Took a pit stop here after a heavy lunch for a quick coffee break. The place is relaxing with good music, people can get a bit loud but the place has a good vibe. There were folks reading, working and chilling, definitely a good escape option from the heat outside ;).I ordered an iced latte, the coffee is on point, light and refreshing. Overall enjoyed my experience, would recommend this place for a coffee break.

This coffee shop has made a name for itself here for its tasty pastries and coffee. Such a cool local business and a place I’ve loved going to for years! Their coffee and chai are so good but the best part is the amazing staff! They have locations all over town so you’re never too far from one. If you haven’t been yet you definitely need to check this place out!

This is cute little hidden gem, with plenty of indoors and outdoors space to chill. Plus, the coffee is great! Highly recommend!

I want to love this place but the latte just isn’t good. Baked goods are ok.

Good place for ok coffee. I am all about trying different blends of coffee but I find it very hard to just get a regular cup of good brewed coffee here. If you are into overly acidic to flavored coffees than this is your place to try some very unusual blinds.

Thought the guy behind the counter was less than helpful and rude! Asked a simple question and didn’t get an answer! I mean when somebody says what’s your favorite coffee flavor and you say well we have these is not very helpful! Get some customer service skills!

The coffee based on the baristas recommendation, was delicious as well as my poptart.definitely going to be one of my breakfast spots when I travel back to AZ

Decent tea, but not a lot to choose from; good iced coffees - the Cold Brew Colada was a bit funky! It would have been a wonderful experience, if we had better seats! 😄 😄 Great cookies 🍪 😋

This has got to be one of the coolest coffee labs in PHX. Amazing little places to meet and work as you sip on heavenly drinks and eat creative treats. I love this place! Wonder back in the hallways and doorways and find a place to enjoy your moments and get some work done. #Awesome

Excellent coffee shop. Espresso and coffee have rich and complex flavors, some of the best I’ve had. Great find, will be back!

Great coffee/espresso, my favorite in Scottsdale. Cortado is my go to, but for warmer days an iced espresso and milk drink is delicious

The service was very slow, and I had to clarify my order a few times (iced decaf latte with almond milk). Having been a barista myself, I know this is not a complicated order. The coffee itself was good, but not stand out. I will not go out of my way to go back.

Great location; great service; and great drinks.Love supporting local. The space is well equipped for casual business meetings or students. The tables are wide to layout out an office desk - LOL!

Great coffee, vibes, and WiFi!Nice little quiet spot in Old Town to get some work done throughout the day!Would highly recommend!

The lazy Saturday was so refreshing and tasty, super friendly staff specially Nicholas.

A must! Delicious pour over options and a nice variety of sweet/savory bites.This spot has three communal seating options with several small tables (both indoor and outdoor). Service is great too!

I stumbled upon the Cartel gang while in Phoenix on vacation. It may have saved my life, as I was slowly dying from hotel coffee. The Cartel Coffee folks fixed me up with an excellent pour-over and friendly coffee banter. My only wish is that I had grabbed some beans to take back home with me. Ill be looking them up online and will definitely be looking up Cartel Coffee the next time Im in the Phoenix area.Thanks, Cartel Coffee!!!!!!!!

Stopped by Cartel and though the product is good, the girl at the counter seemed bothered that I asked what was in one of the cold brew based drinks. My husband order a drip coffee and like I said, product was good yet the barista/cashier was just unpleasant. Feeling like an “annoyance” as a customer is not something I want to experience again.

Im an avid coffee drinker and the nitro cold brew was the worst coffee i think ive ever had.

Great little spot in Old Town. Small area for sitting studying but the staff is amazing and coffee is always delicious. One of my favorite go to spots while Im in town.

Coffee is really good! Only complaint is a better system for online orders, got there and since theres only one line it took an extra 10 minutes to get my coffee.

The place is cute but the iced Americano was bad. Very sour.

The green chili burrito was the best.

Great coffee. I had an oat milk latte and it was made perfectly. They do a good job of enforcing masks when walking in. Would def return.

