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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: CrestviewMon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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It's a coffee house that's in an actual house. A great place to come and hang with/without friends. The "French Kiss" coffee is truly wonderful. I also like their Hibiscus Iced Tea. I'm also a fan of their pumkin muffin and well, I come here at least once every other week....
The only thing I've had that I didn't care for was their chai iced tea...it coulda just been me...but it had too much spice in it for my taste...
Oh, and I tried this chocolate chip oatmeal cookie the other day...with a black coffee...yum yum to the tum tum
It was love at first glance....at the SHOUT magazine lying on the counter....no, really though....I… Read more »
Lots of drink options, both hot and cold, sweet and not-so-sweet. (I love that in a coffee house!) A number of menu options that stand as a full meal. (I like that in a coffee house too!)
Nice outdoor seating. Indoor seating is very limited, though many types of seating offered.
Perfect for a quick visit with friends.
An overall great locally-owned, non-chain coffee shop.
I like this coffee shop.
there is plenty of room here and they allow groups to meet and reserve rooms. if i had some sort of social life, and i started a group for doodling or writing or something, this is where i'd do it. i have no social life but i can dream, someday i'll sign up and reserve a room.
someday...
Anyway, everyone here is nice, the outdoor seating is pleasant, the wifi is usually good (good enough to work), the coffee is decent. i am happy to warm the seats here (except for that love seat near the front door, which tried to eat me, ouch)
Great local coffee house. I'm biased because I can walk there, but it's got a good vibe, is never too crowded or overly hip, and the iced mochas are great. The patio is nice and they have wi-fi for those of you who think getting coffee means using a laptop and headphones and ignoring everyone.
My only gripe about Joe's is the same one I have about every coffee shop: the lonely dude on the laptop taking up a table for four. Thanks dude! You are so cool!
The best coffee shop on the north side, no contest. And did I mention it is the only coffee shop anywhere with more than enough parking?
I was desperate for an iced coffee but unfamiliar with Anderson Lane, so when i saw a locally-owned looking coffee shop, i pulled in.
Genuine Joe's seemed very friendly and laid-back. I'm pretty sure it used to be a house, so it definitely seemed like a place you would want to relax with a book in.
My iced soy latte was delicious but i took it to go so i don't have much else to add other than judging by some of the stuff on the walls it seemed pro-gay, which is great by me!
Finally visited Genuine Joe, thanks to Stitchin' and Bitchin'. The inside is very cute, and looked like it had lots of space, but I was only inside to order my drink and go to the bathroom (light switch is on the outside, by the way).
My latte was a latte. It was fine, nothing to complain about. I also had a yummy cranberry walnut muffin thing. It was quite tasty.
The barista was very friendly and was patient as I hemmed and hawed over the foods and drinks.
The outdoor area was wonderful and shady (not shady like back alley shady) and perfect for a lovely spring day. I think I'd only go if I were going to sit outside.
My Fav coffeehouse in Austin! I've been to this place over 20 times.The staff at Genuine Joe are always so nice! They're not pushy. They make really good matte lattes and smoothies. Good places to sit when its not packed. They also rent out rooms in the place for groups and classes. Free wifi. All around great business. Wish more coffeehouses were like Genuine Joe.
FOUR Star Coffeehouse,minus one star for the espresso blend. The coffee is good just not my favorite coffee flavor/blend,still very tasty drinks.
A great local coffee joint and good for the community.
I sat hovering on four-stars for a moment before caving... the place really is five-stars. The only thing I'd like to see change here is that it went 24-hours.
Having been told many times to check this place out, I finally listened. YES! I've been looking for a good Mate Latte in the ATX for more than a year, and here it is... The best Mate Latte in the city!
The workers are 5-star, the environment is 5-star and the general amount of seating is 5-star. There's free WiFi and the place has weird names to rooms, such as "The Cellar". There's a large smoker's patio and other caffeine fanatics make for great conversation out there.
There's live music on Thursday and Saturday, with info on other events on the bulletin board just outside. Definitely a place I will be seeing more of!
This is an extremely chill and laid back little place to grab some coffee! I absolutely love the 3-way: dark chocolate, white chocolate, and caramel! yum! Their cupcakes and muffins are fabulous as well. Just beware, the double chocolate cupcake is super rich(but super good)!
Every time I've gone in it's hasn't been too crowded. During my first visit there was live music, so it was a little full then. But aside from the main room there are 2 other rooms, they rent them out as well.
