Joe Bean Roasters

UPDATE: After the owner responded to my original review, I have added another star to my review for two reasons: 1. Kathy's response was prompt and sincere and that's what customer service is all about and 2. I have no interest in hurting a well-intentioned small business with a two star review when there is plenty of good things going on there. Kathy, thank you for your offer. I appreciate it, but I'm not going to take you up on it. If I but a ticket to a movie and don't end up liking it, I don't think I'm owed anything.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: I like coffee. Alot. I know more about which coffees I like and why than the average coffee drinker. But then there's the next level of understanding coffee as a science that I'm not quite at. Which is why I have to approach this review of Rochester's Joe Bean from two sides. On one hand, Joe Bean is expensive, isn't that rewarding a coffee experience and opens too late in the morning (9 a.m. when I was there) to be of any real use as a coffee place. On the other hand, it's a quirky, independent, (perhaps unnecessarily frustrating) nerdy deep dive into coffee. Like I said, I know a good deal about the subject, but there's always the chance I wasn't nuts about the place because some of it was over my head. Doubtful, but I'm putting that out there for consideration. The staff is nice, but clearly either don't know as much about the coffee as the menu implies it would (guests pick their coffee and their brewing method, all of which are supposed to have subtle, yet discernable effects upon the finished brewed cup of coffee and none of which is discernable from the menu alone) or is simply tired of explaining the source material, which is a shame, because it is precisely this type of insight and technique that the Joe Bean business is built around. I have tried three types of coffee in several different brewing methods and found each cup to be a disappointment. Frankly, I get a richer, fuller coffee experience from Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks for half the cost (typically $2 compared to Joe Bean's $4 brew). The coffee is served in a glass decanter with a small glass... let's call it a cup. Here's the problem: I like my coffee hot. Really hot. And glass is not the best insulator as compared to, say, ceramics. In these uninsulated glass decanters and cups, the coffee cools too quickly for my taste. I'm sure there are coffee science wonks out there who say that certain flavor profiles develop at certain temperatures and that everyone else is wrecking the subtlety and nuance of their coffee by overheating it, but too bad, that's how I like coffee. Which brings me to my last, petty needling against Joe Bean: strength. The coffee is weak. At $4 a cup compounded by the fancy brewing options led me to expect (or rather I always expect) a deep, dark, rich, plumbing-the-depths-of-the-abyss coffee experience. In this respect, Joe Bean certainly does not deliver. The coffees were weak and watery, even those coffees from regions traditionally known for rich and dark coffees. Honestly, each cup may just need more coffee grounds. On the complimentary side, Joe Bean is a nice place. The menu looks good and the food offerings are reasonably (ish) priced. What I saw come out of the kitchen looked better than good. Go there. Check it out for yourself. As for me, Joe Bean just wasn't what I hoped it would be.

Cold overpriced latte. Bad service and unremarkable business in general. I've been to plenty nice coffee shops that are nationally known for their coffee and expertise and they weren't nearly so full of themselves. Sorry, get over yourselves and focus on being a nicer, more customer focused business.

Joe Bean is a gorgeous setting with delicious coffee. The chemex I got was served with a fun, small cup & tasted smooth. This was my first time back since they expanded & I loved it!

Coffee was cold but had an elegant taste. Servers were nice and polite but never asked for cream or sugar. The menu lacked prices and variety. Cute place and great music.

We stopped in for a drink after a trip to the lake. It was quiet for a Saturday night, but this is Park Ave Festival weekend, so not surprising. The staff are delightful and the selection of beers and wines is excellent.

When you are madly, passionately, romantically in a love affair... ...with coffee -- there's no place to get it on like Joe Bean. This fun-loving crew are super-serious about their coffee. Makes me re-imagine Muse's NJ/NYC show: Supermassive Blackcoffee "you set my soul alight." From hiking mountains at the end of four-wheel-drive dirt roads to visit plantations, to experiments unto perfection in roasting technique, to the perfectly paced pour-over, it's all about the bean at Joe Bean. I love this place... been going since it was in Webster. My review was 'inspired' by the fine flavor and feeling (cool caf buzz) I got from their two new premium editions: Kabkavuturi (sp?) and Ethel Flores (sorry, that's not the name, but it's sort of close to the owner of the Columbian plantation under who's name the coffee is sold). Honestly I can't remember which was which but the darker brew was slightly light bodied for a hardened daily quad-espresso guy like, me while the other one had a nice reddish color and very pleasant acidity. My coffee compatriot on the other hand preferred the finer nuances of the darker colored brew.

I took pictures around the roasting area, including inside the new roaster, and of two of the regulars.

Update: went back today, but this time BEFORE my quad-espresso, and re-tried the Kavaturi (correct spelling the time), which was the one whose nuances were lost on me yesterday. Enjoyed black, this artisnal brew presents to the pallet like a fine wine and should be sipped, aerated and enjoyed the same way. Also, I got more of a caffeine effect today since I wasn't already buzzed on espresso when I walked in.

Correction: the proper name for yesterday's other fine brew was Ederleth Lozano.

Took pix of the barista dudes and of the tasting notes for the beans of the day.

Favorite coffee shop to meet with clients bc the atmosphere is great and can speak at a good volume without people listening in. Coffee is good too, I always get Latte with Maple syrup in it. I like more sweeter taste

Great selection of rare coffee finds, but not the type of place to sit and work. Definitely a must try if you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur looking for an exotic blend.

If you are a coffee geek or want to experience coffee on a another level this is the place to go. They typically have 3 coffee and 2 espresso beans to choose from. On top of that, there are several brewing methods you can select from. The staff Is incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer questions to help you brew better at home.

Best Coffee shop in Rochester hands down! Fresh Roasted... Made an art of a simple drink. I'll gladly buy from people who take what they do so seriously. Keep it up! I won't drink anything else now after having this!.