Cup A Joe..... Best coffee in Raleigh!! Nice atmosphere, very friendly staff, verrrrrrrrrrrrry delicious iced white chocolate mocha! read more

Cup A Joe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Though Cup A Joe seems like a great place - interesting people to talk to, great atmosphere, will get you more than your share of caffeine for the day - the way they treat employees and care for the cleanliness of the store is despicable. I saw bugs on the counter and in the food cases next to bagels, and then noticed the counterperson's arms were covered in bites - gross! Any place where the employees work in such conditions and the foods I'm eating or drinks I'm drinking are in close proximity, is not cool by me. Also when I tried to make small talk, I was pretty quickly informed by some store regulars that staff cannot talk to customers outside orders under threat of job termination. The conversation went on to describe working conditions where these kids are working in constant fear of getting fired for little more than the managerial staff's bad mood. Honestly, I don't care if that coffee was award-winningly good (which its not), I'm not cool with supporting a company like that, and if you care at all for human rights in our direct local area, I don't think you should either. read more

Different day, same experience, a place to get a good cup of coffee you could get anywhere else, it's just here you have to deal with self-indulging hipster bullshit. Some of the staff are snobby, so are most of the customers, and it's consistent. read more

I'm new to the area, and I'm coming from Philly, which is a great coffee town, so when I heard how many local roasters work out of Raleigh I got really excited, and I'm enjoying getting to know the scene here. I kept hearing that I should try CoJ, so I did. It's a nice space (I love the Zappa posters, eclectic seating, and roaster in the corner) and the drinks are cheap. That said, they don't do well with off-the-menu (but common) espresso drinks, and the house-roasted beans (at least the 3 I've tried) were underwhelming at best. I bought a half-pound of the most likely looking beans, an Indonesian, to play with at home, and found them to be over-roasted: it seemed as though the roaster's only concern was consistency of color, not aroma or taste. While at the shop I had both an espresso drink (machiatto with no foam. It was as close to a cortado as I could get) and an iced coffee. Neither was bad, though the espresso was burnt. As for the staff, training seems really inconsistent. The woman I ordered my drinks from seemed competent, but had to assist the person who made my drink. The person I bought beans from didn't know where their beans came from unless the country was on the label, or else doesn't know the difference between Asia and Africa. She certainly had no clue what to expect from a particular roast - if I ask about a half washed lighter roast I probably don't want whatever you think is a "bolder" roast, so don't try to point me towards that instead. I get that this place would be fun to hang out at, but I don't get why it has a reputation for good brew. Especially when Global Village (and Reverie, or so I've been told) are just up the road. It also rubs me the wrong way that the menu is so focused on stupid 6-shot espresso drinks. Do I get a silly t-shirt if I chug it? To sum up: meh. read more

I hate to rain on the culture parade, but ambiance and service can only get you so far. I had an iced coffee that was exceptional tasting indeed. The baristas were quite friendly, even offering drink selections since we had never been there before. For a moment I was wooed by the Frank Zappa posters and the retro furniture. Then came the realization that amid the cool posters and cute/nerdy college kids we were sitting in a dirty old dining room. The first available table we saw was covered in flies, which was the obvious reason it was open. The next table was bug-free so we went for it. The lack of seating appears to be primarily from the amount of people using the available charging methods and free wifi. I had the unfortunate need to use the restroom and instantly regretted it once I entered the women's bathroom. It was so dirty I actually had flashbacks of my college years. You know, when you go to a party with cool people and funky music and you're having such a great time until you have to pee and discover that you're in a bathroom that hasn't been serviced in so long that people are using the floor instead. Then your buzz wears off quickly and you run home to take a shower and vow never to put yourself in that situation again. This sort of sums up my thoughts on this establishment. I literally felt dirty after drinking a cup of coffee here. read more

Terrible experience. I come here with my friends to get coffee all the time. I came in on Friday night ordered drinks and pastries and asked my other friend to meet up with us there. He came into the store and had bought a Starbucks drink before hand. The cashier asked my friend to either throw out his drink or leave the establishment. Long story short, cup a Joe lost 5 customers last night. read more

