Observers of coffee culture often speak in terms of waves. The current wave, one that has been crashing over our cities since the '90s, is the third one, characterized by single origin beans and manual brewing. Regardless of what trends dominate worldwide, one local coffee house has been making its own waves for over a decade via steady expansion throughout Arizona and even a few points beyond. Now with numerous locations, Tempe-based Cartel has grown a great deal since its founding in 2007, both in terms of its geographic footprint and its menu.
everythinjg bagel twist and cappcuccino
The original location is just a half mile from the Mill Avenue / Third Street station; however, the Tempe Streetcar stops much closer at University and Ash. This is the small chain's largest location and the one that most maintains an indie vibe. A bike rack made of pipes is found along Ash Avenue, just outside one of Cartel's two entrances here. A newer Tempe location is found inside Durham Hall, the home of the School of International Letters and Cultures at Arizona State University, a few blocks south of the Veterans Way / College Avenue light rail station.
ginger molasses cookie and cinnamon matcha latte
In Phoenix, the longstanding downtown location on First Street is close to light rail, with the Downtown Hub nearby. The shop is on the ground floor of a recently renovated office building/ The shop itself is small, but windows facing an outdoor counter create an open feel. Bike racks are found on both sides of First Street. Another Phoenix location at Rise Uptown, a small, stylish hotel on Camelback between the stations at 7th Avenue and Central Avenue. There are a few outdoor seats facing Camelback, and bike racks are found near the hotel lobby.
chocolate chunk cookie and chai latte
Cartel has sometimes used the slogan "not just about caffeine." This doesn't mean a Starbucks-style assortment of sweetened drinks in seemingly infinite flavors, though. Instead, it means that at any time, several varieties of single origin coffee are offered and described almost as if they were wines in terms of nuances of flavor and aroma. For those who just want a solid cup of coffee at a good price, the rotating daily drip is probably the best option. The "Slow Bar," on the other hand, is the option for a choice of one of the specialty brews prepared to order.
pumpking cream cheese muffin and espresso tonic
Espresso, cortado, cappuccino, and latte preparations are all available, each listed with precise measurements of the progressively large quantities of milk involved in each drink. For the most part, flavorings and sweeteners are limited to agave, vanilla, or mocha syrups; however, another section of the menu labeled "Experimental" is where seasonal drinks like an autumn spiced matcha or a pumpkin CCL (coconut cream latte) can be found. Whether made with coffee or tea, seasonal drinks are generally restrained in their sweetness, allowing the spice and fruit flavors to dominate.
burrito and lemonade
Cartel's original location in the Maple-Ash district of Tempe went a long time with virtually no food service at all. Then, an in-house bakery was added in back to provide some sustenance. Since then, both the bakery and the roastery have moved to a central location in an industrial zone elsewhere in Tempe. From that facility, Cartel provides a changing assortment of baked goods that are then sold at all of its locations throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Other items, such as breakfast burritos, are procured from outside providers.
turkey croissant and pumpkin CCL
The pastry products offered include savory options like everything bagel twists with a soft center of cheddar cheese and an outer layer of seeds, aromatics, and salt, as well as sweet classics like chocolate chunk cookies. Pumpkin cream cheese muffins are part of the fall selection of seasonal offerings that change throughout the year. A few cold items such as a yogurt parfait and a fruit cup are found in refrigerated cases at some locations, and breakfast burritos containing potatoes with either eggs or poblano peppers offer a slightly more substantial option.
cortado and strawberry shortcake donut
Cartel's in-house bakery, which didn't come about until a decade after the establishment's founding in Tempe, seems to have reached the same level of variety, craft, and quality as the longstanding coffee offerings. Cartel's beans are now available for home consumption via a subscription service and are brewed at many local restaurants. For now at least, the baked goods are sold only on site, but they're a worthwhile reason to make the journey to any of the coffee house's locations, where coffee and pastry now go together in even more places.
1 N. 1st St., Phoenix AZ 85004
400 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix AZ 85013
225 W. University Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281
851 Cady Mall, Tempe AZ 85287
https://cartelroastingco.com
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