Indie Coffee Roasters

Nice coffee shop, best one in Carmel, even though there’s not much competition in Carmel. The espresso is good but not the best, and the place always seems to be full no matter what time of day or day of week I come in. I will be back, but probably not a regular. If you want good coffee in Carmel though, this is the place to get it.

Update to original review: I’ve tried a variety of their roasts at home for espresso, French press, and pour overs. They do not specify their bean roasting levels, which is kind of annoying, but they will tell you that they are all roasted “light-to-medium”. After experimenting with them, they are definitively light roasts — medium is a stretch. They were generally very good for brewed coffee, specifically the Peru and Colombia beans. However, I would not at all recommend any of the beans for espresso. I’m not sure which beans they use for espresso in the shop, but I am going to have to go back in and order a plain shot of espresso for comparison. When their beans are used for espresso, the flavor profile is very fruity and acidic (i.e lightly roasted). I had to run my machine about 8 degrees higher than usual and borderline over-extract the grind to mellow out the strong acidity. Some people like acidic espresso - I do not. The best I tried for espresso was Honduras, but still not to my liking.

It’s also worth mentioning that their roasts are priced very steeply compared to slightly larger roasters. A 10 ounce bag will run you $20, and it will have been roasted anywhere from 7-14 days ago at the time of purchase. In contrast, I can order a 2lb bag of copper moon (from Lafayette) for the same price, and they ship it out to me the day it was roasted. They also offer much greater variety of roast levels and flavor profiles. However, copper moon has been around longer and has a more dedicated roasting operation.

Overall, if you’re going for brewed coffee, their roasts are great. If you’re going for espresso, I would stick to the medium and dark roasts that you already know well. I’m sure indie will get there in due time, but for now, this is how I evaluate their roasts.

Espresso setup: Rancilio Silvia Pro + Eureka Mignon

Such a great cup of coffee in the morning. Line moves quickly, and staff is very friendly! My husband and I came in for a cup to go, and I would love to come back to set up shop for a day and get some work done! The shop is clean and very modern, there’s a coffee bar with about 6 stools, and a multitude of seating! One of the employees mentioned the shop is opening up a dog friendly patio, which will be an absolute blast in the summer!!!

I loved the atmosphere of this place as well as the coffee. I ordered a vanilla Latte and it was perfect. The service was awesome and everyone was so friendly. I want to return before I leave town. Love it!

Extremely subtle and sleek vibe in the Caramel area.

The (brewed) coffee was superb with subtle acidic flavors without being a biting blonde. Inside the environment is sleek and easy to sit and enjoy the company of other patrons and white noise, but if the weather is nice the patio is wonderful, as the neighborhood is quiet and comfortable.

Overall everything here is exactly as a coffee house should be with people, product and atmosphere blending into a perfect experience.

This coffee shop is super cute! My friend and I decided to explore Carmel and we stumbled upon it. I had a really delicious signature coffee drink made with elderflower! We also bought two pounds of whole roasted beans to take home. The atmosphere was really chill and the décor is very clean!

Came here yesterday for the first time while in Carmel – the environment is nice, albeit a bit sterile feeling with all the white, and the outdoor seating is lovely, especially on a nice day like on the day we went. I got the Bumble Bee and my partner got The Billy. My drink was very overpoweringly lavender tasting and I could barely taste any of the other flavors, and my partner's drink was good until they got to the bottom and all that was left was espresso and pineapple syrup, which was a strange, bitter combo. However, as a barista, I was very impressed by the look of the drinks and the quality of the equipment used. The cups were a little weird since they don't have handles, but I got used to it quickly. It was also pretty pricey; our two drinks cost almost $15, and two drinks similar to these would cost at most $10 at the coffee shop I work at. The drinks were beautiful, but I think next time I visit, I will just stick to a regular latte.

A lot of attention has been put into their branding and decorating. They have industrial seating to make sure you have as little comfort as their coffee has flavor.

I wanted to love this place. Lots of pretty photos of their beverages. But when I got in there, the menu was just... nothing.

I ordered a cold brew because I was so disoriented at their total lack of options that it seemed like the safest beverage.

Don't get the cold brew.

I don't know if they under roast all of their beans or just the ones they use for the cold brew they have, literally, on tap. It's painful to drink and they don't leave room for cream or sugar, so you'll end up spilling when you try to cram it into your glass.

They're chatting with each other, so you won't feel comfortable asking any questions.

Great look, great coffee, great shop! We loved our stop in Carmel tasting some amazingly sourced and roasted coffee by Indie. Alec and crew, keep up the great work!

Great cup of coffee! Cute shop too.

Great indie coffee shop, with relaxing cosy atmosphere. Fresh brewed coffee!