Cup a Joe

Located at 112 West King Street in historic downtown Hillsborough, Cup a Joe offers coffee drinks, teas, and baked goods. It is open from 6 a.m. (7 a.m. on weekends) to 6 p.m. seven days a week, and limited outdoor seating is available.

Last year, this popular Hillsborough coffee shop moved a few doors down to its current, more spacious location. “More spacious” is a relative term, for while there is definitely more space and more seating than there was previously, it is still easy to find yourself without a chair to claim.

This gripe aside, there is a lot to like here. The regular menu has a commendable assortment of caffeinated drinks, and cases by the register are typically filled with tantalizing cookies, muffins, and cakes (my wife swears by the salted chocolate chip cookies). A brightly colored chalkboard behind the register advertises limited-time only custom creations, which recently included a white chocolate cocoa with Lucky Charms (add an espresso shot to ensure you won’t tire any time soon). Prices are not bad by downtown Hillsborough standards, and staff are friendly and helpful more times than not.

Provided you can find a place to sit, Cup a Joe is a comfortable, reliable purveyor of caffeine and sugar in both liquid and solid forms.

8/10