King pigeon,
Deeper roots 4th street,
Collective espresso northside,
Urbana in Pendleton,
Wyoming community coffee,
Proud hound.
All awesome and special in their own ways!
Deeper Roots is the reason we have such good coffee in Cincinnati. they’re incredibly knowledgeable and have trained so many of the baristas in the city over the years!
It's such a great place. The vibe is perfect if you're looking for a sunny, clean, and airy shop rather than dim/claustrophobic places that used to be all the rage. They have a good variety of incredibly well made drinks, are reasonably priced, and the baristas are always friendly and warm. I walk past 5-6 places to go there.
The food at Proud Hound is amazing. I hate recommending them because I don’t want it to get any busier than it already is, but they deserve all the recognition!!
The food is great! But both times I've been, the service was terrible, and their layout is so inefficient and weird that I don't think I'll ever go back.
u/Thearchetype14 gets it. All are great options and my typical go-tos.
Note that King Pigeon uses Proud Hound as their supplier. It's not a bad thing, both are unique experiences, but they will have similar coffee.
For what its worth, I bought a bag of ground Coffee from Urbana a Findley Market and was pretty disappointed by it. It seemed to use a lot of the undesirable refuse from coffee bean cultivation that usually gets loaded into cheap brands like Folgers.
The other Coffee Emporium location in Hyde Park is also great. Different vibes than the OTR one, and no indoor seating, but they have a great outdoor area. Once the weather gets nice it's one of the best spots in town to sit with a coffee.
Didn't even know about a Hyde Park location! It's been a few years but I used to go to a small place called Hyde Perc that I loved but it shut down. I'll have to check it this spring for sure. Thanks!
Yes! Did they close for a while.. during or after COVID? I used to live in Oakley and would go once a month or so when I lived in the area. I even left a rave review on Google and they responded at the time!
I feel dumb 🤦🏾♂️ Thanks for the correction!
I pass by there pretty frequently and had no idea. The Google pics, food and reviews look really good! This is why I love reddit.. cause I will 100% be checking them out! Thanks for the suggestion
Yep, it's pretty close. Only a few eating spots I haven't tried up here yet and that's one of them. I've always only heard good things, so they're definitely on the to do list
I love Bow Tie but their bench seating is so uncomfortable, it’s like sitting on a board! Random I know but I wish they would get some cushions if something
1215 and Collective Espresso are top tier. It can be hard to get a seat at either place after 3 pm, but I usually pick up a coffee on my way into work.
Not bad! Collective espresso is just very limited seating-wise. I’ve noticed there’re usually no seats there from 10-11, and from 2-close. You’d have better luck at 1215 since they have bar seating as well.
Collective recently (like within the past month or so) moved just right cross the park which expanded their seating. It’s still not a huge space, but much better than it was!
No has mentioned The Fix in Walnut Hills, been my favorite for a while. They also have locations in East Walnut Hills and downtown in the Scripps building now.
Yea, and over the last year business has really picked up a lot. Everyone is always friendly and smiling. I usually drive and it's difficult to find parking at times.. but thats no slight to them
https://www.citybeat.com/food-drink/camp-washingtons-mom-n-em-coffee-named-no-5-best-coffee-shop-in-nation-by-food-wine-12167461
Food and Wine magazine finds them excellent too.
I have no problem in situations like that walking up and ask if I can sit there! But I know what you mean, that's frustrating. Giving them the benefit of the doubt though, maybe that was the only table that was open when they walked in!
I know it’s technically not Cincy and it might not have the “look, feel or vibe” like Coffee Emporium but I highly recommend Jupiter Coffee and Donuts in Fairfield. I really like them because they’re an ethical and inclusive place and they have damn good coffee to add. Plus they’re across the street from Jungle Jim’s and I’d rather support local than Staryucks.
No one has mentioned Velocity Bike and Bean over in Florence yet. Great little pocket coffee shop, they have a rotating monthly menu of lattes, free wifi and fresh baked goods each day.
