Monkey Joe Roasting Co

Cappuccino was delicious, as was the coconut biscotti, and prices are reasonable. Only thing they lose a star for is not having wi-​fi, which is also why I don’t recommend this place if you have some internet-​dependent work to do. It seems a little unusual for a coffee shop to not offer free internet nowadays, but everything else about this place was pleasant.

It’s lit fam. Great coffee, nicest people. Highly suggest the chia latte with almond milk and a shot of espresso.

We love Money Joe. The coffee is fresh and delicious and the service is fast. The place is cute and has the best monkey collection in Kingston. They don’t blast music like in some other cafes. I’m only taking off a star because I am being a pain and wish there were more savory snacks. (Not everybody likes sugar.) Thanks!

NEVER a bad cuppa coffe– ESPECIALLY when the owner grinds the beans right there! Tables are ridiculously wobbly and sometimes there is no place to sit.

I ordered a cappuccino. Since I was sitting, I got coffee in a ceramic cup. The espresso machine spilled some coffee on outside of cup in process of making espresso. Barista cleans outside of cup with her hand. Are we in a third world country? She could have gone to bathroom right before?
I saw this and did not even complain. I moved here from NYC and getting out of here very soon. In my opinion the Catskills are equivalent to living in a third world country. After seeing this I did not even complain. The culture up here has incompetence has one of its traits. Why complain even high end restaurants are like this up here.

Dine or Ditch?
Dine… «Monkey Joe? What do they have banan– OH MY GOD! COFFEE!!! GIMME GIMME!»
Am I a caffeine addict? Yes, yes I am. Let’s just get that out of the way. It’s probably a «problem» considering if I don’t start the day with coffee I get headaches and I’m dead all day, but it’s socially acceptable and it helps me get through the day and keep me focused, so… hold on, let me get a sip of coffee… that’s the stuff… yeah… what was I saying? Oh! Review, right…
This place is a fun, small town coffee shop. It’s like NYC in the 90s before Starbucks came in and developed New York’s biggest, cleanest public bathroom company that also offers coffee if you feel guilt on the way out of the shop. It’s a small shop with a few tables and, when coffee is being brewed, a magnificent smell. They offer four coffees daily, three regular and one decaf, of varying flavors. You can taste them and get a feel for which coffee you want to enjoy. I was up there for a few days and found myself in there every morning. On my third day I was even remembered and formed a bit of a rapport with the staff (over my spilt coffee the morning before). You feel at home quickly in this coffee shop and it’s definitely my goto shop in the area.
For a bit of the bad. Now, I’m not a morning eater, but I was a bit hungry walking in. They recommended the scones. I found mine pretty dry. I didn’t really feel compelled to get another any day besides my first. This was my deduction of the star because the coffee was perfect for me and my ONLY real reason for coming time and time again.

Coffee is outstanding, service is quick and friendly, and their sesame bagel is among the best I’ve ever had. Plus a nice outdoor seating area along the main drag makes for great warm morning people watching.

Best coffee anywhere, by far. Not even close. Sit and get a french press and take some time off from being chased.

Hands down the best coffee and best cool coffee house atmosphere anywhere. They roast their own coffee right there and it is always delicious. The staff and owners are all very nice and helpful and really give this place a comfortable feel. I buy thei coffe by the pound so I can enjoy at my home and office.

Get the Jazzie Joe blend of coffee… it has an amazing aroma, a little bit of cinnamon, a little bit of nutmeg, a little bit of… who knows. But it is tantalizing! I buy it whole beaned and grind it at home for supreme freshness. The staff is super friendly They have great gluten free baked goods from a local baker, too, along with regular baked goods. I come to Kingston about once every six weeks, and try to get to this place for some coffee every time I am up there.

Some of the most delicious coffee around!

I love this place. The staff is sweet and the drinks are made with love. My dirty iced chai latte is such a treat, but I am all about their coffee. I like when they have the coconut flavor– so yummy! I have only had one coffee that did not suit my palate, otherwise, this place is a gem. Wifi would be a nice added touch — but I usually just come on my lunch break to get awayyyyy from a computer anyhow. The building is gorgeous, check out the tin ceiling and enjoy the aroma of the coffee brewing.

Comments from my first-​ever visit – today, September 13, 2013
Ok, the coffee’s really good, but what do I know: at home I put milk and sugar in my espresso – the whole potful in one mug – and more or less guzzle it like Chock-full…but still, I know the difference and enjoyed my mug of (insert fancy name here) very much.
But coffee was just my excuse. I go to coffee houses for the being, not the drinking, and this is definitely a place I liked being. To a person – owners, staff and customers – everyone in this Broadway shop in Kingston was in one way or another nice to me, either by word or by way of a nod and a pleasant smile. And the seeing’s not bad either: I put aside my Kindle and just enjoyed the look of the place. As usual, your mileage might vary, and since I don’t like slathering superlatives I’ll just say the «5» I’m giving comes owing not only to the coffee but from the pleasant time I spent there. I’ll be back.

Hands down, the best coffee in the Hudson Valley! Cozy and fun atmosphere, unique décor, friendly staff, and AMAZING coffee. If you haven’t already, try their signature blend Jazzy Joe, which is a cinnamon and maple syrup flavored coffee. This is my favorite coffee shop to bring out-​of-​towners visiting the area.

