Cartel Roasting Co

Ordered a large chai with cashew milk. The barista didn't say anything regarding the size. Didn't explain large is really a small. Paid $8.07 with 15% tip. This is the size I was given!! I haven't been here in years. I used to order large and it was bigger than this. Will continue to go to Raging Sage basically next door or Coffee Times which is a ways further, but worth the price and size options of their drinks!!! I held up this chai to my class for the day and asked them what size they thought it was. When I told them, they laughed and said I got robbed! As far as the chai itself, it is delicious! Definitely not worth the price though. Would have been nice if the barista said something about the size. She was aware I don't go there. As I asked where I was again(I was trying to think of what milk alternatives they had) and said I wasn't familiar with their milk alternatives. I also asked for hazelnut and she said they don't have it. Plenty of reasons for her to know I was not familiar with Cartel coffee! Will NOT go there again! Sad because I loved this place when I used to go years ago! I'm usually not near it until recently.

Cartel Roasting Co is by far my favorite coffee shop. The atmosphere is relaxed but full of energy, and it’s the kind of place you can hang out, work, or just enjoy a really good cup of coffee. Luke makes the best lattes I have ever had, smooth, creamy, and crafted with care every time. The flavor of the coffee they use is bold, strong, and rich, yet still balanced so it’s never overpowering. Every sip is satisfying and keeps me coming back for more. This spot has definitely set the bar high for what great coffee should taste like.

Really delicious coffee! They have cashew and oat alternative milks. The vegan burrito with the peppers was so good! And that salsa was BOMB. I wish there was a protein in the burrito, though like a soy curl or TVP. Rainbow safe space sticker on the front was very welcoming. Cool vibe. Lots of people working on their computers.

Relaxing Expensive Great presentation thats about where it ends Very Mild expresso drink Taste more like a lipton herbal Tea Looking for something strong and packed full of flavor So far the Turkish kebab shop down the street is winning best coffee ☕️

I stopped by to grab a cup of coffee, Dee kindly and knowledgeably helped me pick out the perfect drink it was delicious! I highly recommend this spot to grab a yummy drink & study! If your indecisive like me ask for Dee, you won’t be let down :)

I was very excited to try this coffee establishment as I’ve heard many good things! The atmosphere is quite nice and there is a lot of seating. My only critique is there are limited food options and syrups. But other wise the experience was great!

First, let me say I love Love Love this coffee shop specifically the downtown location. I was disappointed yesterday (Sunday evening) That when I walked in, it looked like the place was shutting down (minus the people still working on their computers). I had to ask somebody sitting way behind the counter if they were still serving coffee. The Young man in a purple shirt Was just chillin on his phone and eating. He then stood up, annoyed, wiped the corners of his mouth with his bare hands, took my order, and then continued to make my latte without washing his hands. I didn’t want to make a scene; I just took my latte and left. I tried to drink it, but I was too grossed out about the thought of possible corner mouth crumbs in my drink. Everyone else in the shop has been absolutely wonderful, but he needs to be checked.

We are partners with this location for their cleaning products, and I love stopping by to check on the crew because everyone is always so friendly! One of my favorite chai's in town, great atmosphere, and always a big smile.

I used to come here to work and use wi-fi while enjoying the great coffee, service and atmosphere, but today I'm just here for coffee, hanging out, and playing on my iPad. The coffee is great (I got a delicious iced latte), the service is warm and welcoming, great fast Wi-Fi, plenty of space, different types of seating (long table, long table with high chairs, soft leather chairs), and as busy as the area is, pretty easy parking. Today I got the iced latte within probably one minute. I couldn't believe how fast that was. I'm so used to assuming I'll sit down and get my drink in maybe 10-15 minutes but nope, this was awesome! Also, I'm a little high maintenance so I wanted the drink for here and the blueberry muffin to go and the guy was really accommodating and even gave me a little box for it. That was thoughtful. Always return here when I'm in the area. Baked goods are delicious too.

Delicious coffee and espresso drinks! Fun, trendy indoor area to enjoy your coffee, read, work, do homework, catch up with friends, etc! I had an oatmilk latte and it was fantastic! We ordered at the counter and our drinks were ready quickly. It's a little dark inside, but we didn't have any issues reading.