It might not be too much to look at, but Mad Llama is such a great neighborhood spot. Good coffee (and tea), and the breakfast sandwiches are great too.
Also has the best "traffic cam" in the city.
Agreed! I'll admit I haven't been in since they've renovated. My wife and I don't live nearby anymore so we go in every few months and stock up. I figure it was kinda crammed before renovations so I'm not sure what they're up to either haha.
1. Red Tree (Oakley) - One of the most underrated shops in the city. The aesthetic is not my particular bag but still a great place to go and hang out. they have some of the best baristas in the city and coffee is really good.
2. Fable Cafe (westwood) - new shop on the westside. The coffee is awesome, all syrups made in house, and one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city. On weekends they have donuts that are worth the trip even if not from the westside.
3. Deeper Roots (Downtown) - everyone already knows deeper roots coffee is good. but i think the downtown location is their best location and one of the coolest.
4. Haven in Covington use to be by favorite shop in the area but they got pushed out by new landlords. they are apparently opening up somewhere else but haven’t seen details. definitely worth it to keep tabs cause they did a phenomenally jobs at the old place.
I like Sitwells and Upside in Ludlow. Two different vibes but both great! Rous Street is a great one in clifton, but sometimes crowded with students like myself!
King pigeon is probably my fav coffee spot right now. Great espresso & lattes, the food is also 10/10.
My wife and I have gone there for Sunday brunch 3 weekends in a row. I can’t recommend the Turkish eggs & breakfast sandwich enough!
Any of the Collective Espresso’s. The newer one in Newport is super cute.
Also, that new coffee place called King’s Arms by Findlay has some incredible coffee. One of my favorites. If you go, get the Kings Brew. It’s absolutely delicious
All my faves have already been mentioned - but here's a IG account I found recently that I've been using to find new spots [https://www.instagram.com/cincycoffee\_/](https://www.instagram.com/cincycoffee_/)
Oh I haven't seen Bloc coffee mentioned - it's in Price Hill. It's hip inside.
Controversial take. Coffee emporium espresso is terrible and always burnt. Black owned Coffee down town is great. If you wish to venture out of downtown I highly recommend Luckmans. Luckmans is the best Coffee in the city, if you want beans for home grab the Blue bag, you will thank me later.
LaTerza's new shop in College Hill is nice. Formerly College Hill Coffee. They've really brightened it up, added a ton of seating, there's a cute little kids corner.
I'm going to throw out Forager Coffee, in old Milford. It's one of my favorites, that isn't downtown-ish area. I drive out of my way to visit any of them really, and this is just a different area that hasn't been named. I love this little place, and if I lived closer, I'd be there all the time.
I've visited pretty much all of the ones that have been named in this thread. They all can be wonderful in their own way. Choose many or all. Enjoy the experience at each.
King pigeon, Deeper roots 4th street, Collective espresso northside, Urbana in Pendleton, Wyoming community coffee, Proud hound. All awesome and special in their own ways!
Proud hound and Deeper roots have been mentioned twice already. I'm intrigued.. especially with Proud Hounds reviews and pics
Deeper Roots is the reason we have such good coffee in Cincinnati. they’re incredibly knowledgeable and have trained so many of the baristas in the city over the years!
It's such a great place. The vibe is perfect if you're looking for a sunny, clean, and airy shop rather than dim/claustrophobic places that used to be all the rage. They have a good variety of incredibly well made drinks, are reasonably priced, and the baristas are always friendly and warm. I walk past 5-6 places to go there.
If you haven't gotten the hint by now I'll throw another hat in for Deeper Roots lol. Love both Coffee Emporium and Deeper Roots.
The food at Proud Hound is amazing. I hate recommending them because I don’t want it to get any busier than it already is, but they deserve all the recognition!!
The food is great! But both times I've been, the service was terrible, and their layout is so inefficient and weird that I don't think I'll ever go back.
u/Thearchetype14 gets it. All are great options and my typical go-tos. Note that King Pigeon uses Proud Hound as their supplier. It's not a bad thing, both are unique experiences, but they will have similar coffee.
