This place only gets better - nice to have all the extra room since they expanded and it still maintains that funky urban vibe with interesting furniture - we sat on cardboard chairs - and the best Cappucinos in the Valley! read more

Seriously my new favorite coffee spot. Got a growler of the Toddy and I almost drank it all in one day. Very affordable and the atmosphere is amazing. read more

Cartel is an excellent, locally-owned coffee roaster and coffee shop. They've also recently added beer to the mix. I always buy coffee beans from Cartel to make my coffee at home. I also often get a drink at Cartel, but to be honest the brewing can be hit or miss depending on who's on the bar. Sad but true. Maybe a little more training and care is in order. I often end up with a very medicinal-tasting drink if I order in. As an ex-barista myself, I really like that the workers are not required to wear uniforms. I respect a boss who is secure enough in their brand to let the workers present themselves. Major peeve: WHY are the pastries always sitting uncovered on the counter? This is gross and it dries them out. I can't believe it's even legal. There isn't even a sneeze guard. I'm glad they expanded the space, but it's still constantly crowded. read more

Nice little place to get some coffee other than the typical Starbucks. Great environment with very polite staff, grabbed a mocha here and it was pretty good. Definitely will come back to try other things here. read more

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

Coffee that will seduce you into a false sense of security and then elope with your taste buds. From specialty brews to the standard drip, good coffee all around. If you're into great coffee I'd recommend forking a buck for a specialty brew. read more

Yo I COME HERE EVERYDAY.... Wish they had a stamp card tho {cough cough} great coffee and scones. They should make more banana bread. Also discount their baked goods later in the day. Other than that, this is the spot. read more

Seems like a stripmall dive until you walk in. Then you get smacked in the face with awesome smells and a great, expansive atmosphere. Great place for a cup and your thoughts, but just as good for a group to sit and have a lively debate. read more

In the past eight years I saw this place truly become the best coffee spot in all of the Phoenix Metropolitan area, I am not even able to find an equal in Austin sadly. I originally went when it was only one office and eventually was expanded to triple the size. If you want true coffee, made the right way, with a friendly upbeat/hip atmosphere this is the place. Even though I do not drink I believe the expansion into brewing is a great one as well as having real Teas for relaxing and just hanging out. If you love coffee, if you love hanging out, if you want to relax, go here. read more

My favorite coffee shop here in the valley!! Cool place n cool people. Place is a bit noisy.. but u see lots of students studying here..

Great location, REALLY good coffee, I have been coming here for a while, and really like it! I have even set up several business meetings here, however, that is the difficulty... The location, the coffee, so on and so forth are all awesome, however, half the time, the music is way to loud. it is kind of a hit or miss, and it switches from extremely loud and slightly offensive rap, to really great music, at a reasonable level, which is perfect. If I was the management here, I would definitely set up only a few channels from pandora. read more

This place is hidden in a strip mall very close to ASU and when I walked in I was surprised how large it is. Very funky with lots of tables, benches, counters, couches to study or work at. Quiet enough to concentrate with music as background noise more than anything. Chill atmosphere and will definitely be back. Hopefully next time I'm here there are pillows for the seating - that'd make this place 5*. read more

Delicious quality cold brew coffee. The atmosphere is very relaxing and quaint. I love to support a local business!

Great atmosphere, perfect music selection (Leon Bridges), the attention to detail on my dates double cappuccino was like none that I've experienced - highly recommend. read more

I really liked this place. It has a great vibe, like something I would have gone to when I lived in NYC. A lot of space for seating. And the coffee was great too. read more

I really miss my morning cold brew. I moved to Washington and I have tried so many. And nothing compares to cartels coffee.

Nice place to have coffee. Pretty chilled out place and you can see the coffee getting made. Lot of people go there to work from that place or have discussions over coffee. read more

This is one of my favorite coffee shops when I visit Phx/Tempe. Their roast is not burnt like so many other places and the atmosphere is cool. It's a great place to work or to meet up with other people. The vibe is great! read more

Great lattes and atmosphere. Unique for sure with an easy going feel and plenty of options.

