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Genuine Joe
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
2001 W Anderson LnAustin, TX 78757
Neighborhood: Crestview
(512) 220-1576
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
137 reviews for Genuine Joe
Review Highlights
"Saturday nights regularly feature local live music."
(in 13 reviews)
"Super laid back - NOT fancy if that's what you want."
(in 13 reviews)
"The chai I got was really yummy."
(in 23 reviews)
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137 reviews in English
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Review from Rick A.
Austin, TX
1/8/2012 84 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite coffee shop. I stop here on my way to work almost every morning. I walk in, they say "Mocha?" I say, "yep." I hand them my money and they give me a delicious start to my crazy day. The coffee and lattes are very good; pastries are very good and they sell Elsi's tacos in the morning - woo hoo!!
It's a funky little shop where I feel right at home. -
Review from Colin D.
12/14/2011 1 photo
This place feels like in belongs along the streetfront of a little urban neighborhood in Seattle or Portland. This a bit dark inside, the place is covered in quirky decorations. Half the place is working on laptops while the other half chat and read books. It smells like coffee when you walk in and the guy behind the counter happy chats with you as your order.
The fact that it's in between strip-mall-like shops on a busy 4-lane arterial route in Austin makes it all the more special. The coffee is good and locally roasted. The pastries look very good even though I haven't had one yet. While this whole package might only earn 4-stars in the downtown of a more coffee-centric city, further out in Austin this is an easy 5. -
Review from Stacey M.
10/24/2011
This is a cozy little place with a few rooms stocked with some comfortable chairs and couches to settle into. Sufficient selection of baked goods to choose from and the 3 way mocha is pretty tasty (dark & milk choc with caramel). Quiet enough atmosphere to study in, but not so quiet as to be distracting. If you like a more laid-back atmosphere in a coffee house, this is the place.
It has a spacious parking lot. You never have to circle around the block a billion times looking for parking, score. And it has an outside patio. Additionally, I like that this place is openly gay friendly. Makes this place fit well in Austin.Listed in: COFFEE...
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Review from Kat H.
Austin, TX
2/6/2012
This is my favorite coffee shop...and it's not just for the coffee or berry protein smoothies, though I love both. Dave the owner is awesome, and really supports this neighborhood. From RG4N to FOBP to VCCW...he'll donate coffee, hot chocolate or gift cards to my causes. For this reason, I support him back and load up my GJC gift card and use it for my volunteer meetings and to buy them a bev of choice. I love that this local business realizes the importance of this symbiotic relationship with its neighbors, and they are a great neighbor in return. The staff are fun and quirky...I love that too!
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Review from Stanley R.
Austin, TX
12/18/2011
Great coffee, great vibe, great location, great prices and all around great
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Review from Robert U.
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I FINALLY FOUND IT!!!!!!! IT DOES EXIST!!!!!!! A coffeehouse in Austin where everyone actually doesn't act like a pretentious, rude, faux hipster who's trying too hard!
People are major friendly here! The atmosphere is comfortable! The place is not super duper crowded! And it's WELL AIR-CONDITIONED!!!!!!!!
You hear that Bennu? You hear that Epoch? Well air conditioned! I mean c'mon guys. It's July... In Austin. Get a clue.
Came here one evening with the bf to enjoy a book and just take in the vibe. I was so pleasantly surprised to find such an eclectic and genuinely friendly crowd with equally friendly and helpful service. And to top it off... the coffee is EXCELLENT!!!!!
Genuine Joe, in case you haven't caught on... we're like BFFs now. So you're gonna be seeing a lot more of me.
As for Bennu and Epoch... well... y'all can suck it. -
Review from Gabe S.
Austin, TX
12/6/2011
The lack of bagels was a great disappointment to my immediate self. Adequate coffee. A tapestry of standard surroundings. Will most likely visit again .
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Review from Jimmy F.
Austin, TX
10/5/2011
Without question, my favorite coffee shop. I've been going here since it opened, but hadn't been back in a year since I moved across town. I'd nearly forgotten how welcoming and comfortable it is to be there.
The atmosphere alone is worth 5 stars... but add to that great coffee, great bakery case, and A+ wifi, and you can't go wrong. -
Review from Amanda W.
