Once Upon a Time in America

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters on University Avenue in Rochester, New York
Joe Bean Coffee Roasters on University Avenue in Rochester, New York

The atmosphere and service at Joe Bean Roasters on University Avenue are laid back which is something I didn’t expect considering their product. They are artisan roasters and craft brewers. You can choose from about ten different preparations but we chose the single pour method and watched as our barista weighed the beans on a drug dealer’s scale, ground them and slipped the grounds into a single serving sized paper cone while the water boils on a burner in hands reach of the seats at the bar. The glass pots of fresh brew are placed, Japanese style, on a small board alongside a ceramic cup which we were able to fill three times while we chatted with Mike, the owner. The place feels a bit like the opium den Robert DeNiro visited in “Once Upon a Time in America.”

4 Comments

4 Replies to “Once Upon a Time in America”

  1. Only one problem with Joe Bean: in spite of all the esoteric malarkey their coffee is not good. And it’s over $3 minimum. Oh, that’s two problems…
    I found the whole experience incredibly annoying and full of absurd hipster snootiness…

  2. The best in town, IMHO, is the newer Javas bar at the Market, the one to the left of Flour City Bakery. State of the art machines and a higher quality bean. And it is soon to be a wine/cocktail bar open evenings in the Market. About time!
    I wanted to like Joe Bean but the entire experience was offensive and condescending, like dealing with wine snobs.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *