Cartel Coffee Lab

Whenever I come to Tucson, I come to cartel. It’s almost as synonymous with the place as the congress is for me. To start with, the aesthetic is perfect. There are recycled materials mixed with bricks alongside animal busts and raw exposed wood. Great vibes. There is an awesome pizza oven that unfortunately is a relic from an older time (yet they say they’re working to get it up again).
The coffee is perfection, with tasty roasts and well executed brewing/​pours. I got an iced Americano, as I tend to do, and all my dreams came true. I also got a chocolate chip cookie which was both soft with a nice crunch on the exterior. So good.
Edit: I didn’t realize there are two locations so my review is for the one near the Rialto theatre tho I’m sure this one holds just as high a standard.

Stopped here on our road trip. The cashier recommended the cold brew. So glad she did. It was exactly what we needed. The quiche was really good and love the lemon blueberry muffin. Got 2 small cold brews the quiche and muffin all for like $ 12.

I came here a few times in college (a few years ago) but usually preferred Coffee X-​Change. I decided to come back and try Cartel (it was in a slightly different spot in this strip mall last time I was here). My first impression was of a hipster coffee shop, very similar to shops unique to Brooklyn and other parts of NYC. The décor felt industrial, which might appeal to some, but it didn’t feel like a welcome place where I would want to study (in comparison to Espresso Art or Caffe Lucce).
The menu is fairly simple, but I actually enjoy the taste of coffee, so I figured I would like whatever I ordered. I generally prefer darker roasts of coffee with a splash of cream just to help smooth out the flavor. I ordered cold brew, as I love Trader Joe’s cold brew concentrate.
After paying, I asked the barista where the cream was at. Apparently, this is a crime against humanity. At first, I thought he was angry because I asked a question. I didn’t see it upon my first glance around so asking seemed like the sensible thing to do. The barista rolled their eyes and pointed to where it was.
I was under the distinct impression that this is a shop populated by hipster coffee purists. Perhaps it’s just personal preference, but I prefer shops where I’m treated well. I don’t need to be welcomed on a red carpet with shining faces. I understand the woes of working in customer service myself, so I know not every customer gets a smile and pleasant conversation from the employees. However, I don’t think it’s asking too much to be treated politely.
I could see past all this if the coffee were amazing. I found the cold brew to be incredibly bitter with a sour aftertaste, even with the cream. I suspect either the coffee they used was stale or had it a poor ratio of water to coffee. Or I just don’t like the type of blend they use to make their cold brew. Either way, I don’t plan on going back to a place I know I’m not even welcome.

Cartel has pretty good coffee. Sometimes you will get a barista who is pretentious about the coffee, refusing to add cream/​sugar, as if it’s offensive to them that someone would prefer their coffee any way but black. With that being sad, I think their coffee is best when taken black. So I guess they are vindicated in their opinion but not how they treat customers who disagree. At any rate, the coffee is definitely worth a try.

Worse coffee I’ve ever had! I barely come here but never had a good drink! If I have to come back in the future, definitely not getting an ice coffee. Ughhh

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I really do miss Coffee X-​Change. Call me a hipster, but Cartel was WAY better when the yuppies and undergrads went over there… now this place (formerly my favorite coffee shop) tends to be overrun with young parents and their sticky children, as well as LOUD groups of Ashton Kutcher clones.
That being said, the pastries are always homemade and very consistent; the coffee is incredible; the tea is impressive; the wine list makes me smile and the draught list makes me glad I finally started appreciating IPA’s; the tables and bar are super uncomfortable, but still don’t seem to discourage campers. They also have a whiskey list that people love, but I’m a tequila girl.
This is where I go when I have to drag work home with me – they’re open fairly late and I don’t usually get bugged by other patrons or by an overly chatty barista. I’ll also head here if I sleep in too late to beat the rush at P&P – Cartel always has a savory scone on weekend mornings and it’s to DIE for!
Sad panda… I really miss the full kitchen. They used to have this killer egg sammich that I ordered nearly every weekend, but they switched to pastry only maybe a year ago.