Austin, TX
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been a bit of a coffee shop nomad lately, trying new places for both the coffee and looking for a good place to get some serious work done. I'm not sure if Genuine Joe is either the best coffee I have ever had or the best place to get a lot done. It is however exactly what it claims to be in the name GENUINE. Coming back to Genuine Joe for the first time in a few months after venturing out into other coffee shops reminds me how much I love this place.
The Batista's here are so friendly and helpful. They always say hello like you are a long lost friend and are not afraid to make suggestions and help you make just the right drink for you. I feel like some of the other shops in town can be a bit rude and shut off, like they are just there to take my money. That is not the case here.
Speaking of money, paying in cash here gives you a discount and a go local card can save you more. I already didn't claim this to be the best coffee I have had, but for the price it is damn good. They also have a frequent customer stamp card, so when you are really low on extra spending money you can still cash in on your free coffee at Genuine Joe!
Ultimately, it is the atmosphere that wins me over. No, there are not a ton of tables to spread out on to work like Epoch or Flightpath, but it is SUPER cozy with plenty of outlets, some couches and enough tables to set up shop. My only complaint is that sometimes when it gets really crowded the internet can slow way down, but hey only so much bandwidth to go around right!
Lastly, this review would not be complete without giving my praise for their chai latte. For a little kick, I usually order a dirty chai, but all the same it is the BEST in town. I found a great dirty chai in Houston about a year ago and I have since tried to find something comparable in Austin. Genuine Joe is without a doubt the best I have found. Order it iced, blended or hot... you will not be disappointed. -
Review from Ansa C.
6/15/2011
This may be my hang out of the next month. I've been searching around for a place to work from in the AMs for the next several weeks, and this is, so far, the best fit I've found. Its quite, comfortable, down to earth. The coffee is good. In short, I feel like its not "too cool" for me while still being "hip to my jive"...
OK I just outed myself. I am a huge dork. Hope they won't kick me out. But given the looks of some of my neighbors, I am in good company. :) -
Review from Kelsey H.
Austin, TX
5/16/2011
Absolutely the most CHILL coffee shop ever. It was a pleasant change from the average cookie-cutter shops...cough starbucks....People were working on their laptops, knitting, quietly chatting, admiring the decor/unique art pieces that adorned the walls.
They have plenty of comfy, cozy seating...They even have little rooms you can reserve for study groups or meetings or even poetry readings....
I ordered an iced chai latte and I can say with 100% confidence that it was the BEST iced chai latte I've ever had. I seriously savored each sip. They also had quite the selection of delicous little desserts but alas, I didn't get one. Next time, I will!!!
Give this place a try. You won't be disappointed. :) -
Review from Chelsea O.
Fort Worth, TX
9/7/2011
I'm not an Austinite, but when we went here, this place is what i would picture only being in austin!
the furniture looks like they just went to a bunch of garage sales and got whatever they saw! (i loved it!)
they had a huge patio/deck thing that you can bring your dogs!
(you wont find that ANYWHERE in fort worth)
Every time i go to a place like this, i never order anything from the menu. (dont ask me why), so i got a chai latte shake! it was delicious.
we hung around the patio and did school work and stuff for about 3 hours and it was just quiet and relaxing and a great place to study! -
Review from Beau F.
Henderson, NV
7/15/2011
I'm back in Portland!
A really hot, humid Portland with a different type of hipster, but still...
Seriously though, I love the place already. Plenty of outlets and table and chairs and steady wifi for all! I did think my smoothie was not worth the $5 I handed over for it, but it was good and the menu is priced about the same as Starbucks. I suppose this is one of the good things about living in North Austin; a place which otherwise seems like a bore to me. -
Review from Monica O.
1/30/2011
You know the way your toes feel after submerging your entire sneaker in a deep puddle on a cold rainy day with no chance to go home to change into a dry pair so your socks retain that cold numbing moisture all day long? Because that's the way I feel all over in Genuine Joe's side room :(
GJ really isn't so bad for getting my work done, provided I can snag a table in the main non-meat-freezer room and there aren't many people there, which there seems to be Saturdays after about 1p, and provided I'm not there to do work for their open mic Fridays or live Music Saturday nights. Those are a lot of provisions.