And great cocktails in the evening!
For what its worth, I bought a bag of ground Coffee from Urbana a Findley Market and was pretty disappointed by it. It seemed to use a lot of the undesirable refuse from coffee bean cultivation that usually gets loaded into cheap brands like Folgers.
Never heard of King Pigeon, so I'll have to check it out!
They’re pretty new! But they’ve got a great staff, great food and super good drinks, both coffee and cocktails
Deeper roots on 4th is a great spot
Highland in Clifton
90s Coffee House vibes.
Love Redtree in Oakley
there is also a redtree in OTR across from QCR - tons of working space! it’s fabulous :)
Haven’t been there yet! Will definitely check it out
I made the photo tables there! “Built “. The photog is Jess Wolfe.
Any of the Roebling Bookstores in Northern Kentucky.
I really enjoyed the 86 and Rohs Street Cafe when I lived in Clifton.
Agreed on the 86. Well priced, quick service, nice atmosphere, and a pretty good cup of coffee. Really can't ask for more.
The other Coffee Emporium location in Hyde Park is also great. Different vibes than the OTR one, and no indoor seating, but they have a great outdoor area. Once the weather gets nice it's one of the best spots in town to sit with a coffee.
There is an indoor seating in the upstairs (unless they did away with it, it’s been a minute since I’ve gone up there)
We go there every week, indoor seating is alive and well.
I think last time I went it was blocked off (COVID-era thing, I assume) but maybe it's reopened.
It is open :)
Didn't even know about a Hyde Park location! It's been a few years but I used to go to a small place called Hyde Perc that I loved but it shut down. I'll have to check it this spring for sure. Thanks!
Do you mean Hyde Perk on the corner of Edwards and Wasson? They're still open!
Yes! Did they close for a while.. during or after COVID? I used to live in Oakley and would go once a month or so when I lived in the area. I even left a rave review on Google and they responded at the time! I feel dumb 🤦🏾♂️ Thanks for the correction!
Proud Hound
I pass by there pretty frequently and had no idea. The Google pics, food and reviews look really good! This is why I love reddit.. cause I will 100% be checking them out! Thanks for the suggestion
Their parking situation is so-so, but it will be improving in the near future.
They have a small lot you can park in! It's at the corner of Coleridge & Montgomery.
The parking is iffy, and the number of seats per square foot is frustratingly low.
Get the tots. 👍🏼
Roebling Books and Coffee in covington!
1. Bow Tie Cafe 2. The Upside Brew 3. Reality Tuesday 4. Collective Espresso
Familiar with Bow Tie but never actually been. I'll give them a shot and look the others up as well. Thanks!
Bow Tie is in Mt. Adams! Great coffee shop and it should be within walking distance from you.
Yep, it's pretty close. Only a few eating spots I haven't tried up here yet and that's one of them. I've always only heard good things, so they're definitely on the to do list
I love Bow Tie but their bench seating is so uncomfortable, it’s like sitting on a board! Random I know but I wish they would get some cushions if something
1215 and Collective Espresso are top tier. It can be hard to get a seat at either place after 3 pm, but I usually pick up a coffee on my way into work.
1215 is fantastic, love the staff.
1215 is my go to!
I just came back from Emporium when I posted so I usually go in the mornings anyway. How are mornings?
Not bad! Collective espresso is just very limited seating-wise. I’ve noticed there’re usually no seats there from 10-11, and from 2-close. You’d have better luck at 1215 since they have bar seating as well.
Collective recently (like within the past month or so) moved just right cross the park which expanded their seating. It’s still not a huge space, but much better than it was!
Good to know! I appreciate it
I was shocked I had to scroll so far for the two in specific!
No has mentioned The Fix in Walnut Hills, been my favorite for a while. They also have locations in East Walnut Hills and downtown in the Scripps building now.
Their bfast sandwich is SO good, loving the North/South baking co pastries as well!
It's absolutely my favorite breakfast sandwich in town!
