Great little place to grab coffee. The inside is super funky. I loved it. The staff was excellent, and the prices beat Starbucks! Win. Win.

Amazing coffee, delicious food, and an awesome atmosphere. The staff is friendly and personable and the coffee is great! They dont skimp on sizes either. Their Caramel Pecan is my new favorite flavoring. Java Joes Coffee House is a major highlight of Des Moines!

The red eye is a must try. Its dark, smooth, and will leave you feeling recharged. Great environment for work, or study.

This place was so beautiful, had a homey vibe to it. I had a chai latte and it was the best I’ve had. I don’t know when I’ll come back to Des Moines but I know I’ll come here again. I even got a tshirt.

Great prices, friendly staff, and to top it off the coffee was so good! Highly recommend making this your stop for coffee. 👏🏻

Coffee was alright but the food was NOT! Wi-Fi didn’t work and the bathroom looked like a truck stop so basically you didn’t want to touch anything. The only saving grace was the vibe inside.

Great Staff. Good coffee. And jazz once a month!

Consistently late opening the store, 0700 is the posted time and it is 0750 and no one in sight.the place is dirty and needs a good cleaning. it is only a shell of the Java Joes from a bygone era.

Yummy coffee, delicious tea, excellent peanut butter cookies. Kitschy decor and comfy couches fit like a favorite old sweater. We happened into Java Joes on a quiet night which was just the right thing after an awesome and moving concert with the Des Moines Symphony.

Feels like a comfortable yesteryear. So hard to find places like this. So many coffee shops are so sterile and boring. Java Joes has such character. There Irish Coffee in a HUGE mug on a cold Saturday morning is so warming. I was disappointed my last lunch visit because they had only one soup available. And they usually have such great soup selection. But Maybe that was just a bad day. You should visit, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Great coffee place, cool Gipsy meet Broadway atmosphere, and customer service is awesome. We need more places like this in America.

Had a pedicure downtown today so decided to stop and get coffee here before our uber scooped is up. The whole building smelled terrible. The building and equipment appeared drab and dirty. 2 of our 3 coffee drinks were underwhelming and did not taste good. Service was good.

Very long line on Saturday morning, 3 people working. If you just want coffee, go elsewhere

Great coffee and tea, employees were very helpful and friendly.

Fantastic as always good coffee and service thanks!

Nice atmosphere. Great selection of coffees and teas (although the didnt have some of the ones on their menu).

Lady made an excellent breakfast sandwich and espresso. JJs is still in the game! Make it a part of your post-pandemic downtown rotation.

Awesome fast & friendly, affordable

Really awful coffee. They do a lot of business, the line was out the door when I visited, but Im mystified as to why that is.

Staff was unwelcoming. Ordered an iced coffee and breakfast sandwich.Served a hot latte and egg shell in my food.

If I could give this place a negative star I would my friends late was suppose to have cream and they put all foam. And then the kid behind the counter didnt ring my husbands food and then when all of our food came out they said we would have to pay and then they kicked my friend out because she didnt agree with us having to pay.

Maybe we caught them on an off day, but the staff was really surly. Overall a negative experience. We ended up going somewhere else for our coffee.

This used to be a great coffee shop. Not so, now. The cashier and cook behind the counter were mask-less. Their reasoning was that the mandate has been lifted. This may be true for Iowa, but not for Des Moines. Our table had crumbs on it. The food was okay, nothing great. Very disappointing.

Always friendly efficient staff & fabulous coffew

Really neat looking spot with a lot of fun coffee/breakfast oriented cocktails. Im not sure why the online menu mentions Indian fare because they dont seem to have that (or maybe its only at dinner time?)Friendly service. Was kinda expecting chunks of ham in my breakfast bowl, rather than sandwich ham, but it certainly looked pretty.

Try the redbull smoothie!!! Real yummy! In the winter... the warm ciders are the way 2 go!

This is not only the best coffee Ive had in a minute, but also the best breakfast. Incredible atmosphere. Friendly staff. Youd be crazy missing out on this Des Moines treasure.