A solid spot for a variety of coffee drinks and beans, bonus that it seems to be open later than other nearby roasters! I usually get an iced latte and find it to be roasty and strong, with a lot of good flavor. I've sometimes experienced a lack of consistency with the milk/espresso ratio on occasion, but overall it's a great treat. I also love that they have nitro cold brew with other cold brew options. The baristas are generally welcoming and knowledgeable too. A great stop when we're in the area!

I liked the vibe of the place when we walked on - it's huge with lots of areas to sit in. Though it was so quiet I felt like everyone could hear our conversation. Like everyone was studying or reading to the music in the background. Nice staff who helped my friend figure out her drink. I got an iced cold brew, which, it was super light (in color and taste) and had that fruity taste that coffees can have. I prefer a darker roast iced coffee but that's what their option for iced coffee was so I got it. And it was smooth. My friend sucked hers down in no time so she enjoyed hers. It was an iced oat milk latte. I was busy eyeing the food in the pastry case, which there was not a lot of selection left at almost noon on a Sunday. They had a stuffed French toast muffin and a vegan blueberry muffin. I got the former but it was cold and dense (like it had been refrigerated overnight). It was definitely NOT fresh or even made that day. I'm a baker so I know the difference. It had a good flavor tho so I know it would've been better if not refrigerated. I asked if they had any other food and the only other option was a vegan burrito she said. So we got one to split. It was tasty with potato, peppers and spinach inside, but nothing special. The two salsas on the side spiced it up even more. I doubt I'd order it again. The bill before tip was $30. I guess I do not feel like the food and drinks were worth that - $10 burrito so the muffin must've been $5 and somehow the coffee was another $12 before taxes. We didn't even get a specialty drink. I know times are more expensive but it felt like it should've been $20-not $30. It's still a coffeeshop after all. But if I go back I'll try a mocha since they have gotten some good reviews for those. It's just knowing they have that fruity espresso - which I'm not a huge fan of - It'll be awhile. For the price I just don't think it was worth it.

Saturday AM espresso before trekking Saguaro Trail. Pleasant service when ordering. Always happy to answer our questions. Chill, open spacious ambiance.

Today was my first time visiting the cafe and it was a lovely experience! Nice and spacious space for studying, there are extension cords on the floor which is convenient for charging your study devices. Baristas were so friendly and made great drinks. Got two drinks: the iconic tonic and lavendar matcha latte. Both were good but the Iconic tonic was such a refreshing take on a coffee drink, it was definitely memorable! Overall, nice space for studying and the ambiance is Gorgeous during sunset hours:)

I had a positive experience at Cartel! Was visiting a friend from out of town and needed a cafe that had good lattes, reliable internet, seating, and available outlets. Very happy to say that Cartel checked off everything on my list! I got the iced CCL and would recommend it for those with a sweet tooth and like iced coffee like me :) Service was fast and friendly. Would highly recommend!

Cool other location of Cartel. An acquaintance had some issues getting a decaf drink due to problems with the espresso machine unsure of the other details, the staff was apologetic and refunded her money. I got a green tea as I try not to drink a lot of caffeine at night. The tea was tasty and a reasonable price. I wish the curtain for the window in front of the cash register was placed better for the staff. The guy was shielding his eyes from the sun when ringing me up.

I have been to this chain of coffee spot twice and I gotta say their coffee is mediocre. Their coffee taste kind of diluted and doesn't taste as good as other coffee spot such as presta, cafe expressoul, and raging sage. If you crave better coffee quality, I highly recommend those other spots with Tucson cricket coffee. There is plenty of study spot here but the lighting here is dim.

Great coffee place, menu & service. Industrial feel with lots of seating. We ordered an espresso tonic and found out it was served with grapefruit tonic - YUM!

My love affair with Cartel has finally come to an end. I've been going less since they stopped carrying Houlden's Rise Above (or any vegan pastries), but enjoy the occasional coffee there. Today I ordered the CCL that I've gotten many times in the past. It's usually sweet and creamy (almost hard to believe it's vegan), but today it was just bitter and had a weird after taste. I brought it to the barista and she was kind enough to remake it, explaining that they swapped the cold brew for espresso recently. The second one was slightly sweeter, but still had the weird bitter after taste. I don't usually order sweet coffees, this is a special treat for me, so I'm no stranger to strong coffee - but something just tasted off. I will say that the barista told me if I still didn't like the second one, she would make me a different beverage. She was very nice! But I didn't want to be anymore wasteful, so I just drank the second CCL. But I won't likely be back. Had a good run though!

