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Drinking coffee from Cartel makes me want to get my own San Franciscan SF-25B Coffee Roaster, in much the same way I wanted my own pottery wheel after seeing the movie Ghost.
It's that good.
I think it's called a lab so that we know they take coffee seriously. I almost never drink coffee black, but theirs was so flavorful with a hint of sweet spice, I went without my normal dousing of half/half. Plus I ate an awful lot of cheese while I was in Arizona.
They brew a fantastic product, and serve it up in an environment that is edgy and artistic without being dirty, overbearing, or pretentious. A terrific feat, that.
I feel compelled to mention that while my boyfriend's fancy Mac suffered serious sluggishness on their wireless signal, my cheap corporate Dell performed beautifully :P
I'm torn between the quality product and the poor service and WiFi.
The coffee is exceptional but the entry fee (getting past the flaming hoops of attitude) to get your coffee is a little high. Now I guess I'm one of the cool kids at times (working for the man - Buring Man), but unless that comes up in conversation, most often I'm not dressed the part in my business casual and just another target for the staff.
Beyond the slow service and attitude, the WiFi is crap. They are riding a signal from a neighbor companies (Wet Paint) router. I wish they'd get their own router and Cox connection! Hell I'd even set it up for them, and when I suggested putting a WiFi tip jar the customers at the bar were all for it!
I like the location and the product but not the service and WiFi - both things that can be fixed.
yes, it was pert near the best damn coffee i ever had. too bad the cup didn't even get filled - i don't appreciate paying $2.75 for a diner-sized cup of coffee that's only two-thirds full. it wasn't THAT good.
no, the baristas weren't too cool to take my order. quite the opposite actually. the guy who helped was awesome and genuine. after finding out it was my first trip, he explained how it all worked and invited me over to watch him make my drink. very cool.
no, they don't technically have free wifi...or any wifi. i called ahead of time and was told they did. sure enough (as another reviewer already noted) they piggyback on Wet Paint's connection. after 10 minutes of messing around, the aforementioned barista helped me get online. however, it sat there for minutes trying to load any page. a bust.
no food.
uber hipsters as well as normal asu kids, hippies, bike geeks, tech geeks, etc.
all in all i would totally come back -- when they get their own damn internet connection. (come on guys, spring the $60 a month to have the second most important thing people come to cafes for)
oh, and when i said i first heard of the place thru yelp, the same barista immediately asked what i took away from all the reviews, and if i had seen the not-so-glowing reviews. i only addressed the clientele notes and quality of coffee accolades, and he went on to say they are very much aware of their yelp presence and take it very seriously. ...and i took that to mean that they care about what customers think, so keep the criticisms coming, because at least one worker cares to address and correct them. and i very much respect that.
Oh, the coffee is just as delicious as always.
But I really don't like the way the quality of service has dipped down here ever since the owners aren't around that much anymore.
Being ignored while figuring out the tip jar, having judgments made about wanting soy creamer in my coffee, being ignored while baristas are between shifts while there are FOUR baristas sitting at the counter watching a line of 10 people form, light bulbs not getting replaced in lamps for months, having other customers made fun of once they are out of earshot, etc.
Oh, and my partner doesn't drink coffee or tea. They asked him what he drank, and he said once in a while he likes Italian soda and was told "Oh you like the high fructose syrup huh?" Excuse me? We just bought 3 drinks from you, tipped you, and you have the audacity to make judgments about someone you have no clue about (that man reads more ingredient labels than the Whole Foods CEO)?!?
I feel terrible having to write this, but several of my friends have noted the service here has been rude, dismissive (I would be exaggerating if I stated that was every experience-I have had nice exchanges, but when I start to dread going into a place b/c of an attitude, that is bad). I even had a barista tell me I should thank the other barista for getting my soy latte right-um, yes I appreciate the effort...that is why I paid you 4 bucks, not including tip.
Regarding slow service, I have been told there will now be bar backs to help out with orders to help pare down the line, which is a great idea.
They stopped doing decaf coffee drinks, leaving me with either the jitters for 2 days if I really want a latte or having to get the Decaf clover (which is delish but not really that special from my own french press), so that is a major bummer for people with high sensitivity to caffeine such as myself.
