Coffee Emporium
110 E Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH, 45202
Coffee Emporium Menu
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Address :
110 E Central Pkwy
Cincinnati, OH, 45202 - Phone (513) 651-5483
- Website https://www.coffee-emporium.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 8:00pm
- Mon : 6:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Good for Working : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Cindy G.
Update: HOLY FOOD HAVEN. In years past I have been so busy rushing from place to place that I've just grabbed my cup to go. Yesterday I had a great lunch all by myself and it was glorious. Now on to the good stuff. ATTENTION BREAKFAST LOVERS: THEY SERVE BREAKFAST ALL DAY! I almost passed out. I could barely tell the friendly barista my order. Choking back tears of joy at 1pm in the afternoon I ordered up a bacon burrito (I gotta have my eggs people without it, I am like a caffeine addict without coffee WATCH OUT). And of course, followed that with a Donna's Gourmet cookie, because duh. Now back the point. I can probably count two or three places in the entire city that serve breakfast all day and am happy to say that my burrito was delicious. Bacon, eggs, potatoes, cheese all for around $5. What's not to love? Speaking of love. Coffee Emporium -- will you marry me? (Stop in for lunch & check out their other food offerings like quiche, salads, soups, sammies & more. This place is so much more than a coffee shop!)
(5)Lonnetta P.
Who doesn't love this place? It's huge, plenty of coffee/tea options available, free Wifi and staff members are always pleasant. A nice selection of retail items you'll notice as you walk in. The coffee is great! They offer different milk options upon request. It can get a little noisy at times, but it's not too bad. The food is pretty good but a little pricey. I've tried the black bean burger and the turkey sandwich. The sandwiches come with a side item. I recommend the spicy pretzels to add a nice crunch with the entree.
(4)Julie B.
I have been visiting this location for a few years now. I have never received anything but great service and smiles. The food is delicious and the coffee is my favorite in town. I wish there was a Coffee Emporium in Eastgate I would like to work in it. But I don't mind the drive to this clean and friendly place.
(5)Alyona Z.
This place is great, the staff is extra friendly and helpful to an indecisive self as myself. I ordered the Americano and it was very good. Along with an iced turtle coffee which was tasty as well. I'd highly recommend coming to this place for sure.
(5)Julia C.
This morning was my first time at this location (I've been to the Hyde Park location before), and overall it was a good experience. I stopped in before work to get a drink and some breakfast to-go. The breakfast burrito with bacon is delicious (although a little small for the price, in my opinion), and the pomegranate green tea is fantastic! There was only one other person in line so the wait wasn't long, and my burrito and tea came out fairly quickly. The one potential downside to this location is parking - I think it probably depends on what time of day you're there. Since I stopped by at around 10:30am, I think I missed any breakfast or lunch rushes and easily found metered parking out front on Central, but I can see parking being more of a problem if it was a busier time of day.
(4)Levi B.
Coffee Emporium is Over The Rhine's community living room. I'll get this out of the way, first: 4 stars because their Wifi recently has been really really slow. It used to be easy to connect and fast...for coffee house Wifi. It's still free, but it's hard to use this place as an office anymore. Maybe that's their goal. Oh well. I love this place. The vibe, the coffee, the muffins, the lunch, the community board, the seating options, the bathroom key, the bike-friendliness, the ambiance...all that stuff is tops. The coffee scene in Cincinnati is on point, and I really appreciate what each local shop brings to the table. But I'm going to single out the people at Coffee Emporium by saying they are home-grown, city-loving, I'm-cool-but-I-won't-rub-it-in-your-face, artists. They make it a point to be friendly, helpful, casual, and fast all while being professional. I haven't had a single negative experience with a human behind the bar at Coffee Emporium. Plus, their food is really good, and the muffins in the bake case are always delightful. I especially love their Morning Glory muffin for breakfast and the Black Bean Burger (as a salad) for lunch. I've even used their catering service a couple times, and been pleasantly surprised by the speed and generosity.
(4)Emily R.
