I love the JAC. I've been coming here since I was 12. If you're looking for something to do on a Thursday night, come for live music on open mic night. Their drinks are awesome. They will make you just about anything you want. I recently came in the morning of my wedding after being out of town for several years and received my drink on the house. I can't say how much I love this place enough. read more

Jackson Avenue Coffee - Blueberry chai the morning of my wedding. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, Illinois

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Had a blueberry scone and a lavender oat milk latte! The scone was delicious, I wish the lavender flavor in the coffee was stronger. Cute place inside with lots of seating!! read more

Jackson Avenue Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, Illinois

Very good coffee with a low key and laid back vibe. Can get busy, but worth it if you're not in a hurry. Fun downtown location right off the courthouse square. read more

I go in all the time for the coffee, and leave feeling refreshed and renewed. I love the open instrument idea. Playing their piano and belting Jelly Roll is the last bit of sanity I have managed to maintain during these trying times. Plus "The Jac" as it's known by locals showcases the artwork of those in the community, as well as the price for each piece. So therefore, The Jac is an essential staple to any travelers journey through the Mid-West. That is if you want to get the true feel for the ever-evolving artistic, yet sweet vibe this location has to offer. read more

Best cup of coffee in town, great prices, excellent baked goods (hint: try the blueberry scones!), and a good place to just unwind from a busy day. Thursday nights have the bonus of an open mic from 7-10, generally SRO (Standing room only), so get in early and grab a seat! Hands down, I LOVE this place! read more

Very friendly staff and decent food and beverages. An amazing free art class on Thursday nights and an open mic night! What?!

Super friendly staff, excellent service and even better coffee! I recommend the Spicy Vanilla Chilly Chai if you like lattes. The Cookies n Creme and the Peanut Butter Frappuccino's are also really good. read more

I stopped by here yesterday as I was driving through town for work. I try to visit local coffee shops when visiting different towns. I went for their drip coffee, and I chose the Seattle Blend from their coffee bar. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the coffee was. It was very taste forward. Some coffee just had a coffee taste, but I could tell this was a quality coffee brewed with care. The man behind the counter was very nice and took care of his customers. I would definitely visit again when I'm in town. read more

Cozy place to sit and get some work done. They offer almost all drinks hot, iced or frozen. Also pictured is the coffee and tea bar for costumers to refill their drinks at. They have live music performers and open mic on Thursdays and customers often come in just to play some music in the back. Family friendly cool place! read more

Jackson Avenue Coffee - a view of the coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Charleston, Illinois

Ahh I miss jack so much !!! I always loved their coffees and their staff is SOO NICE !!! Also they always have programs on the week days which is really cool. This was my all time favorite place to go during my exchange year in Charleston and I miss all the nice moments in Jack!! My favorite is their open mic night ! Also give a try to their chocolate chip cookies !! They are mind blowing ! read more

Nice friendly local coffee shop. The staff are always really nice and I absolutely love their caramel drinks. The bakery items aren't really the best as far as freshness goes, nothing is wrong with him they desire obviously made somewhere else. But the chocolate chip cookies are to die for! read more

I'm a Charleston native who has been going to JAC's since high school/over ten years. I make it a point to return every time I'm back in town. I would recommend for anyone in the area who's in the mood for good coffee and a chill, artsy ambiance, with the occasional music drifting from a nifty back room. I've heard colorful anecdotes about the current owner too, but don't let that stop you from checking this place out. I appreciate how JAC's has expanded its menu and I'm definitely among the loyal customer base, which, by the way, really came through in 2012 and saved the coffee shop from closing during a messy financial time for the owner (over 19k in five days). We were all super motivated to keep a gem like this in the Chuck. Shout-out to barista Katherine (sp?), who insisted on covering the rest of my total when I stopped in on June 29th (50 cent difference) and was a total loser who didn't have quite enough cash on hand. Making up for it next time but for now, here's the glowing review I've been meaning to write for a while anyway! P.S. The whole staff is rad. UPDATE (7/9/2014): I feel compelled to divulge the following. JAC's owner reached out to me after reading my review and we've had a pleasant exchange. The owner was appreciative of my patronage and seems conscientious and open to improving. read more

