I’m in Palm Springs quite a bit and have two go-to coffee shops that I return to over and over again.
Great Coffee in Palm Springs, California
My favorite coffee in town is at Cartel Coffee Lab.
Cartel Coffee Lab
1551 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
7:00AM – 6:00PM
I walked in and immediately recognized this would be lovely coffee. The first thing I look for is the type of coffee machine. If it’s a La Marzocco, that is usually a good sign. I also look at the coffee beans they have for sale and smell them. Sumptuous!
I like nodes of chocolate in my espresso and this cortado did not disappoint. I like to sit outside when it is shady, even when it 113ºF outside…
If you’re feeling more peckish, the Cuban sandwich is very good (be sure to get it warmed up).
Describing great coffee is somewhat like describing great wine…trying to explain what makes it delicious is highly subjective. Maybe I’ll get better at it. But if you’re a connoisseur of coffee, you should try out Cartel Coffee Lab.
Cartel Coffee Lab is a chain with eight locations in Arizona (including in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport…I’m bummed I missed it).
There’s a hotel next door and so you can park on the street for a few minutes while enjoying your coffee.
My other go-to option is Coffeeism, which opens at 6:00 am (I’m an early riser) and constantly offers excellent coffee (using Intelligentsia beans).
Coffeesim Co.
110 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(442) 268-9294
6:00 am – 4:00 pm (daily)
I’ve tried other places as well and none are bad, but I return to Cartel and Coffeeism because those two are better.
Koffi is a local chain with several outlets in Palm Springs and surrounding desert cities.
The Social Cafe & Lounge ( 2825 E Tahquitz Canyon Way) has a smoother more Italian-style coffee.
Sometimes I drive back to LA late and there are two places where I can get coffee before I hit the road. The first is called Acai Oasis (144 S Palm Canyon Drive). The speciality here is acai bowls, not coffee, but the coffee isn’t it bad.
Inside the Thompson Palm Springs Hotel (414 N Palm Canyon Drive), Lola Rose, the Lebanese restaurant, has excellent coffee.
Another option is Ernest Coffee (1101 N Palm Canyon Drive), which serves Stumptown coffee.
Finally, if you’re looking for an Arabic/Armenian coffee, Santorini restaurant (a chain of Greek restaurants in Palm Springs) is a good choice.
What is your favorite coffee in Palm Springs?
I didn’t realize they had a Palm Springs location. Good to know. Cartel is very good in general and the Phoenix airport location is probably the best airport coffee in the country in my opinion. They have a full array of coffee brewing options and their pricing is actually pretty close to what you find at their stores – not hugely marked up like many airport locations.
I’ve been to Cartel coffee, and I can confidently say that it is on par with my favorite Seattle coffee shop, ETG in the Fremont neighborhood. They really know their beans!
Why don’t u do more articles on Palm Springs? The ritz Carlton there is pretty good. They have outdoor bars and eating already, which is gonna be in fashion for a year or two. I think they have a new Kimpton hotel there and the hard rock changed ownership recently.
As Vegas has become ridiculously priced, many of us from the second largest city in the US (LA) have chosen Palm Springs as the weekend getaway. It really has quite a few things going for it.
And BTW, have u used their airport, and if so, any tips or tricks. This really is an underrated area.
I was sad to see the Andaz have trouble there. I’ll return again. Nothing beats Sherman’s Deli!
Yes! The deserts at Sherman’s are great too!
Great article…..living in SoCal we also go to PS at least a couple times a year and will check these out when we are there in August!!
PSP is a small airport that you will breeze through in no time. I’ve never seen more passengers than TSA at security. Most flights are regional jets, though they do have a concourse for full size jets that gets some use. Standard Paradies Lagardere concession lineup for small airports with nothing special.
IDK. I consider LAX he’ll-on-earth and will easily drive an hour and a half into the desert than two hours through downtown to lax, though it is supposedly only 20 miles away. Do these flights connect to anything with a major hub?
