Cedar Falls, Iowa: Cup of Joe

Nov 12

As a remote worker, I’m often looking for a great place to sit and work, and coffee shops are always at the top of that list. I love having a little drink and treat to motivate my writing, and the atmosphere can encourage a feeling of creativity. After visiting or working in a coffee shop, I like to share about my experience so you can find the best coffee shop for you.

What you’re looking for in a coffee shop will vary depending on why you go—remote workers will need solid tables, outlets, and a great internet connection. Those looking to sit and read a book might want a comfy spot and good treats. And if you’re meeting up with a friend, maybe you just need a chill place to sit and chat.

In this article, I’ll tell you all about my experience at Cup of Joe so you can figure out if it’s where you want to go.

About Cup of Joe

According to the Cup of Joe website, this coffee shop is a “one-of-a-kind espresso bar with 1950's flair” that features “direct and fair trade, organic, shade grown seasonal coffee, house made pastries including wheat free and vegan options, and weekly music and game night events.”

When you park on Main Street and find your way into the shop, you definitely get the sense that this place has been a Cedar Falls staple for some time.

Inside and Vibe

Depending on the time of year you come around, you might find some tables and chairs outside on a little sidewalk patio, strewn with blankets for the early-morning and chilly coffee drinkers.

Just inside, there’s a little area with couches and chairs that would be perfect for sitting and reading or having a chat. Along the back of the room, there are vintage tables and chairs, each with its own lamp. A base board running the length of the tables features plenty of outlets you can use to charge your electronics.

(Pro Tip: If you’re waiting in line and spot an open table, it’s a good idea to put your things down before ordering. Spots go that quickly in this coffee shop.)

Just like the website says, the vibe inside the place is eclectic and classic. Take a moment before ordering or sitting down to look around—you’ll spot several shelves of Cup of Joe merch (including a cat sweater!) and, in the back, several mannequins that are definitely not watching you, looking over your shoulder, judging you for online shopping instead of doing your work.

When it’s busy, it can feel slightly overwhelming. If you’re the kind of person who struggles with loud noises, the garish ringing of the phone (which sounds like a real bell) and loud, hissing espresso could certainly be too much. But if that won’t bother you, or you’ve got a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones, you won’t have to worry about music being too loud.

(Sometimes, even with my WH-1000XM5 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, I can still hear the music through the excellent noise cancelling feature at other coffee shops.)

Is Cup of Joe any good?

Working experience aside, you might be wondering if the coffee and pastries at Cup of Joe are worth your hard-earned money. The menu boasts a full range of drinks, from matcha to chai to all different kinds of coffee (espresso, cold brew, and lattes).

As for breakfast, there are sweet pastries and a few savory pastries, but if you’re looking for a hot breakfast sandwich or anything cooked-to-order, that isn’t quite the jam here. I’m a big fan of a breakfast croissant, so this coffee shop doesn’t quite fit my preferences, but it all depends on what you like and if you plan to order food.

Drinks

Iced Mocha & Iced Matcha

Iced mocha (left) and iced matcha (right)

In an effort to keep our drink orders pretty standard across the board, I go for the iced mocha with oat milk, and Theo gets an iced matcha with 2% milk. We find that this can be a pretty good measure of the offerings—do they burn the espresso? Is the matcha the right shade of green, or will it leave you feeling like you just drank a glass of milk (yuck)?

The mocha at Cup of Joe’s was good. Relatively chocolatey, and with a smooth espresso that I enjoyed. As for the matcha, it wasn’t as strong as Theo might have hoped, but it did have more flavor than any you’d get at a big chain coffee place (we’re looking at you Scooters and Dunkin’).

One sticking point for these drinks? The price. We’re just a couple of kids from Iowa, so we’re not used to paying big city prices. Maybe, compared to New York or Chicago, this isn’t much, but my mocha was $8.53 ($1.10 of which was for oat milk), and Theo’s matcha was $6.88 ($0.55 of which was for honey).

(As an aside—I’m so tired of being charged so much for oat milk! It’s lactose intolerance discrimination.)

