Not Your Average Joe brews up more than coffee with new fall menu and inclusive mission

As fall settles in, Not Your Average Joe in downtown Oklahoma City is rolling out its seasonal drink menu packed with cozy flavors like pumpkin, cardamom, apple and vanilla. 

But the menu isn’t the only thing making an impact. Founded by OKC resident Tim Herbel, the coffee shop serves up more than just lattes—it builds community by employing students and adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. The goal is to create excellent coffee in an encouraging space where everyone belongs. 

“We all want to feel valued, and this is just a great opportunity for us to do that in a small but meaningful way,” Herbel said. 

The café offers signature lattes, breakfast burritos, sandwiches and seasonal specials. But what sets it apart is its workforce, and its approach to inclusive employment as a part of economic progress. 

With workforce development playing a growing role in Oklahoma’s future, Herbel sees a powerful opportunity to enhance it through inclusion. He advocates for creating more accessible pathways to employment for individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. 

Herbel pointed to companies like Boeing, explaining how an employee on the autism spectrum—known for consistency and attention to detail—could excel in tasks like bolt installation. That kind of precision, paired with a commitment to speaking up when procedures shift, brings real value to any workplace. 

Not Your Average Joe employs more than 150 individuals with disabilities, and the model has proven that inclusive hiring enhances both culture and performance. But Herbel said it goes beyond employment, it’s also about ownership. 

“One of the important things at Not Your Average Joe is ownership. Whose place is it? It’s not Tim’s place, it’s our place. If you work at Not Your Average Joe, you have a voice,” Herbel said. 

That voice shows up in the seasonal menu, too. Every season, employees can submit their own drink creations. Staff vote on their favorites, and the winners get added to the menu. Employees not only craft the recipes—they serve them, too. 

Looking ahead, Herbel is focused on growing with intention. He envisions new locations opening to create more employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities—and more spaces where inclusive workforce development can thrive. “We serve coffee and hope, and we want to do that in more places,” he said. 

To make that vision a reality, the company is preparing to expand through licensing. Rather than operating every new location, Herbel wants to equip others with the tools to launch their own Not Your Average Joe—complete with training, equipment and quality coffee. 

“Our capacity is limited, but every week we’re invited to open stores across the nation. We can’t go everywhere, but there are people in those places ready to serve individuals with disabilities—they just need the tools. That includes systems, equipment and high-quality coffee,” Herbel said. 

And the team is ready. Not Your Average Joe includes some serious talent: the world’s first Native American female certified coffee roaster, ranked 13th in the U.S. for cupping and the first woman in Oklahoma to break a barrier in coffee licensing; and the only Oklahoma coffee shop to send a barista to the U.S. Championships. 

One of the first areas of expansion is education. Herbel wants to launch coffee shops in Oklahoma schools, followed by installations in tourist destinations and communities across the country. All through licensing. 

More than a coffee shop, Herbel says Not Your Average Joe is telling a bigger story—one that starts with mission but succeeds through quality. “We don’t just have a mission. We have exceptional coffee and food,” he said. 

To learn more, visit nyaj.coffee.