BUT- I will say their superior product, the care the baristas put into their product, their location are all factors that still get some stars from me and I am willing to come in here again in the future, I just really need a break from tipping a staff that is so uneven.
Looks like its me going to Lux for a while!
God, you really can't beat the soy mocha here (I mean, I like Lux a lot, but Lux is in Phoenix, I am… Read more »
Cartel is a mixed bag for me - their coffee is superb; their service is horrific.
They make a fantastic cappuccino, and have great toddy. Yet I rarely go for coffee alone, and the attitude of the people working there make it so I can only go with "purists".
I'm not talking about people trying to order "carmel macchiatos" or blended drinks, but people ordering things actually on their menu! I've seen customers harassed by employees for ordering a mocha, or wanting to put a pump of sugar in their cappuccino... to the point of never wanting to come back. It almost entirely rules Cartel out as a place I can take a friend or colleague for a relaxing chat.
To me, a good coffee shop is a combination of quality coffee and atmosphere to enjoy it in. Cartel does have tasty coffee, but they have been failing horribly on the rest. I advise against coming here with anyone other than hardcore coffee purists.
They have my heart with their cappuccino (not to mention the guy made a heart on top of it!!). Great decoration and a place to hang around with a good conversation, book and a tasty, aromatic cup of coffee!
It's delish.
If you like coffee, you will like this cafe. Yeah, I said cafe because it is a freaking cafe. I know they call it lab, but it's not. This is not science my friends, this is coffee, you're serving it, you have seats for people, therefore it is a cafe.
The first time I came I was very intimidated by the storefront. It looks like an office in a strip mall. But you walk in and there are *serious* people sitting there with MacBooks and they look like they are judging you when you hesitate at the counter. Don't be a newb.
If you hesitate at all they will eat you for breakfast.
Just kidding. They are nice. If you don't know what to try, order a latte. The beans they use are delicious and they use Clover milk (the absolute BEST milk for coffee, it's true, google it).
Don't be frightened, just walk right in like you've been there a million times. Order your coffee and have a seat on their comfortable yet ergonomically designed chairs. Put your feet up on their old bicycle gear foot rests, and enjoy your cup.
It really is the best coffee in Tempe.
The closest thing to a Berkeley coffee shop found. Makes me feel like I'm back to where my heart belongs :) I love you cartel!
Apparently, I am in the minority with my opinion of this place. While the coffee is good, it shouldn't take 20 minutes to process my order. I don't care if they are personally flying to Columbia right after I order to hand pick the beans right before they make it...20 minutes is unacceptable.
And then when I place my order, I shouldn't be insulted by the guy making it. Yes, I asked for non-fat milk. I didn't ask you to put Ketchup in my drink, I asked for non-fat milk. Don't treat me like I am mentally challenged. I weigh 165lbs, do you really think I order non-fat because I am concerned with my weight? No business should EVER ask a customer what the point of their order is the way this dude asked me.
I want to like this place, I do. The atmosphere and location were great, and the hot tattooed blond sitting at the counter was fun to flirt with (I think she could tell the guy annoyed me). So for this, I will give it another shot. A lot of the people I know rave about this place. Maybe I just hit it on an off day. If I get the same attitude the next time, I might drop trough mid store.
Cartel is a coffee world unto itself for downtown Tempe, which is void of many non-alcoholic places to hang out. Situated in what seems to be a motel from the outside and a garage on the inside, Cartel can satiate your brass tax coffee fix and your espresso lust for reasonable prices.
The coffee is great. Period. They roast the beans themselves, know way too much about coffee and are proud. The espresso, in whatever form you get it in, is rich and nutty. The toddy (cold brewed iced coffee) is strong to the point of me jittering out the door from a small one. The teas are various and steeped in a cool manner and timed according to their type. The vibe can come off a little pretentious sometimes with all their rules and such, but they are selling a great product and the rules help distinguish them from the crowd.
I like to hangout here for an hour every week or so, good people watching, the pretentious guy behind the counter is good to listen to if you want to hear people getting so-so advice that they didn't ask for and my professors come here so it is a good place to catch them not in work mode.
My only complaint is that they need to find a way to get a bike rack closer to the door. My only other complaint is that they could have more snacks available, I would love to dip something baked in their coffee.
