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 Joe Coffee Company

Joe Coffee Company
==================

Founded in 2003 by Jonathan Rubinstein in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, Joe Coffee Company has grown into New York's hometown specialty coffee brand with over 20 cafes and its own roastery in Long Island City, Queens. They source beans through long-term producer relationships and roast with a focus on quality, sustainability, and Rainforest Alliance certification. Joe's philosophy centers on making exceptional specialty coffee approachable and inclusive, celebrating each neighborhood's community through warm hospitality.

 Tasted by [ ![Raymond Brigleb](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/225614451dc9aee33be11e0f6876c18b?s=120&d=identicon)

 ](https://unpacking.coffee/users/rbrigleb) [ ![Kandace](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/fdaa2abead647809a27d8e53f03536f5?s=120&d=identicon)

 ](https://unpacking.coffee/users/kandace) [ ![Zach Wright](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e0ea10c897ee17315e0585bd45a25482?s=120&d=identicon)

 ](https://unpacking.coffee/users/zachrw)

    Watch Episode       Read Transcript

- [ Joe Coffee ](http://joenewyork.com)
- [ Joe Coffee on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/JoecoffeeNYC)
- [ Joe Knows Coffee ](http://joeknowscoffee.com/)
- [ The Pulley Collective ](http://pulleycollective.com)
- [ The Good Food Awards ](http://goodfoodawards.org)
- [ The Green Coffee Program ](https://facebook.com/Green-Coffee-Program-1509849772572722/)
- [ Gourmet Magazine ](http://gourmet.com/)

 ![Joe Coffee Company](/storage/roaster-profiles/126/featured.jpg)

  THE CONVERSATION

(Take 1)
Ray: So today we’re tasting Joe Coffee, out of ah, New York.

(Take 2)
Ray: I’m Ray.

Kandace: I’m Kandace.

Ray: Welcome to the show.

Kandace: This is, Unpacking Coffee.

Ray: It is. Today we’re trying…

Kandace: Still.

(Take 3)
Ray: This is take three.

Kandace: Take three.

Ray: I’m Ray.

Kandace: I’m Kandace.

Ray: Unpacking Coffee this week: Joe, New York. Founded in 2003. Originally, for the first decade really, they just sold other people’s coffee. Originally it was from Echo. It was…

Kandace: Andrew’s!

Ray: Andrew Barnett’s gig who is now with Linea, a friend of the show. Starting in I think 2013, they’ve been roasting their own coffee. Started slowly, worked their way up…

Kandace: Yeah so it’s interesting. So they had revolving coffees in the beginning right? And then now they have Joe Pro New York in their headquarters who still does the guest coffee roasters.

Ray: So they still do some guest coffees in the one location but the rest…

Kandace: NO guests.

Ray: Right. It’s all one-hundred percent Joe.

Kandace: All Joe.

Ray: There’s probably a lot of jokes you could make about the fact that they’re called Joe.

Kandace: Like that ah, that Jimmy Hendrix song?

Ray: Heyyy Joe…Right?

The gentlemen who was hired to head up The Green Coffee Program is Edward Kaufman, who I spoke with. He told us about some of the struggles of going online with The Green Coffee Program nowadays, especially when it comes to Ethiopia.

Edward Kaufman: My title is Director of Roasting. Technically we’ve been roasting our coffee for a little over three years. A hundred percent for the last 2 years—two and a half.

For our coffees that we purchase, Ethiopia is definitely the most challenging because of the government mandated auction system—the Commodities Exchange. That’s changing.

There’s some traceability, information is going to be available for this harvest. But for the last seven…..eight years now I think that the government has, basically made coffee run through this Commodities Exchange so it kind of erases all the traceability. So we’ll get a coffee that is, you know, it’s basically labeled as a region, and, thousands of farmers could have contributed to it and there’s really no…

Ray: You have no idea which farmer grew it. Basically, yeah.

Edward: Exactly. Exactly.

As time passes we get to, we learn a little bit more how to navigate the system, and at the same time, Ethiopia is listening to us. Like us bitchy coffee buyers are like we wanna know where this delicious coffee came from so we can shake some hands and get it again next year. So they’re easing up on the laws a little bit and providing some opportunities for us to have some information starting actually this harvest. It’s happening right now so that’s exciting.

Ray: So what else do we know about Joe?

Kandace: Well, they’re part of the collective.

Ray: Is it the Pulley Collective?

Kandace: Yes! Awesome. They’re part of the Pulley Collective and so, that is a group that shares roasting equipment in New York. And so, it seems like they’re great support of other roasters…

Ray: Also, I do wanna talk about their fantastic packaging and identity. I’m a huge fan of this. It’s a cup, in the middle of “Joe” but what I love about it is the way that, it’s not just flat it has like a texture and it’s like a screen printed texture.

