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    Iris Coffee Lab

    4.4 (158 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Iris Coffee Lab Photos

    IRIS COFFEE LAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Iris Coffee Lab

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    Cortado
    Deidre T.

    Always enjoy a new to us coffee shop when traveling. Iris is a great little place. Interior is mostly white which provides great light even on a rainy day. They have outside seating on the sidewalk as well which makes it fun to people watch. You have to come down stairs to enter, which was not a problem for us, but made me wonder about those who might have trouble. Is there another entrance? The service was great. Super friendly and quick. Had the cortado as it is my go to drink when trying a new spot. The beans are more on the fruity side .... I prefer chocolate or vanilla note beans. But it was lovely and hit the spot. Served in a glass which I love!

    Kiara I.

    Iris Coffee Lab is where you bring the friend who can tell you the origin of a bean after one sip, who gets excited about extraction methods and tasting notes, and who genuinely believes coffee deserves the same reverence as a fine bottle of wine. Iris isn't trying to be trendy: it is unapologetically devoted to the craft. The interior reflects that philosophy. A restrained palette of white, charcoal, and soft gray keeps distractions to a minimum, allowing every cup to remain the focal point. It's clean, modern, and intentionally understated. If you're someone who typically reaches for cream and sugar, I'd encourage you to order at least one cup black. Iris sources and roasts exceptional coffee, and tasting it without distractions is the best way to appreciate the nuance and balance that have earned the café such a devoted following. That said, the seasonal menu is every bit as thoughtful. On this visit, I ordered the Mango Sticky Rice Matcha Latte, a drink layered with tropical sweetness, creamy matcha, and just enough complexity to keep each sip interesting. The final few sips, where all of the flavors settled together, were unexpectedly my favorite part. My brother-in-law chose Iris's signature blueberry-forward latte, while my niece ordered the house-made chai. Before she'd even finished half the cup, she looked up and declared, "This is the best chai I've ever had." Her father, after trying it himself, agreed without hesitation. The breakfast menu compliments the beverage program well, offering thoughtfully prepared dishes that feel every bit as intentional as the drinks. Like many destination coffee shops, Iris tends to attract people who settle in for a while. Laptops are open across nearly every table, conversations are minimal, and the room has the focused energy of a shared studio rather than a bustling café. Because of the open design, voices travel easily, making it a better place for quiet work than lively catch-ups. The café is meticulously maintained, including spotless restrooms that reflect the same attention to detail found throughout the space. Parking can require a bit of patience, though I've almost always managed to find a spot without too much trouble. Iris Coffee Lab isn't trying to appeal to everyone, and that's exactly what makes it special. It's a café for people who care about coffee, how it's sourced, brewed, and experienced. In a city with no shortage of coffee shops, Iris has carved out a distinct identity by putting craftsmanship ahead of trends, creating a destination that's as much about curiosity as it is about caffeine.

    Banana pudding matcha
    Andrea A.

    I really wanted to like Iris especially considering their partnership with Frame Matcha, but I had a pretty lackluster experience here unfortunately... Got the seasonal Banana Pudding Matcha, which tasted more like banana milk with a hint of matcha. Also felt like the drink was very powdery? Service was fast and friendly. Ambiance is nice- minimalistic feel, open space, lots of natural light. Good amount of seating, but it filled up quickly. There's free 2 hour street parking. 6.5/10 maybe recommend, I'd need to give this spot another try to be sure.

    Golden Spring Latte
    Camilla M.

    The vibes were so cute and the staff was extremely friendly. I tried their spring menu latte and it was really not great. Maybe other items on their menu are better. I love trying new coffee shops and saw great reviews online, but I was not a fan, personally.

    Lily F.

    Incredible coffee, and I loved the aesthetic! I got the strawberry creme latte (hot version), and it was fantastic! My partner got the iced version--which was somehow even better than the warm version. I don't like my coffee drinks too sweet, and they struck exactly the right balance. It tasted like there was real strawberry (and not just a super-sweet syrup). Unlike many coffee shops, they gave us a number to bring to our table, so we didn't need to stand around and wait for our coffee to be ready. Instead, they brought it to our table for us. This was such a nice touch! There's a good amount of seating inside, but we sat outside since it was such a nice day. Can't wait to go back & try an iced americano or drip coffee to try out some of their different roasts.

    Shirley Z.

    A lovely lovely place to grab a matcha and chat with a friend. Their specialty drinks were sooo yummy and service was fairly quick considering how busy it was when I went. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place to get a lot of work done, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to cafe work spots. Overall I would come here again to try another specialty drink and have a chat!