I came here with a friend for a meeting of the minds, and this was the first time I've ever been here, I really like the atmosphere and the general vibe. They were very understanding about substituting for dietary needs and brought our food out to our table. I got a sandwich that was super tasty and my friend got a super yummy looking salad (I had to photograph it because it was so pretty). I also got a pumpkin spiced latte, because tis the season! I don't normally drink any coffee, but I do like to try the specialty ones every so often. I just asked for less of the dairy items in it :) They had a cool sign board up by the bathroom, which was all about Puns, so I participated and took some photos of it. I appreciated that the bathroom was clean and stocked as well. I also appreciated that the establishment didn't wreak of coffee smell, (which has in the past given me headaches.) All in all, a good experience, and I would like to go back, only after its free to park at the meters. ^_^
(4)Sandra F.
My husband and I usually go to the Coffee Emporium in Hyde Park and love that place! We were in the downtown area and it's been awhile since we went to this location. I usually get the Turtle Latte (tall for $3.50) and my husband loves the iced pomegranate tea (grande $2.75). Once again, Coffee Emporium always delivers quality taste of coffees and teas. Everytime we visit here, it is extremely busy, but the employees are very quick and efficient in making our drinks. I also noticed how this coffee shop has expanded their menu! Besides coffee and teas, they also carry sandwiches, baked items, soup, pasta salad, wraps, quiche and chocolates (also vegetarian friendly) All within reasonable pricing. My favorite to get with my coffee is the zucchini bread! Addicted to it! This Coffee Emporium is very spacious, cozy,has lovely decor, plenty of seating including a lounge couch. There is free wifi and outdoor seating. Never a dissapointment and I can see why they are voted best of 2014! #supportlocal
(4)Alicia B.
My fave coffee shop in Cincinnati. It's spacious, the coffee is excellent. I haven't adventured the food yet, but it always looks good on others' tables. Great to get work done or have a civilized chat with friends.
(5)Phil A.
Casual atmosphere that's great for hanging out or working. The coffee is the best in the city and the food is great. I come here often for a reason.
(5)Maggie B.
Delicious baked good with lots of options. Lots of beverage choices too. A great place to stop in for a snack or the sit a while and hang out.
(4)Alicia K.
By far the best coffee shop in the city. Love that they use Snowville and the food is delicious too. Can't say enough good things.
(5)Amber J.
Wonderful hand crafted drinks and great food. I love their breakfast burritos but find the size not worth the $7. The staff is beyond amazing!!! Keep up the good work!
(4)Ron B.
It gets the job done in terms of spacious coffee shop with some energy and good offerings. Not so much that destination for gluten-free eats, some snacks though and obviously the normal salad situation which is fine if that's what you're in the mood for. But if you're coming because Yelp tells you that it's a good spot for gluten-free food and you you're going to be in coffee shop + gluten-free food substance heaven while you work, you're going to come away disappointed. Nonetheless, it's a great spot to hang out and seriously, I wish it were in Kentucky rather than here. Surely worth visiting again and if you're a huge coffee nerd, you'll be in heaven.
(3)Alex N.
1) be a movie/tv extra 2) run into Clooney, mayor, police chief ..etc 3) be part of a news telecast 4) be part of a art piece 5) ....its endless Yea that is only a partial list of things you can encounter at Coffee Emporium while you are on an endeavor for the BEST coffee in town. O and the food is right up there with the best of them. The place is a gem and my favorite part of OTR hands down. I like it so much that I thought I had already reviewed it. If you are ever around town and want to find a quite and calm place to do some coffee shop work. Don't come here lol. It isn't quit and definitely not calm. I would say it resembles chaos sometimes but the best chaos. You will see people from the court house, offices and locals running in and out trying to get their daily fix of the best coffee in town. If you venture further you will see a couches and a stage with tables. The stage doubles as a poem/music stage at times on certain evenings. If you are not ADD have headphones and want to get some work done this is a great place to be. The biggest problem with getting work done in coffee shops is 1) outlets 2) wifi time. Wifi time ? yea, try doing something significant on your computer at Panera and you will see what I mean. They only permit 30mins of wifi time during peak hours... You know - the times when people actually want to do shit. Sorry for digressing. But back to outlets there are outlets at every table, couch and stool. I have not seen this at any other place but they put outlets above the tables. All you have to do it get up on your chair and plug it it. Food, They have lots of it and its great. Your choices range from deli sandwiches to a plethora of breakfast food. I suggest the breakfast burrito. They serve breakfast all day long. So even the Sonny Koufaxes out there can still enjoy breakfast with Scuba Steve.
