Poindexter Coffee
210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA
Crema's Take
“Poindexter Coffee is a sparkling-clean, college-friendly hub in Iowa City that excels at providing comfortable study spaces with generous tables and genuinely warm staff. The atmosphere strikes a creative balance between casual and curated, though coffee enthusiasts should know the baristas lean more toward friendly accessibility than deep technical knowledge. It's the kind of place where you'll find yourself lingering over reasonably priced pastries and light fare, surrounded by students and locals who've made it their go-to gathering spot.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Super clean interior space - hence the Atmosphere. Almost to the point of sterile. lol Definitely catering to the college crowd. Observed by college-aged people, and decor/layout/wall art/space. Service was average. Not a whole lot of Customer service/forward friendliness. The coffee was decent. If not for the proximity to the hotel, the traffic business for this place might be a little on the light side. Bathrooms...Super clean.
I love pointdexters! great place to study, plenty of large tables. staff are all so friendly, and food is reasonably priced. please add cheese fries to your menu.
I got a chagaccino for $7.50 + tip and was surprised at how extremely sweet it was. This wasnt the fault of the barista, just that the powder was very sweet. I tried to ask if it could be remade with less sweetener/powder, this was my first time asking for a drink remade so I was pretty nervous. The barista seemed super rude and agitated (even though the store was practically empty and so she shouldnt of been overwhelmed by anything) and said thats just how the drink was. I asked if milk could be added to it to make it less sweet and then she said there's a creamer right next to me. I tried adding creamer but realized id have to add an absurd amount to make a difference in sweetness, so I politely asked if she could add milk. She slid the carton over to me and slammed the cap onto the counter- like what??? My sibling came up and asked again and she again refused to remake the drink with less/no powder, but gave a refund when my sibling asked for a refund... which I used to get myself a drink with less sugar. Lol.
Poindexter Coffee has long been one of my absolute favorite coffee shops in Iowa City. The atmosphere is delightful — creative, and comfortable, with a wide variety of tables and seating options that make it a superb environment for working, studying, playing Games, or meeting up with friends. It’s also in a fantastic location- easy to access From both the Pedmall and the street- and perfectly themed with a fun, quirky charm that sets it apart from other cafés in town. For the first several years, Poindexter was my go-to spot — truly a place I loved coming to for both the coffee and the vibe. Unfortunately, over the past year or two, there seems to have been a change in management, and with it, a major shift in the culture of the shop. The current staff are consistently unfriendly and disengaged. They don’t greet customers, rarely smile, and often give off the impression that patrons are an inconvenience. It’s disheartening to walk into such a beautiful, inviting space and feel unwelcome. It’s honestly disappointing, because Poindexter still has everything a fantastic coffee shop needs — ambiance, location, design, and quality beverages — but the customer service has completely lost its warmth and hospitality. After four years of being my favorite local coffee shop, I now find myself dreading the experience of going in. I strongly encourage Poindexter’s leadership to invest in customer service and interpersonal skills training for the current team- Anet barristers that actually like people. Iowa City has many competing coffee shops where baristas are genuinely kind, friendly, and engaging — qualities that make all the difference. With the right staff culture, Poindexter could easily reclaim its place as the best coffee shop in town.
Pretty bad… space is kinda nice, but they seem clueless on coffee. Couldn’t tell me origin of the drip and when I ordered a Cortado they asked if I wanted a 4oz or 8oz. I was so confused. Espresso was sour and under extracted. If you need a place to study this could be nice, but don’t drink the coffee.
Crema Reviews
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