photo by Shayna Mendez
Rock ‘n’ Joe is one of the few coffee shops to involve espresso art in each specialty brew. The drinks are presented without the lids for the customers viewing as shown here. Chloe Saccols, full time worker at Rock ‘n’ Joe’s Coffee Bar, draws an intricate design on Cinnamon Cookie drink, one of the many artisanal drinks offered at the coffee bar.

A new café, Rock ‘n’ Joe, has opened in the Cultural District. Here, coffee fanatics can rock out to classic rock songs while drinking coffee. 

“There are a lot of fun and exciting things here in the Cultural District and we try to create an environment where people would want to hang out,” said Chris Potenza, owner of Pittsburgh’s Rock ’n’ Joe, in an interview in the café last week.

Rock ’n’ Joe opened in Pittsburgh on Jan. 7 at 524 Penn Ave., formerly a Vocelli Pizza. The company, previously based in New Jersey, is now headquartered in the Greentree area of Pittsburgh.

“We’ve revamped everything for our Pittsburgh opening,” said Shawn Levine, CEO of Rock ‘n’ Joe since May 2015, in a phone interview Jan. 21. “We’re really trying to grow the brand and become a part of the community and a neighborhood store.” 

When walking into the café, guests are welcomed by the sound of guitar licks and sing-a-long choruses playing over the radio, as well as a greeting from the baristas. The inside is a wide-open area, with a balcony acting as a second floor where customers can sit and enjoy the rock and the joe. Potenza said they have plans to add more rock memorabilia to decorate the store in due time.

“I liked the idea of Rock ‘n’ Joe because I love coffee. I’m kind of a coffee connoisseur, and I like the rock music so it felt like a perfect fit for me,” Potenza said. “We kind of developed our own niché.”

Although it is a coffee shop, Potenza said that Rock ‘n’ Joe offers much more than other cafés because many of their drinks can be made to order. For example, the artisan drinks can be served hot, iced or frozen, and can be made either with or without coffee, according to Potenza.

Potenza also said that the store has just as much variety as Starbucks, but is more moderately priced.

Rock ‘n’ Joe’s coffee roaster partner is Dillanos, a Seattle based company, which was named Roast Magazine’s Roaster of the Year in 2011. The store also gets its pastries delivered every morning from the Mediterra Bakehouse, an artisan bakery also located in Pittsburgh.

“We try to be very approachable to the average customer, but we do have a different flavor profile, which is great for connoisseurs,” Levine said.

photo by Karly Rivera
Rock ‘n’ Joe is located on 524 Penn Ave. in the Cultural District. This coffee shop opened early January and is located in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.

However, there is more to Rock ‘n’ Joe than just the coffee and music.

“I love the coffee, the culture and the neighborhood, and working with a great team of people,” said Bob Beiber, general manager of Rock ’n’ Joe while working at the cash register.

“I like the artistry, we make our drinks with cream designs like hearts and leaves,” Chloe Saccol, barista at Rock ‘n’ Joe, said while preparing a drink. “We present drinks without the lid which nobody around here does anymore.”

“I like the atmosphere, the people, and I get to smell coffee all day,” said Brea Carter.

Although it is new to Pittsburgh, the store has already attracted regulars.

“I’ve been here every day this week, and I will say it’s better than Starbucks,” Dan Blough, a South Side resident, said as he was adding sugar to his coffee in Rock ‘n’ Joe Jan. 21.

“It’s a great selection and has just as much as anywhere else,” Pittsburgh native David Henry said.

Potenza and Levine said that the company’s goal is to open four more Rock ‘n’ Joes around Pittsburgh within the next three years.

“The plan is to grow the brand and become a neighborhood store, and Chris [Potenza] is there to help us do that,” Levine said.

Rock ‘n’ Joe is open from 5:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

“We’ve had really great feedback with people saying it’s inviting and comfortable, and obviously I really hope [Rock ‘n’ Joe] catches on,” Potenza said.

photo by Shayna Mendez
Full time worker Chloe Saccols, makes a “Caramel Overload” coffee drink, one of the many artisan drinks offered at Rock ‘n’ Joe’s Coffee Bar.