My mom and I visited the downtown location this morning and we had a HORRIBLE experience. We had planned to get a full breakfast to-go, but when we walked in, we did not so much as receive a hello or good morning. The two employees working did not even smile let alone acknowledge that we had walked into the door and up to the register. We stood around for a few minutes looking for a breakfast menu. We finally had to interrupt the girl making coffee to ask for a breakfast menu. It was at least 5 minutes after we asked that we were finally handed the menu that was sitting right next to the register.There was only one couple sitting in the cafe, but we do understand there may have been a lot of to go orders. The two employees working in there were not even slightly helpful or friendly. They only spoke to us after we talked to them. When we ordered hash browns, the girl said that they did not have them even though they were on the menu. The girl was extremely rude when my mom tried to pay for the food.We ended up walking to Hyvee to get the rest of our breakfast food, and we were thankful for the friendliness of the people working there! When my mom went back to pick up the food from Java Joes, the guy working said, Here you go. Once again no one smiled, said thank you, or told us to Have a good day. We felt as though we were a nuisance to the employees and that is not a business model we want to support during the pandemic.I had had a really good experience visiting this location in the past, and I do enjoy supporting local businesses, but after the terrible experience this morning, I will not be going back to this location or recommending Java Joes to anyone. I am disappointed that this experience has ruined my opinion of Java Joes.

Great ice cream Frappuccinos

We are from out of town but will be moving here shortly. I can say we already want this to be a frequented spot for us. We really loved all the options and the flavors of our drinks were amazing. It has really good atmosphere and a hip vibe. 10/10 would recommend

Best find for a coffee and atmosphere. Staff were great too!

A sweet and gorgeous relic, thriving, from the nineties. 92 to be exact. Roaster, coffee, booze, snacks and actual Human endeavors...Noise, and other staged machinations of the muse in their performance space.Dont burn the place down and in the year 2092 youll be teaching the World how it all gets done...#Real#BonafidesLove!!!Smiles.Hearts...

Yesterday, a friend and I stopped in to get a drink at Java Joes and maybe stay for a while but instead had the weirdest experience of our life. Firstly, we walk in and rap music is being blared over the speakers at full volume and there is no worker in sight. When the worker sees us, he doesnt even turn the music down but keeps it playing, and he isnt wearing a mask. Even as he takes our order, he doesnt put his mask on. My friend asks for lemonade, as it is right on the menu in front of us. The worker goes Oh we dont have lemonade. With no explanation. So my friend and I both agree on hot chocolates. We have to repeat the sizes multiple times because he wasnt paying attention and reiterated the wrong size. As Im paying he is texting on his phone and taking minutes to give me my card back. Afterwards, he grabs chocolate milk for our hot chocolate, which I dont know if that is Java Joes recipe but when I got to the bottom of my cup there was no powder particles or excessive chocolate. It seriously tasted like warmed up chocolate milk. After he gets our drinks to us we move to go sit down but he says, Oh actually, were closing right now. Which takes me off guard because it wasnt even 2pm yet and Java Joes didnt close until 3pm yesterday! At first I honestly wasnt even sure that guy worked there, thats how weird this was.

Coffee is good, service is very slow

Excellent coffee& coffee drinks.you can get sandwiches.

Neat shop and decent service, but the coffee was average at best.

Ok coffee, not great service. But the location and atmosphere will always be great!

Retro stylish coffee joint with great selection and coffee.

Ordered a Flat White (off the menu item) and was at the pre-caucus event from MSNBC!

Nice atmosphere and friendly staff but need to raise their coffee making game

Best coffee in the downtown areathis location is extremely friendlyi love how they are so genuine and humble with their guestswent there after paying homage to Vaudeville Mews very good Iced Espresso Red Eye

Good drinks...with r without booze in it. I suggest the Jameson Apple Cider

Pretentious. Staff was snobby. Coffee was the price of a tub of Folgers, but taste 5x worse. Atmosphere is dull. The only abient noise is the fridge running in the background. WiFi is free, and you can tell. Not even worth the time. Waste of a trip. But, if youre stuck in the 2010 hipster era, welcome home.