This has been THE best so far. We’ve recently been to a few other 4 – 5 star shops, but these guys still take the cup. We walked in the first time and felt a little… awkward. No welcome from the staff was a little off putting, but with a bunch of dudes behind the counter, I guess we can’t expect smiles and a sunny «hello». Instead it was deep concentration and beards. A little, hipster? Who cares, they know why we’re really there, and it isn’t good conversation. It’s good coffee, and that they provide. The only other thing that peeved me out was the lack of cream and sugar at the counter. Splenda and agave syrup? Gross. Otherwise, spot on. Strong cups with great flavor. Will be back again and again.

Really fckin slow, painful. Turns out hipster dude forgot to make the drink. Made us late had to ask –_​– when you walk in it’s uncomfortable, like all the hipsters are judging you. I might as well have been naked and thrusting on the customers. Also, I thought there would be Mexican food, there wasn’t. Only positive was the dead birds on the wall. Oggy oggy oggy! #notip #notcomingback #heprobhighaf

Okay, I already love Cartel Coffee Lab in the Phoenix metro area so this was a nice find while on a recent trip to Tucson. This location is in a circa fifties area of Tucson that retains a kind of funky, retro vibe. The strip center is a bit divey, but cool. Upon walking in the shop, it’s amazing what they did with the space. There are a lot of seating options and great opportunities to plug in and stay a while. Service was genuinely friendly and welcoming. The coffee and pastries were amazing as usual. Love this spot!

Ever since coffee x-​change closed down I haven’t found a new place to drink coffee. I think cartel might be that new place to drink coffee I’ve been looking for.
I also had a scone. I would describe this scone as very sweet. A little hard. Slightly flaky. Overall I enjoyed my scone.
I also had a capicuno. Now I know what you’re thinking, I mentioned coffee earlier. Well sometimes I include espresso drinks into the greater coffee subcategory. I find this inclusion to be less discriminatory.
The capicuno, or as the Italians refer to it «hot bean water and steamed cow juice» was really a nice treat. Normally I add sugar to my hot bean water, but this didn’t need it. It had a very robust flavor.
I really loved the environment. When you walk in you don’t feel judged. Sometimes the music is a little WTF am I being forced to listen to, then you realize that someone is breaking you out of your musical shell which is kinda nice.
1 star removed for making me get out of my shell.

Particularly in the mornings, this coffee shop hits the spot. Quiet. DELICIOUS coffee. The workspaces are a bit industrial/​not the comfiest, and the lighting is actually not that good… so, not the ideal place to spend an entire day working but, great to grab a cup for a bit.

This place is great. I ordered a decaf cappuccino at about 5:30 PM on a weekday. The place is spacious and there was plenty of seating. The barista and cashier were very friendly. Four stars because my experience here was very quick and short but I wanted to give an honest and direct shout-​out to a place that seems to have it together.

Have to bump my review down. After three visits where I ordered an iced dirty chai (which was awesome, because they have good coffee) I decided to opt for just a plain chai latte. I probably should have expected it to be bad because she made it before I paid, since it was just like two cups of milk and a pump of syrup. It was terrible. I threw it out after two sips — $ 5 down the drain. I seriously urge people who enjoy Cartel’s chai to try REAL chai from literally anywhere else (even STARBUCKS *gasp* does a better job), particularly the Scented Tea Leaf whose chai is spicy, sweet, and not made with just milk and syrup.
Service, pastries, and actual coffee remain great though, if not my overall favorites.

I am not a big coffee person and I only went here to meet up with a friend. I had a mocha latte, something simple that can be unnecessarily complicated at some places, but not here. It was delicious and the perfect temperature.
Cartel served my coffee in a jar, and I expected other Pinterest-​esque things to overwhelm the atmosphere but there weren’t.
It was relaxing and a modern but not hipster-​like environment and that was refreshing to see.
I’d go back again, I’ll probably use it as a great place to meet up with friends.