The Boy insists on visiting Cup a Joe, his favorite coffee bean purveyor in the world, every time we go to Raleigh and I am happy to oblige. CaJ has a great espresso roast, which is delicious both in the drinks we order at the counter and again when we use their beans in our espresso maker in New York. In fact, we regularly (i.e. every 4-6 months) purchase 10 pounds of CaJ espresso beans so that we taste their brew every morning, even though we live far away in Manhattan. If I haven't convinced you yet that you should visit CaJ, consider the cool ambiance inside, where locals gather to shoot the breeze, read the newspaper, and surf the web. read more

Didn't appreciate the vibe in here at all--the baristas are very up-selly and there's a dude monitoring the parking lot out back. Geez. For a local coffee place, I certainly got an impression that they're pretty uptight. Their wi fi network even warns "purchase required for access!" C'mon, people. Your furniture is totally disgusting, by the way. Broken chairs, wobby tables and a nasty, ripped up booth? Cool and hipster, I guess? Weird for them to be so petty about scaring away freeloaders when they're so laid back about cleanliness. Not a fan. read more

Staff memeber was flat out rude, and had an attitude. Most chairs looked like they were salvaged from the dump. You may as well just sit in a shady hotel room and drink your coffee. read more

Time has passed & things have changed at CJ's. Coffee & bagels are always good & the staff is much improved in terms of smiles & friendliness. Very nice turnaround & deserving of 4 stars read more

I love this place! My favorite coffee shop ... prefer the Hillsborough location but service is always great at both. I love the Thai tea. read more

Cup A Joe's is your standard hipster coffee hangout. Lots of cool art/memorabilia adorns the walls and their selection of coffee and treats are diverse. Standard free wifi for all you guys and gals who can't do your work/browsing without people seeing you do it. It's a popular and iconic Hillsborough hangout for those who dig coffee and community; it's definitely worth an investigation. read more

Free wifi, & you will get your fix of nicotine just by walking to the bathrooms, coffee is good, they roast their beans on site, eclectic crowd, mainly students from NCSU. read more

I'm here every Tuesday and Thursday to do homework and just enjoy the great vibe and delicious coffee this shop provides. It's a great place to socialize or set up shop on the perimeter with some headphones and be productive. It's so easy to sit here for hours and people watch. The baristas are always welcoming and friendly. Come through often and chances are they will have your order memorized. Top quality all around. read more

I am so thankful I stopped here to get a quick cup of coffee instead of Dunkin Donuts or McD's. I was in desperate need of a caffeine boost and drove by here. The freshly roasted and ground coffee aroma as I pulled up let me know that I was in the right spot. I had a French vanilla latte and it was perfect! Not too sweet, rich, creamy, and robust. This will definitely be my new coffee spot when I'm near my office! read more

I've never gotten the appeal. It is open late which is the biggest plus, and often has interesting clientele so not a bad place for people watching. Though its often uncomfortably cold(even wearing a hoodie) so hard to stay too long. I've only had the drip coffee, which is ok-nothing special but it's cheap. The worst thing about Cup a Joe is how employees are treated by management. Almost every time I've been I've seen employees being berated in front of customers for nothing, which is not ok. If they seem unfriendly its because they aren't allowed to talk to customers, as apparently if they have time to talk they have time to do other things (good customer service doesn't count?). I've never figured out what this is-it clearly can't be to clean up because the place is grungy. I don't particularly care about a little grunge or about standoffish baristas but I don't like giving money to a business which treats employees like shit. I'd choose it over Starbucks but there are so many other local coffee shops nearby. read more

I was down in Raleigh visiting friends a few years ago, and Cup A Joe was a hangout of theirs that was quickly turning into an addiction for yours truly after a couple days! The coffee here is good, the variety of drinks is great, the munchables are lovely as well, and the atmosphere is just lovely, sunny, and mellow! The staff were always very nice to me, and the decor is charmingly hip w/o being over-pretentious. Definitely a NC favorite for me! read more

Ive found its normally not quiet enough to get any serious work done but its good for having a chat over coffee... and then maybe wander over to the nearby bookstore and sub shop. read more

