Love the casual, community-oriented vibe of this spot. The service felt warm. I appreciated the unique touch of having comic books for sale. They also offer a wide selection of teas, which is a nice alternative if you're not in a coffee mood. I kept it simple with a drip coffee--the Mexican blend was bold with great flavor and really hit the spot. They also had a small selection of baked goods--I tried the butter croissant, which was nicely flaky (though I did end up warming it at home). It does get busy, though, so seating can be a bit limited during peak times. read more

Love visiting this cozy spot during the holiday season--especially seeing everyone in festive sweaters and enjoying the seasonal drink specials! We tried the eggnog holiday latte and the cereal milk latte. The eggnog latte was delicious, with a great balance of spice and vanilla, topped with a generous sprinkle of nutmeg. The cereal milk latte was super unique--a blend of multiple cereal flavors including cheerios, a strawberry kind, and captain crunch--and definitely worth trying if you enjoy cereal-inspired treats (think Milk Bar ice cream). They were very busy and there was a bit of a wait, but everyone in the shop was friendly and warm, which only added to the cozy experience. As one of the few coffee shops in Hillsborough, Cup A Joe feels like more than a quick espresso stop; it's more of a spot that helps time slow down--where you actually sit down with a latte and chat with friends. read more

Cup A Joe - Coffees- eggnog latte and cereal milk latte - Cafes Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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Typical coffee shop with some fun options. Loved the iced mocha. Bathroom available and ample parking around the neighborhood. Just a few outdoor tables but plenty of space at the nearby park to sit. Service was average. LGBTQ+ friendly. read more

This place was really cute. I ordered a cold brew and my partner got a red eye. I appreciated that they had a decent selection of gluten free options too. read more

After grabbing some ice cream for the kids, the adults opted for some coffee. The shop has lots of spaces to sit and enjoy your Joe. They also have merch - see some super cute ceramic mugs and lots of Hillsborough merchandise. I opted to have a mint cocoa latte. I have not stopped thinking about this latte. It was that good. Not super minty and was the perfect temperature. I wish I lived closer because I would have one of these every day. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Downtown Hillsborough has a gem in this coffee shop! read more

Love this place so much, I've been coming here consistently for over a year now and it's always delicious! Love the staff, and the seating area is small but it has a bit of variety (and charging ports available) plus outside seating. Sometimes students from local HS sell art so theres always something new to look at. I also like buying the trinkets they have (Pokemon cards, comics, mugs, etc.) 100/10 read more

Mac and cheese hand pies?! Who's heard of such a thing! I came on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised by these carb-filled treats. I agree with the 90s-vibe mentioned, and have to give a shout-out to the staff. They're a lovely bunch. Drip coffee was good and it's definitely got better pastries than most coffee spots. read more

Cup A Joe - Mac and cheese hand pies!!!!! - Cafes Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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Yum. A cool little place with good coffee and pastries. We were glad to find it while passing through

I had a delicious iced coffee. The service was very friendly. The menu had tons of flavors to choose from. It is a little house that you drive around. There is no counter service. read more

Nice local shop. Good service. Polite and efficient. Plenty of seating inside and some seating outside. I had a mocha latte. Well prepared. I'll stop by again! read more

I recommend this place A LOT, it is just hard to find seating. The bagel was delicious, and the coffee too. I want to try their cookies next time read more

Hot chocolate was great, cinnamon roll was a little dry but it was late in the day. Service was as expected, decent but over the top, and it has a wonderful stamped tin ceiling to admire. Typical coffee shop ambiance. Will go again. read more

My favorite coffee shop in the triangle. Workers are always so nice and the coffee is delicious as well as their chai. The pastries are also yummy and the inside of the cafe is filled with plenty of seating. read more

Coffee not good to me. Strong. Very strong and n not tasty. I can drink strong but not bitter strong.

Waited in line just to hear the Expresso machine is down! This place needs to work on customer service.

This is the very best coffee shop! Excellent coffee, good vibes and friendly service. This is a cornerstone of the Hillsborough community!

I know that most of you go to a coffee shop for the coffee, and I know many people who swear by Cup a Joe for that. But I go to Cup A Joe for the baked goods particularly one baked good: vegetable slab pie. They only have it on Sat morning, and the owner uses vegetables from her garden whenever available. It's AMAZING!!! If you don't get there early enough, you won't get any. Also, if you don't get there in time, notable baked honorable mentions are the chocolate muffin, any kolache, the cinnamon roll, the broccoli hand pie. Yeah, it's all homemade. Additionally, the service is friendly and with a smile. Such a neighborhood gem read more

We LOVE Cup A Joe. Whether I'm by myself, with husband, friends or kids. During the week it's a more low key vibe and a good spot to work. On weekends it's full of well everyone and families which I love. Their Chai is the best because they actually brew it from real chai tea and have it in a condensed form so it's made quickly. (And there's only one other place in California that I love their chai.) thanks for being a staple in Hillsborough! read more