For those of us in Los Angeles, getting in and out of LAX has become the most challenging part of setting up travel. The people mover can’t get completed soon enough.
I have some pictures from my trip last week. With the pandemic emptying out LAX, progress is being made quickly and the project is ahead of schedule.
Cartel coffee is excellent!! I always enjoyed it at Sky Harbor Airport. Palm Springs has wonderful coffee at their Koffi locati9s. It’s a local’s favorite.
Koffi was just a few doors down, but closed!
Cartel Coffee Lab at PHX (Terminal 4, near Gate C11) is considered one of the best local specialty coffee stops. Unlike generic airport chains, they roast their own beans and pour high-quality espresso and pourovers. They are also highly praised for fresh, healthy snacks, vegan treats (like their banana bread), and the famous poblano potato breakfast burrito.
I usually go to Ernest Coffee which is just down the street as well. They’re fine.
LOL. Matthew, I’ve spent a lot of time in Palm Springs. Maybe more than in Las Vegas or Scottsdale, and you know what I really crave when it’s 113°? A piping hot cup of coffee. Not.
It is a great place and I can hardly wait for the Covid thing to clear up so I can hit El Paseo, but no way am I going to sip a hot beverage in Palm Springs in August.
I assure you, it was quite pleasant in the shade!
So, how is the actual coffee? I drink my coffee as it should be, strong and black. Did you review the actual coffee before you ‘cappuccino’d’ it?
No.
Don’t get me wrong, I like black coffee too. But “as it should be” gets to the highly subjective nature of this post…exactly what I indicated. In these series of posts, I stick to cappuccinos.
Matt, have you tried Zweet coffee in LA?? They are a small shop in Eagle Rock.
Do mean Zwork on Colorado?
Thanks for the recommendation. I am there often and usually head to one of the Koffi locations.
My somewhat hidden gem there is Aspen Mills bakery. They have incredible bread, muffins, and cookies, and their sandwiches and salads are better than Sherman’s, IMHO! Check it out, keep up the great work, and stay safe. I’ve been an LAX-based traveller flying UA for 30 years and have come to rely on you and your informed perspectives.
I love Aspen Mills bakery!
For foodies → Established in 1995, Aspen Mills Bakery & Cafe is a highly popular, family-owned local bakery and cafe chain operating multiple locations across the Coachella Valley. Known for its daily scratch-baked artisan breads, gourmet lunchbox sandwiches, and giant soft cookies, the company is a staple lunch and breakfast stop in the Greater Palm Springs area. Additionally, “The Coachella” (A meatless surprise!) is one of Aspen Mills’ signature gourmet sandwiches, featuring a lighter vegetarian blend highly rated by locals.
For foodies → Sherman’s Deli or Aspen Mills? Which one to choose depends on what you want to eat. Sherman’s Deli & Bakery is the best option for those seeking huge portions of New York-style hot sandwiches and traditional charcuterie. Aspen Mills Bakery, on the other hand, offers light, gourmet sandwiches made with freshly baked bread and fresh salads. In short, Sherman’s Deli is best for a classic charcuterie experience, hearty sandwiches, and desserts, while Aspen Mills is best for gourmet bread and a lighter menu.
I’m sure you meant to write Koffi, not Kofi, in the article…☺️
Yes, but did the great Gunturk Ustun fail to notice that Coffeeism was incorrectly spelled as Coffeesim? My apologies for leaving out your umlauts.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Coffee Machines?
Viva great coffee! Viva Palm Springs! Viva California!
For those interested, the weather in Palm Springs right now is partly cloudy and the temperature is 103°F/39°C.
For those interested, Santorini Gyro Palm Springs also has Greek Turkish Coffee on its menu.
Thank you for including Greek. “Sumptuous!”
You are welcome.
…Get ready for Joe Coffee coming late this year in Sunny Dunes in Palm Springs. a west coast outpost of a Provincetown Mass institution!