I recently lost my voice. My vocal cords have temporarily exited the building, and because of this.. I wanted some hot tea to sooth the pain from the sandpaper I apparently swallowed in my sleep Friday night. The location had been previously decided, and only wonderful things were spoken about it, so off to Cartel we go..
This joint is hidden. Had I been driving, I probably would have missed it. Also the parking situation is shit. My friend and I had to guide a 16 year old girl in her mothers boat of a vehicle, out of her parking space to avoid hitting the car that was illegally parked behind her, only to be honked and screamed at by (insert ASU douchebag here). idiots. We did get her spot though, which was directly in front of the entrance. Score. Upon entering, there are piles and piles of fliers and random magazines and also a box of what looked like dirty purses, staplers and shoes. I have no idea.. Anyway, there is radical art work and a sculpture hanging from the ceiling made of bicycle wheels, which was awesome and I want one! Plenty of unique reading material - I opted for the Best of The Onion, also lots of tables and couches full of the entire Indie population of Tempe. Most of these people happen to be Mac users, clearly shop at thrift stores, listen to the M. Ward station on Pandora and wear retro headbands, so I cant really complain. I too use a mac, love thrifting, love that station and have a sweet headband collection myself, so I don't mind this Hippie-esqe crowd. However, some people do.. If that's you, go to the corporate whore known as Starbucks instead. So basically I love the interior and the people that convent here. However, It was about 300° inside. It may have been cooler outside, and we all know how f-ing hot it is right now.. There was no way I was about to order a steaming hot tea while perspiring heavily. Annoyed, I get an iced "Happiness Blend" tea, which totally defeated the purpose of soothing my throat, but the tea was nice.. perfectly minty with a hint of daffodil. Everyone tried their hardest to have a sit down and enjoy the effects of caffeine and good company, but it was just way too hot in there, and so we were forced to leave. This situation needs to be handled immediately, otherwise there is no way I can hang out here unless its in January. That's really the only thing I have to complain about. I didn't try any of their coffees, but it smelled wonderful and the foam art that was being created was lovely.. I don't know why, but I just enjoy my beverage all the more when there is a foam heart floating on the top. Next time I'm at Eastside Records or Buffalo Exchange, I will walk over and get a coffee.. probably a Mocha and I'm actually looking forward to it too.
i needed a hip place to put together a study group at and everyone in that study group to think i was hella cool as a result. close to campus and totally a gem for those that don't know or haven't been. nice study area towards the back with the garage door open to allow for natural, eco-friendly air circulation.
the line gets backed up pretty bad because they only have like one or two people working there. and everyone in there knows those people, so they get to chatting instead of pouring my americano. and questioning my capability to handle a large (4 shot) americano. i'm a fucking college student, you could probably cut my coffee with cocaine and i wouldn't notice the difference.
a large americano was $3 and tasted like pure espresso bean bliss. i put cream in it, but really, it didn't need anything. it was perfect in all of its cartel special bean ways. my friend got a soy vanilla latte which i tried and it was perfectly balanced. usually there is either too much soy, or too much vanilla, but the cartel coffee crew knows how to correctly mix and pour coffee and additives.
while service may not be there strong point, cartel keeps the doors open by serving the best espresso in town with the most urban vibe inside.
My backyard playground is downtown Tempe so I was shocked to realize I had never been to Cartel Coffee. Something was amiss especially since I drink so much damn coffee and refuse to go to that one chain. You know the one: starts with a Star and ends in Bucks and the word is Starbucks. Yeah, I don't care for their product.
I have one criterion when trying a new coffee shop: espresso. Espresso is truly an art form, and when done well, is almost orgasmic (almost). When that espresso shot hit my mouth, omg! Incredible! It reminded me of rich dark chocolate, the kind not ruined with sugar, but delicious as nature intended it. The espresso was so different than what I expected or have ever had before.
I liked the menu for its ease and simplicity. This is a coffee shop, not some fake coffee flavored sugar based beverage shop. The beans are always fresh since they are roasted in-house. And the beans are not burnt to a crisp like some places do. (You know who I'm talking about.)
The atmosphere was laid back, service was a little slow, but I wasn't in a rush. I've said it before: I don't like to feel like a number when I'm getting coffee, I don't want to feel like I'm being hurried out the door. So the slow service wasn't a negative for me.
I noticed that the water line that goes into the espresso machine hangs down from the ceiling in plain view, rather than being piped up from the floor. I'm not sure why I thought that was cool, but I did.
