What a great coffee shop! My husband and I are really picky when it comes to quality of coffee... and we were impressed by this one. Location is downtown Scottsdale with a ton of cute shops around, the the coffee shop itself is very spacious with 2 different indoor seating areas (one secluded for those who need quiet) and an outdoor seating area. I wasn't at all impressed by their lemon bread and won't be ordering that again. However their chocolate chip cookies were good. Also, their cappuccinos, cold brew, and iced latte was legit read more

Cartel Roasting - Cappuccinos are - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

Rude as hell staff. I'm not sure what I did to the baristas here but they were cold as ice. Came in on Saturday night to check out the art that was being showcased to support our local artists. We came in and ordered an iced latte and it was probably the most disgusting coffee I've ever had. I almost paid almost $8 for a cup of brown shit water. I will never buy anything from here again and will not support this place anymore. I use to come here a lot but moved out to San tan valley a few years ago so I was excited to drink their coffee again. I wanted to ask for my money back but the ladies behind the counter showed no signs of customer service skills so I decided to leave this long review instead. read more

It's gotten smaller, always crowded and cramped. They serve their hot drinks in glassware, not mugs. This is my large mocha, way too much foam, mild taste, over$6.00 plus tip. The lattes are served similarly and far from exceptional I should've gone to Starbucks. The people at the register are always friendly; the baristas are often pretentious. read more

Cartel Roasting - Large mocha served in a glass with an inch of foam - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

PROS: + easy parking + MOCHA w/ OAT MILK! + Cappuccino + Friendly baristas + Progressive posters + clean space to work + hipster/grungy ambiance CONS: - didn't dig the bathroom stickers Best coffee I've tasted in Tempe, AZ during our visit thus far, but not the best I've tasted, therefore no 5-star rating. read more

See all

Frequent this place when my girl friend is in town and she absolutely adores their dirty chai with almond milk. A large will set you back almost 10 bucks - but as she points out a drink at a bar would likely cost you more. And there is always a line at the window since in door seating is not available right now due to COVID. I've had teas here and they have always been solid as well. I am deducting one star due to price. I think near 10 dollars for a cup is crazy - but apparently there is a big market for it. They do well and we keep coming back! read more

Their mocha latte is pretty good, however the music is usually too loud so bring noise cancellation headphones. And maybe your wireless hotspot... read more

This place does coffee right. Great place to work or relax... or worlax? I actually had my first macchiato and it was beautifully presented. My only suggestion would be to change out the communal tables for individual ones that can be reconfigured. It was very busy and there were some groups that had no seats because the communal tables had every-other seat open from individuals working and wanting a bit of space between each other. read more

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

Coffee was alright not the best I've had. I asked what was a good cup of coffee to order and was met with him just saying general types of coffees not explaining much which I kinda wanted since they're supposed to specialize in coffee. I also was expecting a nice Goodmorning face when I go to get my coffee and felt worse leaving then going in. read more

Great coffee and great vibe they have. I love how they set up their interior! One thing, if they sell any gift box set, it would be better since I would love to give their coffee to friends as a gift read more

Pretty cool decoration with the wheel and the chair - HIDDEN GEM Ever since http://www.yelp.com/biz/portola-coffee-lab-costa-mesa The boyfriend and I wanted to see if there's more of these kind of coffee lab. Yay! Found one in Arizona! Glad we found one near where he lives, because I didn't want to drive any further than 20 mins plus to get some good coffee. Came here in the afternoon on a Saturday, and man were there a lot of people just studying. Drinks +Iced Toddy ($3.95) - The boyfriend got this and holy cow was it strong. A very concentrated coffee. It's like drinking a americano at Starbucks but without mixing it with water. But of course this place was a bit better because it's different + Iced Chai with Soy milk ($4.85) - Yums! You can adjust the sweetness of it, but I forgot to do so so it was a bit too sweet for me. Decoration Feels like you're sitting in a warehouse. Bike wheels are attached with each other like a barrier/wall between two sides. Haha.. I laughed when I saw the hair salon chair. Pretty cool. Chilled place to hang out and to study. Definitely will come back! read more

See all

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! read more

Spacious, good nitro brew and tasty berry pastries. Hard to come by solid cafes in AZ and this is one.