If you want coffee in the Hudson Valley, this is the best place. I was looking for the whole coffee shop experience, so I didn’t rate it five stars, but the coffee is first rate.
A traditional storefront and awning lead to a tile floor, five low tables for four and two high tables. Victorian lamps and ceiling fans light the otherwise dark room. Dozens of toy monkeys smile on patrons from their spots on shelves and in the front window. Pictures of famous monkeys, from the Planet of the Apes monkeys to Curious George, line the walls.
This place is all about coffee. Upon entry, the aroma of coffee is almost overpowering. On the right wall 50-​odd green plastic dispensers for whole beans of all sorts await patrons with varied tastes. The fireplace is even blocked by bags of beans. Coffee paraphernalia is evident and retro coffee ads can be found in the bathroom.
A listing of the coffee blends, mostly South American and African, is front and center on the chalkboard menu. Fruit smoothies and specialty drinks round out the offerings. The cheerful barista informs me that any of the whole bean coffees can be ground in a French Press and served. A flavored coffee, two decaf blends, a Mexican, and a Sumatra sit in metallic self-​serve containers to the side, so I take this option so I can sample the offerings. The barista hands me a classy blue coffee cup. The Mexican had a wonderful aroma with a rich flavor. The Sumatra was even better, with deep textures and not a hint of the acidic taste so common at Starbucks.
Pleasant music is playing, but it is periodically drowned out by the sounds of the city: car horns, emergency vehicles, and rumbling trucks. A healthy mix of hurried urbanites and rough-​and-​tumble jean-​clad locals shuffle in and out. A woman with donning a jean jacket with a skeleton painted on it walks in holding a bright red umbrella. She has abundant piercings, tattoos, and chains. A couple of ladies have a 20 minute conversation about which bulk coffee to buy. A woman plans her dinner while her daughter talks softly on the phone.
This was the only sit down coffee shop I’ve visited with no wifi. None. I also found no couches or comfy chairs available for relaxation and conversation. This shop was focused primarily on coffee sales and to-​go coffee.

Monkey Joe’s is a fine coffeehouse. Because they roast beans there, it’s got a great coffee aroma. The waitstaff is courteous and friendly, and the layout is tasteful and fun. Oh, and they serve fine coffee too.
So why four stars and not five? Because they don’t have wireless service! I asked why not, and was told that they have a fine business without it and would rather «have people talking with each other.» Hey, I like to talk to people too, but I also like to work in a public space, and working in a public space these days, for me, means access to the Internet. This shortcoming will reduce the frequency of my visits despite the many delights Monkey Joe’s has to offer.

This is my favorite coffehouse in the Kingston, NY area. The coffee is out of this world, the treats are always fresh and SO SO GOOD, and the atmosphere is welcoming.
SO why only 4 stars? I’m not from Kingston, so I am usually visiting on the weekends and Monkey Joe isn’t open on Sundays. I am SO disappointed that the last three times I’ve been in town I was there on a Sunday and could NOT get my Monkey fix. This is a really fun place with a great welcoming décor. I’m a stickler for good service and the staff has always been great… I just wish I could give them another visit.

This has to be the best coffee place in Ulster County. The owner, Gabe, has been at it 12 years and is a coffee obsessive. Uses great, single-​origin beans from brokers with which he has developed relationships over many years. That means he gets great product. A huge Dietrich roaster in the shop is where the beans are roasted. Most great independents around the US don’t roast as this place does. Coffees, whether a very unique espresso drinks (they use a blend with a yellow bean (delicious!)), pour-​over, french press, or drip are fab.
Monkey Joe would do fine in any city in America. The coffees are that good. That it’s in Kingston, NY was a bit surprising to me but that’s where they’re from and so it is. Head and shoulders above anything else I’ve tried north of New York City.
The website (at monkeyjoe dot com) offers a ton of great detail about the beans and roasting methods they use. Talk to Gabe for 5 minutes and you’ll understand why this is truly outstanding coffee.
And, the café itself itself is a bit bohemian with plenty of seating; very comfortable. Monkey Joe is a real treasure in Kingston.

Came here a while back and it was exactly what I was looking for. A great, cozy coffee shop with delicious fresh coffee in many varieties. The ambience is very hip and relaxed for the area. It felt like I was in a young, vibrant town instead of Kingston. They also have fresh pastries and bagels. My friend had the «chocolate monkey» and it was so good! A frosty chocolate drink with hints of banana. Wow. Whenever I’m back in town I’ll definitely come back here.

In my Tour de Top Coffeehouses as per Hudson Valley Magazine, Monkey Joe’s certainly is deserving of such an honor unlike … oh that is for another review. Back to (monkey) business.
Monkey Joe’s to me represents the epitome of what a coffeehouse should be, good coffee aside. We engaged in a wonderful conversation with the owner, Kathy, as we savored our brews-​an Ethiopian Harrar with soy for me and a soy Cappuccino for The L. We spoke of various topics with such animation, the kind a jolt of caffeine cannot provide. It was like being with an old friend. :))) The décor was wonderfully kitschy, the music soothing, the aromas seducing and the atmosphere warm and welcoming.
And next to the monkeys. Everywhere. I love monkeys almost as much as I love goats as my Chinese horoscope creature is a monkey so it was like being somewhere familiar. Funky monkeys, Curious George, characters from Planet of the Apes, monkeys galore! but Hanuman was curiously absent… :))) They roast their own beans right there in situ in their red roasting machine. I would love to be there one of those days as I am sure the smell would have me wafting though the air like Bugs Bunny in Water, Water Every Hare. Oh wait that’s a rabbit. ;))) But that’s OK as the Hare is my husband’s Chinese zodiac critter.
The only reason we went to Kingston was to stop at MJ for a cuppa. So glad we did.