MONICHA'S PRODUCTIVITY ASSESSMENT:
- PARKING: quite generous! Really, as long as you don't park at the adjacent Tic Tac Tow Learning Center for children, you will be alright.
- TABLE BREADTH: Few tables, and they're too tiny for two people to spread out their work. Unless you 'work' on couches.
- LIGHTING: Plenty individual table lamps coupled with some overhead light, but the lamps take away potential tabletop workspace.
- MUSIC CHOICE: undetectable, which is certainly conducive to getting my shit done.
- FOOD: better than Utility Food (mediocre premade sandwiches/granola bars etc) but there isn't much to choose from. The pastries however! Swoon.
Findings: GJ is okay for getting work done at as long as these provisions are satisfied, which vary. Hm.Listed in: Productivity Pony or, Where to…
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Review from Jennifer O.
Austin, TX
2/6/2011
I absolutely hate trashing local places, but I had one of the WORST cups of coffee I've ever drank at Genuine Joe the other night. We were headed to a show at the Alamo Drafthouse and my companion wanted a cup of coffee: I suggested just getting it at the Alamo, but he decided Genuine Joe's would be a better bet.
Sadly, it wasn't. Their regular "cup of joe" was grossly weak and bitter. Imagine if a barista used some cleaning solvent as mouthwash, then drank a cup of coffee and dribbled some post-drink spit into a cup. I'm not exactly a coffee connoisseur but I do own a Bunn drip machine, a mid-tier Capresso machine and a sturdy burr grinder. The crap I paid $1.70 for at Genuine Joe's didn't even come close to a cup of Costco blend ran through a drip machine. I can make much, MUCH better coffee at home for considerably less money. GAG!
I've had a latte here before too, and it was decidedly mediocre. Maybe JP's and Houndstooth has spoiled me, but dammit, a good latte can't be that difficult.
Let me add that if you're looking for atmosphere, this is a REALLY cute place - they had a fun musician playing during our short visit, with all of the right coffee house political views. ;) It seems like a pretty nice place to just chill with a laptop -- plenty of outlets.
Sadly, I wasn't there to work and in a coffee shop my concern is their coffee. -
Review from Ted P.
Round Rock, TX
10/17/2011
One of my favorite coffee shops in north Austin. Super nice, relaxed atmosphere. for those of us who don't really like hanging out at Starbucks.
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Review from nhu n.
Austin, TX
4/28/2011
Each time I order the chai latte, hot or cold, it's complete satisfaction.
I like the fact it's on a not so busy side of Anderson, easy to enter and exit from. -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Austin, TX
3/18/2011 4 Check-ins Here
There are so many coffee shops in Austin, I know. But I honestly have a hard time finding a decent local coffee shop up north that is open past 3. Sometimes you just want a cup with a friend after dinner, you know? So at the urging of some friends, I finally headed to Genuine Joe. I had heard a lot about the chai latte and you know what? I believe it is actually worth the hype. Amazing. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. The pastry I had was delicious.
I think what I liked the most was the 'take off your coat and stay away' atmosphere. My friends and I grabbed a small room off to the side to chat undisturbed with a couple couches, chairs and a table. It felt like we were in someone's living room and in my opinion, that's a good feeling for a business to foster.
Although I'm not often in this area, I will be keeping Genuine Joe's in mind as a place to meet up with friends to have a good cuppa and conversation. -
Review from Nathan D.
Round Rock, TX
11/23/2010 3 Check-ins Here
This is everything I love about a coffee shop. The drinks are good, and at good prices. There is good seating, good wifi, plenty of plugs.
I've gone there with friends to have a little coffee and chat, and I've gone there by myself to hang out on the laptop and get some work done. Every experience is good.
I usually get the mocha, but I enjoy the blended iced chai latte, too... wow, that sounds like a pretentious fancy drink when I say it like that. I just wanted a chai latte, and the barista asked if I wanted it iced, sure. Blended, sure. It's like a chai slushee, and very good.
They take credit cards, but they like it better if you pay cash. All the cool kids use cash anyway. -
Review from Cameron K.
Austin, TX
12/14/2010
Another coffee shop where you can hunker down and get your wifi on and work. Few things set this place apart though:
Positive: Little different fare than you'd normally expect. Ginger peach iced tea and raspberry bread? Yes please.
