Welcome to the delightful world of John Brown Coffee, a gem nestled in Cockeysville, Maryland. This charming café, located at 13501-13523 Falls Rd, offers more than just your average coffee experience. With a focus on quality and consistency, John Brown Coffee has carved out a reputation for its superb espresso drinks and indulgent pastries, making it a must-visit for anyone who values the art of coffee.
The heartbeat of this café lies in its expertly crafted espresso. As customer Joshua Sorenson notes, John Brown Coffee "nails it regularly," offering a brew that shines through its simplicity. The café steers away from overly sweet concoctions, allowing the rich flavors of high-quality beans to take center stage. If you seek a traditional espresso experience, this is the place for you—albeit with a warning that the drinks are served in more traditional sizes.
But it doesn’t stop at coffee. The culinary team at John Brown excels at pastries that evoke fond memories of home for many. As Megan Thrasher shares, their selection, from the mouthwatering pistachio bostock to the delightful blueberry and cheese danish, brings a taste of Europe to Maryland. Each pastry is carefully curated to ensure maximum enjoyment, paired perfectly with a finely brewed cup of coffee.
The ambiance of John Brown Coffee is equally enchanting. Dine indoors or enjoy the lovely outdoor seating, which creates a perfect setting to savor your coffee and pastries. Customer create with doc highlights the café's inviting atmosphere, complemented by friendly and knowledgeable staff who go out of their way to suggest popular options, ensuring you make the most of your visit.
Of course, no café experience is without its occasional delays. While many patrons appreciate the vast selection of pastries, some have noted that the wait times can extend during peak hours as customers peruse the tantalizing options. However, the indulgence that awaits makes the wait worthwhile.
In a surprising twist, John Brown Coffee also branches out into hearty meals, serving up delicious burgers and fries that have left many customers raving about their fresh flavors and quality ingredients, as mentioned by Lance Lucas. The café's commitment to sourcing local produce only enhances its appeal.
With its rich coffee, delectable pastries, friendly service, and an unexpected yet delightful food menu, John Brown Coffee truly stands out in the crowded café scene. Whether you're a local or just passing through, make it a point to stop by and experience a slice of what makes this café so beloved by its patrons.
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Joshua Sorenson
23/06/2025
I cannot recommend this place enough if you like quality espresso drinks and pastries. I've been to many of the local (non chain) coffee shops around the county and most seem to butcher the espresso shot. John Brown Coffee nails it regularly and clearly cares about the consistent quality of the coffee! If you like the over extracted bitterness of the large chain shops, then this is not the place for you. One quick note they do serve more traditionally sized espresso drinks so don't be surprised if they're smaller than you expected. Also, they really let the espresso shine by not adding too much flavoring, so if you like super sugar sweet lattes you may want to ask for extra. The pastries always hit their mark as well, I highly recommend the Cinnamon Palmier! Staff is always friendly, so it's sad to see the negative reviews over their hours which are easy enough to find if you look. If you're looking for a high quality traditional espresso drink then come open their door and place an order!
Megan Thrasher
14/06/2025
LOVE. Best coffee and pastries around. My husband and I live near Perry Hall but will make the drive out to John Brown's once a week for a special treat because it is so worth it! My husband is from Europe and the pastries remind him of home. His favorite is the pistachio bostock and mine is the blueberry and cheese danish. The coffee is always made to perfection. 10/10 recommend!
Create With Doc
21/05/2025
First of all the location is beautiful, really lovely place to enjoy a nice day outside and also grab a great coffee or pastry. I appreciated the excellent service they explained all the pastry options (there were a lot!) and also recommended what the crowd favorite is for coffee. I ended up with a brown sugar maple latte with cinnamon and oat milk. Also tried the cookies and cream cupcake and a cinnamon sugar pastry (can’t remember the name but it was delicious). Definitely recommended!
Amanda Schwaab
18/05/2025
Coffee is great, but they need to do something about the long wait. People take forever deciding on the pastries as they are not always the same and they want to see the whole list and then some stuff is sold out. If there could be a drink only line it would be awesome.
Lance Lucas
05/05/2025
So, I’ve driven past this place a million times. Always intending to stop by for coffee assuming that’s all they serve. To my surprise, someone posted about their burgers on instagram. So I made it my business to go out of my way to finally pay them a visit. Well, I didn’t get to try the coffee. I ordered a burger (Double Pattie) and fries. The food was made to order. Cooked right there on the spot. My order was done in 5 mins. Long story short, that burger was unbelievably delicious. It tastes the way a McDonald’s Big Mac is supposed to taste. If I had tasted it with my eyes closed, I would’ve sworn it was a Big Mac but with waaay fresher ingredients. The fries were tasty as well. You can dine in or takeout. They also have a butcher shop with countless meat options. They sell ice cream, eggs, and milk as well. All appear to be Local Farm Fresh instead of delivered by a truck from another state. I will be visiting again very soon.
Glen Mouat
01/05/2025
This place is spectacular! I have been in Maryland 3 years in a row and my go to coffee spot is John Brown! The coffee is great, the cookies are to die for and the staff are such a laugh! Their baked goods are always fresh and delicious! A chore to try and get them before they sell out, but if you’re lucky enough… they’re amazing! Big props to the butcher shop next door as well, the burgers are also amazing! Such a great little stopping point for a road trip.
Emily Snoddy
30/04/2025
Absolutely love their coffee. One of the best cups you can get in the Baltimore area! That alone keeps my husband and I returning. A few downsides... #1 They give you a hand written list of their available pastries. You can't see what they look like and there are no descriptions. From where you stand to order you can't see any of them. #2 The atmosphere is cute, but there's like no seating and you awkwardly stand in the doorway to order. #3 The staff hasn't been super friendly when I have ordered. All that being said, the coffee is still amazing and the location is beautiful. They make quality lattes
Kay Smith
16/04/2025
John Brown is my favorite place for a caramel latte - using Mouth Party caramel (the best ever) and the most flavorful & rich espresso...divine! Their wide array of mouth-watering pastries pleases the eye and the palate.