Smooth Joe Coffee — Restaurant in Raleigh

People are amazing!

First and foremost when walking in the shop owner/manager greeted someone walking in the same time as I by name. I cannot begin to describe how important this is for businesses. Then when I was greeted the manager was so pleasant to talk to, I began by explaining this was my first visit. The young lady that was working the register was new but the coaching from the manager was so gentle which highlights how this is a positive working environment.

My items ordered was a ham and cheese croissant 🥐. The buttery texture was just right and it was very tasty, my drink was amazing. Small details are HUGE for me, they placed my drink in a glass coffee mug which is a huge win for me. No other location last week that I visited used glass mugs.

The service was excellent, I had amazing interactions with everyone who waited on me. The atmosphere was super calm and relaxing, I think I've found a regular spot on my quest for the best coffee shops. Not only would I recommend this business to friends and family, but I would also suggest pulling away from corporate chains like the very huge competitors…which I will refrain from saying their name. But support small businesses. 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Yours truly, Friendly...

Easily the best coffee shop in Raleigh! (And I've been to 10+ cafes in the last year alone.) The vibe is laid-back, almost cozy — think wood furniture and couch, warm tones, local art, sunny patio, soft jazz. The service is super friendly, and the food and coffee are top-notch. 🤌

Over several visits, I've had their breakfast sandwich, salad, and various pastries, all good, but it's their coffee that truly shines. Flat white, latte, drip, affogato, hot or iced, decaf and regular — every drink I've had has been amazing. I don't like the bitterness coffee sometimes has, but here it lives up to its name — smooth. ☕️ (I would say "velvety" if I didn't feel a little silly writing that. But well, it's very smooth!) I appreciate the availability of stevia too, which is common but not at every cafe.

All in all, a great place to meet friends or just chill, with free wifi, easy parking, and prices pretty affordable. My absolutely only wish is that they had a loyalty punch card so I could go...

I'm 17 and a freshman in college at Wake Tech. Because of this, I don't have much spare money to spend on coffee. I was having a horrible day and I decided to go to Smooth Joe because I saw they sold 3$ coffees and I wanted to cheer myself up. I always keep spare change in my backpack and I had just enough. I walked in the pouring rain and upon entering counted my coins to double check. I spoke to the kindest older woman at the counter who did not mind I was paying in coins and we cracked a few jokes about what it's like being a broke college student. At the end of the conversation, she told me she upgraded my order for free and I have never felt so much love from an establishment before. It was such a small thing to do, but it seriously made my week. This was my first time going here and you can tell they treat all customers as apart of their family. Not only this, but it was some of the best coffee I've ever had. Thank you so much to the staff of...