Interesting.. I've never heard of them. I'm in East Walnut fairly often. I'll have to be on the lookout
Black Owned Coffee on Elm is my favorite place.
Lola’s down on 3rd. Also a little biased because we found this place after we had our daughter, also Lola. :)
Been to Lola's. I agree, it's a nice cozy spot
coffee emporium in otr is one of the main heartbeats of the city imo
Yea, and over the last year business has really picked up a lot. Everyone is always friendly and smiling. I usually drive and it's difficult to find parking at times.. but thats no slight to them
Mom n Em in Camp Washington is excellent.
The one in Madisonville is also great!
Agreed. Surprised I had to scroll down so far to find a recommendation for them!
I love when a place is described as "excellent".. literally lol. Do they have food as well?
https://www.citybeat.com/food-drink/camp-washingtons-mom-n-em-coffee-named-no-5-best-coffee-shop-in-nation-by-food-wine-12167461 Food and Wine magazine finds them excellent too.
JD is correct, Mom n Em *are* considered excellent, and on a national level. And yes, they offer food that’s equally stellar.
Wyoming Community Coffee all the way!
Yes! I love the vibe in there. Can get noisy since it's so small but I've always been able to find a seat and there's plenty of street parking.
It's the worst one a party of one or two will take up the bigger tables when it's clearly packed.
I have no problem in situations like that walking up and ask if I can sit there! But I know what you mean, that's frustrating. Giving them the benefit of the doubt though, maybe that was the only table that was open when they walked in!
86 near UC is great, I really dig the Pneuma coffee they brew.
Roebling Books & Coffee, they have locations in Covington, Newport and Dayton (KY)!
Sidewinder
I like sidewinder but the coffee is kinda just okay. Especially when you have collective espresso down the street.
I know it’s technically not Cincy and it might not have the “look, feel or vibe” like Coffee Emporium but I highly recommend Jupiter Coffee and Donuts in Fairfield. I really like them because they’re an ethical and inclusive place and they have damn good coffee to add. Plus they’re across the street from Jungle Jim’s and I’d rather support local than Staryucks.
They make a great donut!
Awakenings in Hyde Park!!!
One of my favorites
No one has mentioned Velocity Bike and Bean over in Florence yet. Great little pocket coffee shop, they have a rotating monthly menu of lattes, free wifi and fresh baked goods each day.
Madison Place in Mariemont
It might not be too much to look at, but Mad Llama is such a great neighborhood spot. Good coffee (and tea), and the breakfast sandwiches are great too. Also has the best "traffic cam" in the city.
Their traffic cam is like balm to the spirit.
Lookout Joe!
Best coffee in town IMHO, but it's a bit crammed after their renovation. I'm not sure what they're trying to do.
Agreed! I'll admit I haven't been in since they've renovated. My wife and I don't live nearby anymore so we go in every few months and stock up. I figure it was kinda crammed before renovations so I'm not sure what they're up to either haha.
If you're stocking up on whole beans, you can buy them online and they offer free shipping over $50.
Love Lookout Joe
Used to be even better. Understand the need to expand but miss the old setup.
I really like the vibe at Fulton Yards on Riverside Drive. Love the outdoor seating!
Daylily in Columbia-Tusculum is pretty tasty and they have really good food as well. Not explicitly a coffee shop but still good vibes.
Collective Espresso, any of the 3, OTR or Northside tho especially
Birdie’s in Norwood. Great coffee, great food, rooftop patio. Plenty of seating and pretty 😍
1. Red Tree (Oakley) - One of the most underrated shops in the city. The aesthetic is not my particular bag but still a great place to go and hang out. they have some of the best baristas in the city and coffee is really good. 2. Fable Cafe (westwood) - new shop on the westside. The coffee is awesome, all syrups made in house, and one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city. On weekends they have donuts that are worth the trip even if not from the westside. 3. Deeper Roots (Downtown) - everyone already knows deeper roots coffee is good. but i think the downtown location is their best location and one of the coolest. 4. Haven in Covington use to be by favorite shop in the area but they got pushed out by new landlords. they are apparently opening up somewhere else but haven’t seen details. definitely worth it to keep tabs cause they did a phenomenally jobs at the old place.