The guy w the man bun is rllly cutttte.

Nice cozy place for coffee, ice cream and relaxation!

Been going here since I was a kid & have always loved it & still do. Drinks, games to play & relaxing.

Yummy coffees and breakfast menus! Very economical place to go!

Great coffee. Nice environment and excellent customer service. Smiles all around.

Paired with signage to remind you of their support for pro-life initiatives; come to Java Joes for the sweetest iced beverages you could ever imagine and the most average espresso on the market. Also the WiFi is trash.

Great for everything but the environment! Hopefully they will catch up with the times and stop using Styrofoam for literally everything🤞

This is a classic cafe where Ive been visiting for over 20 years. Its welcoming, a place for kids and lots of delicious treats. The area has a theme of an alley. Its like youre inside an alley but it has walls at each end.

Good little coffee shop

Friendly funky vibe & good coffee

I usually go to the one on 50th and Douglas. The prices are more, then Id like to spend but I continue to come. Each time the customer service is satisfactory. This time I went to the one downtown and it was very busy as usual. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and iced coffee. I received my sandwich and no drink, so I waited. Then I noticed people that ordered after me proceeded to get their drinks after I waited for a few more customers to get their drinks and still nothing. By this time decided I would have my sandwich and no drink. Just wanted a refund, the manager on duty claims he had no idea how to do that. So I waited another 10min before giving up on the refund. They still made my drink incorrectly, at this point I was over the experience. They did not try to compensate the for the time or experience. Now I have my wrong ice coffee and cold sandwich. Writing this review and letting the store know, has a helpful tip. Next time Ill have to go to ritual cafe or the Douglas one if I want better service and food.

Grumpy staff but great coffee.

Nice friendly staff and good food and coffee. Nice location. Good use of social distancing

If youve got a baby, dont come here. There is no space to change your baby. I had to use a strange half counter in the womens bathroom (no table in mens). Plus for some reason the bathrooms are similar to bar bathrooms - wobbly doors, writing all over the walls, dirty. I expect that in a bar, not a coffee shop - even a shabby chic one like this.Coffee was good. But I cant come back here because I dont feel comfortable changing my baby here.

The staff there were fun to be around, and I really enjoyed the open mic comedy show that was held there. The atmosphere is great, and if it was a little closer to where I lived, I would go study there. I will definitely come back for some coffee in the future 😊

Fun atmosphere and quirky decor. Sometimes they have live music, and its nice they have a separate space for that so it doesnt take seating away from those wishing to just sit and enjoy their coffee.The espresso drinks Ive ordered have always been tasty. Never had food here, so my review doesnt account for food. I took away one star because the wait can get long sometimes. But Ive also been during off times and been able to get my drink almost right away.

This is one if the best coffeehouses in America. The coffee is always brewed properly and has great flavor. Even though someone has cleaned the restroom since I was last here it is still not very pleasant. That is the only reason for 4 stars. And it is so much cleaner than it so I van see someone took my rage a out it seriously enough to make an effort.

The aroma as you enter was very appealing. Very comfortable and was able to catch up on my phone apps. After found a good spit to enjoy some tasty flavored coffee and sticky buns that were spot on . Be careful dont fall asleep lol the comfort zone is all that. Enjoy!

I see you two reading this right now. Lol.Prices are super reasonable, the coffee isnt all frills. That being said, they do fun, neat and tasty stuff with the coffee (yeah you could ask them to make it all flavors other than coffee and Im sure they would do what you like) but you can taste the COFFEE. The art and decor were wonderful to look at while listening to the music that was not to loud or disturbing, just enough so that you couldnt hear other groups exact conversations. The lights are warm and yellow, not bright and white. There are a few large stuffed chairs, a couch, a pew and many table and chair sets of two, four and large round tables that seated more. The coffee bar/center piece of the establishment seems to be a bunch of pieces of older original wooden furniture quaintly and artfully pasted together. The place is large but even people with anxiety in large crowds would feel at home here since most just keep to their own conversations and dont seem like a judge-y crowd. I was here at 10:30 on a Friday, for reference. Their cinnamon roll coffee cake and caramel pecan latte are to die for when you feel up to being a little devious. Enjoy!