If Starbucks and Chipotle had a hip baby, that baby would be Cartel.
Stopped with a friend while passing through Tucson. I opted for a pour over as per the barista’s suggestion. When I got my coffee, I was really happy to find the barista put the extra coffee that didn’t fit into my cup in a mason jar for me. (Most shops end up dumping the extra coffee out and that annoys me to no end – if I’m paying $ 5 for coffee, I want every last drop.)
I enjoyed my pour over. If I remember correctly, it was a Guatemala and it had deep chocolate notes. I also appreciated the atmosphere, although it was almost awkwardly quiet even though it was packed. (Oddly, I had the same observation with Cartel in downtown Phoenix last year.)
I enjoyed my stop at Cartel and recommend it if you’re in Tucson or Phoenix.

Cartel is a really neat environment. The baristas are always nice. I’ve come here a bunch to do work or study. Sometimes the music can be a bit loud though.
They have great teas with free refills! I’ve had their chai tea latte and in not a huge fan. It’s pretty thick and very sweet and I like my chai trad to have a bit more spice to them but that’s just a personal preference!

It’s like a tradition that my man and I come here most Saturdays that I am in town so we can do work. It is a pretty chill place to focus but it does get loud sometimes, especially if it is later at night. This location is by campus, so that is probably why. I have seen people here just hanging out too tho.
Anyways I am not an avid coffee drinker so I prefer mine kinda sweet and creamy, so it gets hard sometimes to order from here. I used to get the green teas which are always tea-​like hahaa. I recently tried the Hibiscus tea it was good but not what I expected. Just based on that color I kept thinking the passion tea from starbucks which messed up my taste buds.
Anyways…mostly come here for the treats! Best one I have had was the nutella cheesecake, but I haven’t seen it again since the first time I went here. The second best treat we got from here was from last weekend, the big monkey bars (or is it money) idk but they were sooo goood. I had to ask him to get me another one. They were like homemade Twix bars but so much better coz it’s not super sweet and the shortbread was a tad bit fluffier.
Anyways…til the next weekend!

Very much a hipster and college hotspot. The coffee is good: single origin varietals roasted carefully to let the quality and characteristics of the bean come out. Although for the price I can’t help but feel there’s a premium for the image. They do get points for multiple pour over options, a large pastry case that could give you diabetes from all the sweets, and a decent shot of espresso.
Personally I go elsewhere for my coffee, but I do like to stop in and perch at the beer/​wine/​whiskey bar where the pints are very reasonably priced and quality. It’s nice to not be in a bar with mirrored signs for yellow fizzy water or in a club that feels more like an airport lounge than someplace to relax for a minute.

Cartel Coffee Lab is a slice of caffeinated heaven in a nondescript strip mall.
Seriously, the outside completely belies how charming this place is. Lots of rustic wood and metal, abundant seating and wi-​fi, friendly and unpretentious baristas — it’s everything you’d ever want in a coffee shop. If I were a U of A student, I would just move in here and never leave.
My only gripe: my cappuccino tasted a little burnt.

Coffee is good but not cheap (3.50 for small size) but strong coffee with choice of options. The location is in a small strip mall and would be easy to miss as it doesn’t stand out. Inside is not very large and mostly long tables with chairs so that you are sharing the space. They have free wifi so it is a good place for study or work while you enjoy the coffee, tea or pastries. It’s pretty quiet. There are some plush chairs and sofa if you just want to relax

Cartel no doubt has great coffee, though a little on the steeper end in terms of price of coffee in town. They do make a mean latte though. I come here often to do work, but be warned of the crowds during the weekend afternoons of the academic year. The pace definitely slows down in the summer, but i can be difficult to find a place to sit on the weekends otherwise.
I’ve noticed on several occasions that I have shortened my stay due to the really loud music, while other times, it’s been peacefully quiet. One of the things that I like the most is that I can go at any time of day and decide if I want a coffee or beer after I get there. They have a happy hour and a few beers on tap if you have earned your pint after an afternoon of hard work.
I usually go to this location due to the convenience, but if the downtown location has a beautiful setup with a ton of natural light. The only downside is that you have to park on the street and keep feeding the meters during the day time.

