The aesthetic of this place is wonderful and the menu is extensive, but the service is subpar. Understandably, the bathroom requires a key but when the barista was asked if said key could be used, they responded with "all keys are in use" turning away quickly to end the conversation. Standing there after five minutes someone walked by with a key to open the bathroom doors, which made me feel ignored by the baristas in this cafe. Though this was likely the fault of a single person it still was frustrating. The prior experience caused a rating of three stars, but since both the brewing urns for coffee were blinking (meaning these coffees were cold) I will have to bring it down to two stars. This place can improve, but a bad initial experience nonetheless. read more

This place has really good vibes. I love the staff, the owner and the smoothies. I haven't tried any of the food but I will be back. It's super low key and chill. read more

I really like the location, the atmosphere, and the open hours of this cafe. It would probably be the one of few cafes open late in this neighborhood. Coffee/tea is not great but good enough! read more

So Sad. As a stressed out, poor college student, this place used to be my little refuge. they used to have fair prices and some of the best espresso I have ever had this side of the pond but unfortunately, things have changed in there for the worse IMO. I understand that we are in the middle of a crashing economy but I mean come on, 6 bucks for a dirty chai?! They used to offer student, military, and resident discounts, but they took that away. They charge 75 cents for soy or other dairy extra syrups or espresso shots. Everything in the menu has gone up significantly in price. They also started a Better Earth lunch "special". I tried it and was given a ridiculously minute amount of food. 3-4 pieces of tofu and about 10 leafs of baby spinach and a small cup of soup. I felt even more hungry after eating that and was disappointed I spent 12 bucks for my lunch (I bought a soy mocha as well). Lastly, and most importantly I feel that the flavor of their espresso has changed. I am not sure if they have changed their coffee, roasting technique, or if it is the new baristas there or what but for the past 4 months and the 6 times I have gone in there, their espresso drinks have not had that earthy taste I have come to associate with this place. The good.. is that they still (!) have their punch cards and do double punches on Monday (but who knows how long that will last with the trend that has been happening there). They also have good baked goods/treats and offer vegan options as well. Their selection of herbal loose leaf tea is also commendable as well as their salads. They have always had AWESOME baristas that are always so sweet and try to make you feel a lil better about your day. It is unfortunate that this local business has turned the way it has. Steep prices, and the loss of their unique flavor has definitely taken them off my go-to coffee joint. I feel like I am getting the shaft from this "fair" trade, so I venture a little further down for a dirty chai that is homemade, is 2 bucks cheaper, and I am not charged for my milk options & am offered a free 2nd shot of espresso everytime! I still love you FTC, your intentions are good, you have just done me wrong in so many ways *sigh* : / read more

This is literally one of my all time favorite places...I would live here if they'd let me! I come here every Saturday morning around 7am for a dirty chai latte (made with almond milk) and a gluten-free chocolate chip peanut butter or vegan breakfast cookie. They make the best coffee AND serve it with a smile! The lounge-y, earthy, urban feel and decor make for such an inspiring and calming atmosphere, that it has become my new sanctuary. I love to just chill and sip my latte while reading, writing, people-watching or having a conversation with the many intriguing folk that stop in. A lot of writers meet up here and you'll frequently come across artists, photographers and musicians, as well. They have tons of flyers and publications promoting local events and businesses: art shows, theater, LGBT community events, homeopathic/alternative medicine, live music, writing workshops, etc... an artsy hipster haven! I cannot say enough great things about this place...absolutely LOVE it! read more

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Really neat place, it has a nice outdoor area and great indoor seating. Great coffee and good food.

Fabulous! We are staying at FoundRE hotel and this is super close and convenient. Was quiet on a Saturday morning. Light breakfast food was very affordable! And the stuffed croissants... wow! I had the turkey cheddar and it was AMAZING! read more

Wow! I am a faithful, 2 shots over ice, gal. It's pretty consistent everywhere. Some roasts are better than others of course. Fair Trade started my day in a great note with a smooth roast and a generous dose over ice. I was appreciative of the cup and moved to buy breakfast for a stranger in the spirit of paying generosity forward. Thank you Fair Trade Café! The cafe is comfy, welcoming and so convenient for walkers, light rail riders and even drivers. My croissant was delectable and made to order. Go, get a satisfying cup and feel good at Fair Trade. read more

Pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. Tasty treats and delicious coffee! right by the light rail! The coffee menu is pretty basic so don't come here looking for a complicated frappacino type of thing, but they have a bunch of milk alternatives! read more

