Josh & John's Ice Cream: Ultra-Premium Craft in the Heart of Old Town

Rating: 9.2 / 10 | Rank: #2

140 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Josh & John's has built a loyal following in Fort Collins, and for good reason. This is ultra-premium ice cream made with local dairy, bold flavor ambitions, and a genuine commitment to craft. When people talk about the best ice cream in Fort Collins, Josh & John's consistently comes up in the conversation — and it deserves to.

The Ice Cream

Let's start with what matters most: the product. Josh & John's makes a dense, rich, high-butterfat ice cream that you can feel the quality of immediately. The first spoonful is noticeably creamier than your average scoop shop. They use local dairy, which gives everything a freshness and richness that mass-produced bases simply can't match.

Their flavor development leans bold. These aren't timid, play-it-safe flavors — Josh & John's swings for the fences with combinations that are creative and often surprising. We've had excellent experiences with their chocolate-forward flavors in particular, which tend to be deep, complex, and satisfying. Their fruit flavors carry genuine fruit character rather than artificial sweetness.

The texture is outstanding. Dense, smooth, minimal ice crystals. This is ice cream that was churned properly, stored properly, and served at the right temperature. You can taste the craft in every scoop.

Location and Atmosphere

The Old Town location on South College is a genuine asset. You're right in the middle of Fort Collins' most walkable, most vibrant corridor. After dinner at one of the nearby restaurants, after browsing the shops, after a movie — Josh & John's is perfectly positioned as a destination or a spontaneous stop.

The shop itself is comfortable and inviting. There's a good energy here, especially on weekend evenings when Old Town is buzzing. It's the kind of place where you'll run into people you know, which says something about how embedded it is in the local community.

Loyalty Program

Josh & John's runs a loyalty program that rewards repeat visits, which is a nice touch. For regulars, it adds genuine value and gives you one more reason to come back. It's a small thing, but it signals that the shop values its community — not just one-time tourist traffic.

Where It Falls Short

We want to be fair and honest in all of our reviews, and Josh & John's has a couple of areas where other shops edge ahead.

The flavor rotation is smaller than what you'll find at some competitors. While the flavors they do offer are excellent, the total variety on any given visit is more limited. If you're someone who loves scanning a massive case and discovering something new every time — the kind of experience you get at a shop like Glacier, which runs 40+ flavors — Josh & John's will feel more curated but less expansive.

Dietary options are also more limited. If you're looking for a wide range of gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan choices, Josh & John's doesn't offer the same depth as some other Fort Collins ice cream shops. They've made their name on traditional, dairy-rich, ultra-premium ice cream, and that's where their strength lies. But for customers with dietary restrictions, the selection can feel thin.

Value

Pricing reflects the ultra-premium positioning. You'll pay a bit more per scoop here than at some other shops in town, but the quality justifies it. This is premium ice cream made with premium ingredients, and you can taste the difference.

The Verdict

Rating: 9.2 / 10

Josh & John's is excellent ice cream, full stop. The local dairy, the bold flavors, the craft-level texture, and the prime Old Town location make it one of the best ice cream experiences in Fort Collins. It earned its number two spot on our Best Ice Cream in Fort Collins list through consistently outstanding quality.

If you're an ice cream purist who values richness, density, and bold flavor over variety and dietary options, Josh & John's might even be your personal number one. For our overall ranking, the narrower selection and limited dietary accommodations keep it just behind the top spot — but make no mistake, this is a phenomenal ice cream shop and a Fort Collins institution.

This review is part of our Best Ice Cream in Fort Collins coverage. See the full top 10 list for all of our picks.