Like many others, I adore coffee. It gets me going in the morning and fuels me through many long work and writing sessions. I like my coffee sweet and strong!
But coffee at Walt Disney World? Ugh. Boring, wimpy, and bland was the Nescafe coffee from the resort food courts, which is really the only place I bothered to get the coffee. I usually added in a liberal splash of hot chocolate just to make the coffee palatable.
So when I got a steaming cup of coffee in Disney’s new RapidFill mug on my most recent trip in October, I wasn’t expecting much. I just needed a good dose of caffeine, gosh darn it! But when I took my first sip, I knew right something was different … THE COFFEE WAS GOOD! Then I remembered, earlier this year, we’d talked about how new coffee was coming to Walt Disney World on the PassPorter Moms Podcast. It was so long ago, I’d completely forgotten. But now … oh yes, it was all coming back to me in long, warm gulps of rich flavor. Oh yes, yes, yessssssssssss.
So, what’s this new coffee? It’s called Joffrey’s, and it became the official specialty coffee provider for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Vacation Club resorts. And it turns out it isn’t really that new to Disney — the company has been operating about 10 specialty kiosks around Walt Disney World since 1995. I honestly never knew this! Besides Nescafe, the only coffee I remember at Walt Disney World was Juan Valdez Columbian Coffee back in the old, old days. Now, admittedly, I very rarely frequented those in-park kiosks, so I wouldn’t have picked up on this. I like my coffee first thing in the morning, and everyone knows I don’t get to the parks that early!
I was impressed enough with Joffrey’s coffee that I looked into their company, as I wasn’t familiar with their product. Joffrey’s has been around since 1984 and they’re based in Tampa, Florida, which makes sense. And, according to industry sources, one of the reasons their coffee tastes so good is due to a person by the name of Chris deMezzo, the company’s “roastmaster,” who mixes 100 types of coffees from different countries and then roasts them into various blends.
Which lead me to wonder … what blend is Joffrey’s serving us at Walt Disney World? Well, first, it would seem to be real brewed coffee, as opposed to the syrup and hot water disappointment that was Nescafe. Joffey’s also says we’re getting unique blends, just for guests at Walt Disney World. But what and where is unclear. I can say that Kona Cafe is serving a Kona blend of Joffrey’s, which I hear is really excellent. Kouzzina has a signature blend of Joffrey’s they’ve been offering for a while. And Joffrey’s House Blend coffee is sold at the kiosks, which seems like the sort of blend that might be served at the food courts (but that’s just speculation on my part).
So I loved Joffrey’s coffee, but I’m curious what others think of it. Is it an improvement over that Nescafe “coffee” Disney used to serve, or do you prefer the Nescafe? Let me know!
I don’t know how good Joffrey’s is because I haven’t been to the World since the change, but I can say that anything is an improvement over Nescafe. My last few trips I have thought to myself: Disney should have better coffee!
I haven’t been back to Disney since 2009 and at that time I brought my own one-cup coffeemaker with me and my own coffee as I really disliked the coffee there. Since I also like my coffee strong, the Nescafe just wasn’t doing it (and the taste was bad as well). So I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the Joffrey’s and I’m looking forward to trying some on my next visit! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely hated the coffee at Walt Disney World but I like to drink a few cups in the morning and I would forget how much I hated their coffee and would end up getting one in the AM only to have to force it down. I even tried to drink the Iced coffees but they were just as bad. I was excited to hear when Starbucks would coming to the parks even though it’s a little too bitter for me, but waaaaay better than Nescafe. It’s nice to hear that ‘real’ coffee with be available and can’t wait to get back and try it!
one thing about the Joffery’s coffee his that this change didn’t just when they eliminated nescafe, Joffery’s had been at WDW for several years, for instance their coffee has served at that Coffee Kiosk that went in at at the TTC between the monorail station and the Ferryboat landing, and the kiosk that got put in outside Epcots entrance, and in both of those locations I think it was Joffery’s from the beginning of those locations, I think their coffee is also served at the card/stand outside Disney’s Animal Kingdom too, which make me wonder does the studios not have a coffee cart outside their gates? if so then they are the only park that does not offer a chance to get coffee between the parking lot and the gates. Also perhaps someone from Joffery’s would come on the podcast and talk about their blends, and the process of how their product got rolled aug at WDW (are any used at DL too? I seem to have a gauge recollection of hearing something about that.)
We found the coffee in our room in April 2013 to be very good as compared to what was offered before. However, they still ruin a good thing by providing those terrible creamer packets. We brought our own half and half (an advantage of driving) and enjoyed coffee just as good as what we make at home. The Joffrey’s is a great improvement. For coffee snobs, it might not be top notch, but the average coffee drinker will be pleased.
We recently went to Disneyland just for the Halloween Party. The next morning, after eating at Goofy’s Kitchen, we were heading back home and needed a boost for the 6 hour drive. So we bought the cute refillable Halloween mug at the Disneyland Hotel Coffee House and had them fill it with plain coffee. We just needed the caffeine for the drive. I was surprised to find I really liked this coffee. My biggest disappointment was not drinking it fast enough before it turned cold. Have to say I didn’t have high expectations, like Jennifer. It could be that I was still on a Disney high after a great party the night before, but I’m assuming the coffee is now this Joffrey’s Coffee??? We’re heading down again after New Year’s. I’ll be paying better attention. Good coffee is always a bonus no matter where we vacation!
I wonder if this change has anything to do with the fact that the Disney Blend coffee cans have been out of stock for the past few months? I became a fan of the coffee after having it at Dessert Discoveries last year and would buy a new can every few months, but the usual places have not had it. I even ventured into Fort Wilderness and asked at the General Store and they had none in stock and none in the warehouse.
I haven’t been back in a month or so, but is that Disney Blend back in stock or is it being replaced by Joffrey’s? I’m afraid to go to Downtown Disney this time of year.
Disclaimer: I only know it as “Disney Blend”, and I haven’t gotten it from stands so I don’t know if what was in the can was the Nescafe blend or something else!
I’ve been wondering the same thing myself! And I’m pretty sure that Disney Blend in the can was NOT Nescafe.