The parking lot is a little hard to navigate because it's not that big. So be aware of that.
If you're looking for great coffee in downtown Tempe, this is the place.
Without a doubt one of the top Espresso stops in all of Phoenix. Tucked away off the main drag, Cartel serves some serious brew and my espresso shots are always like beautiful works of multi-crema art.
The atmosphere is also mellow and open, and a bit less pretentious compared with my other fave LUX on Central.
Take a bag of beans home - The owners tour the world to hand select their beans and then roast them in-house, and the delicious result can be tasted in every sip.
Yep, the coffee this place slings will knock your socks off, so make sure your feet are lookin' good.
My gripe is this: the person working the one time I went was so caustic that I can't bring myself to go back. I don't mind waiting for a quality drink, and I don't need cheesy corporation-mandated schmoozing while I wait. But I certainly don't need to be treated like crap while trying to support a local shop whose mission I believe in. I strongly urge you to go, and I wish you a better experience than I had. Many of my friends have had the same experience here, though they are able to brave the staff.
In short: believe the hype, but don't drop your left.
This place is simple, secret, and sexy. Yeah Sexy. And the coffee is perfect. I get the hot mocha, and i love it! Also they have art for sale, and just an all over cool feel to the place. I only found it because i was getting pierced next door at HTC. Do yourself a favor and go get a piercing and some coffee :) You'll thank me later.
Simply put, Cartel Coffee Lab is the vanguard of coffee shops. This is a scaled down, bare-bones shop that has a limited drink menu, for which I am thankful. If you are looking for a frappuccino, or some kind of blended fruit concoction, this is not the place for you; the Cartel owners are true to the coffee bean, and they are not interested in manipulating or mutilating it.
Things I love about the Cartel: The chill atmosphere, the super-friendly staff, the premium coffee (obviously), and the independent feel of the place.
Side note: This is not a coffee shop built around the whims of commuters who are in a rush to get to work. They take great care at Cartel to make a great cup of coffee, which means that it might take a few minutes to get your order.
They sell a stimulant from South America and are called "Cartel."
A joke's hiding in there, somewhere.
Stopped by for the first time today. It wasn't easy to find, but that made it fun. (Look in the BACK of the shopping center). I'm sure it's easy to miss!
All I have to say about my visit is... DAMN these guys serve a great cuppa joe. One of the best I've had. Ever.
We are huge fans of Cartel Coffee Lab.
The Mrs. is a coffee nut so we drive all over in search of the best cup and the best beans. It is one of our two very favorite places.
First of all, their coffee beans... We are firm believers in getting beans that are locally roasted. We've subscribed to the belief that flavor is lost as you get too far out from the roasting. Cartel roasts their own and does a ridiculous job. They do a great decaf and a number of interesting and excellent regular varietals. If you don't already buy locally roasted beans, do yourself a favor and give Cartel's a shot.
As far as their in-house coffee drinks, the Cartel folk are pretty much obsessive in their pursuit of excellence. You won't find the million varieties of crazy drinks they now do in many coffeehouses but you will find excellent drinks done by people who are serious about what they are doing. I for one, am happy to roll with their recommendations when I am there and enjoy my whole milk, leaded latte with agave syrup.
They also have a Clover machine (which many say does the best brewed coffee) which does 1 cup at a time. You will also see the beans individually packaged for the clover right nearby. One of the philosophies the folks there have expressed is that you want to get the beans brewing as soon after grind as possible. They've even minimized the number of steps you have to take to do this.
Cartel Coffee Lab is also a very, very cool place. It's kind of tucked away in a strip mall off University back behind Eastside Records. They've taken this industrial space and kept some of that which adds to the charm and also have put very cool local art throughout. Some of it changes which is also nice. They've also fabricated some things like the bar and space dividers which give it a neat look. Their roaster also sits out in full view. In addition to all this, they always have great music playing. Something about sitting down on one of those couches with their background music instantly relaxes me.
And the last bonus for me is that with them being so obsessive about coffee, they also sell some great equipment in the front. We bought our burr grinder from them and couldn't be happier.
About the only thing about Cartel that is disappointing to us is that they have recently stopped pulling decaf espresso shots. From what I understand, this happened because they switched their grinder system out for a better one. I hope at some point, they decide to grab one of their own burr grinders for sale and reverse this change.