If you are sick of Starbucks and want to go local, I highly suggest Genuine Joe's!
Hey Joe, I like you. So, I'll give you some advice: Your space and vibes are cool, but your coffee needs a little help. And those cookies you have on the counter, throw those away. They are gross.
Then, you will be a little closer to perfection.
Cool local coffee shop in Austin. My boyfriend frequented this place when he lived near it, and I went a few times. The place is a house, turned coffee shop. Free wi- fi, friendly staff. The girl let me use my debit card even though I was a few dollars under the minimum. Nice place to sit around on the couches and relax while you browse the web.
I like this place. It is, well....um....genuine. This is real coffee and real people serving you. No intricate names for the drinks. Just coffee, mocha, latte, cappuccino, iced coffee, and chai. Drink sizes are regular, mondo, double or bottomless. Easy to understand.
My first trip in, I had a cold brewed iced coffee with rice milk and cinnamon. It was good and cooled me off rather quickly. I was disappointed to learn they do not have gluten-free products but I was happy with the rice milk as an alternative to cow's milk.
There is a cool laid back vibe here that is enhanced by the funky, mismatched assortment of tables, chairs, and sofas. Kind of like my first apartment without me in it since I'm pretty sure I wasn't very cool or laid back at 18.
Interesting art decorates the walls and live music happens on Thursdays and Saturdays. Parking is abundant which is not so at some of the other coffee stops on my list. Minimum credit card purchase is $10.00. I will definitely return to try the chai and some of the exotic teas.
Nice place - like other reviewers, I found the baristas to be unusually friendly and welcoming, which is a refreshing change from some of the other coffee places around town where the employees believe they are WAY cooler than you and they take no pains to hide the attitude.
Chai soy lattes are delicious and not overly sickly sweet. Skinny decaf cappucino was very nice, although it took me awhile to find the raw brown sugar to sprinkle on my foam. (For the obvious-impaired like me, it's in a jar, not in packets.)
There were signs up for live music events all over, but the night my sister and I were there, it was quiet, which was my preference, so we could chat. If you don't like to talk over loud music, call first to make sure there's no band, or go sit on the large outdoor porch.
Overall - nice, but nothing particularly outstanding I could put my finger on. Flightpath and Pacha are closer to my house, so they will remain my regular haunts.
I live on the north side of town- it's cheaper- but it doesn't mean I don't crave the fun and funky Austin places. So Genuine Joes is in a good location. The fun Anderson Ln/ Burnet area- and it also means I don't have to sit in the mopac traffic that piles up around 2222.
So Genuine Joe's- a smaller, less in your face, version of Spiderhouse (minus the alcohol). Though I love Spiderhouse- sometimes the patio fills up, and I can't stand the inside. At Genuine Joe's- the patio is much much smaller, but I can always find a spot. (There's usually a cute well behaved dog or two here also!) The inside is nice. It's unpretentious and big. 3 main areas, some you can reserve. Interesting people for people watching, and the occasional open mic night.
I go for the iced chai. I like them- but perhaps a bit too much ice. In the food case- the thing to get.....lemon crunch cake. Oh, it's absolutely perfect. Not heavy, not overly sweet. Just a fluffy cake perfect for a snack. Usually the piece is big enough to split with a friend. I've had a smoothie a few times after yoga, and they are always good (I suggest getting the big size!)
This is the best coffee shop on the North side of town, and really one of the best in town. Go there- now!
Believe it or not, I don't have a crush on anyone here.
Positives:
Parking
Bottomless coffee
Cool vibe/comfortable
Local
Close to my house (I can walk)
Cool staff without the "I'm a musician who hates serving coffee bitch" attitude
Negatives:
Have to wait in line for coffee refills (though the line is usually short)
Wireless has been spotty a few times
No crush
Crap. Let me explain.
The space is charming and the baristas are friendly but none of this overcomes the fact that their espresso is crap: over-extracted, no crema, no complexity. I might be in the minority, but I go to coffee shops for the coffee and this simply doesn't deliver.
I love this place! Best coffeshop atmosphere in town - converted pier and beam house from the 40s or 50s with a great deck out front. I love coffee but couldn't tell a good cup from a great cup, but my buddy swears they have the best cappuccino in town. The guys who run it are great too, they've set aside a room for community groups and other organizations to use as a meeting space for free. Neat artwork from rotating artists on the walls and occasional live music as well.
The only downside is that the pastries and breakfast tacos (before they run out) are good but not great.
