Always Time For a Coffee Stop!
SITREP
I was in a rush. Not a RUSH rush. But a RuSH to get situated at my gate since boarding was to start happening in 10 minutes.
THE SETUP
I like to give myself some buffer time when standing in line at an eatery/coffee shop because you never know really how long they will take to get your order done - I certainly didn't need a repeat of my Nathan's burger situation at McCarran airport in Las Vegas where my "5 minutes" (as clearly annunciated by them in the King's English) turned into 25 mins w/ a large side of attitude from the 2 staff there.
In addition, when given the chance, I like to try a different coffee branding (other than my go-to "Starbucks") that I may not have tried before, and that also looks inviting.
SPEEDY
Luckily, Cartel was smooth sailing with getting my large mocha-to-go for my Southwest flight back to Sacramento. AND they did my Mocha as a sugar-free option, which I appreciate.
ON PRINCIPLE
However, whether here, or Starbucks, or Peets, or a fast food place, etc., I get really torqued for any shop that charges nearly $5 for a mocha that I should - and do - get for between $3-$4 at a non-airport location.
Please note: just because you (inset business name) are at an airport location
doesn't justify nor support the business metrics for overcharging customers.
This is along the GOUGING you see at the Coachella Music Festival charging $6 for a tiny bottle of water or a Movie Theater charging $6 for a medium soda. Somehow the notion came along that "Trapped Audience = Demographic to Abuse". I'll never accept that.
therefore, this is a minus one-star whomever the over-charging business is, just to be clear.
THE LOWDOWN
A great coffee stop in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport!