Just good vibes. Good workers. Amazing place. I love Java house. They know what they're doing

Called the downtown location to ask about the roast date on their whole bean coffee before buying. The employee I spoke with seemed reluctant to even check. Her first answer was just that 'beans come in weekly,' and only after I asked again did she check the bag, reading off a 'best by' date (10/22/26) rather than an actual roast date. The whole exchange had a bit of an attitude to it, like a simple question was an inconvenience. When I thanked her for checking, she hung up on me without another word. Disappointing, especially from a local coffee company. A roast date is a basic thing to be able to share, and the brush-off (and hang-up) isn't a good look. I'll be buying my beans elsewhere. read more

I will start off saying that the whole reason I stopped here was that they have a roast called "St Louis Blues," but it is still worth a visit. I stopped by before 9am on a weekday, and they were already decently busy. Seemed like a comfortable place to drink coffee and hang out. I ended up just getting the pumpkin cream cold brew, which was basically a pumpkin pie in coffee form. Will need to stop back by next time I'm driving through read more

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I recently enjoyed a delivered Lunch from the Downtown Java House. Soup, Salad, Cookie, and Water were all delicious, refreshing, and could be considered healthy. Online ordering was difficult as the website initially kept knocking me out of the food selections and into the drinks. read more

Coffee was ok-good. Service was slow. By "slow" I mean really slow. I was one of two customers and it took over 20 minutes to get a single cup of drip coffee. Nothing special, just coffee. I would not recommend this business because they were either understaffed or undertrained. Both issues are unacceptable. read more

They are my favorite coffee place in Iowa City! They usually have a long line, but the wait is never bad! They also have soooo much seating which is convenient since they are so busy. Love their and their staff! read more

The Java House is so cute! The inside is extremely cozy, feels like I'm in someone's home. I ordered their iced green tea lemonade and it was delicious. Not too sweet, not too bland, it was just right. The baristas were also very quick about getting our drinks made, which was nice. I didn't stay to drink since we were out and about, but it seems like a great place to study or work. Lots of tables and seating options! read more

Awful service, coming from a long time service worker - This was mid and disappointing - I'll say though, the atmosphere is actually nice, huge inside! But we're from out of town and picked this place to hang before a bike store nearby opened. The drinks were fine, came out fast, but when we ordered food, no one told us our food would be called out in the adjacent restaurant, which wasn't obviously attached... absolutely no way we would've known. We were waiting for 15minutes. TERRIBLE. We finally hear a screaming yell for our name (from another room!) and it was only after that, we realized the two business were even attached. (The restaurant next to this coffee house is apparently the same company?) HORRIBLE! You need to let customers know when they order in the COFFEE SIDE that food, which was ordered on the COFFEE side, will be called out in an entirely different building. Coming from a long-time barista, this was extremely disappointing. Our food was cold, and HARD (my english muffin cut the inside of mouth, thanks) and awful. Truly a terrible experience. We won't be back! read more

I was the only cuatomer and stood for 20 minutes standing and watching my coffee drip. Finally just took it myself since no one was paying attention. Kind of ridiculous for one cup of coffee read more

Enjoyable experience. Sadly the oven was broken at the time so I got a salad instead (honestly, probably the healthier option ^^;) . The staff is very friendly & accommodating (I'm on Keto & am Lactose Intolerant) - tho I'd love more keto friendly pastry options & sugar packets? (Like Pyure Sweetener?) That said, loved it! But making it more keto friendly night definitely make me change my four star to a five ^^ read more

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The baristas are EXTREMELY chatty! I ordered a simple matcha latte with almond milk that took about 15 minutes to make. I stood here the whole time as they made it and watched them converse with the heirloom sandwich makers about soup instead of completing the two orders they've gotten in the last hour. read more

Excellent lattes and cold brews, and there's plenty of seating for meeting people or spreading out and doing some reading/writing. Take a photo with the giant bear stuffie near the entrance! read more

I love this place so much! I use to come here every week to study in college. Located next to plenty of shops and food spots for brunch. The chai is lovely. The space is dark, cozy and very inviting! There's live music usually on Fridays which I love and it's connected to nice salad spot. read more

TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING! Great coffee, bakery items, friendly baristas, but it's too hot! I used to come here a lot a few years ago and the air conditioning was fine. But it seems to have stopped working. UGGGHHHH! read more

Java House is a coffee favorite of mine! Love the ambiance here. My only complaint is that prices keep going up. I spent $8 on a latte, which is just nuts. Makes it hard to tip when drinks are so overpriced. read more

This place is fine. I come very often out of obligation. I do not like the fact that they abuse their workers. But I still give them my money because I am a hypocrite. Their music is on too loudly. I wish the desserts were cheaper. read more

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The downtown Java House location is huge inside. I stayed only in the entryway, to order and take to go, but this place would be awesome to study or relax! I loved that this place really was in the heart of downtown Iowa City, with college kids everywhere - walking through the downtown area to get to their classes. So cool. I wanted something easy to take and go, so I ordered an American Gothic pour-over as it fit my aesthetic for the day: pale, pale white girl, draped all black, dark cherry hair, cold af in Iowa City. Also, being use to $4+ pour overs in SLC, an easy $2.75 was hard to pass up. Pay attention if you're getting a pour over, as they will tell you a number when you pay... because they have a complete pour-over station. I didn't realize that she gave me a number, as I wasn't expecting it, and had never been here before, but thankfully my order was the only one that was in a to-go cup, so when the barista called "Number 9" and moved the paper cup, I assumed it was mine, asked her if it was (she shrugged, didn't know, didn't care).... so I took it and left. Glad I got it to-go because it was filling up, but mainly, because their to-go cups are adorable! The art is beautiful, and was a nice addition to my morning. Vegan options seemed sparse in terms of food, but I did notice they had alternative milk options for a price. read more

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Patio season is patio season. Doesn't matter if its a cold beer, a dinner out... or an iced coffee. I want to spend as much time outside as I can. Lucky for me, this gem exists. The reason this is a five star coffee joint is because of their magnificent patio. It is large, with tons of seating, conveniently located and not directly in the ped mall-- so a bit quieter. The coffee is an Iowa City staple. My personal favorite is the Java Cooler. With caramel, vanilla, cream and Artisan Cold Blend iced coffee. But I also recommend the Espresso Cooler. Java House has everything you want on its menu. The pricing is on point. Service (most of the time) is polite, prompt and knowledgeable. Parking... is downtown Iowa City parking. Worst case-- just park at Tower Place ramp a stones throw away. This location is PACKED and loud when the U of I is in session. But during the summer months, it is an absolute dream. Come enjoy their patio and the warm Iowa City sunshine. read more

The Java House - Downtown - Patio Pup Cup - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Couldn't make a trip back to Iowa City without a visit to the downtown Java House, easily my favorite coffee shop in town. Many hours spent here in college studying (a decade ago ) but good to see the coffee tastes just as good as it did when I was a student here. Definitely recommend stopping in. read more

Great pour over coffees. Our "go to" in Iowa City for breakfast sandwiches. Good location. Parking can be an issue.

Java House is a very cozy and big campus town coffee house that serves up good espresso drinks and nice place to chill out, or warm up in the winter months. There is usually plenty of space to enjoy a brew and break out the laptop, or book if you choose. Fortunately, there are some days hours that may be too packed. The pastries are average, but its the coffee or tea that may be more important as you find a place to hang out with friends or catch up on work. Of course, if you are hungry or need a bigger snack to power through a study session there is a cafe just on the other side of the registers to get a meal. The artwork on the walls is also a nice touch to its cozy decor. read more

I cannot, in good faith, support a business with such poor ethics and mistreatment of employees. Java House has fired several employees for speaking out against their unfair conditions and unsafe work environment. Some of the things that have been mentioned include having wages/tips withheld as punishment, checks being 'lost', not receiving any electronic tips that were made, being forced to clean raw sewage from the basement without proper PPE, not being paid proper wages for hours worked, etc. Now they are choosing to dirty delete FB comments, have turned off reviewing on Facebook, and are offering people $3 off their purchase to try and sweep everything under the rug. There are many other coffee shops in the IC area that you can support instead! read more

