The coffee is very good, and made well. Plus a star for this. However, I'm very upset about something that happened. I have a strict dietetic requirement with sugar content and asked the nice girl at the register if the alternative milks are " unsweetened" in which she informed me they are not. I asked to see the sugar content on the container so I can evaluate myself, and the barista (wearing a hood over her head) turns and glares at me, and the (nice) girl at the counter shows me the coconut milk (which was very high in sugar) so I asked to see the Almond (which was much less) and I saw the barista actually shaking her head. First off, if you don't understand that sugar can greatly affect peoples health, blood sugar, if they have diabetes, are on keto, watch their sugars you shouldn't be working at a coffee place. But also, to actually turn to stare me down because I ask is awful, and very rude. I wasn't sure that's what I was seeing until I noticed her shaking her head when I asked to see the almond milk (which I was glad I did, as it gave me a better indication of the sugar content) and then I realized it was exactly what I thought. Not sure I will ever come back, we were celebrating a birthday and having a great morning until this. read more

Really great coffee, but not the best customer service. I got the double iced caramel latte with oat milk and it was delicious, highly recommend. That being said, we got there at 11:01 and when we tried to order a breakfast sandwich, the barista told us "it's 11:01 and we stop selling those at 11:00, you're one minute late", and actually would not sell it to us. I understand there is a time for a reason but putting customers needs should be the first priority. read more

Coffee Cartel - Iced caramel latte with Oat milk, outdoor seating! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Terrible coffee. Horrific aesthetic. It looks like the furniture section of a goodwill thrift store. Such a shame given it's location.

Love this place and their coffee. All the baristas are so nice and easy to talk to. Miss hanging out there with friends but love the precautions they've been doing through these hard times! Also love the bagel and lox sandwich! Great vibe, great food, great coffee, great people, what else does one need? read more

Coffee Cartel - Umm...Yes is such a weird but good drink. Truly unique and I love it (got it 3 times this week) (The drink is called the "umm...yes") - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Most "open" open mic I've ever been to! Acts vary from erotic sonic fan fiction to improvised poetry battles to live music! My dear son Jacob loved the atmosphere and all the neat knick knacks detailing the walls! I recommend this place to everyone I know who has an interest in 3rd wave coffee shops and would extend that recommendation to you read more

If you are looking for a coffee shop that has fresh coffee and a comfy place to work or relax then look no further than this place. They have several choices and unique blends of coffee. If you are planing on staying they have an abundant amount of couches and tables to work or socialize. I highly recommend this spot! read more

Coffee Cartel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

my favorite go-to study spot in redondo! i've been coming here since i was a little girl and it's so nostalgic to come. i'm happy the cafe has maintained its originality and charm throughout the years! read more

I guess if you're a grungy teen you might love this place. I know when I was in high school decades ago I came here a few times but "Yesterdays" was so much better on so many levels. Recently, I have come a few times in hopes to support non-chain coffee spots. Service: The staff seems pleasant enough. In all honesty, it's hard to see happy people anywhere these days. Coffee quality: The coffee is subpar. I like the espresso better. And it's expensive just like any other place. Again, everything these days has gone up in cost. Environment: What has made my decision not to go anymore is... it's always filthy. Who wants to look at a dirty (+hairy) floor and tabletop while sipping on a $6 latte and especially eating a snack? Absolutely disgusting. Also, it's dusty everywhere and some furniture is falling apart. The eclectic decor is old, worn, and just looks like it came from a thrift store reject pile or the trash. A few pieces might be "cool" if displayed better. I loved the 80s alternative music they played though. And it's not blearing which is very nice. Another reason I stopped going: When a customer asked if they had a recycling spot the owner said the city separates the trash. Straight up lie. Actually, as of Jan 2022, all residential and businesses in the city and surrounding cities are to separate recycling AND food stuff from regular trash. Why would the owner try ling to a customer knowing a majority of the customers probably live here? Regardless, you lie... you lose respect and my business. read more

Always a pleasure. When I'm not concerned with calories nor sugar, my favorite is their Clovamochaccino with whip cream. read more

Coffee Cartel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Far my fave coffee place. I missed the old pre Covid days where you can sit inside play games and read books. I always order their Lavender Latte. Taste really relaxing, not too sweet, and it has aperfect shaped heart latte art. Thanks barista for pouring your heart in making my drink. You made my day today. read more

Coffee Cartel - Lavender Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Such a great experience! Alysa was the barista there and was super helpful and kind. Coming back for sure!!!!

