a five star from this traveler for the right reasons. An easy-to-get-to location right off University, with a slightly cramped parking lot, but at least it's free, everything about Coffee Cartel Lab is pretty, well hip. I particularly like the word "cartel" in the name, because it makes me feel like the caffeine I crave is like a Venezuelan drug and the coffee cartels are the only place I can acquire it. But the interior is a tidal wave of hipster atmosphere, with dim lights, open ceilings, independent art all over the walls, flyers and cards for independent works free to peruse and browse, and pretty much every seat in the house taken up by someone with horn-rimmed glasses, tattoos, ironic t-shirts and skinny jeans, equipped with their iPhones, iPads or laptops, making full use of the wifi. But it's still clean and cozy feeling, overall. Oddly, to a jaded traveler like myself, as critical as I sound towards hipsters, the places they frequent are kind of the places I like to frequent... Anyway, the mocha I ordered was creamy and just right, and I took great sadistic pleasure in purchasing the very last cookie that was this Frankenstein of chocolate chips, peanut butter AND BACON. The bacon flavor was subtle, but still noticeable, and I took great pleasure of enjoying it in between sips of my mocha while trying not to inadvertently listen to young ASU students trying to give each other resume tips and advice. Prices were standard faire, and really nothing different than you would expect from a Starbucks, or any other independent coffee shop these days. I know for a fact that my travels would bring me out to Arizona again, and if presented the opportunity, I'd go back to the Cartel again without much problem. read more

Bigger than the one in Scottsdale but with a far less excellent soundtrack and far more hipsters, teens, and college kids trying far too hard to be far too sophisticated I still have to say Cartel's coffee still continues to impress; this time a bold and smooth chocolate toned cup of Guatemalan Finca El Limonar followed by an iced Toddy made with a 50/50 blend of Black Market and Viota. A local gem to be sure. read more

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Looooove this place! Great atmosphere. AMAZING cold brew... and I drink it black. Suuuch a cool place to meet up and do homework! The people are awesome. Very helpful and not "barista snobs" like other worth while coffee places. A heads up: the parking directly adjacent to the cafe is STRICT one hour parking. And there's a very diligent little parking man who stalks you like a hawk to time you. Be warned. read more