Cup A Joe

Great spot! Stopped by on a summer weekend morning and was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t too busy. The coffee is strong, flavorful, and very affordable—exactly what I needed. Chill vibe, friendly staff, and quick service.

I am actually visiting from out of state and I've been here for a month. While visiting new places I usually make it a priority to try all of the local coffee shops. It's a fun way to explore a new city and I try to find my favorite spot. Cup A Joe is the best coffee in town. Hands down. I've been all over Raleigh trying different spots! This place has a great atmosphere AND most importantly, really great, affordable, and strong coffee drinks. I'm going to be going here exclusively now until I go back home!

The atmosphere is what you would expect near a University. We love the place! I look forward to the vegan pumpkin bars and my family enjoyed everything they've tried. We actually go out of our way to stop at Cup A Joe! The staff is always pleasant!

Do not buy beans, over average price for a subpar product. I had to add milk to my coffee this morning. Great place to work and the drinks are good but black coffee or espresso drinks are not it.

One of my favorite coffee shops. Atmosphere is great and super hipster. They have a special every weekday, so you can get drinks for pretty cheap. They have a great variety of drinks, even for people who don't drink coffee. I love the cafe voltaire and the chai fusion. Parking is somewhat limited, but I've never had a problem with it

Cup A Joe in Hillsborough, NC, is a delightful spot that offers both charm and comfort in spades. My husband and I recently visited, and we were immediately struck by the cozy atmosphere. The exposed brick walls, simple wooden tables, and overall rustic vibe make it a perfect place to relax with a good cup of coffee. We both decided to try their lavender latte—mine iced, and my husband’s hot. Both versions were fantastic, with the subtle lavender flavor adding a unique twist to the classic latte. The drinks were well-crafted, perfectly balancing the flavors without being too sweet or overwhelming. The staff at Cup A Joe were exceptionally nice and helpful, making our experience even more enjoyable. They took the time to answer our questions and ensure our drinks were made just right. It's clear that they care about their customers and take pride in their work. From what I’ve gathered, Cup A Joe has been a beloved part of the local community for years, known for its strong coffee, friendly service, and welcoming environment. It’s a spot where you can settle in, whether you're there to work, read, or simply enjoy a quiet moment. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, I highly recommend stopping by Cup A Joe for a quality coffee experience. It’s a cozy, inviting place where you’ll feel right at home.

This location is great! Lively ambiance, plenty of seating, fun staff, and tasty drinks. Real fruit smoothies are good, the chai latte is great, the m&m cookie was crumbly and soft - a nice combo. Oh, and the art is amazing

My absolute favorite coffee shop in Raleigh. You can tell it is a staple of the community and just feels so homey. It's got character and kind of gritty, eclectic vibes and it always feels lively with people. I love the coffee itself too. My favorites are the seasonal flavors they have, like chocolate orange in January, white chocolate strawberry in February, and mint in March. Can't wait to try what they have in April!

My wife got a medium cup of Caramel Latte for us to share, and it tasted as rich as what we usually get at Crema Coffee in Raleigh. We both enjoyed the creamy, caramel taste. The coffee flavor is flawless. 3 shots of coffee were fine with this blend. Love the positive energy of the barristas serving, with their excellent & fast customer service. Inviting ambiance also makes this an ideal spot. Cup A Joe is a highly-recommended coffee shop for sure. | Overall Score: 4.7/5

I definitely recommend getting a Trainwreck coffee when you go! Lots of caffeine and really good! The service is good and definitely a cute spot. Lots of seating. I wouldn't recommend the food here just basic. I got the egg bowl -- it was just reheated eggs that were shaped for a breakfast sandwich in a styrofoam container. All the drinks have been great though and I've been back multiple times!

Definitely getting a great review. Food was ready quick and tasted amazing. Their coffee (latte) was so good!! Want to come back to try their cookies!

Just GREAT coffee. Open early too which is hugely important for a coffee shop! Friendly staff, and an amazing flat white. Seriously I order flat whites anywhere I go, this was smooth like butter and no bad aftertaste from the espresso. Truly delicious, wish I lived local I'd be here every day!!