I had a pumpkin spice chai Blended the other day. I topped it off with a white chocolate raspberry scone. Delicious! I will be going back for more. Can't wait till soup season and they start serving that warm delicious soup on Wednesdays. Stop by for an excellent cold or hot drink and a little extra on the side if you want some sweets read more

Nice quiet place off the main square with very good coffee. No reason anyone coming here would go away unsatisfied

Jackson Avenue is the only locally-owned coffee shop in Charleston. It has a nice selection of coffee and other drinks, from chai to Mexican cocoa. I love that they can make you a pumpkin latte outside of the "season," and even though it's pricey for a small town, they do a good job making their drinks. My only complaint there is most of the time, my hot drinks are merely "warm," so they could use some improvement there. Not really sure why they insist on serving warm coffee. They also serve yummy biscotti, scones, cookies, bagels, and pizza, apparently. I'm in love with their white chocolate raspberry scones, as they're just what I used to get at Aroma Cafe in Champaign before the new owner took over. (More cookie-like scones instead of dried, over-puffed rocks.) I've never tried them, but they also serve some lunch items like wraps and hummus plates. There is a lot of seating, even though the tables tend to move in strange combinations each time I go there. The back room has couches and benches for watching live music; it has no windows, so it's kind of like a cave back there. Good for people wanting to study without interruption. The walls are adorned with art installations that regularly change, giving it a slightly urban feeling. For a while, Jackson Avenue was in danger of closing because the owner mismanaged the money going into the business. The town saved the coffee shop, thankfully, or there would be no other place for locals to chill out in the heart of downtown. Hopefully lessons have been learned and Jackson Ave. is around for many more years to come. read more

Ambiance...yes. Coffee....decent. If you are going to EIU and you want to find a place to chill and do your homework, this is a nice little place to go. I have gone here a few times during the morning hours and the place is extremely relaxing. In addition, they have a lot of room where you can feel comfortable and not overcrowded. One of the only issues is the parking (that has a two hour limit). Maybe there is another place you can park that has a longer limit, but the spots in front of the shop is only two hours. So, unlike other coffee shops were you can spend nearly a half a day doing work, here you might be limited. As far as the coffee is concerned, it was alright. The cold drinks are alright as well. Good alternative to Starbucks if you want to give your money to a local shop. The only thing I recommend is that you don't drink the black cherry coffee...tastes like melted candle wax. All the other coffee is fine. read more

We live close by and walk over for coffee and a bagel often. Their sandwiches are delicious and their chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. It's always good but I would love to see some more vegan options. read more

An absolute must-stop if you're in Charleston. I'm originally from the Chicago area and spent four years in Madison, WI, where there's a coffee shop on pretty much every corner. So believe me when I say that JAC is doing something really special in Central IL. There are so many options when it comes to drinks... Any of the "special" options are very good, and easy to customize to your own tastes. I love the Blackberry Viennese hot, or the Squidge blended (I'm serious, it tastes like a caffeinated chocolate chip cookie, but in smoothie form). They change up a "seasonal" drink on the dry erase board behind the counter on a regular basis, and that one's always worth a try. The smoothies, while sweet, are also very good and a favorite of the boyfriend when he's in town. The food options are a touch limited, but what they do have is great. If you're there in the cold weather months, you'll definitely enjoy a bowl of the soup - chicken dumpling or any of the cream soups are my favorites. The sandwiches can be made on a pita or on a variety of bagels, and the meat is much higher quality than you'd get at any of the other sandwich joints in town. The pizzas are personal-sized and as thin as you can get - a nice way to end a long study session (the pesto one is great). Try the muffins, too! I've always had great service from Dano and the crew at JAC. If you're not sure what to get, they'll happily steer you in the right direction. I've spent many an afternoon sipping on a latte, watching the world go by. When I'm done with grad school and leave Charleston behind, this is the place I'll miss the most, by far. read more