Fair Trade Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Had coffee yesterday and all in all, not bad at all. I wasn't too into the environment of the coffee house, felt kind of like an episode of Friends. Not a bad thing, but I never liked Friends. The roast was pretty darn good. Its not perfect, but it was definitely NOT bad and quite frankly, Rome wasn't built in a day. Will be floating by more often :) read more

Excellent coffee, food is the right price for what you get, and the staff are always friendly and know what they're doing. Service is quick and you can stay a while in their chill environment and work or chat, or you can take your stuff to go, no judgement or questions asked. LOVE IT! read more

Great place, great service, great coffee, great view and something a lot of coffee shops have forgotten... The lost are of comfortable seating! My only qualm is that... $4 for an iced coffee? Not some frappe-mocha-latte-domo-arigatou, but just a basic iced coffee... It's good, but I think just the basic iced coffee could be slightly cheaper. read more

Wonderful place to study or work, great prices, great coffee and food, comfortable chairs, and very friendly staff!

As mentioned in the other negative reviews here, this issue isn't the food or the coffee. It is the service. The hard part about the service at Fair Trade is that they are generally helpful and nice. Until they're not. An example: my fiancée and I were waiting for the light rail and decided to run across the street for a coffee and tea. The barista informed my fiancée that it would be 5 minutes for the tea to brew and as our train wasn't coming for 11 minutes later we said that wouldn't be a problem. 6 minutes in, the tea was just being started. We asked if that was our tea that she was starting just then and it was. We told her we couldn't wait another 5 minutes and she said she could just steep it for 2, it just wouldn't be as good. No offer of our money back or asking if we want something else, or even an apology. Just "Enjoy this slightly worse tea." I know this doesn't sound like that bad of a situation, but it is 100% indicative of their service. When everything is fine it's fine. But when things aren't they're disrespectful and unhelpful. (There is a much better example of this but it is already mentioned in another review) read more

My review is not so much about Fair Trade, but more about the community dinner held at the downtown location on Sunday nights. I'd had delicious coffee and wonderful service at the Roosevelt location, but didn't even know about the other one, despite living down the street. One Sunday night I just wanted to get out of my apartment and I started walking. My wanderings eventually led me to Civic Space Park, where I'd watched Christmas movies and people before. I smelled something wonderful, saw the sign for Fair Trade and took the steps down to the entrance. When I walked through the door, I was greeted by a woman (Ingrid) that informed me that the cafe was closed but that they were just about ready to have community dinner. Seriously, I just started crying. I was feeling very alone downtown since all of my friends and family live in the suburbs, and finding this wonderful thing was incredible. Ingrid and her husband Daniel put out a great spread every Sunday around 6-6:30. The food is all vegan/vegetarian and delicious. You pay if you can but if you can't, you're still welcome to enjoy dinner. Daniel and Ingrid seem to attract forward-thinking artistic types so the conversation is always stimulating and wonderful. I generally try to stay and clean up afterward, especially if it happens to be a night when I've thrown less than a good amount of money into the pot. Even this is enjoyable because the sense of community is there. I cannot recommend this highly enough, especially if you happen to be a displaced former suburbanite that is looking for a great downtown community! read more

Great coffee, great service. friendly staff, very cozy, free internet! Good place to hold meetings.

I love Fair Trade. That about sums it up. However, if I wrote this review a year ago, which I did but never posted, I would have given them 5 stars. I still love them though. It is located a stone's throw away from where I live and I can often be found there. I actually haven't sampled the coffee, I don't drink the stuff, but my husband enjoys it. I do love the iced tea, hot chocolate, and hot teas. The sandwiches are great and the baked goods are amazing, save the bagels. (They are from Chompie's) I love the filled croissants. In recent months, their quiches had begun to get really salty and they took them off the menu and replaced them with frittatas, which look exactly like the quiches. I actually asked where the egg was when I ordered my first one. Their Sunday brunch is great (love the chili cheese egg puff or whatever its called and the sweet potatoes mixed in with the side of potatoes is great!) when I don't feel like going out to a sit down brunch and just want to run and get something quickly, they are the only place in this neighborhood that provides that on a Sunday morning...there are no bagel shops or anything. What I like most about Fair Trade is that if you are there to do work you can literally sit there all day and be able to have lunch, unlike at other coffee shops where the food sampling is limited to various baked goods. With the soups, salads, and sandwiches Fair Trade really functions more as a cafe. Service is always friendly; however, lately it hasn't been as on point as it once was. I wonder if they sent the more experience people to the new location and have all the newbies at this location. The rotating art is fun and a great resource for local artists to get their work out there. The new furniture they have put in is a little out of place and does make it feel overly cramped and hot at times though. They participate in First Fridays and host poetry slams and sushi nights. They let me sit on the patio with my dog and bring her water and dog treats. Free wifi, free garage parking...does it get better? read more