A classic spot and always my go to for coffee/tea on Hillsborough. The Liverpool Latte is 10/10.

truly horrific wifi. i'm not trying to stay here all day. but i would like to be able to actually load a webpage more than once a minute yall need to fix this it's not 2004

Cup a Joe is one of my favorite spots in Raleigh. Affordable coffee, friendly staff, and a great place to work or study. I come here at least once a week because it's a great place to relax and enjoy a hot cup of coffee :)

Lovely food and atmosphere. The prices are fairly cheap and it is a good place to do work. However, the staff here is usually unfriendly and will not ask nicely for things they want in this shop. They are blunt, don't smile, and ask for unnecessary rules. One worker in particular is always in a bad mood. She'll walk around and say things that aren't out of the ordinary but she will NOT do it in a nice manner and it makes my friends and I want to leave every time we come into this shop. My recommendation is that cup a joe doesn't take workers based on their looks and takes a second to consider if they are sociable and friendly. Check to see if the eligible worker has worked in customer service before hiring them.

Yummy Bagels, Hot Coffee, Kind People, Dope decor. Amazing visit as always and i will continue devouring cuppa

Quality and service has gotten a lot better over the years. I would rather travel the extra distance to come to this place and support my local coffee shop than spend $10 for a cup of coffee at a Starbucks.

Staff was friendly and helpful. I tried a decaf Voltaire as suggested by the barista and bought a pound of decaf espresso beans. I made this trip to try these beans at home I will revise this review after brewing the beans for a week.

8am and packed with people getting their morning caffeine going. Several people with laptops already typing away, a few reading newspapers and a few psychopaths not using any electronic devices and simply talking with their friends. What's that all about? The don't do a cortado here but the young lady behind the counter did know what I wanted and came pretty close with a double espresso and hot milk. So a real plus there for that. They do breakfast and there's even a "keto special" which is no bread. I ordered the double scrambled eggs with ham. Nothing special but exactly perfect on my eating regime. Table was wobbly and I had the feeling that they would really prefer folks to be moving on. Nothing formal about it, just a vibe. So after breakfast and coffee, I moved along. They do have a dedicated parking lot in the back which is important as parking in this area is otherwise difficult. [Review 12287 overall, 2071 of 2019.]

Stopped in after going to the next door record shop..it was raining and there wasn't a huge crowd, which I like. It was great that they had a park ing lot for their shop, because parking in the area is scarce. I liked that it was unpretentious and just a casual atmosphere. They had a lot of bagged coffees for sale, pastries etc. The staff was very friendly, and swift. I ordered a Chai Latte with Oat Milk, and was offered a shot of espresso to make it a dirty chai. I accepted. I liked the fact that they do not charge extra if you want to switch to Soy Milk..but it is an up charge for Almond and Oat Milk understandably. They were quick with my Chai, but I was not a fan of it at all. The espresso was old and bitter tasting, and despite trying to stir it up and blend it better, it was just not good IMO. I gave them 3 stars for atmosphere, and friendly staff.

I was a BIG FAN of this lowkey coffee house. The smell when you walked in immediately catches your attention! The staff has everything down to a science (it's like they're studying supply chain logistics at NC State). And the results of their labor did not disappoint. Could have benefitted from some music playing in their dining area (would have been a 5-star recipient if they had that)! AND why don't they hand out/sell stickers?? I was blown away (because their logo is so cool).

Awesome coffee, service, and groovy atmosphere! Great place to relax and meet other caffeine addicts. They roast beans in house, so don't forget to buy a few pounds. Coffee specials daily. Parking is pretty terrible.

Best 6 shot latte at a great price. Always friendly staff. No frills, just good coffee.

Don't even bother with Starbucks, that is not a real coffee shop! If you want the real deal, you got to search out places like Cup A Joe, where they roast their own coffee, and actually know how to make a proper coffee drink! Plus their pastries are devine!! Seriously, life is too short for bad coffee!

Staff is extremely rude and stuck up. Rung me up for my order based on what I "look" like I would order in a demeaning manner, I had to say no, I don't want that. I want... Will not be back here.

Awesome Coffee! Very popular shop. Lots of different whole beans to buy and take home.

I don't love their espresso. I used to go here just because it was open until 10pm and I liked to study. They were usually pretty busy up until closing, can't imagine why they aren't open late in a college town anymore now that covid restrictions seem to be lifted everywhere.

Stopped by and ordered a special, I forgot the name but it was a pumpkin flavored iced coffee. It was alright, mediocre. The coffee shop is pretty cool looking. There's a lot of noise and this place is definitely one that seems busy with a solid customer base (seems like mostly students) which is nice to see. I personally don't think I'll be back - but prices are fair and staff was very friendly.

Cup a Joe is the kinda place where artsy, punk and creative townie types like to hang out at. There's that comfortable feel. The kind of feeling where you can drink coffee all day while writing a novel, drawing or reading your new favorite book. The coffee did its job of keeping my eyeballs open but I missed the creamy, frothy lattes I'm used to. That being said I would definitely make it a routine to grab coffee and go next door to Nice Price for records and books! A great Saturday afternoon agenda.