Ordered the iced caramel latte and iced caramel cappuccino. Both of them could definitely use more caramel. But cute place and love all the books. read more

Great neighborhood café, good for working and just having a place to read or write. Funny, funky decor and the coffee is great. Parking is kind of a hassle but not terrible. read more

Maybe more like 2.5 stars I used to love coming here. It's been here forever and remains very old school, with all of the books and thrifted furniture. It's a favorite of my teenager as well. And yes, the later hours are a huge plus. I personally have always preferred supporting independent coffee houses over the chains. We came in a while back and I was kind of put off by various signage, but I let it go since I was getting stuff to go anyway. Recently we visited again with friends, and the signs were still up, whatever, we were going to sit outside anyway. We ordered the pandan iced coffees shown on the specials board. Should've got the Thai, which we've had and are good. There was a picture next to the board and the color looked a bit off, but I figured it was just poor quality. I could not have imagined that we'd be served something that looked like toxic sludge - seriously, it was coffee and the milk or syrup or whatever on the bottom was neon green. It tasted as disgusting as it looked. And it was much, much brighter than the picture displayed. When you took a sip and everything sort of mixed together, it looked even more unappealing, if that's possible. I waited in a line that went out the door to return the coffees and once I got to the front was told I needed to wait some more. Finally I was granted an audience and able to explain that we did not expect the coffees to look like this and they tasted bad, besides - I was trying to be discreet and not cause a scene when the place was full. The guy (who wasn't terribly friendly the first go-round) seemed annoyed, but did get my teen a different drink. However money was still lost/wasted and I got nothing, other than a literal bad taste left in my mouth. I'm super unhappy about that and will be reticent to return as a result. read more

Awesome coffee shop in an awesome location (near the beach!). I've known about this place for a little over 10 years, and they haven't changed much at all (a VERY good thing). There are tons of books inside you can read, and the only "modern" change is the addition of WiFi for the modern age coffee shop goer. The coffee is great, and they have served boba (or bubble tea, if that's your vernacular) the entire time I've known about Coffee Cartel. The boba is soft and has always been a go-to at Coffee Cartel. Not sure if they still do it, but they used to have live music in the evening and other events. Wouldn't surprise me if they still did! read more

I love this place! It's unique and visually interesting. If you like hanging out in coffee shops for hrs on your ph/ laptop, or chatting w friends, this is the best spot in Redondo! Prior to Covid they had weekly open mike nite poetry nites, w some folk music. Had a fun community vibe. Lots of young ppl (18-22), I'm def not, but always felt welcome. Wish they'd bring back. Lets all ask them to. Bring stuff back already! read more

Lavender latte is my favorite drink to get here! 10/10 recommend. The vibe is also great and the staff are very friendly!

I love this coffee shop! They have exceptional coffee and really nice staff! Plus parking .

Coffee Cartel was literally the first coffee house to open in Redondo Beach. Long before even Starbucks arrived, Coffee Cartel was here. Originally, Coffee Cartel focused on serving the various coffee orientated drinks with just a few snacks on the side. As time went on, however, Coffee Cartel expanded and they begin to serve food items such as sandwiches and other things, as well. In terms of atmosphere, Coffee Cartel has a very coffeehouse sort of vibe. Originally, they had numerous bookshelves where they offered a lot of reading material. That era of coffeehouse orientated atmosphere has seemingly passed us by, however. But, their interior is still a friendly and open space with plenty of room to sit back enjoy your coffee look at your phone, your computer, or talk to your friends. They also have plenty of outdoor seating, so weather permitting, you can enjoy your your coffee and/or your conversation outside. In terms of location, Coffee Cartel has a nice corner space flanked by a parking lot. It is easy to get to as it is right off of Catalina Ave. which is a main thorough fare that takes you through the Riviera Village. In terms of parking there is plenty of street parking or in the large public lot about a block away from Coffee Cartel. Overall, it's not a bad place to stop in and get your caffeine fix on and maybe hang out with your friends. read more

Great environment and staff was super friendly. I got a drink called Night Owl and it was delicious!

Great coffee shop with a super interesting aesthetic! Amazing customer service, love a good friendly staff with my coffee in the morning! Highly recommend if in the area. read more