Loved this place, beautiful location and establishment, amazing staff.. I highly recommend everyone to stop by.

Limited food items, mediocre service.

Great coffee!

Came here for ice cream because it’s the only place that sells ice cream in downtown. Waited on line for a long period time considering there’s only two people ahead of me. When it was finally my turn, I asked what flavors are the ice cream because they’re not labeled. I obviously can’t order without knowing what flavors there are. The gentleman behind the counter said he doesn’t know either and has to take a look at it. And then he went to go make a drink, so I waited.... and then I see him helping another employee with the customer that came after me! Did he forget me in the minute I spoke to him? He didn’t ask me to wait and didn’t imply he’ll be right back with me. Such rude customer service. I won’t be coming here again.

Very good! Friendly with some quick trivia of the area! Fyi...pre covid they have music ;)

Coffee is delicious and the the atmosphere is great! The staff are super friendly each time as well. We will keep returning.

Love these guys! The staff made us feel at home as we were passing through the town. Decor is very eclectic with an old coffee house charm. Would love to come back here sometime if ever in the area again.

Good, inexpensive coffee. Not as pretentious as most coffee houses these days. Ordered coffee and pastry, and both were very good. 4th st. Theatre is also here.

Love the chai tea. Took my wife and daughter, such wonderful employees and lively atmosphere. Great place to visit.

We love Java Joes. Weve been visiting this coffee shop for years. It has the atmosphere that I love in a coffee shop. Old building, exposed brick walls, hodge podge of tables/chairs/couches, and a great menu of coffee, smoothies, ice cream, and sandwiches. Once you get your cup of coffee, you just want to find a cozy table and stay all day! Great coffee too ❤️. Oh, and the bonus is, many evenings and weeknights you can find local entertainment here! Bands, theater readings, comedy, improv, open mic - so fun!

Great spot. Beer, cocktails and coffee all on the menu

It took almost ten minutes to get two lattes and a chocolate milk. Ive been here lots of times and it doesnt usually take that long for my order. The employee seemed almost annoyed that he had customers to serve,and no it wasnt close to closing time.The employees were not wearing mask.

Love the staff and the place. Not happy with the guy in charge of the counter during the farmers market. He is the biggest jerk I have ever met. Heard multiple customers complain about him being rude to them. I ended up not buying anything. Dont treat your guests and staff poorly just because its busy. That is no excuse to drop your customer service skills.

Great atmosphere to just sit and drink some good coffee. Occasionally has live music. The drink selection is huge! They roast their own beans and never had a bad cup of coffee yet. Its in a cool part of town and definitely a local favorite.

Java Joes is my favorite coffee shop in downtown Des Moines. The coffee shop not only offers a wide variety of different coffees, teas, and other drinks. But also has a large selection of ice creams. This makes Java Joes a must visit place morning or night.

Enjoyed 2 cappuccinos and bought a java Joes tshirt plan to keep going back for more clean and pleasant and enjoyable

The staff is friendly, the coffee decent. In a historic old building (1875) this coffee house has what all decent coffee houses require- overstuffed chairs with reading lamps and free WiFi. Ample seating available. A very cool space with their own roasted coffees. Check it out.

Best coffee in Des Moines!

This was the go-to coffee shop in Des Moines before the age of a Starbucks on every corner. It has since rested on its laurels and has never really worked to improve its coffee. When youve got amazing places like Horizon Line Coffee within miles of you, youve got to start stepping up your game. If you like your espresso drinks drowned in sugar/caramel/whipped cream etc, then youll like this place. But if youre looking for an artisan coffee shop that really knows its stuff, this isnt it.