Quaint. Nice people and good coffee. Definitely not like Starbucks.

4 stars for ambiance, zero for taste. The cold brew was nasty beyond belief. I have never tasted anything like this before. I actually took it back, and that is something I never do. The wife said her latte was good.

Did not enjoy the coffee here. The flavor is odd. Took a couple sips and threw it away. Couldn’t even drink it.

What a great spot in old town Scottsdale surrounded by little niche shops with both indoor and outdoor seating. Cartel has remained out favorite Phoenix Coffee shop and roaster since we found them in 2011. They have 4 shops in the Phoenix area with one inside the airport post security (huge plus). If you’re into third wave coffee... or basically a good cup or coffee or espresso based drink that has natural notes and flavors... you’ll love Cartel. The Scottsdale Location is our favorite as the vibe is always chill enough even when busy. Americano, Pour Over selection and Lattes are always on point. Their new pastry selection (daily changing) is also very good. Highly recommended for a cup to stay, go or beans to take home.

Great coffee roaster. They have some really great single origin beans to go. Yes, you will pay more than whatever you are getting at Safeway, but especially right now, why not support an awesome local business and treat yourself to better coffee at home, since youre stuck there anyway?If you are venturing out for your coffee, however, Cartel still has you covered -- at this location (havent been to others during the pandemic), they are limiting the number of parties that can come inside to order at a time, to keep everyone safe and the economy open. Thanks for taking care, Cartel team! Stay safe, and keep roasting that killer coffee!

Knowledgeable helpful staff! Great high quality coffee and fun decor. Nice little spot in old town

Awful customer service experience: If Im paying $8 for a latte, I expect the customer service to be up-to-par. Every simple question I asked the barista, he made it seem like I was a burden. There was no line out the door or backed up with customers, so Im not sure why he was so rude, frankly. During a time where small businesses are under water, I will be sure to patronize another small business who treats their customers with dignity and respect. We went to Sweet Dees the other day and had stellar service, learn from them.

Some of the best coffee you will ever taste. I can understand why Cartel has won so many awards for their coffee. It truly is an unique product. After living abroad for many years it was nice to find a Coffee Shop that produces a high quality product. You have to try this coffee!

I am from out of town, so I checked to see what was available. I was disappointed to see no baked goods. Maybe because it 8 pm and other locations have baked goods? Cold brew prickly pear and regular were better than the caffe latte. I did like the latte art though. Plenty of seating space.

The best coffee in Scottsdale amazing taste finally a good coffe for coffee lovers

Rude customer service. Ordered just regular coffee which may have been our mistake. McDonalds is better. Told to pull up our masks between sips of coffee.... Sigh.

Strong Americano! Busy! In the heart of Old Town Scottsdale shopping area. Recommended. G. D.

First time here. Staff was very friendly, and extremely helpful. Very nice decor and coffee and teas were amazing! Pricing was a little high but more than willing to pay in these times to help small businesses. A must try for Scottsdale

Love this local coffee shop. Its my 2nd office and the staff are like family. Great cappuccinos too!

Good strong coffee. And its not burned...

104 degree dry weather and I need to wear a mask while every other place is updated with the times? That makes a lot of sense. People mistakenly took our drinks because your order-up is announced by the item you purchased. That works well If im the only one in a coffee shop ordering a cappuccino lol

The worst service I have ever experienced. And terrible coffee. Will never step foot in here again. Chop house a few doors down had great food, coffee, service and prices!

Great Light roasted coffee!! Excellent service - Erin was great making lattes. Excellent personality. Totally recommend this place

What a cool concept for a coffee shop. Several different areas to hang out depending on what youre trying to do (listen to live music and chill, study quietly, play a board game with friends, etc). The loose leaf tea selection is fantastic and free refills (yes its just hot water but you definitely cant expect that these days). Unique selection of coffee brews and Ill say I do not know the difference between any of them. However, the staff would be happy to share!