I have tried this place a couple of times because it is conveniently located but I wont be going back. The first time I went there were 4 people in line ahead of me and it took 15 minutes to get my coffee. The second time I went I ordered a vanilla latte but they forgot to add the flavor shot. The coffee was not good enough to make up for the bad service. read more

I went here one too many times. In my opinion, the prices were much higher than the quality!

I'm a regular customer of Fair Trade and I usually have nothing but good to say about it. Just ten minutes ago, though, I stood at te counter for about five minutes watching one employee talk on her phone. When the second employee came out from the kitchen she returned to a plate of food. I have no idea what impression they think that produces in customers, but I left without being served and I wonder if I should ever return. I have no interest in patronizing a coffee shop that doesn't have a sense of customer service. I will think very hard about going back, which is too bad considering the many days I've spent there. read more

Cute, hipster place. In a nice area downtown, right across the street from my job. Pricey for the coffee sizes.

I eventually stopped going here: the service became extremely slow, and the quality of coffee declined. Found some better options in the neighbourhood too. read more

Fair Trade, I wanted to love you. I really did. I came back even after I paid almost $5 (including student discount) for my soy vanilla latte only to leave because it was too pack to find a comfortable seat. The downtown location brought me back and this time I was lucky to find a seat right next to the front door where I could see the Roosevelt portion of the light rail. Definitely the downtown feel. I ordered a soy latte and I almost asked for more espresso with my soy because it tasted more like coffee flavored milk than anything else. After a few hours of studying I ordered a turkey sandwich which wasn't too bad but couldn't make up for the lack of caffeine in my system. Sorry, fair trade but I tried. Until we meet again. read more

This review is based on 50+ visits to Fair Trade. Pro: It's a central meet up spot on Roosevelt Row. Lots of plugs, and non-distracting music. There are some larger tables, where groups love to convene. Cons: Anything from the kitchen is over-priced, disappointing, and of such varying quality and portion. As a long-time supporter of downtown and a frequent patron of Fair Trade, I just need to be honest here. This is a frustrating reality. The veggie hummus plate regularly includes celery that has starting to become transparent (a clear sign that it should not be served to anyone). The cucumber is slimy (clearly not freshly cut, and starting to spoil). Also, an ice green ice tea and a "tuna melt" will cost you have $10, but there is often so little tuna and cheese that you can only taste the crumbling bread. I am hoping that Fair Trade reads this comment, and starts making half-decent quality food. read more

I'm not really fan of the Fair Trade system. I want to like it since it's a market approach, but from an economics perspective, it actually harms growers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade#Criticism That said, I think coffee picked by child slave labor tastes best. The salt from their tears imparts that certain... je ne sais quios. Not a bad coffee place. The baristas are cool. especially Geraldine who is also dangerous with a hula hoop, so better hope she is baristaing and not hula hooping, or you gonna git straight hooped, sucka. The coffee is tasty, they usually have a decent selection of tea, and their baked goods are fresh. There is plenty of parking in the attached covered lot, and there's outdoor seating in both the front and back. The indoor seating is ample and comfortable. The tables and bathrooms are clean. It's downtown, and it's not Starbucks - IE the coffee is good and not burnt. I'm a fan! read more

I like this place. There's nothing particularly outstanding about it. I'd rate any dimension "fine." But, somehow, all together, it works. Homey and relaxed feel to it. read more

Love. Love. Fair Trade Cafe. I am here every Sunday for a writing group and have been for years, so I do know this location quite well. First, the staff is top-notch. The know us, they welcome us, and it is truly our Sunday group's home. My favorites drinks are the almond milk vanilla latte, (my wake-up rock star) as well as the almond coconut tea, (for a relax chill). The smoothies are perfect for summer. (Purple Haze is popular in our group) Don't miss the turkey and cheddar stuffed croissants. I am also partial to their home made egg salad and fresh bagels. Lots of delicious dessert choices. Bottom line, this cafe provides perfectly brewed coffee, fresh food, comfortable seats, and goes far and beyond to make their customers feel welcome. The best of all worlds when looking for a cafe. Kudos. read more