Genuine Joe may just be my new favorite coffee shop in Austin. Not only is it close to my place, it has everything I want in my coffeeshops. There's free wifi, staff is friendly, coffee selection is good (i like the orange mocha), the couches are comfy and there's not a pretentious vibe.
From a distance Genuine Joe looked small, but when I went in, I realized how much room there is in that place! There's 3 rooms with couches and chairs and a patio outside. I like the "cellar". There's always a nice spot for me in there and no one bothers me.
Since moving to north Austin, my usual coffee place (Mozart's) has become something I have to plan on going to ahead of time, so I had to find some place closer to home for my caffeinated-study-spot.
Enter Genuine Joe.
It was a little tricky at first to find, since the sign for it isn't huge, but after going down Anderson a little more slowly I found it. I still have trouble seeing the sign, so I keep an eye out for the neighbors Tic-Tac-Toe Learning Center and Enchiladas Y Mas.
It's pretty cozy inside, and there's a nice couch too.
The coffee is pretty average, but I'm not too demanding of my beans.
They have food too, but I haven't had any of it.
Free wi-fi is a must, and theirs seems reliable so far.
The best part, I think, is the staff. They're very friendly.
There are also rooms that can be reserved for group meetings, and I've seen some diverse groups in here, like a bunch of ukulele players on a Sunday afternoon, which highlights one of the strengths of the place. It's quirky without going completely over the edge, so I like it
I am no coffee snob. I am wondering why many people have given this shop five stars. If the owners of the shop come to yelp and read these reviews, they need to know that the drinks served at their business are not that good. I like the place and the staff, good people. Take a standard drink, a latte (single), and order it at other places in town and then at Joe's. Isn't it obvious, not much to the flavor. I could never justify giving a full five stars to a place that can't make a great cup of coffee, sorry.
Having said that, it is nice to have more places on in North Austin to go to that have a local feel and no stupid uniforms. Good luck Joe, just remember knowing is half the battle!
I can walk to 4 coffee shops from my house, and 2 of them are closer than Genuine Joe, but my feet always seem to carry me here. It's comfortable, friendly, laid-back, and the baristas know a macchiato from a latte. They have a nice big patio with some really nice trees around it, which tends to be really comfortable in the summer. Oh, and the discount for paying cash is nice.
I found this place randomly driving - and I was charmed! I have a particular penchant for converted old houses becoming a chill atmosphere so I really enjoyed how there were so many rooms! Comfy chairs, patio, etc!
However, the coffee was mediocre. It's worth a visit every once in a while, but I wouldn't make it a place to spend $3 everyday
I am so glad to have finally found a spot in my neighborhood that is open late! I want to go study and chill into the wee-ish hours and this place is open til 11pm, which is as wee as I can get these days (old), so it's perfect. I also love that they intentionally foster a local, community atmosphere by providing meeting rooms and supporting local initiatives and small businesses. The coffee's great, the service is super friendly and fast, and there's plenty of parking. I love that you can get a bowl of popcorn (big bowl--whole bag) for $1.95. Perfect study food and easy on the wallet.
Great place to study and get over caffeinated
Great place for a pastry or a cookie
Great place to meet a group--though I think you need to call ahead to reserve one of their meeting rooms if you have a big group
Great place to go chat up strangers who are also over caffeinated
I love Genuine Joe's. It is crazy close to work. I do wish that they had a drive-thru and that their soy chai didn't have such a strange after taste, but I'm thoroughly pleased with the other drinks and atmosphere.
I even have hosted a baby shower here for work (we're not very traditional about baby showers and the likes). Genuine Joe's let me reserve a room for free and even ordered an AMAZING cake from Russell's bakery for me. I just paid for on the day of the shower-I should note that if you do this, the cakes are huge. We had WAY too much cake (is it possible to have too much cake?), but it was delicious and beautiful. It had little green baby booties made of icing. I also like the mug o' goldfish. Just perfect when you need a tiny snack but don't want a pastry.
This place has a cute and friendly vibe even though I'd avoided it since it's kind of in an inattractive piece of Anderson Lane. But I think I'll go there when the weather is nice to hang out on the patio. Plus once I saw a cute guy there with his pet dog sitting out there. The chai I got was really yummy. It almost tasted like bubble tea. And as mentioned, the cash discount is nice. The only things I didn't like were: no water dispenser, dirty tables (I was there for over 2 hours and didn't see anyone clean tables that had lots of plates on them), and small food selection.