I'm a lover of local coffee shops. When I moved here, my search for a local coffee shop was a priority. I found this place and I was so disappointed. Got a basic latte and it was not good at all. Tasted really watered down and old, next week I got a black coffee and it tasted burned. Totally bummed but just won't go back. read more

Favorite go to coffee spot in town. Their chai tea lattes are out of this worldddd. Very cool spot with cool employees. Hidden gem in Charleston & I will never stop being a regular haha read more

Unique coffee shop in Charleston, IL. Good selection of food, baked good, soda, coffee, and other hot drinks. It is the owner and the staff that make the place special. It's like Cheers! for those of you old enough to remember. The various guest artists for art or music are always interesting and range from great to, well,,, not so great, but you have to appreciate and acknowledge their hard work. I'm always ready for that. In regards to the comments about the prices, most place break even on the food and drinks; they make money on the alcohol. None here so the place runs on thin margins. Prices are reasonable considering the atmosphere, no cover charge music, and free wifi. Cool place. read more

Today was my first time here and let me tell you it was fantastic. I got the gingerbread iced latte and it was so good. If you don't like too sweet of drinks I would recommend that flavor to you. It is only seasonal though. I also got the turkey and provolone sandwich on an Asiago bagel. That was very good as well. If you like art work and a nice chill environment then I would recommend this place. I love old fashion coffee shops and this really made my trip worthwhile read more

First of all I have to say that the atmosphere here is really great. It is just what you would want for a coffee shop. It is perfect for studying and/or just to enjoy. They also have a nice little sitting area outside. There coffee is decent and definitely unique to the area. There is nothing quite like it around here. I do not recommend trying the baked goods however, it is just not worth the price and does not taste that good. They do also offer lunch type items that are worth the price and taste decent. I highly recommend going there and getting a cup of coffee. The true jewel of this place is the free music nights. They have local groups come and play music and also have a really nice open mic night. If you are looking for a nice place to go with a good atmosphere and good service, I highly recommend The JAC. I definitely plan to go back. read more

Use to love this place however they must have changed ownership and now they are not open as often or at convenient times. Tried to go there before work on Friday (6:45 am) and they were not open yet. Shouldn't a coffee shop be open early in the morning? Had to go to Starbucks which opens at 5:30 a.m. Then again tried to go there before Church on Sunday at approximately 8:30 a.m. and yet again they were not open. Guess they are no longer open on Sundays. Very disappointed in the limited hours they seem to be open now. Their coffee and food is actually much better than Starbucks but if they aren't open...I guess I will become a Starbucks person! read more

The atmosphere is the best thing about the JAC. The counter staff are usually friendly. That being said, the guy who owns the place is quite rude. The drinks are far over-priced for the quality. And, the whole situation over the owner not paying his taxes (combined with his attitude) really turned me off. The nail in the coffin was one night when we were enjoying the live music and the owner told us to leave if we were going to "visit" during the show. It is a coffee shop. If one isn't being loud or disrespectful, I would think the whole point is to "visit" and enjoy the company of others. Apparently not here; one is instead meant to sit silently. We go exclusively to Starbucks now. They are much friendlier. read more

I really appreciate the live music they sometimes have. I think the cookies are delish. The sugar drinks are super sugary and the coffee drinks are caffeinated. This place would be better with donuts. read more

The coffee is decent (Common Grounds in Mattoon is better in my opinion) but the owner doesn't seem to really care about the quality of customer service. It's a beautiful place but they often have local musicians and sometimes the music seems a little more to be desired. I went on an open mic night to see what it was about and out of the multiple people signed up, I only enjoyed about two or three performances. The coffee is overpriced and doesn't seem to be any better than the Starbucks down the street (and they are always open, were it seems this place is hit or miss!) read more

This place has excellent coffee. Just don't go there an hour before closing to get the daily coffee offering. If they've run out of the dark roast of the day or even the house blend 45 mins before closing the staff will turn you down or at absolute best make you feel like you're imposing on their closing procedures. Hey JAC, don't say you're open till 10pm and turn me away at 9:12pm because you don't want to brew more coffee. Don't false advertise that you stay open until 10pm if you really close down at 9pm. This has happened to me more than twice so... read more

Was great. Now wifi is horrendous and everything is overpriced. Also attracts the weirdest people in the world.