Last year, this popular Hillsborough coffee shop moved a few doors down to its current, more spacious location. "More spacious" is a relative term, for while there is definitely more space and more seating than there was previously, it is still easy to find yourself without a chair to claim. This gripe aside, there is a lot to like here. The regular menu has a commendable assortment of caffeinated drinks, and cases by the register are typically filled with tantalizing cookies, muffins, and cakes (my wife swears by the salted chocolate chip cookies). A brightly colored chalkboard behind the register advertises limited-time only custom creations, which recently included a white chocolate cocoa with Lucky Charms (add an espresso shot to ensure you won't tire any time soon). Prices are not bad by downtown Hillsborough standards, and staff are friendly and helpful more times than not. Provided you can find a place to sit, Cup a Joe is a comfortable, reliable purveyor of caffeine and sugar in both liquid and solid forms. read more

Good coffee and pastries but struggles to keep up with volume - by 10, no more pastries and over a 25 minute wait for an iced latte.

Sunday morning, order a simple iced latte. Wait 30 minutes (literally...I marked time stamps in a text convo I was having while waiting). Watched all who ordered after get beverages. Asked and reply was they were before you. Here's why- as person taking orders queued up cups, he put most recent order in front...over and over again. Come on folks....I want to really like your place. So, no beverage (that I paid for) and on to Weaver Street instead. Part 2 - in and out of Weaver St in 5 min read more

Some of the cashiers and baristas say "thank you" when I tip, but most do not. when you're given the option to tip, and you do, you expect a little special attention. Don't really get that here. I dont even think that they notice tips. Maybe the tips go straight to the cash box and not distributed to the shift employees? That could be a reason. Anyway, great coffee. Great atmosphere. Attractive decor. Wonderful place to work and meet. Super clean. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop to run into. It's in a nice area, really clean, and friendly baristas. They have coffee and tea both of which are form good roasters. It's quite busy in the mornings, so I ideally grab mine to go. I get the americano with half and half, or whatever special latte they have that day. Try it out! read more

One star for the vibe and family-orientated atmosphere. Minus 4 stars for the negligent chai mixture (not to mention, it being assembled in less than a minute). I've been a patron for years now and am used to getting taken out at the knees, but today was almost unforgivable. I have never seen such little attention given. They need to understand the responsibility of being the only accessible coffee -- Who's with me?!?!?!? We need responsibility taken!!!!! read more

Good coffee, super friendly staff, and a great location in downtown historic Hillsborough, but the place is simply too small! If not for this last fact, I would definitely add another star. I know some say that size isn't everything, but I do think it counts when it comes to a coffee shop. Don't get me wrong, though--Cup A Joe uses what it has well. There is a great friendly vibe within this shop, and I think it is pretty obvious that the baristas are the strongest reason behind this as they are pretty darn awesome. Drinks are prepared well, there's a decent selection of baked goods, and weekly fresh roasted coffee is available for purchase. Plus there are a few tables and seats outside for sitting and taking part in some people watching (probably not to the degree offered by Franklin St. or 9th St.) on a nice day. Don't be offended, Cup A Joe, but I do wish you had a little more size going for you. read more

Friendly baristas, great coffee and chill atmosphere. Options for 1-4 espresso shots into drinks. Also options for warm drinks sizes include: 8oz, 12oz, 16oz and 20oz... only 16 and 20oz for iced latte drinks. Drip coffee, French sodas, smoothies, tea, cocoa and steamers available. Make sure to ask for a drink or a bean (can buy beans by the lb) loyalty card. Community posting board and local art on display. read more

Cup A Joe - Cafes Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

No response to the review, so I assume an employee has stolen my glasses. Don't leave anything behind. I'll get my coffee at Weaver Street from now on when I am in Hillsborough. read more

It was such a pleasant surprise to go into Cup A Joe and have it be an amazing coffee experience. I didn't know that there is a place in Hillsborough that has amazing coffee and wonderful baristas. I was driving back to Chapel Hill for coffee. But today I stayed In Hillsborough and I got a latte and a salty chocolate chip cookie, which in and of itself was delicious and could be sold in a high end bakery. I feel fabulous about my experience today and will be going back daily. read more

This is not the Hillsborough that I grew up in, that I can tell for sure by this coffee shop. I'm really happy to see this small business succeed. On the day that I visited, every table inside and out was taken. I was excited to see all ages and types enjoying this establishment. Even the odd barefoot gentleman with a cowboy hat on. No one seemed to blink any eye except me. I can only speak for the drip coffee. I definitely enjoyed it more than I anticipated. The coffee was strong and bold. And definitely fresh. The staff was nice as well, the type of quirky I expected. I was surprised when the cashier said "11:11 make a wish" instead of have a nice day. I'm pretty sure I'll be back every morning of my visit. Thumbs up! read more