Great Phoenix roasted espresso. Just dont ask for your macchiato with caramel or to go. 😉 Traditional style ftw

Yikes, they have constructed a dystopic environment with all sorts of ugly barriers,  rules, and warning signs creating a fearful and creepy experience. It feels like youre going into a hospital.There are many other Scottsdale coffee shops to choose from not pushing fear and overt virtue signalling. Very sad to take this one off my list.

When we walked up people in front of us were walking away bothered. Employee was a bit rude so we also went elsewhere. Seemed like it could have been a nice spot but there are too many other great coffee shops to need to deal with an employee that doesn’t want to be at work.

Friendly staff. The nitro cold brew slaps and is actually worth the extra cost.

This coffee is the best! The iced coffee and cold brew are out of this world.

Good Coffee, Good WiFi! Cartel is my go-to place for good espresso in the east valley. I have been to all their locations, and their coffee drinks are always consistently the best Ive been able to find.

Went today and the coffee was excellent. Highly recommend! I felt the service was friendly and great!

Good enough coffee

Great service, every time. Great place to meet with clients as well.

This is actually one of the best coffee places Ive ever been to atmospheres amazing coffee is amazing just absolutely amazing.

Great local coffee spot. Good for hanging out with a brew in house or to go.

Just walked in to grab a chai and scone. After immediately being told to line up straight (without being greeted) because apparently they have changed how the line forms and then being barked at again for not standing directly on the dots, I left. By the way, there were only 2 customers and one associate in the store. Yes the product is good but I don’t need to be scolded and barked at.

I did not enjoy my experience here. The barista was rude and condescending to my and my friend. I’d rather go somewhere else for overpriced coffee served by entitled employees.

Since when does “hip” translate to “rude”? Worst service ever. Reckless transactional driven employees that don’t care about the success of the business or retention of returning customers. Unfortunately we didn’t even try the coffee due to attitude.

Coffee is fine, nothing fancy. Running a pretty tight ship with the Covid “rules” which is fine but the stoic rude attitude this place is running is a complete turn off.

This location has a nice seating area in the front and behind it depending on the environment you are looking for. The coffee is perfectly made and has a great smooth taste. Some of the baked goods rotate based on the day but Ive enjoyed every savory scone they make.

9 out of 10, only because it can be quite a long wait time, especially if youre in a hurry and its busy.Best coffee in the city, hands down. High quality beans are roasted fresh every week at the Tempe location, so youre getting coffee thats as fresh as it gets. Delicious teas, cold brews, and beers as well as your standard coffee drinks are offered.They wont usually give you straight espresso to go because it starts to sour very fast. Just talk to the barrista. My standard order is an americano to go, with as little water in it as possible.

Excellent expresso! Will be back!

Awesome. Check it out.

Coffee was okay and burrito lacked a little, but good vibes here

Unfortunately, my experience today at Cartel Coffee Lab in Scottsdale was not good. I ordered online and arrived a few minutes after the expected pickup time. Due to their COVID restrictions, I was barred from the store until the customer in front of me left (1 customer at a time allowed inside.) Unfortunately, this customer took at least 10 minutes to finish her business. The store didnt have a pickup area for pre-orders, so I had to wait. When I was allowed in, I discovered that they hadnt made my coffee, so I had to wait a few more minutes. I finally got the coffee 35 minutes after I ordered it. Unfortunately, as I drove away and opened the lid, I discovered that the half and half had curdled and rendered the drink a total loss.Im sure that these series of mishaps are not typical for this coffeehouse, so I just have to believe that my coffee was just another COVID casualty.I hope these words help the owners figure out how to better serve the public during the restrictions. I want them around when we return to normal so I can give them another chance.

Awesome local coffee shop with safe Covid measures! Not only does this place have the best coffee, but they are taking Covid seriously, too. Felt super safe grabbing a cup and always have great conversations with the friendly baristas. If you’re looking to support a tasty local coffee biz that’s still taking Covid seriously, this is the place!

Great coffee and atmosphere. Took a little bit to get our beverages, but theyre worth the wait.

Treated pretty rudely by the barista, will not be returning unfortunately.

Great coffee. Clean, smooth taste. No bite.

