Espresso Joe’s

My boyfriend and I stopped in to grab an after dinner coffee. We both ordered iced cappuccinos and they were delicious. Would definitely recommend this place and come back in the future!

My friends and I came in while they were having a little coffee house concert. There’s a lot on their menu, from juices, to iced coffee, to the usual coffee selections that coffee places have. My friends got a green juice, a tiramisu flavored coffee and I got a guava, orange, passionfruit smoothie (something like that). It was $ 3 and tasted really good. My friend’s green juice tasted fresh and the coffee was pretty good. Nothing special. Nothing really stood out to me. Cute place. Parking is street parking and the girls who were behind the counter were very patient with out indecisiveness.

It is sometimes difficult for me to believe how competitive the coffee business has become. From the locally owned or corporate corner convenience store to upscale coffee boutiques, coffee is EVERYWHERE. So, why would you bother to go to Espresso Joe’s in Keyport? For me the answer would be that you get to experience what a locally owned coffee shop was like before coffee went corporate or convenience. The staff certainly knows their coffee and they can help you through the many, many choices you can make these days.
But the lure of Joe’s is it’s atmosphere funky, comfy and lived in. It’s the kind of place where you might see someone reading Proust, someone else working in a sketchbook, and the chef from down the block stopping in for a coffee break. Art that you can purchase from local artists adorns the walls. Photographs of musicians who have played at the open Mic nights are hung with pride, and their CDs are also for sale. The place is alive. If you are looking to help «Restore the Shore,» just get a good cup of coffee or check out the open Mic nights, be sure to stop by Joe’s!

Cute spot. The dude at the counter was super friendly. Coffee wasn’t bad. I noticed they do offer live music sometimes, which sounds pretty cool. I stopped in after getting some ice cream next door. It fit the moment. I wasn’t blown away by my experience here, but I do enjoy finding small business coffee shops.

What a cute little coffee shop. Grabbed an iced coffee, my husband– a double espresso and we took a walk on the pier. It’s a nice spot, perfect for a lazy weekend morning! Coffee was very good, fresh, and both people behind the counter were very nice and helpful. They told us about the bands in the evening and different events in the area… Very cool idea! This place brings a very homey yet hip feel to the neighborhood. They have a few tables, chairs, and a couch. Cozy décor. Very nice spot, love these kinda places Sooo much better than the busy, overrated and expensive franchises.

Coffee house w a lived in vibe. Some photos on the wall and about 5 tables and a couch. Couple tables outside w a view of the bay. Had a nice iced coffee … Black and it was nicely balanced. I’ll be back soon.

I love this place! I love that it’s right in town, at the waterfront, near other great businesses, entertainment through the year and of course great coffee.
The best is the summer entertainment. Watch and listen to local artists play while drinking your cup of coffee. Perfect location!

About 10 years ago, I was a regular here. The owners were friendly. The coffee was OK, but nothing ever to write home about. The music was good. (It seems as if that has remained unchanged, or has improved, but I cannot say for certain if that is the case.) Anyway, I was there this morning, and I was not impressed. First, the fly. The fly was persistent, annoying and allowed to exist. The only response from the woman at the counter regarding the airborne pest was a half-​embarrassed: «I know, they’re the worst, aren’t they?» I get that flies get into places, but if they are such a problem maybe put out some fly paper? At least show some manner of contrition. Second, the condition of the whole shop. The layout and the décor is not just uncomfortable, but it is uninviting. A decade ago, I thought that would be acceptable, but not much has changed since then. There is clutter stuffed into every niche and crevice, and the place just feels like a mess. Third, the service was unexceptional. The woman at the counter was just slow, and disinterested. She took my drink order and food order without asking my girlfriend if she wanted anything, and then attempted to close out my order before she took hers. The entire exchange was awkward and off-​putting. The egg sandwich was OK. Of all the complaints, I think the décor is the worst.

LOVE THIS PLACE! The low carb mocha is my favorite love the location and the people are always nice and thoughtful.

