Restaurant Review - JackRabbit Java

Reader Recommended!

Sooner or later I would have made my way over to Jackrabbit Java, but based on a reader recommendation submitted by Bailey Lynn, I decided to move visiting them to the top of my list. Especially since, I love coffee as much as I love tacos and finding good coffee anywhere (not just in Buckeye) has been as difficult as finding a good taco; shops on every corner, sadly lacking in consistency, quality and taste.

Coffee. Iced.

Since it’s still hot, I’m still drinking my coffee iced. I’m pretty picky when it comes to the flavor (I like it strong, to taste like coffee, and barely sweet). I can tell immediately by looking at my drink if it’s right or wrong, by the color (you coffee drinkers know what I mean 😉). I also like it thick and creamy and not thin and watered-down; it has to have a certain “weight” to it.

Creative Menu

The first thing I do to prep for any food-related story, is look at the menu. I love how Jackrabbit Java has creative, fun names for their drinks like, Cotton Tail, Thumper, Apple Pie and Sunrise Red Bull. They also have numerous flavor options (I counted 45!) so you can pretty much make a drink out of whatever combination your little heart desires!

Since I wrote a post in today’s issue about a lost & found turtle, I took it as a sign and planned on ordering the Desert Tortoise. That night I went to bed excited to wake up and hop one exit down the freeway to pick it up!

Cozy Patio

The next morning, I sprang out of bed, wrote for a few hours and planned to reward myself with the Desert Tortoise. While I usually go through the drive-thru, today, I parked and went to the window in the hopes of snapping some pics of the girls at the counter. They have the cutest little front patio with tables and chairs and baskets of hanging succulents. (Making a note to meet friends there when the weather is just a tad cooler.)

The Cutest Owner

Even though I had exchanged emails with the owner, Lauren Jacobson, and we planned to talk that afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to find her at the window! I love meeting people in person, it helps me get such a better understanding of them than by just talking on the phone.

Lauren graciously allowed me to snap a pic - isn’t it cute! - that’s her in the cover photo! I am grateful when people allow me to do this when I show up and surprise them because I’d like to know well ahead of time so I could plan my outfit, hair and makeup. I’m pretty new at managing the timing of interviews and working on getting better at letting people know I’ll be coming. Thanks for being a good sport, Lauren! 😉 

A Tortoise. In the Desert. In My Hand.

After checking the menu again and somehow finding the strength to refrain from getting a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie (do you know how hard it is to find a gluten-free pastry?!), I stuck with my original plan and ordered:

Patience, My Dear Tortoise

I hopped back in my car and headed home, intoxicated by the absolute perfection of my drink. Although it’s only about 5 minutes from Jackrabbit Java to my house, I had to consciously resist (“put it down, Vanessa”) drinking my entire drink before I got home. I snapped that picture as soon as I walked in the door, feeling quite proud of myself for having so much left!

🐝 Behind the Business

Later that afternoon Laura called me and told me the backstory of how Jackrabbit Java came to be. One of my favorite aspects of these stories is learning about a person’s journey to entrepreneurship.

It seems everyone these days wants to be an entrepreneur and social media makes it seem glamorous. The reality is it is a lonely road, hard work and it takes a special type of person to live under the pressure self-employment demands. (That said, I think everyone should start learning the skills necessary to become self-employed and I hope to inspire more to do that through this publication.)

The Corporate Grind

Laura worked in the corporate world after college, in healthcare and later in human resources at Charles Schwab. Growing up, she spent a lot of time in Washington where “mom & pop” coffee shops are prevalent and that planted the seed of wanting one of her own.

In high school she worked at one coffee shop but, despite applying at others at every opportunity, for whatever reason (she laughs) no one would hire her. She took that as a sign that she needed to hire herself! All through college, all the while working her corporate job, she never gave up on her dream.

All In!

In May of 2019 she left her corporate career and went all in on her lifelong dream of opening a coffee shop. She anticipated it would take a year to get ready to open. Her father (Gary, a contractor) and her husband (Tyler) built - from the ground up - the building where Jackrabbit Java now lives.

Luckily, her dad’s cousin owns a coffee shop so she was able to visit and learn from him. But, she says, most of the ins & and outs of running the business, she just had to figure out on her own.

Grounds & Determination

Then, in 2020 Covid hit, and construction and planning came to a screeching halt. There were delays in building materials, permits and equipment for the shop. They were further delayed by typical regulatory red tape and jumping through hoops to obtain entryway and parking permits and the Certificate of Occupancy.

Needless to say, the opening took longer than she anticipated or expected but none of those things was going to stop her from realizing her dream!

Coming True

In April of 2021, she was finally able to order the espresso machines and other equipment. In July, 2021, she started interviewing employees and they officially opened for business in December of 2021.

They Inspired Us!

Shortly before they opened for business, Brandon (my husband) met Tyler (her husband) at Fry’s (grocery) and I can still remember how excited Brandon was when he came home and told me about what Lauren & Tyler had brewing.

At that time (in December 2021), Brandon and I had only lived here in Arizona for 6 months and we were in the midst of completely starting our life over, from scratch.

It is rare, and inspiring, when you meet someone with the guts to live outside the box. What they were doing inspired us! Then, and now!

For the Love of Family & Friends

Lauren and Tyler have two children who have grown up watching them create this business. They are very family oriented and this truly is a family affair. She and her team strive to build relationships with their customers, treat them like family, and make their shop a place where they can put a smile on someone’s face. (Coffee always puts a smile on my face… and a spring in my step!)

Keeping it Local

For Laura, the final, and most important part of this whole coffee equation was sourcing and using as many local products as possible. After numerous attempts to find local beans, and down to her last person on the list, she finally met her coffee roaster - Espressions Coffee Roastry - based in Phoenix. Up until that point, she had met a lot of beans, but none that she loved that much!

You Can Buy Happiness

It is the combination of high quality coffee and ingredients, the attention to detail (love her logo!!!) and the love behind all of it, that sets Jackrabbit Java apart!

And, They Are Mobile Too!

Being the creative, ever-expanding entrepreneur that she is, Lauren recently added a coffee trailer - The Java Hopper - a full-service coffee shop on wheels! It is available to rent for sporting events, private parties, baby showers, weddings, school functions, markets, etc.! How fun is that?!

Hop On Over 🐰 

I hope you’ll hop on over and try it today! And, thank you, Bailey Lynn, for your submission.

And remember, when you visit, be sure to tell them The Buckeye Buzz sent you!

From my ❤️ to yours…