Also have some seriously comfortable chairs and couches, as well as a plethora of outlets to charge your machine. And the patio is nice in weather.
Negative: The random reservations of the certain rooms by militant book clubs and one of the rooms happens to have one of the two bathrooms in the place. Also the "bands" they bring in are wretched.
Go during the weekdays and you can avoid the negatives however. And try that raspberry bread, it's amazing. -
Review from Allison J.
Austin, TX
11/8/2010
This is definitely a top favorite coffee shop here in Austin.
Having spent many hours studying and drinking their delicious beverages, I can almost call this place home.
Housed in a quaint retrofitted house, GJ located off of the busy Anderson Rd. but once inside youd never know it.
I absolutely LOVE their Chai from made from the Chai Rio mix.
They are a big proponent of cash and when you do pay with the green they take $.05 off your bill.
The staff is uber friendly and accommodating and always make me smile.
They have two rooms that you can, for free, book ahead of time to host your meeting or gathering.
Come for a coffee stay for a while. -
Review from Liza W.
Austin, TX
2/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have always liked this place, but on Saturday afternoon my italian soda tasted REALLY funny.
I don't know what happened, but I didn't even finish it.
It tasted a bit mildew-y. Is that possible for a syrup laced carbonated water? -
Review from Lauren C.
2/3/2011
Sweet little coffee shop. Went here for a meet-up awhile back and we had the back little room to ourselves. We closed the curtain since it was quasi-private. Unfortunately the bathrooms are back from that room, so everyone who had to do their business had to walk through our room. Hm..
They had a decent selection of things to drink but I just got a strawberry banana smoothie, which was quite tasty. Om nom nom..
Just your typical coffee shop, nothing really stands out here. -
Review from Lindsey P.
Austin, TX
10/8/2010
This place is pretty good. It's a little small and the cellar room can get a bit chilly in the winter. However, it's a good place to study, because it's more of an adult crowd than the coffee places nearer to campus. I think their drinks are on par with most coffee shops. Loose tea would be nice, but they do serve a good brand of bag tea. The staff is friendly enough for my liking (I don't need super cheerful baristas, personally). They have free wi-fi, which is always good. I've heard they have live music on weekend nights, which is not my thing at a coffee shop, so I don't know how crowded it gets, at those times. It's pretty reasonable during daytime hours, though.
Edit: Lately it seems that the cellar is always closed for meetings or something, which leaves very few decent places to sit to get work done. I don't know if I'll be going to Genuine Joe much more for that purpose. They also don't have a bike rack, which is kind of unfortunate and unusual for an Austin coffee shop. -
Review from Megan M.
10/19/2010
This is where we go for a genuine cup of coffee/espresso/latte/whatever. A Genuine Joe. Har har.
But really, our drink of choice is the Three Way House Mocha. Yes, 3-Way. Meaning like 3 Ways of delicious sweet chocolately goodness. The regular size is often just enough for a quiet evening with the wifi, but sometimes we'll splurge and get the mondo-size.
I found that back when I was studying, this was a wonderfully quiet place to sit down and slap on the headphones. If it is open mic night and you are writing that term paper, just sit down in the cellar and you won't be bothered.
We love to take our friends here to have a quiet chat over coffee or to play a card game over a nice, warm drink. Other times we just bring our computers and check the internet.
The only real drawback is that sometimes there is no parking left in the lot or that some nights there are no seats left to park yourself. Back when we first started going, it was a hidden gem - but now everyone seems to know about it! -
Review from Ida T.
Austin, TX
8/1/2011
I give Genuine Joe three out of four black coffees and a slap on the ass! I live up North (it deserves capitalization because it's a different part of the state) and struggle to find a non-Starbucks.
Genuine Joe has the kooky decor of your more well known schizo ATX hot coffee spots but you will be able to find a seat in said funky chair. It's too damn hot to sit outside so don't ask me about the patio. I saw it when I ran from my car to the inside so I do know it is there.
The barista was nice and actually didn't mind bantering a bit. Oh yes, I said banter. Also, don't be an asshole and sit down after ordering. You wait at the bar. I asked because I like following social norms.