A rock-solid cafe near the NCSU campus--and the best college cafe in town, in this Yelper's opinion. What makes it the best? Not the seating, that's for sure: the chairs are all old salvage deals, poorly cushioned and upholstered if at all (the wooden chairs seem to have been gleaned from some 19th century university for little people). Oh, and for to-go cups they somehow still get away with using nasty thin Styrofoam, which I find appalling. However, there are redeeming qualities aplenty, which make this a place not only to sit but to imbibe. The people watching is decent: mostly a college crowd and their quiet and benevolent overlords, the graduate students and faculty. There is an old two-seater tabletop Pac-Man game. Wall outlets aplenty for those wishing to plug in and procrastinate online. Menu: it's too long to read, or even bother explaining. I haven't even figured it out yet. Something about mochas being really popular, or maybe it's the coffee with espresso shots dropped in?--they call those depth-charges where I'm from--and overall it amounts to your standard coffeehouse fare: coffee, chocolate, tea. There are some baked goods. Though not presented in any particularly appealing manner, I'm sure they're decent. The coffee however far exceeds what I had expected. Coming from Seattle, I had pretty high standards. I didn't expect them to speak my language, per se, but I definitely expected Raleigh to be home to some shoddy roasts. And for the most part, that's what I've found here, but Cup-a-Joe is different. They roast their own coffee in a small machine in the front of the house, and they have maybe a dozen or so different roasts, all full-city style (medium roasts). But they are well-sourced beans and well-handled by the roaster, so hats off to whoever manages that key component. Service: It does seem the owner is constantly hiring and training new kids, so as far as service goes, it's luck of the draw. When you walk in, you may get a dumb stare or an engaged smile. I worked at a busy cafe that saved costs by keeping only barista on duty at any given time (except for lunch rushes); this place is too big for that, but it does often seem like there are bored baristas hanging around. Not a bad thing, I suppose, but it doesn't speed up service any. Overall, a great place to plop down for a while to study, read, or watch young folk watching each other. And the coffee is pretty damn good, too. read more

They seriously charge for unsweet tea refills. Who does that??? The lady tried to reason that it was local- that is all the more reason to have free refills on something that every place in America has for free... read more

There is no more smoking in the smoking room so that means more space for us nonsmokers on weekends when the place is packed. I love going here to read the paper out of the recycle bin, chat with people, or surf the web for free. Sample all their drinks- I recommend, Chai, Chai shake, Ice double Mocha lattee, Voltaire, just to start......... read more

Their coffee is decent and the location is really good, but I honestly don't understand why the baristas are so rude. I've noticed multiple times that when I ask about a menu item with which I'm not familiar, they act annoyed that they have to answer my question. Of course I've met a few nice people that work there, but overall, the employees just seem so unhappy. I've heard the employees aren't treated very well, which could explain the attitude. As much as I'd like to support a local business, I'd rather get coffee from a shop where the employees are more friendly (and treated better), even if it's a national chain. read more

I have never been into a "real" coffee shop, beyond your typical Starbucks. Upon entering there were baristas behind the counter and I'm asking them questions bc I am clearly unfamiliar with the menu etc. Their tone, attitude and overall demeanor was very judgy and unpleasant. I immediately became uncomfortable so just ordered something cold and sweet. The snickering and whispers began as they prepared my coffee, kinda just slid it onto the counter with a loud sigh "here". The extra star is for being able to add simple syrup to it and the actual place itself. It seemed very cozy and disappointed I wasn't able to enjoy the relaxation I felt it had to offer. I understand they are young college girls but it felt like high school all over again (10 years later) and I think management either needs to retrain them on friendly customer service or completely overhaul their baristas. It's a shame but I will not be back to this location. read more

Love this place! The coffee and service is impeccable. The audience are NCSU students who are staring endlessly either at their laptop or out the window. They're building a horrendous apartment across the street and this will make the entire area feel claustrophobic and cause worse traffic jams. I feel bad for all of the boys who sit outside with tats, looking like unmade beds. I hope they aren't ushered away by the new breed of mongrels from other cities that are invading us. Love the weekly specials and the free Wi FI. The food is ok, a bagel, a full-of-fat muff. It's all here, even occasional cruising between Emo gay boys and Game of Throne boys who go to the bathroom to pull out their swords and fight! read more

Love this place! Close to Campus and it has THE BEST chai latte!! It is perfect and the homemade chai whipped cream they put on top makes my week! It is four stars cuz the seating is run down ...badly. read more