Another Yelp bookmarked place that was a winner! Ended up heading over to this area since we were going into the HTC place just next door to this particular location. We opted to give them a try since we were right there and this place had been on our list for some time. I'm a big fan of coffees, primarily hot mochas. As such, I ordered a medium hot mocha with much anticipation for good coffee, given the great reviews here, and was not disappointed. Not only was the coffee good, but the barista took the time to make a fun heart with the foam on the top of my coffee, which I just love! Art made of coffee? I mean who doesn't love that? We revisited them a couple more times since then, and the coffee and service are consistent and excellent, which is what coffee persons want in a coffee shop, right? There are plenty of places to sit inside and some of these are located next to power sources for those that are looking to bring in a laptop and do other things while you're here. It's definitely geared towards the student and hipster crowds, and we aren't either of those things, but we didn't feel judged or unwanted despite it. We have gotten a negative vibe from some other coffee houses in town that have similar demographic crowds, but not here! Overall: A Fun artsy feel, great consistent coffee, quick service and fun foam designs! read more

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

See all

Love this place and the coffee, as well as the ambience. Though for being a cafe, two of the most important things are nonexistent. Most of the outlets have no power, meaning that you have no choice but to have a dead laptop while doing your work, and the wifi is abysmal. It is so slow that it practically doesn't work at all. This has got to be changed soon. read more

If I lived closer I would definitely come to this location, though I do not ... If you're looking to be seen ... but not seen, have this pent up anger built up inside of you or come across that way, enjoy coffee, like dwelling in dark places, wear all black or only wear some type of shade of it (like me), or have some form of manbun x beard x obscure band tea x clarks combination look This is your home, away from home ... In all honesty, with all the previously listed aside Cartel makes damn-good coffee and their corn cookie gives Momofuku Milk Bar a run for their money. This location also has a bar and a ton of seating for what looks pretty small on the outside. It's great for socializing and kicking back with friends or on your laptop. This cartel loving, latte drinking and a corn cookie eating makes this gal hipst-I mean happy. Move over Lux, Cartel has just surpassed you by a long shot. read more

Cartel Roasting - Small Lattés - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I recognize a great coffee shop when I see one. The employees were all very active while I was here. Non-stop taking orders and making espresso drinks. My chai was prepared while I was finishing up paying. The espresso drink was ready in less than 5 minutes at the end of the bar. There was someone roasting beans while we were here one day. The next day we came back (because it was so good) and there was another employee giving an interview (not sure if for a TV show or for a commercial). There is not a shortage of places to sit, so bring your laptop or book and get cozy! Lots of outlets, too. I am in constant search for the best iced chai. This is it. I found it. Great price for the size (much better than Starbucks). They even bottle the chai syrup for you to buy (too big for my airplane carry on or else I would have bought to bring back to St. Louis). There serve beer, too! read more

Cartel Roasting - Menu (Oct 2016) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

Enjoyed the matcha drink I got once but when I've tried their coffee, which is supposedly their specialty... it's average, at best. Ordered a pour over last time which is usually my favorite. Last time I asked for heavy whipping cream for my coffee to make it better & instead of telling me they didn't have it but XYZ options were available, they said "okay" & poured regular milk which ruined the flavor more & texture from what I'd ordered. It's okay that they didn't have it, as it's not available in most places, but regular milk has far too much sugar so that necessitated me taking a shot to compensate. Didn't think an average coffee was worth having to do it for. The flavor was watery & sweet from the regular milk & I could've just gotten a black coffee or perhaps another matcha with almond milk, of course without sweetener. Frustrated with places thinking it doesn't matter. To just make an executive decision without communication or offering customers a chance to choose something is odd to me. Friendly people here but I don't enjoy being told something's available when it's not or similarly being given a confirmation of the order bring doable when it's not. Then, other things being changed entirely without verifying... I'll come here again & give them another chance but... Frustrating to order something & end up paying for something entirely different. Might not impact others but I'm big into textures of drinks & foods as well as flavor, flavor being secondary to texture. In this case it was both bad, flavor & texture. Could've been prevented by them simply saying what I ordered to add wasn't an option. Would've been fine. My rating is based on the summation of my visits being average. They tend to be overpriced for what you get. I was excited to try here again but was disappointed overall. They have cute travel mugs here so there's that. read more

Dig this location and atmosphere. The service was friendly and great. Ordered a dirty ice chai and almond croissant. The drink was good. The almond croissant was so good, I realized I forgot to take a photo of it read more

I would say that the barista girl is not friendly at all! The cashier is super friendly! Thus, I have mixed feelings about this place in regards to customer service. Overall, it is a super chill. It's a perfect spot to do some research on your phone for hours. I ordered their herbal tea and their strawberry pop tart. The herbal tea is laced with a subtle minty taste and feel which I really enjoy. Their pop tart does not come warm. This makes it a bit stale. But, the flavors of the pop tart are good. It's not too sweet. I was hoping it would be a bit sweeter (my dang sweet tooth...) However, for those who don't enjoy super sweet pastries it's a great option for you. read more

Cartel Roasting - Strawberry pop tart - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Coffee is delicious and there's plenty of seating, but there are very few working outlets and the WiFi is very slow.