Something about the way the girl at the counter couldn't seem to explain the coffee of the day or differences between the tea categories without reading the signs to us verbatim didn't make me fall in love with Java House. She giggled after responding to my tea question because she knew what she was saying didn't make any sense. I imagine a little extra training would do the trick! Now that the negative is out of the way, let me tell you about their mighty delicious and flavor-packed Masala tea! Hold on to your hats, it'll have you feeling refreshed in no time. I like mine with a drizzle of honey on top. Seating is plentiful - and by plentiful I mean you could fit four traditional coffee houses into this place. The walk to the bathroom was about two miles. Okay, not really, but it was close. Fun fact: they offer conversation coffees that change on the hour for folks to mix up what they're trying and learn about a new brew/bean. read more

The Java House - Downtown - Honey topped masala chai - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Took like 13 minutes to get a black coffee. The coffee was fine, but it took even longer to get my sandwich. I have been waiting 20+ minutes for a breakfast sandwich... cannot recommend unless you have some serious time to kill read more

Once stay-at-home orders from COVID-19 subsides, and normalcy can somewhat return to our society, I would love to return to The Java House. This Hawkeye hangout had every corner covered with students writing or reading (or Instagramming) furiously away. Outlets come at a premium (you'll have to camp out and wait for a table to open up), but I suggest either working at the window or on the other side where the salad bar (Heirloom Salad) if you plan working/ studying there. I generally like my coffee black (like my heart), so I worked co-worked here for a few hours while sipping on an Americano (or two). I'm not sure where they source their beans, but the bold, highly caffeinated cup (stayed up until 2am) I had didn't taste at all bitter. Once things rev back up again, and I find myself roaming Iowa City's streets, I wouldn't hesitate to return here. read more

Great location but super busy on the weekends. If you want a table I would arrive by 10am or you might be out of luck. There have been countless times when I've struggled to find a place to sit on the evenings or weekends. My go to order is their breakfast sandwich and coffee combo. I get the sausage egg on a croissant with chiptole aioli and a cup of St. Louis blues. I sometimes treat myself to The Loom On a croissant which comes with prosciutto and basil pesto. Above all I think the croissant changes the breakfast sandwich game. Unfortunately they could really use a furniture update especially in the back room with the worn down couches. Some of the outlets are old and don't work. The large portraits create a cozy library atmosphere. read more

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This is a nice place to study while downtown. During the school year, it can get pretty packed. I'm not much of a coffee drinker so my go-to is the Java House Black Tea or the Chai Tea. I hope in the future there will be more tea options. Poppy seed muffins are soft and delicious. It's also great when you can snag some discounted muffins from the day before. read more

The Java House - Downtown - Hot chocolate - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Big space to come and study at night. During the winter they have a sign stating they close at 10pm instead of 11 which is something to be aware of. Tables can be a little small for more than one person. read more

The Java House - Downtown - Mango hibiscus iced tea - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Thank God this place didn't exist when I was a college student. I would have been there every damn day as evidenced by my 2 runs in one day I did the first time I had it. I'm an iced coffee girl so the first time I had it, I have the choco cooler. On my second in one day, I went with the java cooler. Both were good but I think I prefer the choco cooler. On my second visit, I also got a chocolate chip scone. It was a good size for the price but I didn't love it so much that it would prevent me from trying other options. All their pastries looked amazing. AND here's a tip- the IMU location had 1/2 off day old pastries. So that may be a smart way to try something without breaking the bank. All seemed to be individually wrapped so how much damage could a few hours have done. read more

Java House has everything I look for in a coffee shop - delicious coffee and tea, eats, comfortable seating, & desserts. The downtown location can get a little busy due to its proximity to campus, but that never flusters their staff and orders always seem to come out in a timely manner. My favorite Java House treat is their Java Cooler (iced coffee, cream, sweet vanilla and caramel overtones). It's the perfect sweet/bitter combo and totally perks me up during a busy day. I also really love their baked goods and sweets - they have great croissants, muffins, cheesecake and Tiramisu. If you visit often, I recommend downloading their level-up app. It's kind of like Apple pay, but you earn $5 for every $50 you spend. It also speeds up the ordering process a bit (Plus more coffee!!!). read more