    Matcha yuzu yogurt bowl
    Jennie N.

    their drinks are truly one of the best in Raleigh! They curate their menus with a lot of care and you can taste it in the quality of their drinks. Their food def needs some work/adjusting. I got the matcha yuzu yogurt bowl today.. i really wanted to like it! But the taste of matcha was barely there, cantaloupe were not fresh/ripe and were too big of chunks to chew, and the yuzu was too overpowering/sweet. Darn! I'm still hopeful about their food though, i feel like it can improve overtime. Especially with how well they do their drinks. They decorated very minimally with touches of earthy tones in the light wood furniture and plants. Nothing special! A good amount of seating but they do get busy during peak hours!

    Jasmine mini matcha and candied ginger matcha
    Evangelina W.

    Iris Coffee Lab is definitely a place I'd recommend to chat with your friend in the afternoon. The shop had a nice amount of light and was bustling with customers on a Saturday afternoon. There were still seats that would open up and I was able to enjoy my matcha and hangout for 2 hours. The menu is what makes Iris stand out to me as innovative and exciting. There are so many cool and different drinks to try especially with a seasonal menu. I ordered the Jasmine mini matcha because it had all of my favorite things but I was disappointed in the ratio of cream to matcha. It was almost too much cream and I wasn't sure why it was designed that way but it was truly "mini". I think next time I'd definitely want a larger drink. I also tried the candied ginger matcha and really enjoyed that. Would definitely go again to try more drinks!

    Cherry marzipan latte
    Emily B.

    Of course I had to try this place based on the reviews. Woah! Cherry-marzipan latte. A must order. So delish. Loved the almondy flavor. So many fun drink flavors and options!

    Matcha
    Hayley P.

    Another Raleigh favorite that I just can't seem to stay away from. On my most recent visit, I came to try their matcha since I have heard such good things about it. I had their mini matcha, which I believe was the Jasmin Mini Matcha, and then their featured Valentine's Day Matcha, Strawberry Matcha Supreme. And wow, the reviews weren't kidding. This matcha was amazing. Just the perfect amount of matcha earthiness matched with the sweetness. Also, they do such an amazing job with the presentation. Iris continues to be one of my favorite breakfast, coffee, and now matcha spots in Raleigh.

    Mango sticky rice matcha
    Yolanda Y.

    Wow! A new favorite Raleigh coffee shop! Their matcha is amazing--I tried the mango sticky rice matcha with some skepticism, but it completely blew me away. The balance of mango flavor, earthy matcha, and the sweetness of sticky rice was perfect. The food options are also great and reasonably priced for the portion sizes. I'm not the biggest fan of the sidewalk seating since it can get noisy with traffic, but the space still has a very cute vibe, especially with summer flowers blooming all around. Inside has bright space with great working spaces. The service was fast and friendly - they can get busy though. There's plenty of street parking available, plus a garage nearby. I'll definitely be coming back often for both their food and drinks!

    Coconut Air
    Lauren H.

    Iris Coffee Lab has a bright, airy space with lots of room and tables, which makes it a good spot to set up and work. That said, it didn't feel the comfiest or cleanest to me. I tried the Coconut Air and, to be fair, that was a mistake on my part. I thought it would be more like a latte, but when they say "experimental," they really mean it. It even came with a little paper explaining the concept, but I still found it not very clear. Again, that was on me for not looking more closely at the menu. On the plus side, the Hotshot Bagel breakfast sandwich was delicious, the hot honey really made it. I considered ordering another coffee to try, but the prices felt pretty high for what I got already. Overall, while I think a lot of people could enjoy the creative menu here, it's not really my style atmosphere and I don't see myself coming back.

    Bagel w "scallion cream cheese"
    Edward L.

    When I picked up news of the hype around a matcha pop-up in Raleigh, I was initially really excited that I would get a tastefully curated experience. Unfortunately, if I could describe Iris's matcha and food offerings in one word, it would be "gimmicky." The mango sticky rice matcha was overly sweet with a barely perceptible hint of matcha, presented without a hint of mangos or sticky rice in the cup. Later, I saw a massive multiple liter jug of pre-made matcha lugged outdoors. Additionally, the bagel w/ scallion cream cheese had visibly un-cut scallions, yet surprisingly the scallion flavor was hardly there. The presentation was also not great; a closed box handed over without a word by a frat bro walking out the kitchen, cream cheese still on his gloves, which must have come off of the bagel considering the 1/3rd without anything on it (see pictured). I'll quote a friend who said it looked like "someone's midnight snack." All in all, this was sadly just another example of culture-vulturing for some tiktok clout and some quick cash. One can only hope that more authenticity will come to town to raise the low standards of the area.

    Candied ginger matcha (iced and hot)

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    The seating isn't the most comfortable, but I love their coffee and vibe. The staff are always super nice too!

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    Ask the Community - Iris Coffee Lab

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    Iris Coffee Lab - coffee - Updated August 2026

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