Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co

Arrived at 5:20, with the displayed closing time at 5:30. No greeting, no apology—the lady at the counter didn’t even look at us before saying, “It’s closed.”

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 1

After schooling us (not very nicely) on the difference between an Americano with steamed cream and an Au Lait, the harsh gentleman at the counter charged us $19 for 2 of them, (maybe a $6 charge for the cream?) told us to pay and turned away. We wanted to ask him why they were so expensive but by then the shop had filled with patrons behind us so we got out of the way.
Overall, not amazing. They have a good location with an endless stream of tourists so good for them. But we won’t go back

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 1

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆

Food: Coffee shop

What I liked:

• Reasonable coffee

What I didn’t like:

• Being asked to tip on top of a premium price for coffee when all the staff are doing is their job they chose to do. Plenty of margin for the owners to pay better.
• Highish price point

Do I recommend going? Meh
Will I go again? Most likely
Was it good value? No
Price Point: $

Vegetarian options: The only food are cakes and pastries so yes, vegetarians are just fine here.

Dietary restrictions: It’s a coffee shop so not really

Parking: A small town with first come first served on street parking (2 hours free)

Kid-friendliness: Fine, it’s a coffee shop

Wheelchair accessibility: Only room if you’re having a take away

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 2

Didn’t rate the espresso here: a bit weak and not very tasty.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Very cute coffee shop. We had to wait in line for about 10 minutes but we knew it would be worth it. The staff were friendly and it really felt like a community. They had a variety of drink specials. We bought a couple of hot drinks and some coffee beans to take home.

This is a cute little spot conveniently located in downtown Carmel, offering a variety of drinks and pastries. My boyfriend and I decided to check it out, but I wouldn’t say it’s the kind of cafe where you can order a drink, sit down, and comfortably lounge, chat, or work on your laptop. The shop is quite small, and it was very busy during our visit, which made the atmosphere feel a bit hectic.

The staff seemed a bit on-edge, though it’s possible we caught them on a bad day. As for the drinks, they were just okay. I tried the Bee Sting, recommended by a barista, but it wasn’t really my thing. My boyfriend had a regular mocha, which he also described as just okay. We also split a peanut butter cookie, but it wasn’t particularly memorable.

One nice feature is that the cafe has outlets, so if you’re lucky enough to grab a table, it could be a decent spot to charge up and work for a bit. The real highlight is the shop’s aesthetic—it’s super cute with a cozy, warm vibe both inside and out.

While it wasn’t quite what we were hoping for, it’s still a charming place to stop by if you’re in the area and looking for a quick coffee break. Maybe we’ll try this spot again another time and have a better experience.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 3

Extremely disappointing. Despite repeatedly asking for my coffee to be served hot, the staff failed to comply. Additionally, the snacks were stale and lacked any freshness, making them entirely unappetizing. The overall experience was far below expectations, and I would not recommend this place. Definitely not worth the visit.

Food: 1

Service: 1

Excellent espresso drinks. Very good selection of quality pastries. I believe this is the only coffee shop in town to open before 7am. The only complaint is that 3 of the 4 mornings we visited they did not open on time - twice it was only about 10 minutes late, but the third time was nearly 30 minutes. I still highly recommend it.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Bakery, Espresso Double Shot

Great coffee!

Brought my puppy and they provided water and biscuits for him. Great coffee. Great service!

One day probably the best flat white I’ve had in North America, the next just an espresso shot with just hot milk? The croissants were mediocre too..

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Good coffee. Pastries tasted not fresh

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 5

Nice cold brew, but the flies in the store were annoying.

Long queue. Double espresso “only” 3.50$, but unfortunately really not good. They have a good machine - either settings are off or beans suck. Additionally, they only have one way cups. Bad for taste and environment. Coffee lovers stay away.

Food: 1

Super cute spot. The blackbirds were nesting so we got to see them outside. The espresso and chai was just okay. Reasonably priced and good service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5