If you haven't tried Cartel Coffee Lab yet, it's a must.
God bless my Tempe Tour Guide. Wise beyond her years, leading my lost soul to caffeinated salvation.
BACKGROUND
---------------------
One fine Sunday afternoon, as my Southwest flight made its descent into Sky Harbor, Eba Cafe suddenly popped into my head. Why, I don't know.
But Boba.
I had to have it.
As I stepped into my dusty car sitting in the Gecko parking lot, I made a quick call to Tempe for some tapioca companionship, and I was well on my way.
But as luck would have it, Eba's closed on Sunday. Seeing the dejection seared across my face, my Tempe Tour Guide suggested that we should take a walk. Outdoors. In the neighborhood. Because people do that sometimes.
And so we strolled and enjoyed the cool breeze, noticing quirky 100 year-old houses and hastily discarded CRT monitors, before finding ourselves at the entrance of one Cartel Coffee Lab.
THE SETTING
-------------------
Very unassuming from the outside, Cartel is a dimly-lit world of wonder indoors.
Industrial garage-type setting with art all over the walls, plus tables, couches and hipster college kids tapping away on a mishmash of Apple-branded products. A roaster with bags of beans for sale in the back, and the Clover coffee machine to the side. Music is as is assumed: Death Cab and various Pandora-mates.
My Guide is all in the know about Cartel, but declares me a newbie and the barista kindly asks me if I want to hear The Shpeal. I say "sure" and she talks about how Cartel is about quality product and the mastery of roasting and brewing the best espresso and coffee. A few of the Cartel baristas had gone on to win the Southwest Regional Barista Championships, but instead of resting on their laurels, they're constantly looking to excel in what they do. She also highlighted the Clover machine which brews a single cup of coffee at a time for maximum quality.
I was pretty impressed by The Shpeal, I will admit. But now it was time to judge the actual product.
THE PRODUCT
----------------------
So, as one who sadly became averse a few years ago to having real cappuccinos unless I planned on staying near a bathroom for the rest of the day, I've gotten used to drinking a lot of black coffee. And as Starbucks probably makes the worst drip coffee known to man, I was looking forward to trying the Clover machine's output. But then the barista threw me a curve ball.
"You know, it's hot outside. Do you want to try our Espresso Excelente? It's iced! And it's pretty damn tasty."
"Uh, what is it?"
"Espresso, combined with our own horchata, cream, and a dash of cinnamon."
"I'm not a big froufy coffee-drink person, and I was looking forward to just a plain cup of coffee, but now you've made me curious. And it is hot outside. Except I have this lactose thing, so I guess I can't have it. Doh."
"Doh yourself. We have soy cream we can use instead."
"Sold!"
VERDICT
--------------
Incredible. And not just because Cartel has Business Continuity Plans for people with lame digestive tracts. Whoever came up with the horchata-espresso idea is a genius. All the flavors in my cup were perfectly balanced, and there was absolutely no bitterness in the espresso. This barista knew what she was doing, delivering me one of the best espresso drinks I've had in a really long time.
And my Guide, standing beside me, looks at me and smiles in a Zen sort of way. Omnipotent, and serene. I told you she was wise.
FIVE STARS, MR. K?
---------------------------------
Eba what? Who gives a flying hootenanny about tapioca. Cartel is where it's at, because my drink was that excellent.
Which causes a conundrum, obviously, because I may have to re-rank every other coffeehouse in town accordingly. These guys are leagues ahead.
However, to be fair, I'll probably update this review on future trips when I try three more of my regular drinks:
* a plain cup of coffee
* an Americano
* a soy latte (probably the hardest drink for any coffeehouse to do really well)
Given how serious they take their craft, though, I'm sure each will be exceptional.
I also give props to zero attitude from the staff. They definitely have the potential to be all about their own uber-barista glory, and silently tell non-hip looking customers like me to stuff it, but they're far from it.
SYNOPSIS
---------------
Cartel Coffee Lab = Perfect independent free WiFi Tempe coffeehouse. Strongly recommended for coffee purists who enjoy true quality drinks . No run of the mill Starbucks crap here. And as the weather continues to heat up, I have a feeling the iced Espresso Excelente is going to be pretty damn popular.
