Joe Van Gogh - Durham

Decent coffee, okay atmosphere. I'd give this place 4 stars instead of 3 but a few of the employees I've encountered give off weird vibes, like taking customer orders is a huge inconvenience and they really hate doing it. As someone who worked as a barista I get that the job can be physically demanding and customers can be a lot but I feel like the employees are a touch too unfriendly and unwelcoming for my taste.

I appreciate the service and drinks here. Keep in mind that they don't have a lot of seating, so you might not find a seat on a rainy day or something.

I noticed that the Joe Van Gogh coffee shop on Duke Campus was closed in this summer,but how lucky is that we still have the other one located in Downtown Durham.I love the the red brick-building style,which make it seems has a long history.What's more,the soy latte is always my favorite coffee.

I enjoyed my visit here! I consider myself somewhat of a coffee shop expert, and visit local and unique ones wherever I travel to! The menu selection is not necessarily unique, more your typical run of the mill mochas, iced coffee, coffee etc, but the iced coffee was smooth and delicious, and I bought a bag of beans to take home, and I do recommend their coffee! There was a small pastry selection. Overall, I would say the experience will exceed a Starbucks, and you will enjoy it, but it isnt the most unique or exceptional coffee shop I have visited. They do have an excellent selection of whole beans to buy!

The espresso is ok, kind of one dimensional, but the paper cup could be a contributing factor. The cold brew is fantastic. Not sure what to think of beans. I have a bag sitting on my counter, no roasted on date, just a best by date (which is months out), I should have paid attention. Coffee is best a week after roasting, it loses flavor the longer it sits. Fingers crossed they roasted the beans last Thursday. Edit: the roaster got back to me so I increased it from 3 to 4 stars. Best by date is 90 days from roast date. My first attempt using their brand wasn't bad... Still need to dial in temp and grind size to get the bright notes I desire in a shot of espresso. Good chocolate hints and not over roasted. The team that works here is great, and the location is lovely. Definitely like their patio seating.