A fun/relaxed atmosphere that allows you to visit with friends over coffee, study, or enjoy live entertainment (I think they still have open mic on Thursday nights?). The food and drinks are a little overpriced - I think that's to compensate for the freeloaders. Nonetheless, support your local businesses read more

Not only is this a great joint to go for a good read, some writing, and a big mug of coffee or tea... but there's music! I came here looking for a black java and enough space to set up my laptop. I got free wifi, a plate of hummus and pita (basic and delish) and a calendar of events. Not only are there CD release parties here but open mic nights as well! The back room is comfy and quiet, whereas the front has a nice light buzz of conversation against the click-clack of keyboards. A great place and a real small-town staple. read more

Good coffee, friendly service, fair prices and free wi-fi. A great local alternative to Starbucks. I stop here every time I visit the family. Grandkids love it too! read more

A great place with much better coffee than Starbucks. Friendly atmosphere. Many tables. Good bagel and scone selection, and a consistent house coffee. Days are great when the coffee of the day is Black Velvet. All coffee from Columbia Street Roasters, the same roaster used by the popular Cafe Kopi in Champaign. read more

We ventured out Today to a Coffee/Tea establishment We had never been before... I like Chai Latte's...so I ordered a large... It was the BEST Chai Latte' I've ever had... The inside of the place is cool too...I recommend You give it a try... read more

While going to school at EIU, I came to JAC often. It has a great atmosphere and live shows, but its prices continue to rise and the owner isn't the best businessman. That being said, there's a great line up of music events happening all of the time. If you don't mind the prices, then this is a pretty good place to go to. read more

I am always so impressed with this place for many reasons. The atmosphere is a nice calm relaxing one with not a lot of noise. The staff is always super friendly and can get you whatever you need and the hot Chocolate is to die for. Overall great place that is calmer than Starbucks. read more

I got a London Fog and honesty, it was horrible. Not enough tea for a 20 oz was given. I was very disappointed. If you want tea related products, go to Starbucks. read more

Jackson Avenue Coffee has just about everything I'm looking for in a coffee shop in the middle of the afternoon: clean interior, decent wall art, a modest crowd, good food and fair prices. read more

This place beats the pants off of the other coffee chain in town. The food items are reasonably priced but the biggest draw are all the evening events going on at nite. They are heavily involved in music!!! read more

I only downloaded this app to comment on how horrible the service was at this coffee shop. Not only do they have two baristas working hence making it take CENTURIES for me and my friends to receive our orders, but specifically I ordered one of their pastries (a bagel) and ask for it to be toasted. 5 minutes... still no bagel. 20 mins... still no bagel. The baristas said they were going to make it once they finished everyone else's drinks, then half an hour later, when I see only two people up there, I ask them where's my bagel, and then they said "Oh it's in the toaster"... Then get this: I ACTIVELY WATCH THE BARISTA SNEAK OVER TO THE PASTRIES AND POP MY FREAKING BAGEL INTO THE TOASTER! Less than 30 seconds later, I get a half ready bagel and I say to the barista, "I thought my bagel was already in the toaster." She says, "Oh it got burnt.." LIKE NO BITCH I ALSO SAW THAT TOASTER AUTOMATICALLY POP THAT BABY OUT SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THAT SHIT BURNT. Overall horrible customer service and the food is overpriced and they have weird people lingering around the coffeeshop. DO NOT GO HERE. SERIOUSLY IT'S LIKE THE SHITTY VERSION OF STARBUCKS.. actually no not even. If we're talking about comparisons, Starbucks is Gucci and this shitty pathetic excuse of a coffeeshop is the Walmart version. Never have been so pissed off by the lack of concentration by baristas. And the food is nasty as shit. Didn't even enjoy the bagel. Over $8.00 gone down a drain for a diarrhea looking smoothie and fucking raw as bagel with booty cream cheese that cost like a $1 or $2... Thank you. read more