I finally stopped in Shenandoah Joe’s. Do it!
I love our downtown coffeehouses, but it’s no secret that they just can’t house the volume of “for here” coffee drinkers at peak hours, and I’ve stopped going with plans to stay because I feel self-conscious waiting for a table to open while holding my lap top and hot cup. The trade-off is that the scene is, for lack of a better word, cool. Downtown coffee is a see/be seen scene, like any bar but with a different fix to drink.
So I branched out. The Preston Avenue space is a different kind of cool. I walked the six feet from my parking space to the entrance and was met with a large, open, high-ceiling space with warm colored wells. The smell alone is worth a trip. I have no idea how to describe it, and saying “freshly roasted coffee” would be an understatement.
Half of the space is devoted to the coffee roasting process, with equipment and staff visible to the customers. The other half is set up with tables and furniture I actually wanted to sit in. I stopped in mid-morning on a weekday, and it was busy without being uncomfortable. I can’t believe I’m going to say the following, but it was noticeable: the customers were overwhelmingly cute, with nary a student in sight (except, maybe, behind the register).
I’m not the one to talk about coffee (*cough* Thor *cough*) so I won’t even weigh in– start commenting! But my pumpkin muffin was the best pumpkin muffin I’ve ever had, of the at-least-10 I’ve probably had in my life, and the rest of the pastries looked crazy-good– peanut butter blondies, coconut macaroons, and an assortment of muffins.
Tagged as: Cafe, Charlottesville, Coffee, Raves, Reviews, Shenandoah Joe's
i couldnt possibly agree more with this endorsement. perhaps the best thing about getting the grounds to take home is the overwhelmingly good aroma that fills your car, kitchen, and clothing. i know nothing about coffee, but they have always been really good with suggesting what id like. sometimes they will even take you around back and show you around.
one question, though… anyone know if any of their stuff is organic/shade-grown/fair trade? i always forget to ask.
i’m happy to see good press given to SJ, because i love this place! i’ve not sampled their food, but their coffee is amazing - i haven’t had a bad cup yet. plus, the young man who works behind the counter on tuesday mornings is lovely to look at, even if he is married. you know, lilith, you’re right - the clientele is rather visually appealing. maybe it’s something in the coffee? *shrug* i’ve seen students in there, but they tend to lean towards older undergrads or grads. (guilty as charged!)
De gustibus, I guess. I very much like the coffee and would go back for that reason, but seeing coffee being made reminds me of Bismarck’s remark regarding sausage and laws. I don’t particularly want to see the coffee processed, nor do I want to smell of it when I leave. And the place looks like a hanger, with not much in the way of good seats to do the things that people normally do at coffee places, like read the paper or talk with friends. I’d take a more traditional arrangement of tables and chairs over the hodge podge approach they have now. Also, the hours aren’t very good, if I recall. While that probably minimizes the students that go there, I don’t particularly have a problem with students. All IMHO.
Not a big coffee drinker, but I learned today that they used Shenandoah Joe coffee to make Starr Hill’s winter beer ‘the Gift’, and thats enough reason for me to like it
The Gift is fantastic!
I know! I tried to round up a small keg of it today, but sadly that didn’t work out, and apparently they only bottled a tiny bit of it
So for New Years I got Hoegaarden, Sierra, Stella, Purple Haze, Chimay, Lambic, etc…
I also recently went on the hunt for a new place to hang out, but I found the sitting space at SJ to be uncomfortable… unless you manage to get the one good table in the corner. Great coffee, but I prefer places with little alcoves for some privacy- I felt like everyone was facing in staring at eachother. I then tried Cville coffee, great place but I guess I hit it at nursery time, maybe its better at night. So for now I am sticking to Java java on the mall, and sometimes Mudhouse… but I would love to know about other comfy places!
Splendoras has probably the best espresso in town. Perfectionism is their thing. It’s not practical to go there on weekend nights, hot summer days, etc., because of all the kids, but on cold rainy days you might even get a deal on some gelato.
I hate to rain on Joe’s parade, but Mudhouse is the best coffee for me. Love the staff there too. Of course, if you all want to share some love up on Preston, don’t let me discourage you. This town can support plenty of coffee houses. I’m just glad to see so many of them be local.