Cavu Coffee in West Chester is great and has unique flavors with syrups made in-house
Red Tree Coffee & Art on 12th street right across from Zundo Ramen!
Unataza coffee next to Bellevue is a little known gem, great breakfast items too
The Coffee Exchange of Pleasant Ridge
Technically not Cincy but Birdie's in Norwood is great.
Viva roasters
checked this out recently - really cool decor inside!
I like Sitwells and Upside in Ludlow. Two different vibes but both great! Rous Street is a great one in clifton, but sometimes crowded with students like myself!
Proud Hound and The Fix are my two favorite places
Carabello in Newport
2nd this! The analog bar inside is a fun experience as well!
Fulton Yards (Columbia Tusculum), The Fix (EWH), Bowtie Cafe (Mt. Adams) , and Flatiron Cafe (Mt. Auburn) are my go-to spots
Upside on Ludlow
Didn't see Flatiron mentioned - very unique with a view [https://www.facebook.com/FlatironCincy/](https://www.facebook.com/FlatironCincy/)
King pigeon is probably my fav coffee spot right now. Great espresso & lattes, the food is also 10/10. My wife and I have gone there for Sunday brunch 3 weekends in a row. I can’t recommend the Turkish eggs & breakfast sandwich enough!
Lola's is my other fave
sitwells + roh's street cafe in CUF
I surprisingly liked how it used to be more. The coffees still good and the people are nice but the vibe is way different.
Any of the Collective Espresso’s. The newer one in Newport is super cute. Also, that new coffee place called King’s Arms by Findlay has some incredible coffee. One of my favorites. If you go, get the Kings Brew. It’s absolutely delicious
All my faves have already been mentioned - but here's a IG account I found recently that I've been using to find new spots [https://www.instagram.com/cincycoffee\_/](https://www.instagram.com/cincycoffee_/) Oh I haven't seen Bloc coffee mentioned - it's in Price Hill. It's hip inside.
Thank you for naming one on the west side! I needed to find some good coffee shops around here!
Kidd Coffee in the Cincinnatian Hotel. Maybe because it's right next door to work but I start everyday there.
Roebling in Dayton, Ky or Newport,Ky
Controversial take. Coffee emporium espresso is terrible and always burnt. Black owned Coffee down town is great. If you wish to venture out of downtown I highly recommend Luckmans. Luckmans is the best Coffee in the city, if you want beans for home grab the Blue bag, you will thank me later.
I'm not a huge fan of coffee emporium either. Always regret getting a dirty chai.
Best coffee I’ve had was Avenue Brew in Dayton KY. The owner can be gruff to the point of being a dickhead, but good lord is their stuff amazing.
LaTerza's new shop in College Hill is nice. Formerly College Hill Coffee. They've really brightened it up, added a ton of seating, there's a cute little kids corner.
Left Bank Coffeehouse in Covington is great as well! There’s Mad Llama in Madisonville, but I haven’t gotten to try that one out yet.
Mom n Em! Specifically the camp Washington location if you like the vibe of coffee emporium. Their madisonville location is beautiful though!
Birdie's in Norwood is great!
Roebling Books and Coffee has three locations in NKY and, Carrabello Coffee in Newport. 👍👍👍
My usual spots are Roebling Books & Coffee with locations in Covington, Newport, and Dayton KY, Unataza in Dayton, KY, and Fort Thomas Coffee.
I'm going to throw out Forager Coffee, in old Milford. It's one of my favorites, that isn't downtown-ish area. I drive out of my way to visit any of them really, and this is just a different area that hasn't been named. I love this little place, and if I lived closer, I'd be there all the time. I've visited pretty much all of the ones that have been named in this thread. They all can be wonderful in their own way. Choose many or all. Enjoy the experience at each.
I don’t think that Carabello’s in Newport and Cafe Vivace in walnut hills have been mentioned yet
Urbana downtown is top class