The Java House-Downtown

Category:	Cafe
Address:	211 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
Phone:	+1 319-341-0012
Site:	thejavahouse.com
Rating:	4.3
Working:	6AM–11PM 6AM–11PM 6AM–11PM 6AM–11PM 6AM–11PM 6AM–11PM 7AM–11PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 28

Matt Uhlman

Great spot for some excellent brew! Coffee is made while you wait and is definitely worth the time if its busy. Good selection from drip to froofy and everything in between. My wife digs the HoCho (Hot Chocolate...yes shortened) and with good reason. Lots of area to spread out to study, sit with a book and listen to music or just catch up with friends. Essentials like free internet and newspapers are present so theres no excuse to be there and be out of the loop. Unlike those that get upset and pretend to actually care where the beans come from, most that enjoy Java House try to make coffee as non-pretentious as possible and just enjoy it. If you get upset by answers like, were telling where we roast our beans, perhaps this isnt your spot - just know that youll be missing out on some legit Oro Negro in a great location where you can chillax and get away for a bit.

Nicholas Kelly

honestly my favorite place to get coffee they are a little pricy but its local and delicious with a very chill environment only downside is the wifi situation lacks it doesnt seem to be operational.... UPDATE: I ordered a crossiant with egg and sausage as I alwaysaid do paid and waited, when I got my food after a long wait it wasnt what I ordered and the girl behind the counter told me that they didnt make it anymore, I totally understand that stuff like that happens and Im fine with it I would have been happy with something else but the level of attitude the girl gave me from rolling hers eyes and acting like I was asking for the moon when I told her I ordered something else...Overall worst customer service its not worth the wait and the extra money when I could walk over to any of the other coffee shops so just skip it

A Private User

There really isnt any reason to go to any other coffee shop in Iowa City. This is the best one. All the locations are good, but downtown is the best. Free live music on Fridays at noon, as part of Iowa Public Radios java blend series. The coffee is great and the atmosphere is great. They have a socializing area and a study area so the two dont interfere with one another (as best as possible). The study area is great for reading or studying.

Rosemary Johnson

Nice atmosphere for coffee and food was good. Reason for lower rating was customer service that had attitude. I was told my name would be called out but you need to go next door to the salad place to hear your name. So my food sat there and no attempt to find me on coffee side. I was told that food was always done that way. Young servers had no customer service skills!

A Private User

Love the atmosphere, the staff, and of course, the coffee. Also, their scones are delicious! Im glad that theyve replaced the habe pieces and boards, its a major improvement. My only gripe is that they seriously need to fix their wireless! Its highly annoying when I sit down to get work done, and cant connect to the internet.

Sean McAllister

Used to be great, but their internet now sucks, requires a log on notice which constantly kicks me off the net on my phone and is barely usable, if at all, during peak hours. The coffee is fine, the atmosphere is great, but without internet Ill have to go elsewhere.

Aaron Fulton

The coffee is great, but its a hassle every time to get it! The layout isnt efficient and I find myself either accidentally grabbing someone elses coffee or someone accidentally taking mine. To difficult when all I want is a simple drip coffee.

Bobby Orwig

Might be the most hipster coffee shop in Iowa. And thats exactly why its fun. Good variety of coffee, snacks, and espresso drinks, with Wi-Fi and lots of seats for casual goers or people who need to work, but also isnt unpleasantly crowded.

Brett Sobaski

Java House makes an excellent raspberry white mocha latte that I have rarely seen elsewhere and is a special treat. They have some nice mugs, french press makers and small tea brewing pitchers/kettles. They also have some delicious teas

A Private User

Not for real coffee lovers. Sure it might have been good ten years ago, but other places in town are much better now like Fair Grounds. Plus it seems like the place is run by a frat house or sorority by how they treat their employees.

Julia-Kaye R

Only downside is this place can get crowded so finding a seat can be hard at high traffic hours. But the coffee is AMAZING, specialty drinks are unforgettable, and their sweets are good. Competitive pricing and great atmosphere.

Emily Pudenz

Little overpriced and pretentious. One of those places where if you are not a frequent customer, and dont know what to do to order a simple cup of coffee, they judge you. They only have one size of coffee and its overpriced.

Joshua Christain

This is the best coffee in town and has been since it was opened. They have been doing pour over coffee since before it was cool and have a their own coffee blends and roasts that blow away most other places I have been.

Ben Ross

This is a great place to grab sit down and study with a good cop of coffee, if you can find a spot to sit. Theres often a little bit of a wait on espresso drinks, so its not the speediest, but the coffee is high quality

Seth Missiaen

Good espresso, decent pourovers. Nice atmosphere but its hard to find a seat and theres a "1 hour courtesy limit" for seats. There are designated "no study" zones. Kind of up tight for a coffee shop.

Frank Ruiz

good coffee but the place, for the nature of being in the heart of downtown, is always crowded; they even have signs that ask you to leave of people are waiting for a table.

Caroline Fantz

By far one of my favorite places in Iowa City, Friday around they have live music and it is what gets me through the week. Love the atmosphere, staff, drinks everything

Mickey Deangelis

Best coffeeshop in Iowa City! Great atmosphere for every time of day. Wifi is kinda iffy for important schoolwork or video streaming. Overall great place!

Philip Huang

Great spot to study, plenty of space, quality drinks. Wish they had a kids menu or some way to order smaller drinks though... but that might just be me.

Jordan Johnson

Quick but quiet service, always crowded. It can be hard to find a seat but if busy is your scene then this is a good stop when walking around downtown.

Tanner Woody

Rude, pretentious, money hungry, and shallow are a few words that come to mind. Dont get sucked into the venue or buzz of this place.

Karmen Mah

Good selection of coffee (the conversation selection changes every other week?) , lots of tables to study, meet up or just chill at.

A Private User

Java house is great place. What was once a very hipster place now is full of annoying people. Still highly recommended place in IC

Don Morrison

Great place to get a great coffee or hot chocolate. Especially on a rainy day, you can sit and relax and read a book or study.

Mitch Fitzpatrick

Always busy so orders take a while but overall pretty good coffee. Better priced than starbucks, but still a little pricy.

Nick Giffin

I had a surprisingly good mocha here recently. I expected generic college coffee shop coffee, but my drink was quite good.