(5)Ben M.
Went in for breakfast a few weeks ago. The line was very long, so someone who appeared to be a manager was taking orders in line. He was clearly in a hurry, but was nonetheless rude to my wife and I. Also waited over 20 minutes for a bagel with cream cheese because the person behind the counter forgot my order. Coffee was ok but not great.
(2)Thanh L.
I love coffee shops and I love coffee art! Coffee was good but every time I come the line is insanely longggg! So don't come if you're in a hurry to go.
(4)Brian M.
This is probably the best coffee to drink in all of OTR. The number of coffees they offer is amazing. My personal favorite is the Bourbon Barrel flavor. It's just a shame you literally have to buy a bag of it (at $18 no less) if you want it (they've never had it ready to serve by the cup when I've gone). There is a nice open space there to go and relax, read, work on your computer, chat, etc. However, the wifi is SLOW, slower than the time it takes them to do a pour-over. If they could just fix this, I'd give them 4 stars rather than 3.
(3)Jay G.
Neat place. Good coffee and food. Friendly staff. Worth stopping in for a visit!
(5)Michael D.
Outstanding coffee. I went specifically for the breakfast wrap as I was told how great it was. I was extrmeely unimpressed. It was soggy, small, and lacked flavor. I will go back for the coffee.
(3)Marcus F.
I've been to Coffee Emporium quite a few times throughout the time span they've remained opened. If you want my honest review in a short sentence it'll go something like this, "This place is so-so; the only reason I keep on coming back for more is because a colleague keeps requesting it for lunch." If you want my full detailed review, keep on reading... Alright -- maybe the first paragraph seemed a bit harsh, but that's the general feeling I have about this coffeehouse. As I've mentioned before I have been quite a number of times, however I'll just cut it short and list a few of the most recent visits. * On one occurrence a colleague and I had both had a quiche. I nearly wanted to vomit because as soon as I bit into the quiche it was extremely cold. Being the humble person she is, my colleague was hesitant to send back the quiches. They reheated the bland egg and herb concoction, in which I figured they'd at least apologize for giving a customer food that wasn't fit to eat. I ended up having to douce the thing with pepper because even with whatever herbs they used, it was so bland. I was not impressed. As a person who is knowledgeable of how a good quiche should taste - the one at Coffee Emporium seemed like an amateur science experiment gone wrong. * Vegetable soup. A fairly easy soup to put together. Apparently they don't at least try the soup before giving it to customers because like their coffee the soup tasted like soap. I felt like the ingredients weren't fresh either, along with the soap aftertaste. The (stale) sliced baguette they give you is very hard to chew, even after letting it bask in the soup. * Like the vegetable soup the coffee has a soap-like aftertaste. In other words it's not good. As a coffee shop shouldn't your coffee be one of the best menu options? No matter what time of the day I've gone, the coffee always tastes burnt with a soap aftertaste. The only way it's fit to drink is heavily putting creamer as well as sugars in the drink. Which makes it unhealthy. Those are just the most recent visits. I've given Coffee Emporium plenty of tries of providing me with something that I like. I'm not one to complain about things, but handing a customer a quiche that's cold wouldn't be considered good business ethics. Two last issues I have with the Coffee Emporium. When it's around lunchtime on a weekday it's understandable to want to rush the customers through the line. When it's in the afternoon and I'm the only one in line, there is no need to rush me. If I want to be informed of the various products, I should be treated with more respect as a customer, on the other hand the employees always rush me through the line so that they can get back to idle chit-chat. That alone is very unprofessional and something I would expect at a larger corporate coffeehouse. Lastly, the need new furniture. I'm not even referring to the fact that everything looks as if it has come from a flea market, I'm mentioning the fact that every table I've sat at seems to wiggle whilst eating. I've sat at nearly all of the tables and have had this issue. Going for the "hipster" look is all fine and dandy, but a restaurants furniture needs to be functional as well. I've spilt things on the table from the wiggle and wobble nature of them. I wanted to like Coffee Emporium so much. It seems as if each time I visit - I leave disappointed.