Always rude customer service. Always. I have tried over and over but it’s always the same experience.

Forced to wear mask and coffee was ok. Waited longer because someone took our coffee.

Great coffee. Great service.

Menu selection is simple. Flavors are complex. Prices are nice, 3.75 for a large cold brew cant be beat. W

1st time here & coffee was amazing ❤ was also very comfy & cozy

$5 Coffee, $5 ExperienceIts a nice coffee shop. Although, I havent had the joy of experiencing the environment which may have made spending $5 on a small (regular) cup of coffee from this place worth it.

My favorite coffee joint in the Valley. Super hipster to be sure, but the space is great and the coffee is full of flavor. And they serve beer too!

Great spot to chill and converse

Very rude barista. They have good coffee but I will not come back due to the attitude and rudness of the barista.

Great coffee! Definitely delicious and woke me up well into the night. Careful, those double shots are loaded!

Great coffee, great covid management

A cool little place to grab a great tasting cup.

Great coffee and cool vibe. Just walking around the area saw this place and gave it a try. I’m a purist when it comes to coffee, so espresso is my jam. It’ll was good, but slightly acidic and bitter on the finish but curbed by just a little sweet. I like this place.

I had the vanilla latte. Honestly, it was unremarkable. There was nothing wrong with the coffee other than the size was small for the price, but thats almost expected being located in a predominantly tourist area. Im happy to support small, independent shops, but I look for something unique to bring me back...a vibe, a great deal, or in the case of coffee shop, a great and flavorful taste. This shop had nothing that would make me want to return. There was nothing bad about it...just no hook to make me go there again. Average with higher than average prices.

Excellent coffee! Had the inza cauca, full bodied light roast.

Great coffee and nice seating areas! Tip: check the back rooms for more seating.

Good lattes, comfy environment.

Great coffee and one of the most famous in town. One thing I love is they carry Central and South American varieties of coffee - and their roasts from these regions are amazing. Also, the dirty chai is worth a try!

Nice coffee shop with a modern and cool interior. There are different sections, so plenty of seats. Also, you can chat comfortably with your friends. The Americano and the cookie were both great. Highly recommended!

Really fantastic espresso that was dialed in perfectly. Really awesome selection of Latin American SO coffees as well. I tried a naturally processed El Salvador, the was fantastic. The baristas took their time to make everything in spite of being pretty busy.

Very nice... Coffee wasnt for my taste. But, very classy, clean and fashionable presentation. I still highly recommend, as I still enjoyed the experience and everything overall!

Person working was super rude and short with us. If you’re that worried about Covid, just close.

Stopped in for an espresso. Place seemed pretty busy for a hot day. The double was a bit small in my estimation and I wasnt overwhelmed by the flavor unlike some other reviewers. But not bad, and I would go back when in the neighborhood of down town Scottsdale- which isnt often....

We were just walking by and it smelled so good, we had to go inside. A double dirty chai latte later, fell in love!!!!

Great spot

Great coffee and friendly, knowledgeable man on site.

Hire more people just waited 40 mins for a coffee.

Cartel is great for the serious coffee lover. A Starbucks regular may feel out of place. They make quality lattes, but they can get more expensive than usual. Good flavor, high prices.

We usually like this place but today we thought the guy that waited on us at about 2 o’clock this afternoon had a really poor attitude and he also filtered out my tea that was never done that way before 😆it was always with the fresh pieces in the bottom of the tea cup so I can have a refill of hot waterI didn’t really care for his attitudeYou should’ve asked me if I wanted it done differently from all the other times I’ve had it prepared thereI didn’t feel comfortable there today and we’ve gone there many many timesI don’t know if it’s new owners or new employees but it wasn’t a good experience today

Great place to stop in and get out of the sun. I grabbed a cold drink to walk around with while I killed some time. Its in a great location and theres plenty of seating inside to camp out for a bit. Friendly staff and my order was ready pretty quickly.

Good coffee a lil pricey

It was okay. Would be nicer if there were more comfortable places to sit. Its very very casual. Could be cleaner and more user friendly. Starbucks would be better.