Kandace: It’s cup of joe!

Ray: Oh right! Hey Joe….

Kandace: Oh my god, seriously? Again?!

Ray: It’s like that Hendrix song!

Kandace: Oh my god.

Ray: It’s almost like they’re playing with a little bit of the texture which you can do on these bags. It’s flat-bottom, which is you know what we here at Needmore are huge fans of the flat-bottom bag.

Kandace: You just like to say it.

Ray: And lots of little details on here. Just a sticker so they can use the same bag design on all of them. And even just the little playfulness of the side here. The um, the little bench. It’s a bus bench.

Kandace: You’re really into little things. The Good Food Awards were just announced.

Ray: Yes

Kandace: On the fifteenth.

Ray: Okay.

Kandace: On Friday…Congratulations guys! So what’s cool about The Good Food Awards is that they’re a blind taste test that happens in San Francisco.

Ray: Who runs that? Do you know?

Kandace: Every time!

Ray: Every time.

Kandace: I don’t.

Ray: I think it’s Gourmet Magazine.

Kandace: I think it’s The Good Food Awards people….who run in it. I would also say that they sent us some really nice material. When we got our coffees.

Ray: Joe, New York.

Kandace: I got my thumbs up first this time.

Ray: You did.

Kandace: I never do.

Watch the Show

https://vimeo.com/152081627

   THE CONVERSATION

(Take 1)
Ray: So today we’re tasting Joe Coffee, out of ah, New York.

(Take 2)
Ray: I’m Ray.

Kandace: I’m Kandace.

Ray: Welcome to the show.

Kandace: This is, Unpacking Coffee.

Ray: It is. Today we’re trying…

Kandace: Still.

(Take 3)
Ray: This is take three.

Kandace: Take three.

Ray: I’m Ray.

Kandace: I’m Kandace.

Ray: Unpacking Coffee this week: Joe, New York. Founded in 2003. Originally, for the first decade really, they just sold other people’s coffee. Originally it was from Echo. It was…

Kandace: Andrew’s!

Ray: Andrew Barnett’s gig who is now with Linea, a friend of the show. Starting in I think 2013, they’ve been roasting their own coffee. Started slowly, worked their way up…

Kandace: Yeah so it’s interesting. So they had revolving coffees in the beginning right? And then now they have Joe Pro New York in their headquarters who still does the guest coffee roasters.

Ray: So they still do some guest coffees in the one location but the rest…

Kandace: NO guests.

Ray: Right. It’s all one-hundred percent Joe.

Kandace: All Joe.

Ray: There’s probably a lot of jokes you could make about the fact that they’re called Joe.

Kandace: Like that ah, that Jimmy Hendrix song?

Ray: Heyyy Joe…Right?

The gentlemen who was hired to head up The Green Coffee Program is Edward Kaufman, who I spoke with. He told us about some of the struggles of going online with The Green Coffee Program nowadays, especially when it comes to Ethiopia.

Edward Kaufman: My title is Director of Roasting. Technically we’ve been roasting our coffee for a little over three years. A hundred percent for the last 2 years—two and a half.

For our coffees that we purchase, Ethiopia is definitely the most challenging because of the government mandated auction system—the Commodities Exchange. That’s changing.

There’s some traceability, information is going to be available for this harvest. But for the last seven…..eight years now I think that the government has, basically made coffee run through this Commodities Exchange so it kind of erases all the traceability. So we’ll get a coffee that is, you know, it’s basically labeled as a region, and, thousands of farmers could have contributed to it and there’s really no…

Ray: You have no idea which farmer grew it. Basically, yeah.

Edward: Exactly. Exactly.

As time passes we get to, we learn a little bit more how to navigate the system, and at the same time, Ethiopia is listening to us. Like us bitchy coffee buyers are like we wanna know where this delicious coffee came from so we can shake some hands and get it again next year. So they’re easing up on the laws a little bit and providing some opportunities for us to have some information starting actually this harvest. It’s happening right now so that’s exciting.

Ray: So what else do we know about Joe?

Kandace: Well, they’re part of the collective.

Ray: Is it the Pulley Collective?

Kandace: Yes! Awesome. They’re part of the Pulley Collective and so, that is a group that shares roasting equipment in New York. And so, it seems like they’re great support of other roasters…

Ray: Also, I do wanna talk about their fantastic packaging and identity. I’m a huge fan of this. It’s a cup, in the middle of “Joe” but what I love about it is the way that, it’s not just flat it has like a texture and it’s like a screen printed texture.

Kandace: It’s cup of joe!