I stopped by after yoga class this morning to grab a hot matcha as a treat for showing up for myself, little did I know I may need to do this on repeat because this was so good! I got the seasonal winter drink which is their matcha Chai and I feel this is what a woodland fairy would sip on! I loved the earthy tones and the flavors compliment each other so well. Wellness Wednesdays just got more enchanting. The service was great too they got my drink whipped up in no time and I love when they do the latte art ty cartel coffee! Get this drink now since it's seasonal!

Was a great spot to stop for coffee on my day. They offer plenty of seating and tables, would love to come back to spend more time there. I got my iced latte to go and it tasted perfect!

This was my first time trying a tonic espresso and it ABSOLUTELY BLEW MY MIND. it was so perfectly tangy and Smokey. I will definitely be going back for the tonic espresso. I was also surprised by how spacious and study-accommodating the cafe is! There are charging ports everywhere and small tables designed for personal studying. The WiFi did run a bit slow at first, I suppose because the cafe was packed with students with their laptops. So I would suggest checking the cafe out during their off-peak hours.

Cool place to read a book or to gather with friends. The barista was super friendly and does some cool latte art. Unfortunately this is not my cup of coffee- my latte tasted bland with little potency. I was also disappointed to learn that the only 'cupped' latte could be served in a 8oz glass but you pay the 12oz price(?)... that was confusing.

Bad service. Ordered....then twelve other people came through and got their coffee before me. Was served a latte in a water glass. So hot I couldn't hold it to drink it.

I love Cartel coffee shops in Phoenix so naturally I came here while in Tucson. This location is big! Plenty of seating and outlets for you to plug into. Service was quick and coffee was of course delicious. This place is in desperate need of more parking though. Be prepared to circle around the building or park in an adjacent business and walk over.

Excellent single origin Cold Brew and tasty baked goods. Staff is friendly and informative.

Great coffee but on top of the base price for a latte I paid extra for my syrup??? And on top the oat milk which is fine but how did my coffee cost $10? Won't be coming back due to pricing

I was so pleased to learn that Cartel had opened in Tucson, and open til 8 on a Saturday night! Coffee was good as usual, the staff was particularly thoughtful and helpful, and I could not resist the mug that spoke to me as a mindfulness teacher.

A visit to this hip coffee joint was like a trip to a trendy museum but with less less interesting exhibits. The ambience was appealing but the coffee failed to live up to the same standards. Despite having baristas who were dressed in all black with artisanal tattoos, the quality of the coffee was as lackluster as a day old pastry. Each sip of my chai tea latte with oat milk was like a sad melody, missing the key ingredients for a well-crafted cup. It lacked any depth of flavor because the sweetness overpowered the spices. To add insult to injury, the latte was so sweet that even Willy Wonka would say "that's a bit much". It felt like the only thing being served was a hefty dose of sticker shock.

A good place to work and get things done while sipping on coffee! This coffee shop is very spacious. There's plentiful amounts of tables and outlets. There also couches and board games if you plan on hanging out with friends. The mocha is delicious. You have a choice of double or quad shot of espresso. I got the quad shot mocha and it had me super jittery for a few hours! My friend got the pour over with their nu-milk, it comes in oat and cashew. She thought it was delicious. This is my friend and I's to-go place to study, so we'll definitely be back!

Somewhat limited parking up front (single row of spaces) - additional parking in back or around side, but still only single row of spaces. Order at counter, and pick up at counter. Kind, efficient, & knowledgable service. Able to ask questions without feeling stupid. *Some orders (burritos, pour over, etc) may take additional time. Staff can guide you if you're on a set timeline. NOT a lot of flavor options if you prefer sweeter/fancier coffees - but a great place for coffee purists. Refreshing cold brew, filling burrito w/ just-crispy-enough tortilla. Both the green & red salsas flavorful in their own right. Proper plates, but for some reason plasticware? So not entirely sustainable, but still - they have what you need. Bins for dirty dishes toward back wall. Complimentary water dispenser near front counter. Variety of seating options, & fairly spread out - so you can be comfortable, have privacy, have workspace, or be social. Mostly clean tabletops. Natural light by the entrance, decent overhead lighting throughout the center, but some corners can be a little shadowed. Should be able to accommodate a variety of accessibility needs, it seems. Can run a little chilly, so worth bringing a sweater you can throw over just in case. Good wifi: "Espresso" (subject to change). Generous holiday hours. Small selection of merch, but still fun to browse.

