Shenandoah Joe Ivy

If you are visiting town you should go to the roast house on Preston for the ambience and experience. However, if you live around these parts then make effort to come out to this location. For whatever reason their drinks are usually notably better and it is also more often less crowded. Word of caution: outside seating is very limited, so don't plan to have a place to camp out during peak times.

My first visit. Very friendly and helpful staff. My [espresso] macchiato was perfect—a very smooth and rich dark espresso with a splash of carefully steamed milk froth, served at perfect drinking temperature.

The half pound of Ethiopian Sidamo seemed pretty pricey, but I expect it will be great. Any more, it seems like all really good independent/locally roasted beans cost more than I usually pay for mass produced ones, but it’s good to support the smaller companies.

Great coffee, great location, and competitive prices make this a perfect spot to enjoy a few moments of downtime. Since it's so close to the University of Virginia, it can get crowded with student patrons during peak times. However it is quiet and has good Wi-Fi. Coffee is perfectly prepared regardless of your drink of choice. Recommended!

My favorite coffee shop in Charlottesville! I love their coffee and atmosphere. I like how their coffee isn't that sweet compared to other franchise brand. Mocha is relatively sweeter which was my favorite. A very nice place to go to when studying or meeting up with friends to chat.

My favorite Joe location and favorite espresso in Charlottesville. The same person pulls the shots everytime I'm here and they do an amazing job. Can't recommend this location more.

Shenandoah Joe is the best coffee in town, hands down. This is their coffee bar location, not their flagship roastery, so it's a bit more small scale than the Preston Ave. location, but you can still get a great selection of coffees and the espresso is always awesome. Seating is at a bit of a premium, but that's not really any different from most other coffee joints. This is the place to go if you're looking for a real cup of coffee.

Wow.. Absolutely perfect latte craftsmanship. For many years I've always gotten a 12 OZ dark roast Latte, no flavoring, from Shen Joe in the Burg. Some baristas had left and their lattemanship had gone down.. scolded and hot milk. Very painful. This location, oh my.. perfection. Absolute PERFECTION!!! Has brought hope back into my life, that Lattes can be great again. They are still great! AT this Ivy Location.. dear goodness me.. smooth, creamy, roasty. I'm at a loss of words. You must try this location, you won't regret a single anything... No regrets, just lattelove. Wow...

What an amazing experience! Why can't all cafés be more like this one? I've checked out the other locations which are pretty amazing but the hospitality and efficiency here has nailed above and beyond. Kudos to Amy, Shannon, and Jay. The Thrashers thoroughly enjoyed their time.

The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about coffee. Bewarned you should expect a wait for drinks, because they make each cup of coffee individually, but it is worth every secound. This is truely the best coffee of my life. Their preston location is particurally neat because you can often watch the owner roasting beans.

The coffee is excellent, though not always as hot as I would like it; my friends have made similar statements. However, some of the staff often seem disinterested in the customers, and more interested in the conversations they are having with their colleagues. Best coffee in C'ville though, and when you do get to speak with someone behind the counter, they are very knowledgeable.

Updated 10/11/15 (Three stars to two stars)

I am very displeased with the service at the coffee bar on Ivy. I always order a pretty simple drink...a 16oz Redeye, Dark Roast, no room for cream. It took 15 minutes to make my drink, while 5 people that came in after me had their drinks first (Latte's, Soy Latte's...not just straight up coffee). By the time I received my coffee, it was once again lukewarm (and bitter) as I noted in my previous review. Who wants to drink lukewarm coffee?! I have been very loyal to this brand, but I think I will be looking for a new coffee house.