Espresso Joe’s is a nice local coffee house that’s literally a block away from the waterfront.
It’s decorated like most casual modern coffee houses/​cafes, with comfy couches to lounge in, a coffee table (really…LOL) with magazines, and small tables with bar stools and/​or chairs.
I ordered the house coffee and it was very good. It tasted a lot like illy coffee which is a good start.
At the counter are several pastry offerings (I saw coffee cake, cookies, a tart, and some granola/​fruit bars). I love chocolate so the chocolate cookie was the choice.
The chocolate chip cookie was excellent with a nice texture between crunchy and chewy with very generous chunks of tasty milk chocolate embedded throughout.
The cashier mentioned the cookies are fresh baked locally, and I believe his statement when you take into account the quality of the cookie and that the cookie was probably sitting in the display case most of the day (mind you I stopped by Espresso Joe around 4PM on a quiet Saturday).
An added bonus is that Espresso Joe apparently hosts a bunch of local musicians for events during the year, and I could spot speakers and other audio equipment at an area at the back of the counter… nice; coffee and live music is a plus.
Have to try Espresso Joe’s again to hopefully enjoy more of what they offer, but as it stands now it was a solid 4-​star experience.

Espresso Joe’s is a great coffee house with a wide variety of delicious drinks and reasonably priced food. There’s something for everyone here, plus the satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting a local business that gives a tremendous amount back to the community. The owner, Ed, has supported the local music and art scene for many years, and the open mic and other performances are consistently surprisingly good. There’s a friendly vibe about the place, which is why it’s as close to community center as Keyport has. Highly recommend.

Take it from me, a coffee connoisseur — this joint has got some kick a** joe. It’s super laid back, affordable, with a great hometown feel and the never ending string of new live music and talent always keeps me coming back for more. The staff is so much fun too, I love everybody there! For me, it’s like a home away from home.

Super laid back coffeehouse in a sleepy bayshore Jersey town. Coffee is fresh, the layout is spacious, and the guys here are pretty down to earth. I’ll stop in every now and then when I’m in the area, and continue to come back as I’d much rather support the local guys as opposed to getting a watery cup of coffee from a drive-​thru. One of these days I will have to stop in for their open mic night…

Great hangout spot to read a book. Reasonable prices in a small location in downtown Keyport.

I have been an Espresso Joe’s fan from way back and make a special drive out there often just to get their Chai Latte (yes, I actually like it better than Starbuck’s!). But the staff and environment is EXCEPTIONAL! A great place to hang and kick back and enjoy the beautiful water front!

Stopped by with my family to grab some caffeinated beverages. Ordered some frozen mocha drinks and two Americanos.
The frozen drinks were very good, definitely something worth four stars. Unfortunately the espresso drinks were not up to par for a place with the word espresso in it. They had to be the lightest Americanos I’ve ever had. Sadly I was not pleased. They tasted soo watered down. Yes there’s water in it, obviously, but they were not good. I do not recommend the Americano.
The place is known for their musical guests etc, so I can’t rate it on that since we stopped in early on a Sunday afternoon. But solely on the drinks and atmosphere, three stars. Wish it was better.

I wonder if it is unfair for me to give one star when I did not purchase anything here. This morning I was going to have coffee at Espresso Joe’s with a friend, but first I used their restroom, and then I walked out. The bathroom was gross — dirty and more like a janitor’s closet. There was no soap (unless you call the water in the Softsoap container soap, but I don’t) and no paper towels. How are employees washing their hands? Yuck.

Espresso Joe’s is not only a great coffee house but a destination spot to see some of the best local and regional singer/​songwriter/​musicians (not to mention the best open mic in NJ). To echo some of the other reviewers — the environment is great, friendly staff, great food and coffee.

I love this place! I have been going here since they opened and its fantastic! They have the best paninis around (chicken salad is my fav) and their smoothies are to die for! I also enjoy their ever changing art work and frequent live music. P. s. if your a coffee addict do yourself a favor and get a red eye (you can thank me later)

Always great food and service. Everyone is really friendly. I’ve been to lots of coffee shops and Espresso Joe’s is always worth the trip.