Ray: Oh right! Hey Joe….

Kandace: Oh my god, seriously? Again?!

Ray: It’s like that Hendrix song!

Kandace: Oh my god.

Ray: It’s almost like they’re playing with a little bit of the texture which you can do on these bags. It’s flat-bottom, which is you know what we here at Needmore are huge fans of the flat-bottom bag.

Kandace: You just like to say it.

Ray: And lots of little details on here. Just a sticker so they can use the same bag design on all of them. And even just the little playfulness of the side here. The um, the little bench. It’s a bus bench.

Kandace: You’re really into little things. The Good Food Awards were just announced.

Ray: Yes

Kandace: On the fifteenth.

Ray: Okay.

Kandace: On Friday…Congratulations guys! So what’s cool about The Good Food Awards is that they’re a blind taste test that happens in San Francisco.

Ray: Who runs that? Do you know?

Kandace: Every time!

Ray: Every time.

Kandace: I don’t.

Ray: I think it’s Gourmet Magazine.

Kandace: I think it’s The Good Food Awards people….who run in it. I would also say that they sent us some really nice material. When we got our coffees.

Ray: Joe, New York.

Kandace: I got my thumbs up first this time.

Ray: You did.

Kandace: I never do.

Watch the Show

https://vimeo.com/152081627

  Coffee Offerings
------------------

###   [ The Village ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/74-the-village)

        Varieties Bourbon      Country Rwanda      Elevation 1600-2000m      Source Ejo Heza Women, Kopakama Cooperative

First noted

Oct 13, 2025

 Last tasted

Oct 16, 2025

  3 cuppings

   [ brown sugar ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/28 "brown sugar") [ white grape ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/122 "white grape") [ honey ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/22 "honey") [ bergamot ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/107 "bergamot") [ hazelnut ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/38 "hazelnut")

###   [ Kenya Kapkiyai ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/71-kenya-kapkiyai)

      Process Washed      Varieties SL28, Ruiru 11, SL34, Batian, K7      Country Kenya      Elevation 2000m      Source Kapkiyai Farmer’s Cooperative

First noted

Oct 02, 2025

 Last tasted

Oct 09, 2025

  3 cuppings

   [ honey ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/22 "honey") [ rose ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/56 "rose") [ blueberry ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/8 "blueberry") [ mango ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/15 "mango") [ tamarind ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/134 "tamarind")

###   [ The Waverly ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/18-the-waverly)

       Species Arabica

First noted

Jun 11, 2025

 Last tasted

Jun 11, 2025

  1 cupping

   [ cream ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/86 "cream") [ bergamot ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/107 "bergamot") [ cinnamon ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/45 "cinnamon")

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 3

Coffee Offerings

 7

Total Cuppings

 Added 1 year ago

Roaster Details

  Website  [ joecoffeecompany.com ](https://joecoffeecompany.com)

 Established 2003

Location

  City Long Island City

 State/Province New York

 Country United States

 Use filters or recent searches to refine your results. Press Esc to close.

 Filters 12 showing

      Users   0       Coffees   0       Roasters   0       Recipes   0

   Explore featured coffees

Start typing to search across the entire database.

  [

###   [ Peru Umapata Community ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/166-peru-umapata-community)

   by [ Camellia Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/284-camellia-coffee-roasters)

      Process Washed      Varieties Typica, Bourbon, Castillo      Country Peru     Region Cusco       Source Yungas Coffee Project

First noted

Jun 22, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 22, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ swiss orange chip ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/230 "swiss orange chip") [ dried apricot ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/200 "dried apricot") [ butter toffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/231 "butter toffee") [ mandarin jam ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/233 "mandarin jam") [ cara cara zest ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/234 "cara cara zest")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/166-peru-umapata-community)

 [

###   [ Cherry Pick ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/165-cherry-pick)

   by [ Yeri Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/283-yeri-coffee)

     Certifications Rainforest Alliance, Direct Trade     Process Anaerobic Natural        Country India     Region Chikmagalur     Elevation 1250–1450m      Source Ratnagiri Estate

First noted

Jun 15, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 15, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ sweet apple ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/228 "sweet apple") [ cherry jam ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/229 "cherry jam") [ milk chocolate ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/33 "milk chocolate")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/165-cherry-pick)

 [

###   [ La Guaca ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/164-la-guaca)

   by [ Methodical Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/142-methodical-coffee-roasters)

      Process Honey      Varieties Red Catuai      Country Costa Rica     Region Chirripó       Source Régulo Ureña And Isabel Rojas

First noted

Jun 14, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 14, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ melon ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/180 "melon") [ cherry ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/5 "cherry") [ chocolate ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/108 "chocolate")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/164-la-guaca)

