Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co

Well, wanted to do something for the family after most of the chaos has ended. So… I ventured out early one morning… I was on a mission… I took my time by making selections that were a BIG HIT!!!
Apple Fritter, Pumpkin Bread (Huge+Super Yums), let me just say all where very well satisfied with the selections that I chose for Breakfast that morning. This is also a total super chill spot.

This coffee store has the most surly young staff I’ve ever encountered. Been here on three occasions now and I will never return as every occasion has been exactly the same. As a local caramel resident I like to support local businesses, however this one will be receiving my support in the future

Was in the area and noticed that some of the reviews have improved, so I thought I would drop in. The food look old and gross, the girls behind the counter seemed overwhelmed with the 3 people in line and the place seemed disorganized and scattered. I waited for 5 minutes, but left when it seemed I wouldn’t get a drink before noon.
I want to support local businesses, I really do, but the staff here have routinely shown that they have absolutely NO idea what they are doing. They need serious training. TO THE OWNER: Instead of parking your van in front of Starbucks (both desperate and childish), train your staff. Work on your menu. Give locals (and tourists) a reason to frequent your business.

No idea why Starbucks is packed and this place was relatively empty both times I went there. Great service, great coffee, and a solid selection of pastries, etc. The outdoor seating area is very clean and well maintained. If you drive into the parking lot of this shopping center and see the Starbucks… just turn left down the first little drive and you’ll see Carmel Valley Coffee on your right. It’s really good and you’ll be supporting a more local business.

A great place for tea and outside seating to read, chat, or just chillax. The gal at the counter was helpful. Their caffeine free rooibos chai (loose leaf) is the best I’ve had –the aroma alone was heavenly.

I would’ve given it a five if the ambience was a little bit better. But the coffee was absolutely delicious full-​bodied smoky just like coffee should be. Not like at Starbucks

After visiting the pet store at the cross roads we walked over to the Carmel roasting co for some caffeine. My gf told me that she really enjoys the place and had been going there for years with her mom, but as time had gone by the place wasn’t the same anymore. I was living in Seattle for many years and I love a great tasting espresso shot. As we walk in the girl at the counter takes our order I get a double espresso shot with a few cubes of ice and my gf gets an iced mocha. The young man who was working with the female behind the counter was busy flirting with a customer to the side and his co worker had to tell him a few times that he needs to make the drinks. It took him to about 25mins to make our drinks. He kept asking his co worker how to make a mocha I mean honestly stopped flirting and learn your job. After the long wait we get our drinks. I took the espresso shot and bits of grounds hit my tongue. I didn’t want to complain but when I tasted the iced mocha it was awful 7 11 makes a better mocha from a café machine and you don’t have to wait 25mins for it because it’s flirting with the soda machine. I have never returned a drink in my life. The original girl who took our order offered to refund our money. We accepted the money for the mocha because we only took two or three sips from it but I refused the refund for the espresso shots because I did drink it all. I felt bad for the girl because had to work with a clueless employee.

this place is decent. good coffee (I got a latte) and flavor was pleasant. they have a selection of pastries and sandwiches but I was looking for something more savory. the girl/​barista suggested this carrot cake based loaf that had a bunch of nuts in it which was good but definitely not savory. It was more like zucchini bread from starbucks.
in any case, this place is better than starbucks coffee and still recommend it for a quick drink

FogLifter 5 stars; attitude by the barista 3 stars; equals 4 stars.

One of the worst cappuccinos I’ve had in a long time. I couldn’t even finish it. I should have known better when I asked the barista (loosely applied term here) where are the beans from? She replied «Somewhere in South America,» and waved vaguely, as if South America was just down the street. Then under her breath, she complained to her friend behind me in line, that she was sooooo disappointed she was still «unfortunately working in this place.»
Jeez. It shows. The cappuccino was simply awful. Crap. Bitter swill that should be re-​classified as a toxic substance and disposed of under stringently controlled conditions.
Please hire someone that takes making coffee seriously. And let the disaffected twenty somethings go work someplace where their talents are a better match… like Starbucks or Jack in the Box. (just my humble opinion.)

This review is actually from months ago but accidentally posted on the wrong location. This is the one… You walk in to get a coffee and pastry. No one is at the counter. The barista exits the bathroom in the back of the store. She had been cleaning the bathroom. No big deal. Everyone loves a clean bathroom. She removes her dirty, nasty gloves that she had been cleaning the bathroom with, steps behind the counter, and asks, what would you like? I’m thinking to myself, any second you are going to wash your hands, I should not have to ask her to do this. Common sense, right? She then proceeds to make my coffee and I was so disgusted. At this point, I’m about to say something but another customer enters and I decide I do not want to make a scene. I had planned on eating but I sure as hell was not going to have her come close to food I would eat. And if she is that disgustingly unclean, what else has she done and then not washed her hands? Will not be back to this location

decent coffee staff friendly. place clean pastries looked good but we already had breakfast so didn’t partake

Tried to get a latte at 6:10pm on a Monday. According to Unilocal,they’d be open. I walked across Rio from my hotel and wandered around to find the shop ( Unilocal pinpoint was not accurate). Found it and it was closed (sign said open til 6). Had to go to Starbucks instead.

This coffee is great! We had the choice of Starbucks and Carmel roasting and we chose the latter. The coffee does not taste burned and is super rich. You will have to wait a little longer than say Starbucks, but coffee is better slowly made anyways!!!

I gave this place three tries with three different beverages. They were all sub par. The most frustrating was their chai latte. It is by far the most spicy horrible chai latte I have ever tried to enjoy. I swear they grind up ginger and sprinkle in the mix. My tongue still stings. The point of it being a latte and not tea is that it’s supposed to be smooth. Also, the shots were burnt to a crisp in the caramel macchiato I ordered. I doubt they calibrate their machines every day.

We love coming to visit Carmel, and try to support their local businesses. Having a bad headache, we headed over (I hadn’t had any caffeine so I needed a little pick-​me-​up.) We arrived 5 minutes before they closed (and the two unfriendly women working let us know this) and ordered something that didn’t require any work other than pouring chai and milk. For a medium it was $ 4.00, and I really wish we would’ve just gone to the Starbucks in Safeway to get a venti for the same price — this chai latte was gross! We both got them and instantly felt like we wasted our money. We were able to get two little bundts from Nothing But Bundts for less than our gross chais! Thumbs down.

This must be the most expensive coffee drinks ever disbursed. I mean even for Carmel, it’s out of this world at $ 6 a pop. Now the atmosphere is outstanding, the service a little odd, the location great, but now that Starbucks is disbursing a consistent quality drink for over $ 2 less in the same neighborhood at the foot of the valley, how can they survive? Its a shame, because this area is desperate for a high quality independent coffee house, like the numerous good choices back in Monterey. The baked goods bring it up to a 3 star.

Strong, deep roast flavors. Had both their medium roast and decaf, as it was around the corner from us. Omg worthy of several cups…

I like the location & sitting outside with my dog is lovely. Those are the sole reasons I come here.
The chai lattes are generally pretty forgettable, but the one I had today was awful. It tasted like hot cinnamon water. I asked them to remake it, and it was a little better (though only half full) the second time around.
Service was okay, not terribly upbeat or friendly.
All around ‘eh.’

Hmmm…
Carmel Valley Coffee is consistently acidic/​bitter tasting. Since it is all locations, I am sure it is their roasting practices.
This location has very friendly service. However, there was only one guy and quite a few cusotmers. I felt bad for him. The selection of sweets was great. My friend and I shared two different things, and really enjoyed them.