I've utilized this coffee shop for years and the aesthetic of the interior is something i've always loved, even when they were located in a smaller neighboring shop, the interior is a lovely modern aesthetic and the drinks are most usually created perfectly! They also have a large menu, and when we were outside of the pandemic the experience of sitting inside was very calming. Now though the baristas are still very friendly and accommodating to every customer! and seating is opened outside. What a great place! thank you cup a joe employees! read more

During a morning visit I had a very abrasive interaction with one of their baristas. This totally caught me off guard and threw my morning off. I ordered a light roast au lait coffee. The barista working at the espresso machine called my drink out as a "mexican au lait"... I wasn't sure that this was the light roast and was only concerned that I would grab someone else's drink. So I asked if the mexican roast was the light roast, to which he replied "it's the only au lait on the counter so it must be". I was so taken aback by this snarky comment. I couldn't believe it. It was very hurtful to me, as I was simply just trying to be considerate of others. I messaged the company hoping for at least an apology but they had nothing to say. Needless to say, I will not be visiting this establishment again. read more

Cute and quaint, this little coffee shop was a perfect stop on a chilly day in downtown Hillsborough! They offer a wide variety of coffee and tea beverages and an assortment of pastries. This little shop is a great place to warm up, hangout, and spend an afternoon. I would recommend this spot to everyone who loves a good coffee shop and relaxed place to hangout!! read more

Cup A Joe - Cafes Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

Stopped by after an afternoon of antiquing. We were not diaapointed in the least! Cup a joe offers a laid back vibe that creates a relaxed enviroment. I got a pot of hibiscus tea and a pair of peanut butter cookies. Perfect for the cold day! The cookies were delicious and chewy! I would definitely recommend this spot. read more

Cup A Joe - Hibiscus tea and peanut butter cookies! - Cafes Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

I had the best cheddar biscuit and browned butter chocolate chip cookie I've ever had today from Cup A Joe. The pandemic lockdown clearly hasn't hampered their talent! In good times, look for their Friday pizza! Best bakers in Orange County NC. read more

Quaint coffee shop convenient to downtown [HISTORIC] Hillsborough. They'll meet your coffee needs, serving up a mean iced americano with as many shots of espresso as your day calls for ("They go down smooth" --Steve A.). They're brewing up some delicious coffee along with a full list of specialty drinks and teas. If you're in the mood for a sweet treat, they've got you covered! Grab a seat if they're not all taken and enjoy the free wifi (password: espresso1). I'm sure a group of retired folk meets here on a certain weekdays, they love to sit and chat, hopefully you'll get a seat and be able to listen to their interesting conversations. Overall, this is your HOT spot for a pick-me-up and possibly a place to rest your bum, although BE WARNED, it's a tiny spot inside, so you might be forced to enjoy the weather on the little patio seats in front of the shop. Not much to look at from the outside, but the coffee speaks for itself and the staff give off that homey-town feel at this local hole in the wall joint. read more

Cup A Joe - Pastries available (chocolate chip and sea salt cookie is bomb!) - Cafes Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

I love Cup-a-Joe! I work in Hillsborough so, whenever I get a coffee craving, I have to make a stop here. My absolute favorite coffee is their bee thousand. It has whipped cream on top, with a drizzle of honey, and fresh ground cinnamon. Perfection! read more

Coffee is pretty good and the salted chocolate chip cookies are fantastic!!! The environment is adorable and perfect for studying or for a date. The ladies working there are very rude but I only have to deal with them for a second to get my coffee. It's worth it!! read more

This place is my regular weekend coffee spot. The staff has always been very friendly and accommodating, and it's the type of place you always see the same smiling faces - very local, small-town feel. The drinks are great. I always order off the specials chalkboard since they're always experimenting. If you're not in the coffee mood, they mix a great Italian soda also. If you want pies or other baked goods, get there earlier rather than later. They keep their Facebook page updated with new baked good selections. read more

Nice service with cozy space inside. Baristas are amazing. Great test of coffee with on-demand milk selection (whole, skim, 2%, non dairy)

Exactly what I'd want in a chill, neighborhoody coffee shop. A few highlights: -- Seems underdiscovered. Meaning it hasn't been crowded any of the handful of times I've been in over the past couple years, despite its small size. -- Joe Van Gogh coffee (great!), with similar (inexpensive, in my view) prices. -- Nice owner, who's currently working the bar. -- Tasty treats: croissants (including ham & cheese and spinach & cheese) from Weaver St. Market, mostly homemade/wife-made pies and cakes (apple & cheddar pie or cannoli cake, anyone? ... !!!), probably other things that I haven't noticed because I got distracted by those things. -- It's a place for chatting and reading and relaxing, not overtaken by computer users. I'm obviously screwing that all up by pecking at my laptop for this review, but I'm going back to my preferred luddite ways shortly -- and I'm glad that there are still retreats like this for my pen-and-paper soul. read more