3.5 stars. LOVE the coffee but as far as my expectations for coffee shop vibes, Cartel is WAY TOO QUIET. it was like sitting in a library so my friend and i who wanted to catch up over coffee felt obligated to leave (i guess i’ll only take to-​GO in the future)
they’ve only got half & half on the counter for adding to coffee but i didnt ask if they offer other options
—iced coffee: really smooth & good
—cowboy cookie: YUM, i couldn’t resist the pastry display and i’m glad i settled on this cookie with chocolate, nuts & oats
lots of seating so i guess if you’re studying & need a quiet space it’s perfect!

I hadn’t been here in about 6 months (I usually go to the Broadway store now), but I am glad I returned — twice in one week, actually! I really love the iced Toddys so that’s what I ordered the first time — the only disappointing thing about it for me is always the price (about $ 4 for a glorified iced coffee is a bit steep for my taste) but it was still delicious and worth it.
My second trip here was in the evening and I ordered the Cartel-​brand Imperial IPA (10%ABV?). It came in a snifter glass and was DELICIOUS.
I really like that they have beer/​wine AND coffee here, that makes it a good place for me to go any time of day since I can’t drink coffee after about 3pm and fall asleep at night: P

Service: 5 stars– quick and friendly, what more could you ask for?
Drink: Chai latte with soy 4 stars since it was a big sweet for me, but I like how they didn’t load up on ice! Price is very reasonable. The large size here is equivalent to a small at a different café I was at last week in downtown!
I didn’t have any pastries but they looked yummy!
Ambiance: 4 stars only because the seats left my butt sore after 15 min :(
A lot of people, well pretty much everyone actually, was working on laptops or reading – basically staying for a while, so you would think they would have comfy seats for your bum! They have a few couches but those fill up fast!

There comes a time in a person’s life when the tasteless, charred swill emitted by a decades old Mr. Coffee can no longer be tolerated. Anyone can burn coffee beans, like kids burning marshmallows around a campfire. Few can roast and flavor them to the perfection that Cartel has managed every day of the week for years on end.
These brews need no cream or sugar, in fact adding some feels almost sacrilegious. Before you make any additions, savor the diversity of flavors this coffee lays across your palate. It’ll be worth it, and you may start drinking it black all the time.
The espresso here is also a blend that’s difficult to compete with, though I do prefer the extensive, and ever-​changing variety of drip coffee. Whatever you get, the baristas make it with a passion you don’t find many other places, certainly not a spirit you see at most corporate chains.
Cartel offers a hip, inviting, and laid back atmosphere along with excellent service, and ever-​inspiring coffee + refreshments. I highly recommend it.

While the space itself is a big surprise considering it’s located in a sort of stripmall — gorgeous! — the coffee… not so much.
Soy milk is their only non-​dairy option, which is sort of a bummer, especially when most other coffee shops in Tucson offer almond milk as well. The espresso itself was different both times I visited: once, mediocre, and the other time absolutely awful :(.
I wanted to like this place so much, but a coffee shop needs kickass coffee, first and foremost.

Cartel is my favorite work space. Although it seems there is never really a «slow» time during the day here, there is always an open chair/​table space/​outlet. The coffee is not my favorite in the city, but I know a lot of people love it. It is consistent and good.
This was also one of my favorite places to get lunch, and I am VERY disappointed that they stopped serving food a couple of months ago. They now allow you to bring in food to eat, and have a delicious array of baked goods and pastries as well.
Everyone who I have encountered that works here is friendly, efficient, & very helpful.