I love this dark, hipster coffee shop. It's really easy to set up shop and get some work done here. There are a ton of couches and tables, but it can be difficult to find space right away. It can get pretty busy with college students who stay most of the morning to get work done. They coffee is pretty straight forward. They don't have a ton of flavors like Starbucks, but it's a great place to get a good quality latte or americano if you like the taste of coffee and not sugar syrup. They also serve beer in the 21 and over section (in the back where the couches are) I tried a coffee kolcsh they had a while back and it was delicious. I think they only have 3 taps so they won't have a ton of beer selection and they'll probably focus on craft beers. read more

Amidst the often burnt and always over-caffeinated Starbucks brew on every other street corner, Cartel Coffee Lab is a true coffee enthusiast's oasis. Cartel is, above all, dedicated to the quality and integrity of coffee. As much as I frequent other coffee shops for their ambience or convenience, this is the only place I'll go if I truly want an excellent cup of coffee, roasted and brewed under one roof. Random tidbits of information for newbies: ---This is not the place to go if you need a speedy cup of coffee during your three-and-a-half-minute window before work. The beans for every cup of coffee are ground and drip brewed as you order, so you'll have to allow yourself a few minutes of anticipation. I would not recommend large groups of people either, as I believe there are only 4-5 brewing stations that can be used simultaneously. ---Dark roasts are not served here, just light to medium. ---Fun fact: Darker roasts actually contain less caffeine than lighter roasts - not that you should interrupt your drinking pleasure with those kinds of thoughts... ---Cartel sells their own freshly roasted beans. It's pricey (somewhere around $15-20 for 3/4 lb), but you get what you pay for! ---Some eyebrows may be raised if you try to fluff up their drinks too much (fortunately the coffee is fantastic without the aid of double-shot-mocha-sugar-syrup potions). ---Cappuccinos will be enjoyed in house, in their proper glasses. They will not be put in "to-go" cups. ---Yes, there is free wi-fi for paying customers. ---They usually, though not always, have some yummy pastries...if you need something more substantial, please see below: ---Right across the parking lot is a great mom-and-pop pizza place called Otto's. Convenient for a limited lunch break! Also next to Buffalo Clothing Exchange, if want to make a day out of it... Why only four stars, you ask? The general ambience of the place is a little too industrial for my taste, and in the past there have been some less than pleasant baristas. I'm happy to report, however, that in my last few visits I was served by wonderful people that were kind and helpful. Keep it up, Cartel! read more

A hot spot for the local hipster community. Coffee is delicious, yes! But staff is not very nice, sometimes they are pretty rude and pretentious. it is very cold due to poor control of A/C temperature, it is generally dark-no windows and dark walls. And the art exhibit there... well, not my style at all. But still, if you are looking for a nice and local coffeeshop in downtown Tempe, this is the only decent option. read more

I come here 3-4 times a week to work and procrastinate behind my computer. I have made a few friends who also do the same. The coffee's and latte's are excellent. Plus, there is an acceptable tea selection for being a coffee house. I like seeing the roaster and hearing it. The atmosphere is industrial made by music which varies depending on who is working at the time, and the bare floor and unfinished ceiling. The steel fixtures finish off the interior whose walls are decorated with work by local artists. There is even more to come from the Tempe location as it is opening a second side that will act as a bar. Hooray! read more

Some of the nicest coffee to match some of the nicest atmosphere I've experienced at a shop like this. The experience is only amplified by the friendly folk they employ. read more

While I love the atmosphere and coffee here, the baristas could give two shits of a flying fuck about throughput. Despite my usual order of black coffee being easy and pretentious - right up their alley - I still manage to wait 10 minutes for service. I would expect nothing less from an establishment of this tier. 10/10 read more

Great place for coffee but the microbrews are really great too!! Excellent atmosphere. Friendly and helpful staff.

Found this place while looking for a local coffee spot and it did not disappoint!! Delicious coffee that they roast on site so the place smells great. They also brew their own beer and its amazing. The workers are all passionate and you can tell they love what they do. The coffee is great without cream or sugar so try it out! And the atmosphere is chill--you can bring your dog!! Highly recommend stopping by. read more

Cartel Roasting - A flight of their beers - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Good espresso/coffee, but not for the price. I do hold it against them that they don't recycle.

This place is AMAZING! Megan was so delightful to work with that I can't wait to go back and hang out there again. Definitely a must visit!