They were super quick with our grande mocha lattes. Espresso was strong and mocha was tasty. There is only standing room for ordering, people are not allowed to sit inside right now. Location is great for walking to other places, like the nearby bookstore, but parking is super limited! Prices were very reasonable, our two medium mocha lattes was just over $8. Workers were nice and did not rush us in ordering!

Not to be dramatic or anything, but I would D I E for a trip to cup a joe right now. I've recently moved from NC State and I'm having serious drawbacks from one of my favorite coffee shops on hillsborough. I loved coming here before class, grabbing a blended chai tea and green eggs and ham and hanging out here. It's just a great atmosphere and the food and drinks are reasonably priced.

Rude people at the counter! I have never been talked to like so rudely as a customer in my entire life. I will never ever spend another penny at either location because of their condescending attitude towards me. Who does this???

A bit crowded and a small space. I only stopped in and ordered to go. I don't know that I would like to try to get work done here when it's as crowded as it was today, though there were plenty of people working with laptops and enjoying the vibe. The specials menu was all tempting, and while I normally stick to a latte or mocha type drink, I ventured out and got a mango lassi. Very good! I also tried my friends orange blossom muffin which reminded me of sunny D. Also tried her iced chai latte which was one of the better chais I've tried. I think there are limited choices for coffee in downtown Hillsborough but this seems to be a popular place for a cup of joe! ;)

I visited this location on a Thursday evening with one other person. These are my thoughts and observations. - This place is packed in the morning and afternoon. - They sell coffee beans by the pound from various Latin American countries. - Their mocha lattes are cheaper than other coffee places. - Oh my God, the coffee is strong. I would not drink this in the evening like I did if you plan on sleeping. - I've had better mocha lattes from other places. There's was too bitter for my taste. - They have a good selection of baked goods. - I like the non-pretentious atmosphere. Overall, I'd recommend Cup A Joe if you need a pick-me-up or just want to meet up with some friends.

Cup A Joe is a classic on Hillsborough street. I've been going here for the occasional drink since my sister was in college, and now that I'm at State I still go. Some people say the service can be curt, but I've never experienced that. In fact I've found the staff really friendly and helpful especially with vegan alternatives. If you really want a deal go with the special of the day, I most recently got a large smooth for just over $3.

Best latte in Raleigh they roast their own beans, it has a great cool, casual, and quirky vibe. Loaded with college kids, professionals, and everyday people. It is unique spot with amazing coffee. You can also take home a great bag of beans.

The girls taking the order are always rude, condescending, and have poor customer service skills. Coffee and food is good though.

College town coffee spot. I was met by a barista who was helpful and started to point out the special of the day to me but he was cut-off by a manager who was upset and complaining to the employees behind the bar about an area that hadn't been properly cleaned. This seemed like something that could have been handled differently and not in front of a line of customers, and not while the barista was mid-sentence with me as I was trying to order. The décor seemed random and thrown together and the "ambience/vibe" seemed a little tense. My coffee was good. They offer breakfast items like bagels and muffins and daily specials on coffee drinks. Not terrible but not great.

I've been coming here since I was 5 years old. I always got a hot coco with whipped cream and a blueberry bagel. I recently moved back to Raleigh to attend NCSU and Cup A Joe has resumed being my absolute favorite coffee spot. They aren't fancy, but they have the best drinks and bagels, and their ham egg cheese croissant is a breakfast must have.

While there is nothing terrible about Cup A Joe, there is also nothing great. It's an average coffee spot with regular college-town aesthetic, perfectly fine if you're in the area, but without anything special to recommend if you're not. Lots of muffins and carbs if that's your thing. The big item for breakfast, the bagel and egg w/bacon, was pretty lifeless. Lots of room to improve the menu, along with plenty of posters reminding you to buy something if you're going to study.

Lots of seating, good coffee and pastries. No scones, which are my favorite The WiFi has mostly been very good, but last time I went it kept cutting off and on. I cannot know if this is a regular thing or just the one time. There are three large rooms with varying levels of noise, music, people. The far room is pretty quiet and good for studying and working. There are a good number of electrical outlets, but not all tables/seats have access to them. Overall, this coffee shop hits the spot for me as a place to work with a cup of coffee and a pastry.

Super friendly staff, cozy coffee shop with a throwback to the past with a little mix of the future. Got a King Voltaire which was fantastic!!! Hot chocolate with a shot of espresso. Had their black and white cookie and giant rice crispy treat!