Every time I'm in Arizona I run to this hip millennial cafe, it's chain and every one of them is the same great super strong that gets you jacked up ready to conquer the world. Cool design with benches tables so you can do you're laptop work or pretend you are. A little pricey but what coffee joint isn't. Try cartel so you can feel like you can really run a cartel. read more

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

Cartel Coffee Lab does not disappoint. The location is kind of odd, but once you get inside you feel safe. I ordered their latte and my sister ordered their vanilla latte. Both were good! We didn't order to go, however the baristas put our coffee in a to go cup :( I love drinking my coffee out of a real cup. Love all the fancy designs they do but oh well. Pretty good, probably won't be back though. It wasn't THAT great but worth a try if you're around the area. read more

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

Ok, so 2nd time I've visited Cartel Coffee Lab. First time around at Scottsdale location was a good experience, and happened to be in this neighborhood needing an afternoon cup o' joe so thus my stop at this locale. The place was bustling with what seemed to be happy customers which included locals, ASU students and business peeps. Staff couldn't have been more friendly or helpful. I made a selection from the current brews and went with JauJa. I was happy with my choice but for some reason it did have a slightly burnt aftertaste. Possibly beans roasted too long? I will probably give them another try but if that's how they roast their beans all the time this may not be my first go to coffee shop. I do like that they have a "secret" taproom in the back where they brew several beers. Will have to come back to try that out also. It was busy as well though it was barely afternoon. read more

See all

Rip-off, overpriced cup of gouge. Ordered a large, dirty chai with almond milk. Cost was $7.84 and they presented a 12 ounce drink. Any possible argument for exceptional taste and/or quality is completely negated by the obvious lack of value and blatant desire to rip off their customer base. In fact, they cannot even justify some of that cost in branding, as the cup and sleeve were non-script and generic. For the money, I would rather go to Black Rock or even Starbucks, which I loathe. At least at those places you get your money's worth. read more

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

See all

Love their chai tea. The expansion and additions in recent years have been really nice. I remember several occasions when I couldn't find a seat anywhere. So thankful that's not the case now - thanks for expanding! The noise level is usually low enough for working or studying, and the music selection is good. My only complaint is the vibe given off by some of the employees. A few times I have felt almost unwelcome in the coffee shop. I am placing my order and the employee could not care less. The "too cool for you," hipster standoffish attitude can come across unpleasant. Where is the customer service? Smile more, I promise you everything is awesome! read more

I've been on a long drive into or out of Phoenix probably ten times in my life and I can honestly say that the five since I've discovered Cartel Coffee Lab have been drastically improved. The coffee, as you can probably imagine by the smell and the look of the entire establishment as you walk inside, is phenomenal. Most often I order cold brew or drip coffee, it's always balanced, and never stale or overly acidic. For the espresso fans, my brother gets a mocha (yes, every time, I don't understand it either) and as much as I hate to say it, it's also fantastic. Light and sweet, again made with great coffee. Great selection of pastries here as well. I got some pomegranate, citrus, poppyseed cake which was lovely, hopefully I don't have to take a drug test soon. The blueberry coffee crumble was also a huge hit. Try this spot. I take friends here when I'm in town, all around it just seems like the ideal coffee spot in the area. read more

Cartel Roasting - Pre-road trip coffee and pastries at CARTEL - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Wonderful vibe and coffee is second to none. Limited selection of food items but great spot to spend a couple of hours working or hangin out. read more

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

See all

Hey! I would give them 3.5 stars and here is why... so I come here on a Saturday. The crowd is not much but it is an active coffee shop. Parking is in the back. I got a dirty chai per usual and a blueberry muffin... the chai is exceptional the muffin was dry at first but the inside is moist and chewy. It's not a SWEET muffin which is why I like it. It seems very homemade which I enjoy. The working table outlets do not work which was not cool since I came here to get some work done. My battery is on 68% so when it's gets on lower I'll just leave. All in all place is a STRONG "okay". Maybe not enough to drive 15 minutes to actually come back but it's decent for now. - The Tough Chicago Critic read more

Cartel Roasting - Dirty chai abs blue berry muffin - Exceptionally decent - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

Completely cool place! Love the roasters. Super excited to have a place like this in Tempe. Maybe because it was early on Sunday but the counter gal was snappy and uncaring. Go for the coffee not the service. read more