Cup of Joe's is one of those Raleigh institutions you just have to love. The store is HUGE - so if you want to park some place for a few hours and study or read or just get out of the house then this is the place to go. A no-frills environment but honestly its part of the charm. There's a vintage feel about things there - its niffy not a run down mess. They offer an amazing selection of coffee too. If you want 15 shots of espresso, they will hook you up without batting an eye. There are tons of flavors too - I've managed to get my friend hooked on their raspberry mocha iced coffee. And if all that coffee related awesomeness wasn't enough - they have a counter and cases full of treats. Rice krispy treats the size of a brick and cookies the size of a frisbee.... and even house prepared sandwiches. Yum!!! There is some parking in the back but as it is right by State don't expect to roll right into a parking space during the week. However, they do have a spot right out front that will allow for that 5min run inside for a coffee to go. One Saturday, when you feel like reading that book you've been meaning to read for like 3 months now, take a walk to Cup of Joe. Grab a coffee and a snack treat and enjoy just being there. read more

I've been there three times in 6 months and every time I was so disappointed with their espresso. I confidently can say that any McCafe serves better espresso than here. However, I go there for their chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Coffee wise, it doesn't even deserve a star. Making a cup of coffee is not a rocket science(or maybe it is). Please properly train your barista. I can make a better foamier cappuccino with my baby gaggia at home. read more

I won't take a star off for the furniture, it's very comfortable albeit a little beat up and old. I frequent the Mission Valley Shopping center location and find the employees a wonderful start to my day. It's a bit like "Cheers" where everyone knows your order if not your name if you are a frequent customer. They have started having an Open Mic Night on Friday nights at the Mission Valley Location and I've captured some of these sessions on my live video channel www.livevideo.com/resonantchaos All in all, a great place to go. read more

Geez, I practically lived at Cup-A-Joe for 2 out of my 5 years in undergrad. I developed sinus infections because of the smoke and ulcers because of the coffee, but I got a helluva lot of studying done there with my study groups. read more

Cute and divey with the obligatory stick juggling old dude. Focaccia wrap was decent but really their only food choice.

I used to go there everyday when I lived in NC. It's a fun place with strong drinks. I kind of miss Raleigh.

Extremely friendly and welcoming staff. Very good prices, above average coffee. Would definitely go back!

I love the old school flavor of this place, it looks like a thrift shop. No frills coffee. If I went to NCSU, I would visit this place a lot for just simple coffee and perhaps pastries. read more

It's an institution, and a dive. It's the coffee equivalent of Slim's Downtown. Just like Slim's has good beers, good staff and good music, CAJ has good coffee, good staff and good snacks. So yes, the decor is divey. Don't come here if you want a fancy coffee shop experience. This is about getting a good shot or cup, maybe doing some reading or work, and being comfortable. The staff turns over more often than most places, probably because it pulls from the school, but it's a no-attitude place and the longer term staff will remember your name and your "usual". For what it is, it's perfect read more

I love this location. I'm here several times a week but never remember to check-in. Their baked goods (done by someone locally) are always fresh and very good. Favorites are the chocolate stick, poppy seed bread, and double chocolate chip cookie. They have different coffees almost every day but you can get any of their beans brewed fresh as an Indie Joe. It's always fairly busy and makes for fun people watching if you sit outside on one of their old school desks which are kind of cool I think. read more

I love this fun coffee shop! Lots of locals hangout to sip coffee and chat or study/work. They have daily specials and delicious treats/sandwiches. I had my first espresso here and haven't been the same since! read more

Love love love their coffee. The best iced coffee in town. Always fresh. Service is quick and friendly. Cushioned chairs are kind of ratty but adds to the overall charm. read more

Hipster city in here but the baristas are friendly enough. They get the job done quickly and the coffee is delicious, def puts Starbucks to shame. I usually get a latte or a Voltaire (hot chocolate poured over espresso) but the mocha joe shakes are also mindblowing. There's also a special every week day. Love this place. read more

Best prices on the street but not the best coffee. Ordered an iced black tea sweetened. I think I went into diabetic shock.

Great place to go with friends and get some coffee. Not necessarily the best coffee, but definitely one of the best places to hang.