Sort of a divey coffee shop with friendly people, great coffee, and cheap prices. Service is always fast

Great strong coffee, always get a bag when I stop by. But make sure you know how to raise your voice when you order!

Old School Coffee Shop near NCSU. Have your coffee to stay and sit a while. Always a good spot for good coffee and conversation. Been in the same spot at least 20 years. A Raleigh institution. If you haven´t ever been there and you live in the triangle area - it is worth a visit for sure.

Not impressed with the coffee at all. Wife ordered a latte, I ordered a cappuccino. The foam was not correct, and the espresso had a strong burnt/black licorice note to it. Also, pretty ugly presentation. 3 stars because they sell some good locally roasted coffee beans.

hot drinks are great and have been for as long as I have been going there, since 2006. but a cold chai the other day was 90% ice and was pretty disappointing . i wont stop supporting them but if I order an iced anything will ask for less or no ice. i was kinda bummed

I was once employed here and can explain the cold attitude that the employees give off. Employees here are trained to never, ever engage in small talk. Employees must constantly be cleaning (even when there is nothing left to clean), making food, drinks or generally just not standing still. Initially, I respected this method of constantly working, as I'm not a fan of small talk either. However, things turned sour when I was promoted from cashiers position and started interacting with other management. I was yelled at, belittled and threatened while working here. Cup a joe has a high turn over rate for employees for this reason. This management does not respect you at all and will go out of your way to make you feel terrible for a simple, excusable mistake. The constant micro managing will make you feel scared and on edge. It's truly a hostile environment for employees. After this experience, I have purposefully avoided working in the service industry.

Nice coffee place right on Hillsborough Street with parking in the back. This is a good place to come if you want to get some work done or study. Meanwhile the coffee shop has three rooms where you can sit. The first room is where you order your coffee. Most people sitting here are getting coffee with friends. The two other rooms are very spacious and most people here are doing some work on their laptops or studying. There is also some outdoor seating. The coffee here is pretty good and they have daily specials. I haven't had anything to eat here in a while but they used to have pretty good baked goods like banana breads and a few tasty savory options.

Let me start by saying I am incredibly confused by the number of 5 star reviews on this page. I have never given an establishment 1 star, but am feeling generous with Cup A Joe in this rating. From the second I walked in the door, I saw numerous signs stating what I could and could not do while here. (Photo of sign attached below.) From my own personal experience working at a coffee shop and bookstore, I understand as a small business owner, it can be frustrating to have individuals spending time in your shop, using your bathrooms, etc. who are not making purchases, however, the aggressive atmosphere at Cup A Joe simply made me want to leave without buying anything. Even the title of their wifi, which I am using right now to write this review, is "CupAJoe_Access_Requires_Purchase." Upon ordering, I was met by a barista who gave me no welcome, no friendly smile, and looked like she was not happy at all to be working here. The ambience is cold, and the place looks like it was thrown together with random items from the dump. An ideal coffee shop experience, from my perspective, is friendly, warm, welcoming, unpretentious, and calming. Cup A Joe is none of those things. Do yourself a favor and try one of the many lovely coffee shops in Raleigh instead.

Not a huge fan of the grungy decor (and the fact that everything looks like it could use a good scrubbing) but one of the best chai tea lattes around. It was smooth and spicy, without being too overpowering. Also the whipped cream was surprisingly tasty (i'm usually not a whipped cream lover). The snacks and sandwiches also looked great! Like I mentioned before the decor is kinda a mess, consisting of a hodge-podge of different benches and chairs that are hard and ripped. I brought a book to read while enjoying my drink but couldn't get comfortable. Definitely a departure from the overstuffed cushions and mounds of pillows i'm used to when visiting a coffee shop. I think next time i'll enjoy my order to-go.

It's just a good all around coffee shop for getting a drink and/or pastry and doing some work or hanging out. I really appreciate the proximity to used bookstores too. There isn't much outdoor seating, and too much direct, afternoon sunshine and cigarette smokers to be extremely comfortable, but the inside is fun with lots of unique seating options and tables of varying sizes for different sized groups.