I wish that my declining confidence and joy in Coffee Cartel was a weak and isolated, foreign instinct. I've been feeling for quite some time, though, that they have been inconsistent in quality - relative to product and service. I say this as a customer of over 20 years. I started coming to Coffee Cartel ("CC") while I was still a student at Peninsula HS. Then, it offered a unique product, and stood as the social epicenter of coffee culture in this area of south Redondo Beach. These days, CC has struggled to keep pace. In this new, competitive milieu, we see CC struggling in just about every way except for providing a nice physical space for customers and non-customers alike. It's truly the only admirable aspect remaining. Though one can still come by and enjoy the company of others, the staff is rude and won't be found in any kind of inviting orientation. Don't ask if you can use the bathroom, or for WiFi access, unless you're prepared to show proof that you're a customer. They do not treat customers in a respectful manner. There's nothing passionate about the menu, which appears unchanged and free of inspiration.. they see a local place that offers something they don't? Maybe they learn to make and sell it, but it won't mean that they'll necessarily make it well. Yes, they offer a multitude of drinks here.. however, I couldn't tell you how a latte is here, what they're best at, what I like to get when it rains, etc. The last time I bought a latte here I left feeling as though I had wasted my money.. and my barista didn't know how to properly steam milk.. Yes, there are a lot of tangible differences between the Coffee Cartel of 2000 and the one we find today.. and fortunately for us, there are also vast differences in the general availability and popularity of high-quality coffee. Looking at our local landscape currently, the South Bay is experiencing that same gentrification that many neighborhoods are actively complaining about.. in the form of third-wave coffee. I would recommend the Boy and the Bear on PCH. Also, Two Guns further down in Manhattan Beach. I can no longer recommend Coffee Cartel - there are options. read more

I love the vibe. Its very chill and not too loud. Ordered the double shot cappuccino with Almond Milk and I can't complain! I will def make this my number one place to work in the south-bay. read more

Coffee Cartel - Sitting/Work area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

By far the best coffee in Los Angeles Shhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone No please tell everyone These guys have been here all the way through giving me my daily coffee fix Putting up with my extremely specific requests I'm sure they are smiling behind their masks Thank you guys! I pray for you that I have to wait in a long line soon read more

Like some other reviews have stated, this place I think is on its way down. A tip for the older guy behind the counter - saying "we are not the kind of shop that carries heavy cream" is bad customer service and pretty much a red/yellow flag on quality. I guess you guys like your whip cream out of an aerosol can, which is generally more expensive and worse in quality. I'm no longer a member of the SCAA but the heavy cream thing in my experience is a bell-weather for a poorly run shop. My 2 Cents: I guess if you are into things which aren't completely bad but not really good I think this might be the place for you. 1 Star - (free space like the center Bingo Square) 1 Star - Good location lots of natural light I see why people would hang out here to read a book 0 Star - Fairly weak coffee - it's almost like drinking tea. 0 Star - Dirty/messy environment behind and in front of the counter. I would NEVER ORDER FOOD from a place that looks as dirty/disorganized as your shop 0 Star - Poor customer service. read more

Just started coming here and wish I started a long time ago. The French roast has pulled me back in again and again. I drink tons of coffee and finally found my favorite. Super fast WiFi and a very chill spot. I hope the big coffee shops don't put it out of business. The world needs more like this. So many awesome big windows and people coming and going. Thanks coffee cartel please don't go anywhere! read more

Best coffee shop in the South Bay (: 1. The atmosphere is fun 2. "A good cup of coffee is cheaper than Prozac" (; 3. Most of the time when I come Alex does the coffee wizard thing and is awesome. Yay for small biz read more

Long waits for no reason; too loud of music for a coffehouse. Almost like they think they're a club. Overpriced, bad interior design and paintings on wall and on inside of bathroom are a little too je ne sais pas read more

Great Jazz & Expresso. If your a night person & coffee lover, I highly recommend the Depth Charge: Med French Roast w/ 3 shots of Expresso! #ReadyForMyPoetrySlam read more

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Very knowledgeable barista and a cool place to hang out! I ordered my flagship beverage, a Cubano. First you need a quality espresso machine. (That leaves out ALL Starbucks.) Your barista will add 1 raw sugar to the espresso in the portable filter, and voila, a kingly drink that is equal parts bitter, coffee, sweet crema, and intense. They were not familiar with it at Cartel, but impressively, the barista improvised by adding the sugar in the middle of the espresso so as not to scratch the tamper. Impressive indeed! A barista who can make a new drink and improvise to show respect for the tools of his trade. read more

New Years Eve 2022. My husband, myself and my little boy were sitting inside the shop drinking our coffee. Suddenly owner/barista starts blasting loud music called "closing time". The volume was so loud I couldn't hear anyone around me. Clearly they were kicking people out, but how about verbally communicating it to people? Lol. It was pathetic. Simply taking my business to Hi-Fi across the street. It was really rude. Not a good way to treat people. read more

Nah. Rude cashier. Came in after a few years off. Was so excited to reunite with cafe cartel but then this lady at the cashier register kept rushing me by saying "Anything else? Anything else? And then I politely asked her - are you in a rush? She said that she needs to pick up something at the door. Ok, whatever. I didn't leave tips, she smirked in response... seriously read more