Good coffee, good atmosphere overall except at times when it gets crowded and the noise level is a bit high. But that's true with most coffee shops.

Fantastic spot. It's so much bigger than it looks from the outside! Tons of seating options. Staff was absolutely delightful. My only complaint was the scone I got, it was rather dry and kind of bland. Otherwise a great little coffee spot, will for sure be coming back

Loved the vibe of this place. Especially loved the coffee. My husband got their nitro and I got their latte with oat, we recommend this place.

This place is awesome, great place to read a book or work on your laptop while you have good coffee. Highly recommend.

Dimmed, quiet environments. With a creamy Danish pastry, the Chi latte was just right. I was pleased with the speed and efficiency of the service.

Cartel is a solidly dependable spot for coffee and tea. They've got all the basic coffee and tea options you'd expect, as well as some unique specialty drinks like the Honey Lavender Matcha. The Honey Lavender Matcha is a lovely, gently sweet drink that gives you a decent caffeine boost without the eventual crash that you might get from coffee. It's excellent iced, and you can of course order it with the dairy milk or non-dairy substitute of your choosing. Cartel's staff is friendly, and the ambience is very relaxed. They're conveniently located, even if their parking lot is a bit of a nightmare much of the time (though that's not their fault -- a lot of the businesses along Campbell have similarly horrible parking!). The ordering and payment process is distanced and touch-free right now (as of May 2021) which was nice.

The chai latte was a bit too sugary but the iced mocha I got was so good. I can't wait to have it again. Service was great except for the tipping which is asked publicly and kinda guilt trapping you into tipping.

This was our favorite cafe we frequented while visiting Tucson. The staff was really great, we loved their Ethiopian drip (super cool that they have a rotating selection for that!), and there was lots of seating. As an added bonus, they have local art displayed. I don't have too much else to add other than this was the perfect neighborhood coffee shop!

Cartel is one of my go-to homework spots. They're almost single-handedly caffeinating me through my undergrad. They have good drinks, as well as a wide variety, which is nice. I don't drink coffee (I know, I know) so I judge a coffee shop on their tea options. Cartel's options are great. They have hot tea, which comes in a pot with unlimited steeps, and they always have a green, black, and herbal option. They have sparkling prickly pear tea which is unique, I don't think I've ever seen that at any other coffee shops! They also have really good chai and matcha (I love their honey lavender matcha). The food options right now include Houlden's Rise Above pastries (absolutely to-die-for local vegan baker) and Mi Salsa burritos. They're both really good. The coffee cake is my favorite pastry, and the seasonal option right now is a blueberry coffee cake. The cookies are really good too, and a bit cheaper. I get the potato and poblano Mi Salsa burrito with mild salsa. It's decently sized and fairly filling, and they always taste fresh. The ambiance and service are also pretty darn good. All of the baristas are friendly, and several of them have started to recognize me now that I go in so much, which is its own sense of accomplishment. I would say that most of the people there are studying or working, which makes Cartel usually quiet enough to concentrate. My criticism is that they are pretty expensive. I definitely wish it was more reasonably priced. If I get a drink ($7-ish), a pastry ($2-6), and a burrito (about $10), I'm dropping nearly $30 that day just at Cartel. Location, Houlden's Rise Above pastries, good drinks, and plenty of other people studying are what keep me coming back.

~ what i got ~ latte ($4.50) apple crumble coffee cake ($3.50) from @houldens.riseabove - vegan coffee cake with apples, brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon ~ thoughts ~ latte was good! it paired perfectly with the cake! honestly, houlden's rise above baked goods were so so good!! i didn't know the turnover i had the first day was made by them too! lowkey wished i lived in tucson, bc their baked goods were so delish & vegan too!!