I come here just about every Saturday afternoon with a group of 4 to 6 people to play board games and nerd it up. It's the only place we've found that has a table large enough to fit a group our size, plus has decent parking, friendly staff, and good drinks.
Yes, most of the tables are smaller and more suited to one or two people with laptops or books, but they do have a few that can work for larger groups. They'll even let you reserve one of the rooms or a table, if necessary. And while it's generally pretty quiet in there, we haven't really gotten the stinkeye for talking while we're playing games.
For drinks I recommend the Honey Nut Latte, Soy Vanilla Chai (frozen or hot, both are good), and the Strawberry Banana Smoothie. For snacks, the vegan cookies.
They do ask that you use cash for anything less than $5. If you're low on cash, you can always ask them to hold your credit card and start a tab. I mean, you're probably going to be there for a few hours anyway, right? Don't forget to ask for one of their loyalty cards so you can get free drinks.
They've also got a really nice patio. I wish they could coax their little climbing plants to grow up the trellis, it would be extra pretty.
I've been to Genuine Joe's a couple of times and I found it to be all right, but not special. The coffee was pretty good both times- I had an iced latte once and a regular (aka hot) latte the other time. The environment itself is very nice- bright, open, airy, light. Sometimes coffee houses can end up being very dark and you feel closed in, but there was definitely a lot of open air and space there.
But, two things concerned me, at least as someone who uses his laptop a lot when he goes to coffee places. The first was a lack of tables and, even bigger, outlets. The other thing was that I found the wifi to be inconsistent and, at times, not functional at all. Now, I understand that wifi can be temperamental at times and this may not always be the case but I know that many people, like myself, like to use their computers and the internet while at a coffee shop and it can derail things if the internet doesn't work.
It's definitely a ways away from those of us living near campus but it seems like the best coffee place in North Austin. I don't dislike it and I wouldn't advise anyone against going there, and I would go there for a change of pace, but it's definitely lacking a little bit for me to put it in the upper echelon of Austin coffee houses.
It should be noted at the onset that this review is coming from someone who recently toured most of the so-called best cafes in Austin. I can knowledgeably say that Genuine Joe edges out its competition with ease... and loads of atmosphere. If pretentious baristas is your thing, you will be disappointed as the entire Genuine Joe staff is outgoing and willing to help you instead of ignore you, ie. too-cool-for-school Flightpath on Duvall. A friendly & helpful staff - what a concept.
For an inviting and warm cafe, Genuine Joe gets it right in every way: powerful and consistent wi-fi, enough room for all, and outlets for your electonics-jungle galore! No wonder there are so many regulars.
Mucho Kudos to G.J. See you there.
I like the atmosphere and the ambience. Their coffee is okay and sometimes their wi-fi is slow. When I go there, I'm particularly annoyed when they rent out the rooms for parties and they have to kick us out and we are scrambling to find an outlet and a place to sit.
I am a big-time coffee snob. I have my own burr grinder and espresso machine (although not as nice as I'd like, of course). Despite that, I still love a good coffee shop for the atmosphere and service, and Genuine Joe's is one of the best in town. The baristas are friendly (not pretentious scenesters, as in some other places I could mention), and they know how to make coffee.
Actually, this point bears stressing, because of other reviews to the contrary. I have experimented a fair amount with different coffee beans for my own espresso at home, and I now buy my beans exclusively from Genuine Joe's. They are supplied by Kiva Coffee Roasters. which is in Buda and uses an air-roasting technique that allows for longer-lasting flavor than barrel roasters like Texas Coffee Traders use. If you think the coffee tastes weak, you are probably used to Starbucks or another place that intentionally burns their beans in order to create a stronger "roasted" flavor. It's been said that Starbucks doesn't serve coffee, they serve coffee-flavored drinks. Genuine Joe's serves coffee; try an espresso or cappuccino, rather than a latte, and see for yourself.
As for the food, yeah, it's not stellar, but it's not bad, and the pastries are pretty tasty. It would be nice if they served alcohol, but you can't have everything. If you want a chilled-out, comfortable, un-pretentious place to enjoy some good coffee, this is it.
I'm glad we've got this little place in Crestview.
It's big enough that you always have a place to sit but small enough that it still feels like a cool coffee shop. You can chose from three different rooms to sit in inside or you can sit out on the patio.
The coffee is good, the snacks are good, and the baristas are always nice and helpful.
Plus, they have plenty of parking and I like that.