 [

###   [ Dark Star ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/163-dark-star)

   by [ Linea Caffe ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/226-linea-caffe-1)

First noted

Jun 09, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 09, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ bittersweet chocolate ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/131 "bittersweet chocolate") [ bing cherry ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/167 "bing cherry") [ mandarin orange ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/142 "mandarin orange")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/163-dark-star)

 [

###   [ Pacayal Honey Lot ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/162-pacayal-honey-lot)

   by [ Heirloom Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/281-heirloom-coffee-roasters)

     Certifications USDA Organic, Regenerative Organic Certified, Clean Craft     Process Honey        Country Honduras     Region De La Paz

First noted

Jun 09, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 09, 2026

  2 cuppings

   [ orange blossom ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/60 "orange blossom") [ honey ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/22 "honey") [ plum ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/10 "plum")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/162-pacayal-honey-lot)

 [

###   [ Andrés Martínez ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/161-andres-martinez-1)

   by [ Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/280-mom-n-em-coffee)

      Process Co-fermented and experimental (Black Honey, Blackberry)      Varieties Caturra      Country Colombia     Region Cauca     Elevation 1750m      Source El Sendero

First noted

Jun 06, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 08, 2026

  3 cuppings

   [ black tea ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") [ demerara ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/227 "demerara") [ macerated berries ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/226 "macerated berries") [ blackberry ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/9 "blackberry") [ cherry ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/5 "cherry")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/161-andres-martinez-1)

 [

###   [ Colombia - Finca El Diviso - Estate ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/160-colombia-finca-el-diviso-estate)

   by [ Stereoscope ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/279-stereoscope)

      Process Washed, Anaerobic Fermentation      Varieties Caturra      Country Colombia     Region Huila     Elevation 1750-1850m      Source Finca El Diviso

First noted

Jun 04, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 04, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ candied pineapple ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/222 "candied pineapple") [ strawberry yogurt ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/223 "strawberry yogurt") [ milky ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/224 "milky") [ coconut ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/225 "coconut")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/160-colombia-finca-el-diviso-estate)

 [

###   [ Ethiopia Habtamu Fikadu ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/159-ethiopia-habtamu-fikadu)

   by [ Heart Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/47-heart-coffee-roasters)

      Process Washed      Varieties Dega, Wolisho, Kurume      Country Ethiopia     Region Yirgacheffe     Elevation 2000m

First noted

Jun 01, 2026

 Last tasted

Jun 01, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ honeydew ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/221 "honeydew") [ apricot ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/4 "apricot") [ lilac ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/143 "lilac")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/159-ethiopia-habtamu-fikadu)

 [

###   [ Kenya Embu ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/158-kenya-embu)

   by [ Deux Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/278-deux-coffee-roasters)

          Country Kenya     Region Embu

First noted

May 31, 2026

 Last tasted

May 31, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ malt ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/82 "malt") [ stone fruit ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/125 "stone fruit") [ winey ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/77 "winey")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/158-kenya-embu)

 [

###   [ Honduras Benjamin Paz La Salsa ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/157-honduras-benjamin-paz-la-salsa)

   by [ Heart Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/47-heart-coffee-roasters)

      Process Washed      Varieties SL28      Country Honduras     Region Santa Barbara     Elevation 1680-1730m      Source El Cedral

First noted

May 30, 2026

 Last tasted

May 30, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ peach ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/3 "peach") [ mandarin orange ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/142 "mandarin orange") [ honeysuckle ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/62 "honeysuckle")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/157-honduras-benjamin-paz-la-salsa)

 [

###   [ Amilton Garcia Chimbo Geisha ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/156-amilton-garcia-chimbo-geisha)

   by [ Coava Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/70-coava-coffee-roasters)

      Process Washed      Varieties Geisha      Country Peru     Region Cajamarca       Source Amilton Garcia Chimbo - Las Bromelias

First noted

May 27, 2026

 Last tasted

May 27, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ jasmine honeysuckle ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/220 "jasmine honeysuckle") [ orange blossom ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/60 "orange blossom") [ stone fruit ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/125 "stone fruit") [ jasmine tea ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/164 "jasmine tea")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/156-amilton-garcia-chimbo-geisha)

 [

###   [ Anbessa ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/155-anbessa)

   by [ Coava Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/70-coava-coffee-roasters)

        Varieties Heirloom      Country Ethiopia

First noted

May 25, 2026

 Last tasted

May 25, 2026

  1 cupping

   [ pomegranate ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/139 "pomegranate") [ rose ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/56 "rose") [ dark chocolate ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/34 "dark chocolate") [ cherry ](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/5 "cherry")

  ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/155-anbessa)