I really like Cartel, I love the ambiance and their team is always so friendly! Coffee is great quality and I'm glad they have Houlden's Rise Above pastries, but some recent changes they've made have been a bummer. They've moved from Califa Farms Oat Milk to Numilk (from Shark Tank) and NuMilk is slimy and tastes horrid. At the same time, they've increased their latte prices to the point where we paid $7.07 before tip for a Vanilla Latte with regular milk.. and they only have one size! I like supporting local shops and will come here for espresso and pastries, but it looks like lattes are out of my price range with the addition of bad oat milk.

Wonderful coffee and in my opinion the best in town. Their Campbell location is mainly for people studying or working in computers. Very industrial ambiance. The parking isn't the best in town but it's worth it.

Quad mocha - 4 espresso shots. Didn't that was a thing until the lass behind the counter asked me if I wanted 2 or four shots. Sacre Bleu! I was vibrating for the rest of the morning, but loved every minute of it!

Just the coolest coffee shop, coffee is always amazing but the ambiance is my favorite. I love to work from home here or just meet cool people.

I love working here usually - the desks and the chairs are pretty comfortable for hunkering down and doing a few hours of work. Plus lots of outlets! I usually get a chai latte, matcha latte, or the sparkling tea. All of which are great. Sometimes there's residual noise from their neighbor (a gym of some kind) but still manageable for doing work!

The staff makes you feel special and even the crowd seem overly friendly. Decaf coffee I'm not impressed though

First time in this place was there on Saturday order a Matcha Drink didn't tasted like matcha just no flavor it looked more milk that anything nothing special . Restrooms were not clean at all the toilet papers on the floor .

This is a bit of an overdue review, as I went there earlier in the year. From the outside it seems like this place has a lot going for it. It has a offbeat name, cool looking interior with a lot of seating; the wood tables are very cool, it's like if an industrial city loft and an Apple store had a baby. But that's where the good things kind of stop. First, when I went in they had very strict Covid policies, I felt like I was back in Los Angeles when the pandemic started. With all of that space in there, it seemed like it was a bit over the top. I'm sure that's changed by now, or at least I hope it has. So if I liked the coffee, I'd probably get it to go on the next visit. The second part, and the most important, is that the coffee just wasn't that great. To make matters worse, the price was the highest I've paid in Tucson, and plus a tip. A couple coffees will lighten your wallet more so than other places. The baristas were fine, no complaints with customer service. I think to get to four starts, they need to do something about their coffee and review their pricing. This place has a lot of potential, especially with such a well designed interior and space for people who want to study, work, etc.

We had the sweetest young woman serving us. The coffee was delicious, ambiance open and chill. We'll be back.

The ambiance and flavor have won out this five star review. When reading other reviews on this thread I understand that you might not want to wait ten minutes for coffee. However going to a coffee shop and enjoying espresso correctly is a way of life and an artistic experience. So as they say, you can't rush Art. My latte tastes awesome. My 3 year old is happy. The vibe is on point. There is SOO much space to have a study party here and it's comfy. I'm from California so the prices are exact. Remember, getting Starbucks, is not the same as getting coffee.

I popped into cartel roasting on a Thursday afternoon for a great cup of iced tea and a chance to get some much needed work done on my laptop. I sat at their hightop bar while listening to the mellow jams play over the speaker. The baristas are nice. Wish they had a few more food items but overall it's a chill place.

Good ambiance to get together. My cold brew is bit acidic, I guess the bean type, need to pour many HnH

This was the 1st time I've been here. I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't see well but they were kind and understanding while taking my order. Asked me all the necessary questions as well. The atmosphere was so comforting and was great to read in. I got the a vanilla oat latte and it was light, creamy, and fresh. One of the best coffee places I've been in!

This was my first visit! I got a caramel coffee and thier strawberry oat scone. I really enjoyed both especially the scone, it had a homemade taste to it! The ambience was very calm and relaxing. Plenty of space to sit and enjoy your goodies! The service was pleasant! I will be back

Really nice ambiance. Food and drinks were really good, except they were a bit expensive, which is why it is only 4/5 stars. I will still be coming back though.

Excellent, fresh tasting, rich cold brew to go! I'm looking forward to trying more of their menu items.