I liked Fair Trade Cafe. The service was with a smile, the coffee was great and they cater to artists and crafters! I was able to leave a stack of flyers to promote my jewelry business which is always a PLUS! I will definately go back soon! read more

I'm a grad student who loves studying in coffee shops, but prefers tea. My favorite brew is the Mighty Leaf Green Tea Tropical. I have searched for months to find a cafe that serves anything even similar...and discovered today that Fair Trade stocks the real stuff. My life in Arizona is now nearly complete. (Now if only the girlfriend would visit from Cali more often) read more

Okay, okay this review was coming. This is my coffee shop. Yeah, I'm that girl, you know, "medium iced coffee with soy?" They've got some new people on staff, but so far they all seem awesome. This is my favorite neighborhood coffee shop. It has everything you could want from a local cafe without the self-righteous hipster attitude. (cough, Cartel, cough). Besides the quality of the drinks and food, the atmosphere is nice. They have free WiFi. What I love most about Fair Trade is supporting the business. I have (newly-formed) friends who work there and love it. The management truly treats its staff great and really wants to cater to the downtown Phoenix community. The prices are good and comparable to any Starbucks, but the coffee is traded ethically and bought for a fair price, which makes me happy. Psst... they also have poetry readings and open-mic nights. The only thing I dislike is that Fair Trade started closing earlier :( I can't go there anymore when I need to pull an all-nighter. Try it and love it. read more

Spinach and feta croissant, orange juice, free wifi with decent pluggage, nice environment, good yet non-intrusive music. Easy parking too! (Hey, this matters to someone from the Bay Area.) read more

Had coffee from this cafe and was very good. A nice bold and well rounded coffee and latte. Also the place is very cute and well decorated. Only thing I would suggest is putting 1 more person on as a barista. Sometimes there are 2 girls there sometimes 1. But other then that great place read more

This place definitely takes advantage of its surroundings, promoting its urban feel. It's easily accessible from the light rail, sits right on the northern edge of downtown, is close to the public market and contributes to growing number of businesses in the area. Its point-of-sale is a bit on the pricey side, but it's a nice place regardless. If I were downtown and wanted coffee, this would be my preferred choice. If I wanted to go out for coffee in any neighborhood, I would likely bypass this shop for Copper Star, Hob Nob's or the Lux. Patrons will notice Fair Trade's odd use of angles, industrial interior and UV-heavy lighting with windows that seem to magnify the sun's brightness. I do like it and would go back again, but in general it isn't my preference. read more

I've got to say, some of the best iced coffee around! I've never been a fan of hot coffee, but I loved iced coffee! The coffee here doesn't have that acidic after taste, and its so smooth! I asked the owner when she was at an event a while back and apparently they cold brew their coffee. Wow does it make a difference! And of course, its fair trade coffee, so it tastes better and there's no guilt drinking it. A win-win for everyone! Prices are fair, ambiance is laid back, and wifi worked great. Can't wait to go back! read more

OK, the coffee appears to be "fair trade," but have you checked out everything else there? Glance in the dumpster when you're leaving and see what you think. read more

Really good coffee. Nice people!! Compfy.

Cute and cozy coffee shop with super friendly staff. You can have your drinks in house (in a mug, glass cup) or to go (typical plastic cup) which is perfect and prevents wasting unnecessary plastic. read more

There are many coffee places to try around the Downtown Phoenix area, and Fair Trade is simply fair. The coffee is good, but not my favorite. I have had brunch hear also, and it wasn't anything amazing. I do like that they have vegan offerings, and the staff have always been friendly. Sadly, its just a-ok in comparison to some of the other coffee shops around. read more

Better than any Starbucks u can get the staff is very friendly and it was located just steps from my hotel which was a plus they also have great ice cream that they sell until 2 in the morning great drunk impulse buy what sold me was the ice cream "samiches" made with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies definitely will be a regular stop on my future trips into town read more

Pretty cool cafe with a mixed vibe. Seems like a lot of the workers & patrons are feminists which is awesome (especially since I'm living in Utah right now with a SERIOUS dearth of feminists among other politically active people!), but on the other hand there is a pretty distinct yuppie feeling to the place - but that is probably due to it's downtown location. The barista's were all very friendly & helpful. They pull good shots of espresso and are pretty attentive to details. Odd detail I noticed and thought was pretty cool: their bathrooms are exceptionally clean, consistently. There is a lot of local (assumption) artwork for sale in the cafe that is quite nice - adds a good feel to it having dresses, sculptures, etc on the walls that is not only pleasant to look at but available to buy. PS - Free wireless. read more