Joe’s Table

I came across Joe’s Table awhile back when I was in Vancouver visiting the city for work. Upon entering, I realize Joe’s Table is unlike other cafes in the city. It’s not your ordinary café because it has a strong story that will no doubt leave an impact on your soul. The café was a dream of loving parents for Joe, their autistic son who sadly passed away a few years ago due to a swimming accident. Through Joe, a story, a community, and a business was born because he left behind a legacy that would go on to help hundreds and thousands of people’s lives.
To the right side of the café, I was really able to learn who Joe was and what this café meant to him and his family. There were also beautiful cards available for purchase which I absolutely adored because I love stationary and art.
What to drink and what to eat? Joe’s Table had an extensive drinks menu, pretty much anything you’d want to have is on there. Starting with locally roasted 100% Arabica coffee, several tea lattes, espresso drinks, iced coffee, and other drinks are available. I’d like to try one of their smoothies next time I’m around because they sound absolutely amazing! My mom tried their Americano and I tried their caffe misto that day since I find the ratio of coffee to milk the best in a caffe misto. I don’t usually drink coffee, but when I do, it’s because I’m really tired, so I went for my misto. Dairy options for your caffeine included whole milk, 2%, skim, soy and almond milk. If you’re lactose intolerant or don’t like milk in general, you’re safe here as they have soy and almond milk as substitutes!
I also decided to get two wraps to share with my family since we were a little hungry. All the sandwiches and wraps were fresh and healthy (walnuts in your turkey wrap!), and since we were dining in, the friendly staff grilled and plated them really pretty for us to enjoy. I was surprised that my wraps were not only grilled hot but also cut and plated nicely for easy sharing. The wraps were yummy, quite filling and left me little room for a sweet dessert. Although I didn’t specifically ask, the café’s website says there are gluten-​free options available, so if you want, ask your server what the options are. As for the coffee, I normally get medium roast whenever I’m at Starbucks, so naturally, I loved the coffee’s smooth taste at Joe’s Table. I’m not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to coffee (I prefer tea usually), but my mom who loves her caffeine tells me that it is great coffee! If you’d like, you can buy the beans in store or also online on their website.
The café overall was brightly lit, clean, and had a warm ambience. I would like to come back to Joe’s Café to get some work done, chat with my friends, or just enjoy some me time with my favourite drink. They even have a cute patio for us to enjoy for the summer!
What was also interesting about Joe’s Table was that it had an art gallery featuring works from artists with special needs and cognitive disabilities. The art gallery is reservable for small events, meeting, and gatherings. Filled with hand drawn and hand painted artwork, the pieces are available for purchase if you like. If you want to host a small meeting or event, Joe’s Table also offers catering services.
Overall, Joe’s Table is definitely worth a visit if you haven’t already. Not only do they have local, quality coffee, they also support our community by providing meaningful employment for those with disabilities. Taken from Joe’s Table’s website, «true community inclusion, must include economic inclusion.» Amongst the working staff, I personally wasn’t able to tell who had special needs and who didn’t when I visited Joe’s Table. More than anything, I loved how I was able to grab my favourite drink, enjoy beautiful art, and easily give back to my home community through Joe’s Table’s outstanding approach.

My experience with Joe’s table is great every time. I have been to this coffee shop few times now. Their service is extremely fast and I never had any trouble with my drinks are not done right. Quality of the coffee I ordered is full of flavor all the time. One thing I would like to comment is for example I would like to order a matcha green tea latte or a mocha but the mixture has already mixed in the sugar. It would be great to have the matcha green tea powder and the mocha syrup not mixed in the sugar so I could control my sugar level. At the end, I ordered a latte which was nice and warming.

Good quality coffee, great service, noble cause.
Many good reasons to go to Joe’s Table. There’s also an inspirational story behind this not-​for-​profit named after Joe.
Dollars being well spent no matter how you look at it here. Can’t recommend this place enough, if you’re in the area and need a place to grab coffee or a snack, there’s no excuse not to stop by. Make sure to say hello :)

This café was established in memory of Joe who passed away at a young age, and who always greeted new ppl with a smile and a «Hi. My name’s Joe». His greeting is plastered on the wall. They have one of the most open-​minded employment policies and the Joe’s Table Society is a non-​profit organization.
The sandwiches are limited but fresh and delicious. They have a good selection of beverages (hot/​cold). Free wifi. Comfy seats, all near the windows. Loyalty cards and gift cards are available. Someday, I hope to check out the Joseph Chung art gallery that can be accessed through the staircase beside the beverage pick-​up area.