The Java House - Downtown - The Java Cooler - creamy iced coffee with sweet vanilla and caramel overtones. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I used to think they had the best food around for an easy lunch. I'm not sure what happened, but they started to cheap out. Santa Fe salad has barely any dressing and they completely removed the tomatoes. The cost went up, but the quality went down. read more

Love the environment and the coffee is great! Sometimes they don't have everything for the food items but when they do they are delicious. Friendly staff read more

Ordered a breakfast sandwich, it took 25 minutes. Feel free to watch the staff stand around if you want. Great place for that

My first visit to Java House was during an interview almost 5 years ago. I was pretty impressed then. 2 years ago, I was back in town for another interview and made a point to visit Java House again. I also learned that Java-House is in the lobby of UIHC which I frequent regularly. I've become a Java-House convert and typically get the pour overs. Giant is my favorite brew. This downtown location is perfectly situated in a university town. The layout is ideal for college students to camp out for a few hours, attempt to be productive, catchup with friends and enjoy caffeine and treats. I wonder if writers find this a good spot too? I'm here working on research training modules...well, writing this review. read more

I liked this place. It was beautiful inside with a nice, cozy, library style seating experience which I love. It is BIG, lots of choices on where to sit, you can easily plug your computer in (and it does not fall out of the wall socket), get coffee, treats......free WiFi. What more could I want? I can't remember what parking was like exactly but I seem to remember its not super easy to park, but....most students walk on over. Overall....I would definitely go back. read more

The Java House - Downtown - Java House photo with my so-so phone camera - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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This is a familiar haunt for the University of Iowa crowd. The coffee here is strong. Very strong. Hold-onto-your-seat strong. The crowd is friendly and the atmosphere is excellent. It is fairly easy to find a seat. The selection of delectable treats is very good and very fresh. read more

The only thing you need to know: they do pourovers. Java House has the best pourover bar I've ever seen! They use fair-trade coffee beans and have found a well-balanced approach to please both coffee-snobs (hello) and "I like coffee, what's the difference?" patrons. A few things I'm not so thrilled about: The menu is confusing. I went probably twelve times before I figured out what exactly the conversation brew is. Did you know the conversation brew implies that depending on what time of day you are ordering, there is a different roast being served and you're supposed to ask the cashier to learn more about it? I LOVE the idea now that I know what the heck it means, but reading the menu has a definite learning curve. I've been disappointed a couple times on the quality control - there are a few baristas who rush the pourover process by dumping hot water on the grounds, waiting for it to stream through, then dumping more. This hurts my heart. I promise that slowing down and pouring the water properly makes a huge difference - it is called a pourover for a reason. So, the quality of coffee you have in your hand when you walk out can be hit-or-miss. The seating area is always dirty and could use a refresh. I know it's a college study spot but that's maybe being embraced a little too wholeheartedly. It feels too much like an old man's living room. read more

The Java House - Downtown - Masala chai and a cornbread blueberry muffin - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Great coffee. Very friendly. Very big, lots of seating. Very good with Covid cleaning, spacing, etc. We liked it so much we came back in the afternoon! read more

If you're a writer, reader, coffee drinker or all of the above this is the place to be. Free Wi-Fi, quiet, cozy, couches.... can sometimes get busy and their hours shift depending on the University, but they are serving up great coffee, tea and hot cocoa year round! Great pre or post game date spot. read more

Well there are not to many places that take this great of care of the cup of coffee you are about to drink! Wonderful pour over service, with a smile! Good things come to those who wait! IF you are in a hurry this is not the place for you! But sit down and enjoy the comfy couches or the huge back room with lots of outlets for working! They also do a live Iowa Public Radio show here called Java Blend live from the Java House in Iowa City! These shows are free and are really fun to both watch and I have gotten to play one as well! The food here is great, the staff is wonderful, the bathrooms are clean, and the coffee is about as good as it comes! I love this place! read more

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