Michael W.

Cargo is my favorite coffee spot in Madison. This is the OG location but they also have a newer location on East Wash. The coffee is always on point and they have an assortment of breakfast pastries and other food options too. The outside can look deceiving as it is a small, standalone coffee spot and most will use the drive through for convenience (fast service by the way). However, when you step inside you are immersed in some really neat decor that focuses on travel - think airplanes, suitcases that double as tables, big burlap bags of coffee and tons of world maps. It's super cool and cozy, a great spot to hang with friends or get some work done.

Kelly T.

Cargo coffee on park St. is by far the best and fastest drive through in Madison. The staff is friendly, quick and the food and drinks are delicious. Even though there is a Starbucks on my way to work, Cargo has been my go to because of the quality and consistency I get. Every. Single. Time. Standard coffee and specialty drinks are provided including non-milk alternatives and the best oat milk of any of the coffee shops in the area. A variety of baked goods including muffins, scones, cookies, vegan and dairy free options are available. Bakery items can vary from day to day, but my absolute favorite is the cow girl cookie. Hot breakfast of sandwiches, bagels and granola are available as well as lunch items including sandwiches and wraps. Try the chicken salad! Note: a punch card is available and after 10 drinks, the next one is free!

Poushali G.

I love that Cargo Coffee has socially distanced indoor seating during covid and also open until 5 pm! Since there is so much light from the windows and all the seating is so spread out, Cargo is a calm environment to study or work. The decor gives off a tropical and vacation-y vibe, it's so cool! The drinks are pretty good. The pumpkin spice steamer and the snickerdoodle latte were creamy and flavorful without being too sweet. The pastries are a little blah and there isn't much choice, so keep that in mind if you're out for a coffee shop pastry. Interestingly enough, the turkey club salad is more toppings than vegetables with an oil dressing. It was pretty good but with the amount of cheese and bacon they give you kind of made my stomach hurt. But the prices are reasonable compared to a lot of coffee shops in the area, so can't complain! The staff here isn't the best, at least recently. They are often joking around in the back and not really paying attention to whoever is waiting at the register. There is a glass in front of the cashier, which is wonderful for covid safety, but you have to really shout so they can hear you and they aren't the most patient with this issue. TLDR: I love coming to Cargo Coffee, but I mostly just come for the drinks and the experience.

Ericka B.

Went here on a weekday morning to pick up some coffee and use a Bucky Book coupon on the way to work. Since we were on the way in, we went through the drive-thru and the first thing to note is that they don't display the menu until you get to the order window. Given the size of the location, this makes sense, but it feels like the line would move faster if you could see it in advance. It looks like they have different specials depending on the day. We ended up getting a roast of the day coffee with some vanilla and a eggnog chai latte, one of the specials. The roast of the day had a nice flavor, making me wish that I didn't add the vanilla to it. The eggnog chai latte was also pretty good and had a great fragrant sent that filled the car. Overall pretty good beverages. I really want to get back to try some of the baked goods, which looked/sounded quite good. I will say, this was one of the perks of the location being smaller in that we could still see the baked goods inside while waiting in the drive-thru line. We'll probably be back as a stop on our way into work in the future.

Riley F.

This place is a total surprise once you walk inside! Really neat decor that focuses on travel and airplains. Surprisingly more seating than I thought it would have too! We asked if we could use their own mugs, and they were totally chill with it. I ordered a vanilla latte with almond milk and a medium roast coffee with two refills and it was less than 10 bucks which was a pleasant surprise to me. The baristas(does that term apply to all coffee places?) were all super friendly. And they have wifi! They also have an assortment of breakfast pastries and other options as well as menus for food if you get hungry. The only thing I'd like would be more tables for two people to sit at. We ended up sitting at a high top table but the surface and space felt a bit cramped but that's just me being picky. Overall, I'm so glad I stopped in!

Cat P.

Ambience definitely earns this place 5 stars, and all of the artwork and decorations revolving around travel and adventure really give you a sense of wanderlust. The wall art here is comparable to the other Cargo Coffee location on East Wash, but this location is a lot smaller and less industrial feeling. If you're looking to do work here, there are a handful of tables, but this place isn't great for groups larger than 4. I had a soy chai latte, which was just lukewarm, so I asked to get it reheated. I would give my drink only maybe three and a half stars. The staff was really nice about it and apologetic. I'll be back to try some of their coffee, they roast the coffee in house and it smells great here!

Chris N.

Coffee and a smile One of my favorite coffee shops in Madison and also the most protected (always police officers here enjoying coffee as well). The staff is always friendly and remembers you. They have a small food menu for breakfast and lunch that is also good, including bakery items.

Shing V.

At first glance, this particular Cargo Coffee seems like it's in a very odd location. It's located on a busy street and tucked in a very awkward corner, a person wouldn't normally think to stop in and stay for a bit to enjoy a cup of coffee. While driving to work on a busy traffic day, I decided to stop by Cargo Coffee to grab a quick bite of breakfast and get my simple black coffee fix for my work day. I ordered an 8oz coffee which is a great size for all that I really need to get through the day. I also ordered a Sausage and Egg Croissant without the sausage because I try to keep my diet low meat. The coffee is exceptionally smooth and moderate. The aroma of the coffee is rich. It also doesn't have the sour acidic taste that some coffee leaves on your taste buds. The plain egg croissant that I got was also very satisfying. The croissant had a great balance of a nice crunch and flaky outer texture while the inside was soft. The eggs were well cooked and topped with melted Swiss cheese. Overall, it was an unexpectedly great experience. There are small tables and larger tables with wall plugs to charge your electronic devices if you stay there long hours to work. One of the best things about this place is that, it's usually a quick stop for people to grab coffee so people don't usually stay too long. I liked this place so much, I went back a different morning to do some work.

Gina W.

I hemmed and hawed over all the delightful vegan options in the pastry case here at Cargo Coffee (lemon poppyseed muffins, peanut butter bar, cowgirl cookies), and in the end all I wanted was oatmeal. So delicious and didn't need the sugar because of the sweet cherries and almonds. I am reminded that Cargo, IMHO, has the BEST almond milk latte in town. Additionally, the manager (Candy) here is so accommodating, and when I asked if the Gotham bagels were vegan, she ran and got the ingredients list for me (some are, some not). Other options include a case of juices and other beverages, smoothies such as a green mango or red berry, blended drinks, sandwiches and soups that are sometimes vegan, "Green Wrap" with house-made hummus that can be made vegan, and a PBJ on local sourdough. Great service, great food and AWESOME coffee.