With over 100 coffee shops and cafes in Jersey City and Hoboken, the chances of you finding just the right cup of Joe to your particular liking are high. For those just looking for a caffeine fix, you probably won’t have to wander too far, as even your corner bodega surely has a freshly brewed pot. But what about those who want a finely-crafted cup of coffee? One that doesn’t require milk, sugar, and or any pumps of added flavor? Enter Modcup Coffee Company, a coffee haven on Palisade Avenue in Jersey City Heights. In just ten years, Modcup went from a hotdog cart selling curbside coffee to having its own roastery, three cafes, a coffee truck, and an online business. Now, Modcup is adding a fourth cafe to its roster, this time here in the Mile Square. Modcup is setting up shop at 211 4th Street in Hoboken, with plans to open this February, pending inspections. Read on to learn more about Modcup and its arrival in Hoboken.
Photo Credit: Modcup Coffee Company
Modcup’s Arrival in Hoboken
Modcup Coffee Company has been keeping Hudson County residents caffeinated for ten years with its finely-crafted brews, first starting out as a pop-up truck along the Hoboken waterfront. Now, nearly 10 years later, the Jersey City coffee shop is making its way back to The Mile Square, this time as a brick-and-mortar storefront.
In April 2023, Modcup’s trademark “Caffeine + Dreams” signage went up in the empty space next to Hoboken Burrito at 211 4th Street. At the time, Modcup shared its plans to open at that location with The Hoboken Girl, though no official date had been confirmed yet. The team gave the exclusive that the Hoboken Modcup location, “will be the same as the Palisade Avenue location… showcasing specialty coffee from [Modcup’s] producing partners around the world.”
Now, as of January 2024, Modcup is preparing for its grand opening — slated to open in just two to three weeks from now, pending inspections go well. HG got an inside look at the space ahead of the February opening.
Photo Credit: Modcup Coffee Company
As always, we’ll keep you up to date with details as they unfold. For now, enjoy an overview of how Modcup Coffee Company came to be the JC (and soon-to-be Hoboken) staple it is today.
From Coffee Cart to Coffee Café
Travis first discovered his love of well-made coffee after leaving his job as an art dealer, where he sailed the world selling art to yacht owners and cruise ship lines. Finding himself in Toronto, he was introduced to his first cup of coffee without milk, sugar, or artificial flavors. After working up the courage to taste coffee without the extras, he found it was as amazing as the barista promised, simply because it was not overly roasted or stale. Realizing he had gone his entire life without a well-made cup of coffee, an idea was born.
Read More: Where to Find Late-Night Coffee in Hoboken + Jersey City
Shortly after this discovery, Travas made the leap to New Jersey in 2012, where he realized there were limited options for freshly roasted coffee. Following his dream, he began roasting his own coffee and selling it out of a hotdog cart alongside the Hudson River in Hoboken in 2013. Its popularity with residents led to Travas purchasing a 1969 Citreon coffee truck from France, which became the first official outpost of Modcup.
View this post on Instagram
The Modcup truck found a home parked at the Hyatt Regency (2 Exchange Place) in Jersey City and made its way to Riverview Park in Jersey City Heights during the Riverview Farmer’s Market. Realizing that residents of the Heights couldn’t get enough of the coffee, Travas opened the first Modcup Café storefront in 2014 (479 Palisade Avenue), across the street from the park and overlooking the Manhattan skyline. The success of the truck and café created the need for a larger roastery to support the growing business. In 2016, Modcup opened a 2,000-square-foot roastery/café in Journal Square (25 Senate Place), which not only allowed the Modcup team to roast more beans but also gave residents a café to frequent in a neighborhood without many options.
In 2019, Modcup expanded to the Harborside Financial Center food court (210 Hudson Street), giving Exchange Place residents and employees of this financial hub a place to fuel up.
What Makes Modcup Coffee So Good
A combination of carefully selected coffee beans and the science behind roasting are the key reasons for Modcup coffee’s great taste. Coffee bean seeds are chemically-complex and contain between 600 to 1,200 flavor and taste nodes (compared to wine, which has between 400-600). First, Travas selects the flavorful Modcup beans by visiting farms across the world (including Colombia, Bali, Ethiopia, and Guatemala) to handpick and inspect them. Next, the beans are shipped to his roastery in Jersey City where they undergo a delicate roasting process to ensure maximum full-bodied flavor. Then, an 18-day sell-by date is established after roasting to guarantee freshness and quality.
See More: A Guide to Montclair’s Best Coffee Shops
This attention to detail in the roasting process and commitment to quality has put Modcup on the map globally, ranking #12 for “Best Coffee in the World” by Coffee Review.