My latte was tasty and no too expensive. Oh wait, it actually was because they have a $5 minimum on cards so I ended up treating my friend. There is free internets.
Joe, you and I shall meet again! -
Review from Colleen K.
Austin, TX
9/11/2010
Here's how it really is...
Great ambiance. Super laid back - NOT fancy if that's what you want. Hipster baristas, sometimes friendly, sometimes indifferent. Almost always parking available. Almost always a seat with table available. I'm not a coffee drinker, but they serve Mighty Leaf tea which is acceptable. I always get the vanilla flavor. Great place to study, unless you arrive at 10pm in which case the place will be packed. And for some reason, if there is a loud talker close by it will really irritate you... something about the acoustics in the room that there is no shutting out the loud. But, I still frequent Genuine Joe's for my study sessions. Great location and great crowd, and decent prices. -
Review from Don P.
Austin, TX
4/29/2008
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 -
Review from Christine A.
Austin, TX
7/16/2008
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.Listed in: Gimme Caffeine!
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Review from Tee D.
10/29/2008
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. -
Review from Mike D.
Austin, TX
9/25/2007
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. -
Review from Holly A.
12/11/2009
South Park never had gay coffee, but Genuine Joe does. In a big gay house converted into a big gay coffee shop. With a big gay deck. Yes, I said dEck.
It's really good gay coffee and it is served in various gay colored cups. Any way you like it. And you don't have to be gay to drink it. And you won't turn gay if you do.
You could have a circular gay parade in here - but not the wild butt-less chaps kind of gay parade, more like the sweet 5th Ave New Year's Day parade with a few Hello Kitties, Charlie Browns and Strawberry Shortcakes. You may even see Raggedy Ann and Andy; or Raggedy Ann and Ann or Raggedy Andy and Andy, and so on. It is very laid back in here and everyone is super duper friendly, gay or not.
Buuuuuuuuut their music in NOT - I repeat NOT - gay. WTF? I don't know folks, but the music here has been disappointingly strange and really does not correspond with the homey, close knit, funky, cozy, nook and cranny feel of the place. (I hear you can even reserve certain rooms for meetings and such.) Can we please get some chill/ambient/ethereal music up in here?
And can we please remove that scary monstrous urinal inside the bathroom that you almost trip over just to get into the bathroom itself?
Thank you, and I am a Hello Kitty just in case you were wondering.
:)Listed in: ZZZZzzzzzzz
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Review from Susi R.
2/5/2008 5 Check-ins Here
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. -
Review from Susie G.
11/16/2006
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. -
Review from Nvon C.
Austin, TX
5/9/2008
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! -
Review from Dan H.
Austin, TX
6/4/2008
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. -
Review from Erik S.
Cambridge, MA
5/5/2007
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. -
Review from Justin B.
Chicago, IL
2/14/2007
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.Listed in: Free Medical Advice, Great Write North, Coffee Talk
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Review from Tani B.
Austin, TX
9/8/2010
Having to drive by the abandoned eyesore of a building for more years than I can remember (as a lifelong Austin resident, I honestly can't remember ANYTHING ever being in that building, and always wondered what it had once been - a church, maybe? who knows...), I was truly delighted to see someone finally taking an interest in it and actually making it an attractive space.
The folks at Genuine Joe are truly fantastic - very friendly, and eager to provide good service. The interior is comfortable and cozy, with plenty of seating options and free WiFi available. The outdoor patio is also very nice in good weather (although I could wish Anderson Ln. wasn't *quite* so busy sometimes). I like the way they support local artists and musicians, too.
The coffee is always tasty, as are the baked goods I've sampled (mmm, Harvest Bread!), but the chai - oh, yummy! It is definitely my favorite chai in town, and that's why you'll find me at Genuine Joe much more frequently once cool weather hits. Gotta have me some Genuine Joe chai!!! -
Review from sujin l.
Austin, TX
10/5/2010
I love their mango-banana smoothie although it's a bit pricy , because it's coming in a smaller cup compared to other places.
However, it's so goooood :) I also like how the interior feels like.
I like the mood there but it seems like it's getting loud. so loud,,,,...so I would come here to chat instead studying.
bathroom is always clean!!!!!