$4.39 for 64 oz. oat milk = $0.06859 per oz = $0.82308 for roughly 12 oz. of milk in a large latte

$1.25 for 64 oz. dairy milk = $0.01953 per oz = $0.23436 for roughly 12 oz. of milk in a large latte

That’s $0.59 difference between the dairy milk and oat milk, not accounting for the fact that coffee shops likely get their milk cheaper than even what you can get at Aldi. And this isn’t even the highest charge I’ve seen for non-dairy milk.

Maybe $18.96 for two drinks (after adding a tip) doesn’t make you blink, but it definitely seems to be on the higher end of what you can expect to pay in this neck of the woods. Of course, what you order could be more or less than that, depending on what you go for.

Food

Spanakopita & Pear and Rosemary Pie

Spanakopita (top right) & Pear and Rosemary Pie (bottom left)

If you know anything about me, it’s that I like to go for whatever sounds most interesting on the menu, especially if it’s something I’ve never tried before. Enter here spanakopita (which I have had before) and rosemary pear pie (which sounded so interesting to me!)

We really liked the spanakopita, but the rosemary pear pie is where we diverged. I loved it, and thought it tasted like winter and Christmas combined—fresh and cool, while also holding a hint of spice that made me think of the holidays, of coming in from a freezing night and into a hot room full of family.

Theo didn’t like it at all—but he’s not known for his adventurous palate. (Let’s see how long it takes him to find me putting this here 😂).

What to know before you visit Cup of Joe

At Postcards and Pins, we understand the awkward traveler, because that’s often us. We always try to compile some information to understand before visiting each location. These are some things to keep in mind about Cup of Joe:

The restrooms are in the back. Cup of Joe has pretty nice, single-user, gender-inclusive bathrooms. And by nice, I mean they’re in the back, out of the way, and you don’t have to ask for the bathroom key. One of them is a little tight, but the other has more room.
Don’t expect to get a table every time. This place can get very busy, so it’s likely you might walk in and have to walk right back out if you’re planning to come here and work. Be strong! Don’t buy something if you can’t stay—that’s something I’m working on, too, especially as a remote worker looking for a table. (Pro-tip: Put down your things before you order to make sure you get a table! They really can fill up that fast!)
Return your dishes to the bar. I wish they would put up a clear sign (maybe they did and we just missed it!) about where to return the dishes. Most people wouldn’t sweat it, but me and you worry about this kind of thing. When we went, we just returned our dishes to the bar, to the left side.
You’ll have to ask for the internet password. They change it every day, and don’t post it up on the wall, so make sure to ask for it when you order.
The internet is very fast. We were surprised by just how fast the internet was at this coffee shop—if you need a high-speed connection, this one will work for you. Our test showed it at 228 mbps for download, and 63.1 mbps for upload.
There’s free two-hour parking outside the coffee shop. Parking in downtown Cedar Falls isn’t exactly easy, but if you circle a few times, you’ll find something. Plus, we’re pretty sure there’s parking behind the coffee shop, too.
Enjoy plenty of other fun stops on the strip. Book lover? Go to The Nook. Maybe you’re a weirdo like me, and you like checking out libraries in new places (assuming you’re traveling)—you can walk down the street and check out the Cedar Falls library, which also has free wi-fi in the parking lot! There are a ton more restaurants and shops in the area, from candy to wine to stationary.
It’s a queer-friendly vibe. If you’re any of the shades on the rainbow, don’t sweat it at Cup of Joe. You’ll feel right at home.
There are plenty of outlets available. Every table has an outlet, so you won’t have to fight for one if you manage to grab a place to sit.

Final thoughts on Cup of Joe

Cat sweater featuring the Cup of Joe logo

Final thoughts on Cup of Joe—it’s a perfectly nice place to work for a day. I’m not sure I’d come here again and again, since it’s somewhat tough to get a table and can be pretty busy, but it’s cute! The decorations are lively and they have a ton of goodies if you’re looking to get someone a gift for the holidays (or just for anything, depending on when you’re reading this.)

If you want a hearty breakfast, skip this coffee shop. Content with a pastry and don’t mind paying a little more for a drink? Then this might be the right place for you. (Again—prices are so variable depending on what you’re used to! These just seemed high to us.)

All in all, I enjoyed trying this place out and appreciated their interesting offerings for pastries. I also found the coffee to be smooth and quite tasty, and Theo enjoyed his matcha.

Have you tried Cup of Joe, or is there something we missed in this review? Drop us a line and let us know.

Deion Malloy