Also, my Tempe Tour Guide is full of wise and awesome.
-fin-
As stated in previous reviews, their no bullshit menu is awesome. They seem to have hired the friendly hipsters that are not snobs(also one of their baristas is a mountain biker, which is nice to see in the sea of tempe fixsters). The coffee is delicious (easily rivals Lux or Orange Table). The to-go cups are environmentally friendly which makes me eager to spend my money there.
Bonus: Superchuck was playing on the stereo last time I was there.
I miss this place so much since leaving. I went there almost every day for a year, bought their coffee for my own coffee at home, and made my own toddies at home using their beans. This is the best coffe I have ever tasted. The service was always cool with me! I live in Texas now and am spoiled and can't find a good cup of coffee to save me... Best of luck Cartel, hopefully someday we will cross paths again!
Tucked away just off University at Ash in an L-shaped area that is part commercial and part apartment complex. The door and entry look like the entrance to a college classroom. This is a seedy area with sketchy folks loitering and/or walking around, so don't take the nice car if you have one.
Inside it's a mix of hippie and yuppie atmosphere with high quality coffee equipment and young clientele with more tattoos and black clothing than you'll normally see in a week. Espresso was one of the better ones in the Phoenix area, though I didn't care so much for the custom made drip coffee. Espresso is the highlight of visiting here.
Sitting at one end of the motel(?)-converted-strip-mall adjacent to Buffalo Exchange, finally found Cartel. Ironically I heard a rave about it from Jeff M last year, and I'm glad I didn't have a chance to read his recent review. I'm your typical social coffee drinker, so maybe I would of felt undeserving to grace the doors based on the flack, but my gal pal and I got no attitude what-so-ever.
In fact the blond barista definitely knew her drinks and graciously explained away. I didn't have to worry about an order faux pas with my iced mocha, but my friend definitely didn't get any flack when she hoped for a caramel macchiato offering. Once advised it's not a la Starbucks style, she was gently steered into an agave-flavored ice latte. Besides both drinks being awesome, I agree w/ Jeff -- it IS about service -- and this barista hit it right on.
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.
Cartel is tied with Solo as my favorite place for coffee in the state. I first discovered it after looking for it and wandering down University Dr. aimlessly (everyone gets lost the first time). Its a unique-looking place decked out with a rotating collection of artwork that changes around once a month or so. They roast their own coffee and are particularly good at it. So far, everything I've tried here is awesome, including the southwesterny Espresso Excellente. I usually do an iced latte with some sort of flavor, but not here--it doesn't need it. The espresso is just too well done to cover up with fluff. The non-espresso Chai is also better than almost every other place I've tried it. The baristas take pride in the perfection of their craft and do so without the elitism or pretentiousness that plagues other coffee spots. The music, like the area's decor, is eclectic and varied, and so far has yet to disappoint.
The only thing keeping me from giving it a five-star rating is the fact that they are not open terribly late and close at 9pm, even on weekends. Otherwise, its pretty close to perfect.
This really is about as good as it gets. The coffee is really delicious, the people who work there are personable and make you feel at home, never snooty about anything and the decor is really pleasant.
There's nothing to be said of this place that another yelper hasn't already said more intelligently except for this: I leaned my bike up against a shelf, my tire slipped and bumped into said shelf, knocking an expensive, free-trade, no-war-orphans-were-maimed-or-blood-spilled to deliver you this glass type thing and it shattered on the ground.
I hate being a clumsy shithead, man. Anyway, they were cool about it... not just cool about it, they made me feel not-embarrassed. I paid for the cup I broke and they gave me my coffee for free.
That's service. Who does that? If someone came into my coffee shop and broke shit I'd tell 'em to get out.
Also, I like that they don't play the music there too loud. Sometimes coffee shops have their goddamn hippie shit blaring at full volume. Here, you can comfortably sip your coffee and nurse a hangover.
The only thing that would make this place better is if they had a kitchen and served amazing breakfast.
I had a delicious latte here. They say they have the best espresso maker in town, and it's kind of hard to argue. This place is hipster supreme to the max and way better than any other coffeehouse in Tempe (sorry, Gold Bar, I've betrayed you).
