JBird Supply Coffee Roaster

I've lived in Cville for over a decade, and thought I had the local coffee landscape well mapped. I recently tried JBird for the first time and that map was firmly rearranged. I drink Americanos and this one is exceptional. My wife drinks lattes and confirms those are also amazing. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They have a wide variety of ethically-sourced roasts. I like the old school loyalty-on-a-card program. Overall, love this shop.

I really like espresso tonics. I appreciate the attempt since they are so rare. I'm not sure what happened. What we received after ordering espresso tonics was a bit of an ugly mess; it was a melange of brown sour mush, with deflated, congealed former-bubbles on top. This was not what an espresso tonic looks (or tastes) like. Somewhat disappointed. Although the almond bar was nice.

The smell that welcomes you in this place is amazing! Had a light roast from Brazil. High quality beans and they know how to roast. Great people, had conversations with the baristas. Gotta stop her for a cup if you are in Charlottesville. The whole warehouse area has an amazing arts vibe.

I was perplexed at first at how incognito the shop is. No outside signs (except on the door) and almost thought it was only a supply-side roaster. It’s pretty bare bones inside, but interesting how it’s connected to other small businesses. As to the drink I ordered. I will admit that initially I didn’t like my chai oatmilk latte as to compared that same drink at other coffee shops . However, it grew on me. I can’t say exactly what the difference was — maybe the espresso? Or maybe less sweetener? I had the sense that this was more authentic than the usual overly sweetened versions of chai latte. In the end, I’ll give this shop five stars, but do recommend more obvious signage!

TL;DR: high quality delicious coffee, great vibe, fantastic service. I’m surprised I didn’t find this place sooner. It’s in the cut so you have to look for it, but man is it worth it. I got a latte with almond milk, and it was incredibly smooth and creamy. The taste of the espresso really shined through and was complemented by the other flavors. They even have a unique, house made flavor — hickory. It’s an unexpected sweet, smokiness that adds to the complexity of the latte, so I’d recommend giving it a try! The staff is incredibly friendly and chill, and the vibe is perfect for a coffee shop. Dimly lit, wood accents, and happens to be in the same area as a co-working space. Overall, I highly recommend and was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem 💎