I LOVE Genuine Joe's. And I think the word has to be spread about it. When I moved back to Austin in January, Genuine Joe's was my first hang out. I would go to poetry readings Monday nights and watch serious poets and some men on drums go through their work to the interest of the small crowd that always gathered.
Later I used their separate meeting room to hold call backs for a play ( they let you reserve it for nothing.)
They have events and open mikes, funky staff, comfy seating , a nice outdoor patio and really good regulars.
I guess my only problem is with the decaf coffee, since no one really orders it- its usually cold. And you have to spend a certain amount to use your credit card.
Oddly though, I'm not really bothered by the coldness of the coffee. Genuine Joe's has the kind of vibe I wish more North Austin places would start to emulate. Stop by here and become a regular. Lets make joints like this one stick around for a while.
Genuine Joe is another one of my favorite coffee shops in Austin. They make one hell of a honey nut latte. The workers are always friendly, and the overall feel of the place is comfortable without the hint of pretension.
Eh (moves hand back and forth)... I'm not sold on Joe.
The Cons:
The space is very cramped as others have mentioned.
Other than a few tables. the furniture didn't look too inviting. There is a couch nook, but it's too open for conversation and too relaxed for working.
The espresso bean grinder was left on by the barista for about a minute, which means they are not too concerned about fresh, good coffee.
The gift shoppy part of the coffee shop is a little tacky.
The Pros:
The patio looks big and nice. It was about 40 degrees when I went, so it wasn't being used.
The side room that's reservable is a good thing. But, seeing as the place is kind of tiny, maybe they should reallocate its usage.
The baristas were very friendly.
If this is the best coffeshop in North Austin, then I guess Koenig must be considered south. I think Thunderbird is a superior space with better coffee.
I only give FIVE star reviews to places that I frequent a lot, and this is my first time at Genuine Joe's - I'm still here actually - but this leans toward five stars, at least four and a half. Genuine Joe's is just comfy. There is a diverse range of couches, small tables, larger wood tables, bar stools, bar tables with outlets, private rooms with couches and tables. "The Board Room" can be reserved for groups, and there is no charge or hassle. The staff is friendly. The espresso is good with a nice crema. The music is the right volume. There is a nice patio area, and other back-room area. It seems like any mood you're in--buckle down and work, chill with a friend, people watch, met a client, you can find the right table and/or room to meet you needs at Genuine Joe's.
So before I start my review about Genuine Joe's, I need to write a diatribe on Austin coffee shop yelpers. I know that it's all very well and good that people like to talk about the ambiance, the service and the number of tables, but seriously if you're going to review a coffee shop, at the very least spend a sentence or two on the actual coffee. I can't tell you how many reviews I read today that spend absolutely no time on the actual product for which an establishment is named. This leads me to believe that people in Austin have no sense about quality coffee.
That being said, Joe's is a decent establishment. The upside to it, is that it had plenty of parking and wasn't crowded. I ate some pumpkin bread that was quite good. Now the downside is, is that the coffee's just not that great. It was this, in fact, that lead me to write my statements above. While I liked the large cups, the espresso was weak and bland. It was like I was drinking a bowl of steamed milk with a hint of espresso. Now the flavor that I could taste was alright, I just wish there had been more of it. The upside was, at least their grounds weren't burned. I guess the bottom line for Joe's is that it's a nice place to go and hang out, like everyone else has mentioned. I probably wouldn't go here for coffee.
Cool and cozy place to chill on a lazy afternoon. I'm not a coffee drinker but I enjoyed their selection of green tea. My friend and I couldn't believe how the evening just flew by we were so comfortable in this place. I will definitely go back.
I come here often for gaming on the weekends and pop in occasionally during the week since it's not far from work. The staff is very friendly and rarely have they ever made a bad drink for me.
I'm not much of a coffee drinker, so I can't attest to those aspects of their menu, but their chai (both the regular and vanilla) is superb. Their smoothies are also excellent. Foodage is also tasty. I'm particularly fond of the turkey/cranberry sandwiches and the strawberry danishes... YUM!
WiFi can be a bit flakey, as others have noted, but I've seen worse, and at least it's FREE. They might just need to get a new router, I dunno.
I would love it if they could find room to add a couple more large tables, but the owners have been fairly accommodating about letting us reserve the one they have on Saturday afternoons. Board games take up a lot of space. :)
Great little local coffee shop, has live music a few times a week it seems, and great prices.
There are multiple rooms, and some that you can reserve for your group or party if you wanted. The patio outside is also large and has a great atmosphere to it.
Wifi here also!
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