First Free Coffee Bar

Don’t be put off by the large building because inside it feels cozy like a home. When I walked in I was immersed in the delicious scent of pastries and the sound of live music. I ordered the Shenandoah Blue black tea, and then later bought a large bag of it because I loved the blueberry flavor. After I enjoyed that I went back for an affogato because I have no self control. I also had a puff pastry which was soft, creamy, and delicious. Also noteworthy was the friendly and welcoming staff.

I was in the area for the Albemarle Farmer’s Market which is right across the street and I’m so glad I decided to stop by. This is not just a coffee bar but a unique place to unwind and create memories. Will definitely be returning.

Popped in this morning to check it out. They use Shenandoah Joe beans! 👍🏼

I got a Latte with Almond milk & was surprised to find they don't upcharge for milk alternatives. Also, if you order to consume in-store, you'll get your drink in a porcelain cup & saucer.

Coffee was rich & smooth, WITHOUT an acid finish! 🙌

The shop is large and open with high ceilings & local art is displayed throughout.

Quiet & peaceful ambiance, even though there's music playing in the background and multiple customers coming in, makes for a pleasant & welcoming environment. I'll definitely be back!

#ShopLocal

Excellent local selection of coffee roasted by our own Shenandoah Joe's and a decent selection of goodies from Albemarle Baking Co. Props to the owners for their impeccable taste and local beans.

The drinks are always delicious. The espresso shots are impeccable with lots of crema and minimal bitterness. I was impressed by their cortado twice, by two different baristas (one being the owner). The cold brew is smooth and easy-drinking. They have a great selection of teas including several black, green, and decaf teas (as well as chai and matcha) and you can order it in a teapot to share with a friend.

If you love yourself, you'll order the creme cubano. It is their house specialty, crafted with love. It's a treat and you deserve it. It's also ridiculously cheap for such a luxurious and labor-intensive drink. This goes for all of their pricing, frankly. You won't find better value anywhere else in Cville.

The staff is fantastic. Pleasant, professional, and good at their craft. If you buy their Seven Weeks coffee, the proceeds go to the local pregnancy center. And before you ask, yes, the first coffee is free.

This place has it all. Lots of space, tall and romantic windows, gentle jazz in the background, and a kid's corner for those of us MOST in need of caffeine. It's a reclamation of what a coffee shop should be and I'm here for it. No, seriously, I'm here, come drink good coffee with me.

My favorite coffee shop! I love the coffee, I usually stop by before work most days.

I picked up one of their custom made mugs recently as I don’t always rush to finish a coffee, so in a paper cup it will end up cold at some point with the way my morning goes. Sometimes I’ll get interrupted at work and come back to my desk an hour later to a a still hot cup of coffee! A good investment for me in the First Free Coffee cup, high quality, and they are made by another small business.

Thanks!

Being a coffee enthusiast, when I saw signs for a new local spot, I had to give it a try. I'm glad we did. I can't say enough nice things. After patiently going over all the latte flavor options, our barista (who happened to also be the owner) recommended a custom combination and carried on a delightful conversation while making our drinks. He followed up as to the temperature and taste of the beverages after the ever-important first sip. Delicious. A woman sat on her laptop at the bar space; a couple quietly chatted in the corner on two overstuffed chairs; two girls sipped warm beverages on a couch grinning ear to ear; all-the-while Steve enthusiastically greeted all the customers coming in. The kids corner, complete with toys is a fun touch and a first in a coffee shop. I will be returning very soon.

Very relaxing atmosphere. The blueberry muffin was delicious! Staff was friendly, and the drinks were yummy.

Loved this place! Large and spacious, lots of cute rugs everywhere, would be a great spot to meet a group.
Especially enjoyed the kids corner for my toddler. The small latte I ordered was around an 8-10 oz size and reasonably priced at $3.15 or so. It was delicious! I’m not sure where they source coffee but it tasted dang good.
Thanks for a friendly welcome! Your staff is great.

This place definitely filled the void of the coffee scene in Charlottesville, very spacious relaxed atmosphere with a more robust menu compared to other cafes.

The owners and staff are pleasant to talk to. I appreciate their initiative to host live music , workshops and other interesting small events for the community.

Lastly the location is perfect for those of us that live on the other side of C-ville away from all the hustle and bustle. It’s no longer a chore to get good coffee !

First Free Coffee Bar provides a very relaxing and quiet spot for studying and chilling out. Even more so, the coffee is fantastic! Very high quality brews and espresso drinks.

FANTASTIC FIND
Finding and frequenting this local coffee house has been a delight. It is located in a small mall area close to Koh's Department store north of town. Maybe the most comfortable ambiance for a coffee house that I have experienced. While I've only gone there in the afternoon, I have never had to wait to be served. My greatest fear is that it will become so popular that the crowd will keep me away. The physical facility is spacious, the furniture is spaced nicely; the room temperature has been perfect, and relaxing jazz is playing. There are tables (a few more that accommodate computer work would be great), sofas, and comfortable chairs to sit in. Paintings adorn the walls, and they have mugs and shirts with their name and logo. There are sufficient electrical outlets near the tables to power/recharge your electrical devices. The coffee/tea menu is fairly standard, with pastries from Albemarle Baking. Two clean unisex bathrooms are available. I have never been there in the evening, but they have a wine bar and entertainment on some evenings. The workers are friendly and efficient. They have an area for children with games and books. Parking is no problem

A great place to meet friends, bring kids (they have a kid corner but it’s not loud here!), work or read alone (it’s QUIET) and get a coffee and locally made baked goods. Highly recommend. Don’t skip this place.

I don’t normally pick just one place to hang out, but the atmosphere here is so peaceful while still allowing me to be productive (rather than sleepy) and the coffee is so good, I find I keep coming back. First Free is a great place to come for coffee with a friend or to get some work done.

"Wow" was the very first thing I said when I walked in- the place looks like a coffee shop screensaver/asmr video. Lots of natural light, quaint seating areas, cozy rugs. There was calming coffee shop music playing too. Very nice ambiance. Staff was very polite as well. Most importantly: the vanilla latte I got was amazing and the apricot Danish was probably the best pastry I've ever eaten! I hope to be back soon.

Good vibes, great service, and coffee that hits the spot. The young barista made an excellent latte. I am consistently disappointed at places like Starbucks who make flavorless lattes with 98% milk. First Free exceeded expectations with a rich and nutty latte that has made me excited to try more!

My Mom and I popped in and had a latte each….delicious! They use Shenandoah Joe’s coffee. We also shared an almond croissant. They get their baked goods from Albemarle Baking Company. The barista was super friendly too! Beautiful space.

What an incredible place! The coffee and baked goods are delicious, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff members are attentive. There is even a “kids corner” with books and puzzles that my toddler enjoyed! So happy to have this coffee shop in Charlottesville.

Very serene, beautiful, and spacious space! Would love to come everyday! Wonderful selection of items and friendly staff. Lovely spot! :)

Lovely, welcoming coffee shop with very reasonable prices! We got some mochas which were delicious! There was a small play area for our baby which he greatly appreciated as well. This will be our new go-to coffee shop in Cville :)

Great atmosphere and coffee was also great. There’s even a kids’ corner. The two young men running the place were a bit too loud for our liking…some gentle background music would have been great, but overall this coffee shop deserves a 5 star rating 👍

My wife drinks coffee, and I don't. I LOATHE going in to Starbucks, but thankfully, this is nothing like that.

The space itself is very large with a lot of natural light coming in through a bunch of tall windows. The setup is eclectic and pretty cool with a little stage where they host music, couches by tvs, to a kid's corner.

My wife got the lavender latte, and I got a yummy blueberry muffin they source from Albemarle Baking Company and a beer. The atmosphere was very chill with people just hanging out seeming happy to be there. It was a very positive and unpretentious vibe. I will go back again for sure.