TL;DR dont offer food if youre not actually going to offer food.Java Joes, we gotta talk.Growing up outside of Des Moines, this was the spot for young jazz musicians to come and play on Sunday afternoons. It was the place my wife and I first met and ended up having some of our engagement photos.Then, one rainy afternoon we come in for coffee and a sandwich. I wasnt hungry but my wife was. Your food offerings werent posted but you did have a menu we could look at. She ordered the Reuben. You had told her you were out of chips and didnt really provide an adequate alternative, so she paid eight dollars for a sandwich but no side. This is when we should have left but didnt, because we like this place. So we sat down and waited for our drinks and her Reuben. Then one of your workers tells my wife that theyre out of the ingredients for the Reuben. At this point shes trying her darndest to be polite and honestly, Im proud of her for it. She had your ham and cheese- something again, she paid eight dollars for and in return got something I could have made for her at home for far lower cost and comparable if not higher quality.The worst part about it was the fact that the staff seemed entirely apathetic to the situation. They werent busy, and once they were done with us they went to the sitting area and conversed with the only other guest there. Meanwhile were at the couches and my wife more disappointed than Ive seen her in quite some time.Will we come back? Probably. Its the place we met and well probably be downtown a time or two. But there are dozens of places to get coffee and hundreds more to get food. I hardly write bad reviews based on one bad experience, but when that bad experience is at one of your favorite places, it hurts a little bit more.

Been a favorite coffee house of mine since 1998!

I tell everyone I know that Java Joes has the worlds BEST iced vanilla latte. It is perfect. The atmosphere is wonderful and everyone is so friendly. Even during the crazy times like Farmers Market, the drinks always taste the same.

Super tasty! It was a very cute environment and the staff was super cheery and knowledgeable. Great quality and flavor!

I love this place. I like to come here, turn off my phone, and escape from the world for a while. They have a warm and inviting atmosphere with always friendly and helpful staff, and poetry every now and then (check with them on exactly when).

Checking out msnbc backstage it was awesome lots of people you see on TV. Nice to see them up close

Extremely slow service. Waited 20 minutes before walking out without placing our order. There were two customers ahead of us so it wasnt busy. No sense of urgency.

My favorite local coffee in Des Moines. Beans are roasted in house in a very cool...roaster. Have not been disappointed by any cup I have ever enjoyed here. Nice selection of pastries, baked goods, donuts, anything that tastes great with coffee. The building itself has so much history and they have done a great job accentuating this.

Very cool space and great location but on a coffee standpoint it’s really not up to par. Hope that changes, because the location really is neat

The coffee is excellent and it has an artsy atmosphere in a old style building. There is a bit of a smell when you first walk in from the old building but you dont notice it after a few minutes. The food is pretty good, but more of a snack with your coffee than a meal. Overall, I love to spend hours working here because of the coffee and the atmosphere.

The space is fantastic, the coffee is decent, as is the service and prices. However, I cant bring myself to give my money to a place that still has gross pictures of TRUMP displayed on their wall. This day and age Im very cognizant of where my money is spent, and I try my very best not to contribute to those that contribute to the hate-mongering mess that is 45. They may not notice, but I wont be spending my hard-earned dollars here.

Laid back hipster vibe, a great hole in the wall coffee shop. A place worth a visit if you like a tumblr vibe and a cup of decent coffee.

Love Java Joes! The donuts are to die for.. Oreo creme is my favorite. Ive never seen donuts like them before. Coffee is always good. $4 coffee bagel combo at the Douglas location is the best steal, made from scratch bagels & fresh roasted coffee? Cant get better than that.

If youre looking for a truly great place to get coffee. This is the place! They roast their own beans so the coffee is always delious!

Nice cozy cafè, great for working or hanging out

This is a super cute little place with great coffee drinks and food. They offer breakfast sandwiches all day, either on a bagel or croissant, that are absolutely delicious. Ive had great coffee, iced coffee, lattes, and chai tea here. There are lots of places to sit and people love to come here to study, work, etc.

Very cool historic space. Roomy. Friendly staff. Enjoyed some down time with my son while we walked around downtown Des Moines.

This is a great place to sit and read or write. Just the right amount of funky and plenty of room. I only had a coffee, which wasnt great, but decent. They have a small kitchen if you need a snack. They also have a small stage for live music. Ill have to come back and see if I can catch some live entertainment.

Great coffee