I often like to introduce Issaquah as a Stars Hollow-type of town, and in every Stars Hollow, you need a Luke’s. Stepping into Jojo’s on a Sunday morning, you are greeted by an orchestra of senses: the buzz of the coffee machines hard at work, the hum of conversation between friends and families, and sunlight glistening off of the glass tables that are accompanied by Parisian-style chairs.
Although relatively new to town, Jojo’s has already gradually become our Luke’s: a hub where the community can catch up, converse, smile over a cup of coffee, matcha, or warm apple pie. Since opening in July, Jojo’s has seemingly met and exceeded the mission that the owners, Jojo and Elena, set out to accomplish. “We’re trying to give people warm, welcoming vibes. Somewhere that feels like home.” said Jojo.
The owners met in college and the cafe, lit from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm everyday located in the Historic Downtown, is the product of five years of planning, design, and shared love for food. Despite the hardships of finding a location, months of sixteen-hour days, managing inventory, negotiating with suppliers, designing the space and the menu, neither of the owners gave up or compromised their standards. “If you really want to do something, you need to be persistent and pay effort. It’s very simple, you need to be hardworking,” said Jojo.
Everything from the rock-textured counter to the European styled chairs showcases the beauty of diversity. When designing the layout of the space, Jojo aimed to mix her East Asian roots, trending European styles, and preserve the natural elements that reflect Issaquah, fusing the new with the historic. “It’s a mixed baby, like America,” she said.
Transforming a subway into the artistic and skillfully designed interior that now stands on Front street took months of construction and so did the menu. From early in the morning to late at night Jojo is testing recipes to ensure the best quality of food. Staying true to the cafe’s slogan: “Coffee first, everything else later.” While testing recipes, she is able to do quality control and ensure that they are making health focused food with fresh ingredients, even the syrups in their varied lattes are house made. They serve a perfect apple pie that is flakey, warm, buttery, and sweet that makes you feel a kind of warmth that can only be compared to the feeling of waking up in a cozy bed on a cold December day.
Their matcha is exceptional too, all distinctly different in flavor but same in the high quality, refreshing taste that is effortlessly smooth to indulge in, a hallmark of any good matcha latte. If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend the Strawberry Matcha Latte. Their house-made syrup is wonderfully complemented by the rich tea notes of the matcha, creating a light and balanced perfectly fruity, spring-summer drink that customers can enjoy year-round. In contrast, if you enjoy the rich, earthy matcha flavor, Jojo’s Matcha Latte definitely does not disappoint. Their matcha is generously portioned, allowing the deep umami notes to shine center stage, harmoniously blending with any milk of your choice (this reviewer’s recommendation is two packets of honey and 2% milk to bring out the tea tones with a little sugary delight).
Caption: To the left is the Pistachio Matcha Latte ($6.00 for the 8 oz, $6.50 for the 12 oz $7.00 for the 16 oz), in the middle is the regular Matcha Latte ($5.00 for the 8 oz, $5.50 for the 12 oz $6.00 for the 16 oz) and to the right is the Strawberry Matcha Latte ($6.00 for the 8 oz, $6.50 for the 12 oz $7.00 for the 16 oz) .
Jojo’s is more than just a café. It’s a reflection of genuine passion for crafting drinks, serving foods and welcoming people. Through years of hands-on experience, the owner, Jojo has learned that the best flavors come from precision, balance, and respect for every ingredient’s natural character. Their time there prepared them for the challenge of opening a cafe, honing their patience and ability to provide consistent quality service, things that have earned them loyal followings and high praises among the community.
Jojo furthers their mission to become a unifying force in the community by participating in events like Issaquah Goes Apples or partnering with local businesses like Macrina Bakery to serve customers fresh pastries. They have even played with the idea of establishing a student discount or serving as a community cafe gallery in the future. (Pro tip for students: Jojo’s does offer free Wifi so it is definitely a hidden study spot).
That is not all Jojo and Elena have in store. Although it is still in the early stages of planning, they are toying with a concept of extending cafe hours and establishing a wine bar, aiming to become the go-to spot for date nights in Issaquah.
Jojo’s is well on its way to becoming the Luke’s of Issaquah, as it is the kind of place that is able to bring the town together through espresso, matcha, and food. However, beyond the cafe, Jojo and Elena’s journey stands as a testament to core beliefs in the American Dream—finding the beauty in collaboration across cultures while proving that only hard work and persistence can turn a fantasy into reality. Every cup of coffee (or matcha) served at Jojo’s is the product of warmth, heart, and a shot of hardship, knitting the community together one espresso bean at a time.
Author’s note: You can follow them on instagram @jojos.issaquah or enjoy their drinks and food from home by ordering on Uber or Doordash.