My favorite thing about Cartel (besides the strong brew, of course)? They play damn good tunes all the time. There's no better soundtrack in the Valley. They also have art for sale that's actually affordable (and usually quite interesting). And people are nice here... what a concept. I'm glad they're into the green movement using "plastic" cups made of 100% corn. Downside: I wish they had longer hours and more comfy chairs. Those plastic fold-up chairs really suck compared to the comfy couches.
I was lucky enough to sneak away from work for December Yelp Office Hours and got the chance to hang out with some fellow Yelpers at Cartel. I fell in love with this place the moment I walked in.
The decor is awesome. They have a ton of random stuff popping about, and the wide-open industrial looking space is surprisingly comfortable.
They fresh brew every cup, so you have THE best possible cup of coffee you can get. Normally I opt for something fancy schmancy like a non-fat, 5 pump gingerbread latte when I hit up coffee joints, but something told me a good ol black Guatemalan cup would serve me well.. and I was correct!
I am an AVID coffee drinker. I mean AVID. The Guatemalan coffee, straight-up, with no sugar, syrup, cream, etc... was THE, and I mean THE, best cup of coffee I have EVER had. Hands Down.
I have since been back twice and the coffee is consistently good. In the future I hope I can try something else, but why mess with perfection????
Thank you, yelpers, for introducing me to Cartel Coffee Lab!
It's a bit hidden, but since you suggested it as the location for our December Office Hours, I found it and fell in heavy like at first sight!
In speaking with the owners, Jason and Amy, I learned that they opened Cartel in January 2008. That means it's almost their first birthday... yay! They offer all kinds of coffee and tea specialty drinks and use the best of the best equipment in preparing each drink. I went with a soy latte yesterday but saw others order chai tea, capuccino, pineapple mango iced tea, etc... The cups they use for "drinking in" and those they use for "to go" are all top notch, eco-friendly, etc... the store itself is adorable and perfect for lounging, meeting a friend, working, or reading. I took advantage of free wifi while I was there too!
During the 4+ hours that I was there yesterday, Cartel stayed pretty packed. Don't go there if you're in a rush... go if you have a few minutes to chat with the owner(s) and the regular(s) and enjoy your cup of joe. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that there is no food. I think it's because they are not licensed to serve food, but the good thing is that you can bring in something if you're hungry (like a few of us did yesterday).
Cartel is a winner in my book - Happy almost birthday... hope to come celebrate with you in the new year!
I've never seen so much junk look so cool! Bicycle Wheels, hanging Republican elephants, and more... This place is very quaint and laid back. Its even got a humongo bay door in the back which (when open) almost makes you feel like you are outside under a huge umbrella!
So I came here for Yelp Office Hours, and I have to say... it was so much fun! I got to meet a bunch of people that I have been wanting to, and the Iced Chai Latte I got was pretty bad ass as well. Thanks Jason and Amy... and Yelp!
This place is pretty damn hard to find, but once you are in, you wouldn't know it. People are coming and going constantly, and there is a great buzz about the place! Not to mention it is one of the more 'Green' establishments. I was told that everything is natural (as can be), and my plastic cup? It said "CornCup" and also "Compostable" on it. SWEET!
All in all, this place is a great find and now I know why Sara B. is a regular! I will definitely be back.
Aw, Cartel. You've won yourself a spot in my cold, dead heart: Better hours, better setup, better everything. You have achieved (near) perfection.
Plus, now that it's fall and the weather's cooled down, I can ride my bike right up to the big garage-style warehouse door in the back. Like the cool kids.
And even though I'm not actually cool, the baristas here are really nice. Hipster style without the hipster pretension. I like it.
Perhaps most of all, I just plain started feeling guilty about giving three stars to a place I frequent at least twice a week. And as I have said before, guilt's a bitch.
Now that I'm absolved of my sins, I think it's time for some coffee.
Guilt is a bitch. And after giving Cartel a crap-tastic review without actually tasting their brew,… Read more »
No hands down, the best espresso in the greater Phoenix area. Talented and passionate baristas (albeit strange sometimes), simple and direct menu, and no bullshit. In-house roasted coffee beans at the most premium quality. Almost always perfect cappuccinos (in house only, the way it should be), locally brewed Chai from Tucson, and organic/fair trade ingredients. A must for real coffee-lovers.
BEST COFFEE EVER! ...Wait, BEST COFFEE PLACE EVER!