What a charming coffee house. I love that they have used books on the shelves. (It's the geek in me.) I even purchased a book for just $2. My sweetie also purchased a book for $1. In a sea of Starbucks and other corporate coffee houses, the books set Coffee Cartel apart from them but, they really need to step up their service which I will touch on in a moment. The decor is very unique. They have a medieval knight, old movie posters on the wall, and graffiti art on the restroom walls. It is a cozy place as there are plenty of couches and pillows to plop yourself on and relax. As for work, there are several tables and chairs indoors. On a nice day, there is the outdoor patio. I may seem to recall a smoking section of the patio? To me, this unique coffee house had the potential to be a 4 or 5 star but, the baristas seemed more interested in socializing with one another. This was on a Saturday afternoon. I had an iced coffee with a zen shot and the taste was fine. Perhaps, I may return and try another drink that is popular among the tips or reviews. My sweetie enjoyed his iced coffee drink but, our tummies seemed a little queesy later. He also had the zen shot. Not sure exactly as to what the cause of that was. Plenty of street parking on Catalina Ave. Just remember your change for the meter. We'd love to see this place thrive and continue to do well in the South Bay. Adjustments needed in the areas of customer service and it's all good. read more

Not bad at all. There's tons of words to describe the place...like strange, odd, weird, eclectic, funky, interesting, creepy, nostalgic, peculiar...but bad or unworthy are not proper adjectives. The line was a bit long on a Sunday around 11am. But it was mitigated quickly. You get to whittle the time away waiting for coffee by looking at weird stuff on the walls, and a mish-mash of odds and ends and curiously placed "art" pieces. Like a couple antique pieced-together "robots," or a life-sized poster of Boba Fett. Yeah, strange stuff like that. The almond milk latte I got was pretty good...nothing too special, but was made to my liking. There's tons of old couches and seating areas to work, gather, or just take a load off. If you enter by the seating area entrance note that that side of the patio allows smoking (?!?) I didn't know that even allowed anymore in CA, but if you want to avoid smoke, choose the coffee bar door entrance. The people working there are nice, answer questions, and seem to have their collective shit together. No real complaints...in, ordered, out with coffee, and on to the rest of my day. I'll be back. read more

Super laid back cafe in the Riviera Village part of Redondo Beach. The whole place is sorta random. I used to come here a lot to study since it's pretty quiet if it isn't a live music night. They also open later than most cafes around the area, and along with free wi-fi, it's nice a spot. There are plenty of couches if you are just there to relax and chill with friends, and also some tables if you are a studious type. You get all sorts of crowd here: students, hippies, musicians, young professionals, surfers, couples. Favorite time to visit Coffee Cartel? On a warm summer afternoon with a nice breeze blowing and just lay on the couches to relax.... zZz. As for the drinks, they're not bad. I don't think they go crazy like many of the modern cafes about the type of beans and the method. My default on is usually the iced teas since it's refreshing. Recently just tried the raspberry iced tea and I like the strong tea flavor and with enough flavoring to differentiate itself. There's also boba drinks here! Although I never did try it, since I sorta have my doubts about a coffee place serving boba :P Will try it one day though! Parking is on the street and keep an eye on your meters. RB parking enforcement is strict. read more

I ordered a iced caramel latte and between taking orders and giving other customers means looks she took my order. I never drink hot drinks so ordering it iced is automatic to me. The barista was dirty blonde and seemed to be in high school or college. She made my drink hot and so I corrected her, she made it seem like I disrespected her family. She poured the hot drink into some ice making my drink luke warm. She was very blunt with customers and it was obvious she was taking her bad day on everybody else. I was having an amazing morning until I came here, and while it is obvious they are understaffed their workers need to get their attitudes under control if they expect their customers to give respect back read more

Nice study spot and the lavender latte is a must! Staff is so friendly and welcoming too.

The Pros: Great location in Redondo Beach, affordable coffee, free wifi, plenty of seating, and kid-friendly The Cons: The coffee is mediocre and the environment is just meh, with mismatched chairs and tables, worn-down sofas, and bookshelves filled with tattered old books. Overall, the reasonably priced coffee makes this place an OK choice for a cup of joe, but there are better options in Redondo for a quality coffee experience read more

This is a world apart from Starbucks; id say that it's the vibe Starbucks used to have many years ago. I love the laid back vibe and excellent coffee. read more

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Laid back and very casual place with second hand looking couches. Reminds me of those dive coffee houses way back in college. My latte was strong and bitter, but overall, not bad. Used paperback books line the shelves, and my main reason for coming here is to see my friends' jazz band, N'fusion, play the 3rd Wednesday each month. This place has a nice comfy vibe. I come here to hang, not to scrutinize the coffee drinks. read more