So this place is awesome!!! I didn't even know it existed until I had a business meeting here. There are multiple doors to this joint so it's important to remember where you entered in from. This place is also ginormous! There are so many places to sit and work or study. Thank goodness it's this big though, this place is packed and super busy. I recommend coming here if you have some time. If you're in a hurry, you may not get in and out quickly due to their popularity. Loved the coffee here! I just got the cold brew with almond milk, but the guys I was with ordered a variety of hot coffee drinks and a hot chocolate. All hot beverages came with a sweet design. The two things that I didn't favor was the bathroom, it was in super rough shape and the high top chairs were super uncomfortable. On the positive side, this place is pretty cool and the drinks are delightful. read more

This is the premier coffee house in Phoenix (actually Tempe), and this location is amazing. Very ample space, pour over options, espresso drinks, really good snacks to nibble on, awesome vibe in general. They do not serve sugar, instead they use syrup, but it is still good. There is another sweetener option, I can't remember what it was. Definitively check this place out and hang out for a bit to get this alternative desert vibe. read more

See all

A cozy, hidden, low-key coffee spot tucked away right in the heart of downtown Tempe. I love their chai tea and espresso; they always provide that perfect coffee burst for those long afternoons! Seating is quite limited, as the tables and benches tend to fill up rather quickly. Throughout the several decades I have spent growing up in Tempe, the Cartel lab still remains as one of my most beloved local coffee shops. Cartel has always remained loyal and true to it's roots, although their menu has changed they have not sacrificed any quality whatsoever. In comparison to other local coffee shops, I would definitely recommend Cartel. This truly is a hole in the wall gem. Afternoon idea: Stop by Cartel coffee, grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, and make a walk over to Buffalo Exchange in the same plaza for some discounted vintage shopping! ;p read more

Perfection. This coffee is so fantastic that being served in a paper cup doesn't affect the experience in any appreciable way. I visited on 7.3.20 and the shop is currently serving coffee takeaway only. Pro Tip: The chocolate chip cookie is killer, and pairs wonderfully with a macchiato. read more

We come here quite often to get work done. It's our go-to spot because there is a ton of seating, great music, and woooonderful tea and covfefe! I like the atmosphere here too, it's always real chill, you know what to expect. Eclectic art, smells nice, free wifi. They lost a star because they don't have recycling bins. They do offer real dishes so you can avoid the trashy situation altogether... However I've ordered "for here" twice and they gave me the Earth killing plastic cup anyway. read more

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

Ordered a small hot mocha. It was good but definitely more expensive than I was expecting. $6 for a 10oz maybe? I knew it was a small but wasn't expecting a kids small. The seating has been reduced due to COVID but definitely a good vibe. Great place for studying or doing work with plenty of outlets. Free WiFi as well. read more

Cartel Roasting - Small hot mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Dope spot! Great coffee, tons of seating, great ambiance. Cartel is the premier coffee spot in the valley in my opinion. Can't go wrong with the daily drip any time of day. Coffee is on the bitter side but so dang good. The location in Tempe is very cool. read more

Every time I go to the coffee shop I try their cold brew and theirs is so smooth and full of flavor! And I love how they have simple syrup and cream at the bar to allow you to customize your drink to your palette. The atmosphere in here is great for meeting with friends, studying, or just a place to rest and have a good cup of coffee! You can even see them roasting their beans inside and if you don't know what to order the staff is super friendly and explains everything to you. read more

Cartel Roasting - Cold brew with cream and simple syrup! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Wasn't at location that map sent me and the phone number wasn't in service. Wasted time and money in this large city by attempting to go to 2 of these but they didn't exist. Very displeased at this lack of care that they send people all over a huge city to get f'd read more

My #1 coffee place. Coffee is not over roasted, tons of flavor. My son and I found this place while I was visiting him at ASU. I started ordering their coffee to my home in Houston, made the best espresso! Now I live less than a mile away and it feels like home. I judge all other coffee places against Cartel. Few stand up. read more

Cartel is a Tempe classic. I've been going here since I was in high school, and it honestly hasn't changed much at all. It's a super hipster coffee shop with an industrial interior. It's certainly a hot spot for people to do homework and catch up on work, so good luck finding a spot to sit when you go! Personally, I love to get a dirty chai, which is a chai latte with a couple shots of espresso added. The flavor is amazing and the texture is creamy and delicious, but it still gives you that kick of energy from the espresso. Coffee is really an art at cartel, and you can taste the difference. It is a little pricey, but then again, it's an art. You definitely pay for the love that they put into your drink. Sometimes the people that work there can be a little snobby about the coffee - friends I know that aren't super into coffee and prefer PSL's from starbucks have been a little put off by the customer service there. However, that's not always the case and the last time I went I was very impressed with the customer service and how helpful the guy at the register was to my non-coffee drinking friend. All in all, Cartel is a solid coffee shop with delicious coffee and tea. Try doing some homework there one afternoon and enjoy the atmosphere! read more

Cartel Roasting - Iced dirty chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tempe, Arizona