This is the type of coffee spot I've always wanted to find but never could. My search is over (kind of...I wish it was closer to me). You can tell that Cartel is passionate about their product. They put quality first, and it's evident in the flavor of the espresso, roast, grind, milk, steam, pour, etc. Therefore the finished product is always a masterpiece. The service is great too. I'd move into the place if they let me.
For all you folks who need coffee to go with your turpentine, Cartel is the place for you!!
For the rest of us, I hate to pour cold coffee on the Cartel-parade, but I just am not feelin' the love. I ordered an iced cafe mocha. The resulting lukewarm concoction tasted like a very strong brew of chocolate-infused cardboard. *shiver* To tell you the truth, it was vaguely reminiscent of chicory coffee, which is not my "cup of tea," so to speak. I even brought my younger, hipper friend to Cartel to make sure my evaluation was fair, and she now makes a face whenever I mention it!
Try it if you must, since we all like to support our local businesses, but don't blame me if you don't like it...
There's no question about it - Cartel is currently the best coffeehouse in Phoenix.
For those of you serious about your coffee, Cartel doesn't disappoint. They roast their own beans from coffee plantations they've visited personally, and consistently pull the best espresso shots I've encountered in the Valley. LUX and Lola's, in comparison, are sorrowfully hit-or-miss, and other neighborhood coffeeshops like Coffee Rush, Bunna, Three Roots, Extreme Bean, Solo Cafe, and Gold Bar don't even make the cut. (Though if you're still frequenting your local Starbucks, do yourself a big favor and try out ANY independent coffeeshop in your area; you'll get the same quality or better and generally more bang for your buck.) I've been to some of the best coffeehouses in NYC and Seattle, and Cartel ranks right up there with them.
The owners and baristas are fantastic; there's no pretension here. The lighting can be a bit dim, but I've studied and read comfortably in just about every corner of the place. If you're using a laptop, outlets are near the couches but relatively accessible from two of the larger communal tables. You may encounter a lot of artsy student types, but we don't bite.
Coffee alternatives: Cartel brews more-than-decent tea, and makes a good cuppa hot chocolate (though you'd be better off getting the honey dark chocolate mocha, imho). Their chai isn't bad, though I secretly wish they'd brew the tea from their own spices, as LUX does. I haven't asked, but you can probably get the espresso excelente without espresso, which would mean you'd be drinking horchata (a heavenly Mexican cinnamon-rice milk concoction).
Cartel is a gem. Better coffee than anywhere else in the Valley but they don't let it go to their head.
Ever since I was introduced to this small and hidden place I was seriously impressed. As a Design student at ASU and a lover of coffee this place is perfect. I love the settings and the coffee. The awkward warehouse disorganization might turn some people off to this place but I hope that the coffee can speak for it. The Espresso Excelente is especially the best! Who would have thought to take a staple drink of the southwest and combine it with shot of espresso and create something so good!!!! I'm used to the Vente size and the crack head size large from Mcdonalds I wish they had this in a larger that life size to help me get my fix. ha.
The best of the best and the people there are way too cool. Never had anyone explain everything in such detail before. I'm hooked and this is my Tempe spot!
I'm so happy I found you! I felt like I was on vacation while I was hanging out there, it was such a nice change from all the corporate coffee places.
Really cool space, friendly owner and wonderful cappuccino.
Thanks Cartel and Yelp!
My other favorite coffee shop right up there with LUX. If it's a quality cup of coffee your seeking this is one of the best places in Phoenix. It's tough to say that Cartel may arguably be the best but it depends on how strong you like your drinks really.
The ambience here is great. I have a pretty eclectic music taste but I can't always agree with some of the Barista's as DJ's. Harsh death metal one day wasn't really jiving with me in their low key transcendent environment.
One of the best things about Cartel? The staff. Totally a sweet group of people. The owners are AWESOME folks and super friendly. On top of that the other folks that work there are super swell, approachable, and very friendly.
As with LUX the presentation is always top notch. Make the best of your experience and ensure you request that they make your drink 'for here' and not 'to go'. Also equally impressive is the composting disposal setup. More businesses should follow in suit.
Tempe, AZ
Category: Coffee & Tea
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Coffee & Tea
Tempe, AZ
Category: Coffee & Tea
Tempe, AZ
Category: Coffee & Tea
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Coffee & Tea
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