First, the drinks are good. That's really important but there is more to Cup of Joe on Hillsborough than just the drinks. Hear me out on this ... First, the pastries. The muffins are fantastic! I'm addicted to the cranberry nut muffins and the blueberry are just at a slight second. Instead of handing you a small muffin loaded with preservatives you get a fist sized item full of goodness. The breads are just as good too. If you are a chocolate fan the mocha bread will be a dangerous try. You've been warned. The sandwiches are slightly different. They are good but limited in style (but not fillings). Think not quite breakfast not quite lunch, yet not brunch. If you are looking for food with your drinks I recommend the Mission Valley location which has a different selection. Now to the drinks. Before coming to Cup A Joe my drinks of choices were always latte's with additives. I blame Starbucks. Over the course of a year I slowly got less and less with my espresso until I was left with Americano's (water and espresso) and I loved it. I can't say much about the coffee (as it's not something I go for really) but the espresso is good, especially at the price you get it for. The staff is interesting and pretty friendly. There is no silly dress code or uniforms required. Just people. Humans. Not corporate frilly silliness. It's refreshing. The atmosphere is great too. There is local radio played and a wide variety of peoples who frequent the shop. Everything from hipster students to average Janes and Joes to business drones. If you like people watching or listening you'll be pretty happy. For instance, right now there are people to my left discussing drag. Ha! With that being said there is rarely kids in the shop. I doubt that is by design but more so there isn't anything really catering specifically to them. Don't forget that this isn't the only good coffee shop in town but if you are in the NCSU area it is the place to grab a drink and chill for a while.

This is one of my favorite Raleigh locations for a coffee. They have a ton of seating options with a few outlets throughout the restaurant. Their lattes are definitely strong and come with the perfect amount of expresso. I love that they have daily specials which usually encourage me to try different menu items. They do serve pastries and warm food with options that can meet any dietary need. The chairs outside allow you to enjoy fresh air and business of Hillsborough St on warm days.

I decided to try the place, despite Global Village down the street being my go-to coffee place on Hillsborough, having driven by it after work for the past two years and never going in, and hearing horror stories about the place (boyfriend used to work there). Yeah, he was right. As soon as I get to the front door and walk in, there are signs everywhere with rules of what you can and can't do while you're there. I get the whole anti-loitering aspect and not bringing in outside food, but the way it was posted everywhere like a community pool posts "No Diving" signs was a bit unnerving and not welcoming, to say the least. In all-caps at the top of the largest poster they have (at the front door), it states "THIS IS NOT A LIBRARY!" and similar sentiments. It was to the point that I was afraid to look around the establishment without being told I was loitering or being too observant. When my friend went to the bathroom (which I was surprised was open, because there were signs everywhere stating that bathrooms are sacred and only for paying customers), I was afraid I'd be asked to leave as soon as my cup went dry. Speaking of the coffee, it's decent, but I've had more flavorful coffee in other places. I ordered a Chocolate Joe Juice (which they insisted on correcting and calling a Mocha Joe, even though it says Chocolate Joe Juice on the flipping menu) with a Caramel Italian shot. It's about what I expected, but nothing too spectacular or mind-blowing. The baristas aren't above aggressive sales tactics, but I did feel like I was being rushed to order my beverage, even though my friend and I were the only ones in line at the time. As I looked over the menu at all the drink choices, they kept spouting off drinks in a manner that suggested I didn't know what I like. When I casually said, "Let me take a look at the lattes you have," one barista responded with, "The fruit smoothies are good, too. Did you want a fruit smoothie, instead?" I'm not sure about the rest of you, but suggesting different products other than what I've indicated I plan to purchase is a retail pet peeve of mine. I had a better experience looking at the people sitting outside during rush hour. It's certainly not the place you'd want to visit if you're looking for a welcoming hangout with tasty coffee and a lack of snarls; maybe I don't fit the bill for the clothing style or level of pretentiousness they're looking for. However, if you're a nonconformist masochist and enjoy a haunting environment with delicately-flavored coffee and like to leave as soon as you finish your drink, this is the place for you.

If the most interesting man in the world drinks beer by Dos Equis, he would also drink coffee by Cup-A-Joe on Hillsborough St. (if you didn't get the reference, youtube the commercials -- it's worth it.) The selection is your typical line-up at a coffee shop: coffee, mocha, smoothies, chicken wraps, and an espresso-bean vending machine --nothing stellar. But the personalities that frequent are of "most interesting" caliber. I've overheard conversations about the Cosmos and Carl Sagan, architects that secretly design building-landscapes for a skater's delight, solving the energy crisis with bike-powered hydrolysis, and the elderly discovering the power of Google two seats to my left. The atmosphere is thought-provoking. NC State's 88.1 streams the speakers and local art lines the brick wall, while a breeze blows through the door on Raleigh-weather days. Smoker and non-smoker friendly, Cup-A-Joe is for those interested in the interesting. I come here to create. I grab a cup of coffee, find a window-seat on the benches, and do work.