Best coffee in Phoenix. Period. Likely the the best in Arizona, and perhaps one of the best in the US. Lofty claims, yes, but in all my travels I've found very few places that serve coffee on this level. Cheers! read more

Love this this place the drinks are kinda pricy for the size but overall the dirty chai is the best !

An awesome places for real coffee. They have a great selection. Loved the homemade poptart. Cool and funky atmosphere.

I was excited tonight to try this coffee shop that I have heard great things about but I was greatly disappointed tonight. The staff was very rude and unwelcoming and their drinks are definitely not my favorite. I had a simple tea and also tried a iced mocha, both were interesting to say the least. I am a huge fan of hidden gems and privately owned companies that stay away from the corporate model but their customer service is absolutely awful! With so many other choices near by I definitely will not be back. read more

Coffee pretty good- not giving it 5 stars as the lack of outlets was kind of annoying and the chairs not so comfortable- a studenty hang out and not that clean . Friendly enough though read more

By far the best coffee I've ever had!! I'm usually the type that has more sugar than coffee. When I went I had the cold brew, black. A M A Z I N G! LIFE CHANGING! If I could, I'd have this daily, but I'm not local so I'll just have to stop in whenever I can read more

The coffee is prime here. I always get a Soya Dirty Chai Tea Latte and they're always super quick and friendly. Their homemade goodies are delicious and the ambiance of the place is supreme. Good chill music, you can enjoy the sounds of coffee beans being roasted aside you, and they have their cute Cartel Brewery next-door. read more

This place is the reel deal. Espresso + Horchata = tearing through 16 pages of the latest draft of my screenplay. I dig this place. A lot. Best coffee-shop in AZ. read more

Best iced coffee I've EVER had hand's down!! Cartel is the hidden culinary coffee gem in the Phoenix area. Better latte than Lux and cheaper! (though both do latte art) The owner is very friendly, no one was rude to me as some earlier reviews state. Perhaps they were rude because people simply made poor choices. Remember, this is culinary coffee, so they decide what is good, not you. The shot was great, great extraction, I was very surprised when the owner told me that it was not a blend, but a burbon from Brazil. This place is quality in the cup, knowledgeable baristas, bigger than it looks from the outside. Freshly roasted beans available for purchase, along with a selection of chemez, burr grinders, and other equipment. If I find anything else in Phoenix to match or beat it, I will be amazed. Oh, and they have a CLOVER :) read more

I was just recently introduced to Cartel and I am seriously hooked! The soy chai is the BEST EVER. The atmosphere and employee's are very welcoming and always friendly...cant wait to go back! read more

Best espresso and cappuccino I've had in the Phoenix area, so far. And the last barista that served me poured kick-butt latte art. (I should have taken pictures.) I've visited maybe half of the independently owned coffee bars that I know about in the Phoenix area. I don't like the drinks at most of them. I am a bit of a coffee snob, because I've had excellent coffee, and my palate now expects really good things. I've been to Cartel Coffee Lab a few times now, and I've been very satisfied after each visit. I haven't yet tried their drip or press brewed coffee, because I usually feel bad asking the busy barista to get out from behind the espresso machine and make it for me. A couple of things irked me. The place gets a bit smoky when they roast, which smells good, but is kind of annoying, too. I didn't really dig all of the campers hanging out, taking up seats, and not drinking anything. If I'm going to sit in a cafe, I'm going to order something. And if I keep sitting there long after I've finished what I ordered, I'll order something more. The space I'm occupying is costing someone a pretty penny, so I feel I should pay to use it. Why only three stars? Well, because of the things that irked me, and because I've had better espresso, though the espresso at Cartel Coffee Lab is very good, and I've yet to have better espresso in the Phoenix area. All in all, it's awesome that someone in the Phoenix area gets coffee. read more

I gave it four stars because I would like to hear the Rolling Stones played more often. I think I heard wild horses once but I could have been dreaming. If cartel was a band I think they would be the Rolling Stones. Quality never waivers, and like Mick and Keith, Cartel coffee lab is immune to death. Give me a little drink from your loving cup should be their tagline. If people rated this based on the coffee solely there would be only 5 star ratings... you over sensitive people read more