(2)Christopher S.
A neighborhood staple. They do coffee right, with no frills. The food is great, and not just typical coffee shop food. Keep doing what you're doing!
(4)Ed J.
There is a reason that this is a Cincinnati coffee institution - they've been here for years providing great coffee and great service. I came in one Sunday evening looking for Hario coffee filters. The place I usually would go was closed, and nobody seemed to have them anywhere else I checked. As a last chance I came downtown, and at first it seemed that the fine people at this establishment were also out of these seemingly rare filters. When I asked the barista, she was sure they still had some, and searched high and low for ten minutes and emerged triumphantly from the back room with a package. I was very happy, and got a celebratory espresso (excellently made) and thanked the barista for taking the time to find this for me. I found out here that the barista was one of the owners. Imagine that, the owner of one of the best and biggest coffee empires in Cincinnati pulling espresso shots on Sunday night and cheerfully and doggedly searching for a bag of coffee filters for a customer who was nobody special. That is exemplary service. I'll keep coming back for that alone - fortunately the coffee and the food are also fantastic.
(5)Drew P.
This place is the modern equivalent of that 90's movie local record store that you just had to shop at. If you lived in Nebraska or Montana you'd dream of going to Chicago or San Francisco just to stand in the glow of real city life and all that worldly wild influence. Are you pickin up what I'm puttin down? This is High Fidelity on steroids, no, IT'S ON COFFEE! I like it. More please.
(5)Elizabeth L.
Wait, listen. I came to eat a sammy here because I heard they're ALL amazing. And amazing they were. But I gotta point this out: the prices are unrelenting. This goes for everything on their menu. I know fancy coffee is getting more and more assimilated into the $3-$5 range, but come on, Coffee Empo. You're already doing good things-- supporting local art, bringing artisan legal addictive stimulants to the masses-- can't you make it affordable as well? For $6.95 (the cheapest sammy), you get a delicious yet not-worth-paying-that-much-for-a-sammy kind of sandwich. Tyranical, I tell you! Maybe I'm just cheap because I always feel like I can make the sandwich at home..
(4)Will H.
EAT DRINK FOOD THINGS HERE! HERE! The black bean burger... i still dream of it at night and find little bits of my pillow chewed up in the morning... And the free cookie! And the spicy pretzels! And the quiche! And the teas! And the list could go on forever.... Best Sandwich Baristas in the city, hands down!
(5)Alex S.
Please ignore everything I wrote in my last review ... at least all the bad parts. When I first moved down to OtR I came into Coffee Emporium and talked about how I got an ok-cup-of-coffee and it was loud. REALLY LOUD (I did write nosy instead of noisy, a fact that was pointed out to me later, but that was corrected). However, I threw a party there the other day and noticed that it wasn't as echoy as it once was. Me: Is it quieter here? Tony: Oh, notice that, did you? Me: I did. Tony: Well, $5,000 worth of noise cancelling tiles in the ceiling will do that. And so it is, tons of tiles attached to the ceiling (not in a tacky tacked up way either, you wouldn't even notice them if they weren't pointed out) have made this coffee shop much, much quieter! It's still louder than your average Starbucks, but it's a million times more awesome too, so there you go. As for the coffee? I have no idea what I was talking about. Maybe I just got a bad cup that one day but every other time the coffee has been great. They grind their own beans, it comes out hot, and it's basically what I'm looking for. I hold as many meetings as I can in this coffee shop (because I work from home and it's right around the corner - but that's not the only reason, since there are like nine coffee shops right around the corner from me). I have never been unhappy here - they even let you sit and finish your work at 6pm when they're officially closed as they clean-up. Any coffee shop that won't throw me out is a winner in my books.
(5)Brittnay C.
AWESOME food and such a fun environment. I highly recommend you try the Black Bean burger with the house made sauce, its delicious and you can only get it at this location.
(4)Ricky M.
I've passed by this location for almost a year before trying it. The food was great, I had the chicken salad sandwhich. Drink was nice. Service was AMAZING and I rarely say that. The girls that helped me find what I wanted to order were nice, conversational and helpful. They even delivered the food to me. Cons: Only issue I had is I found a few pieces of hair in my Cinn, Pumpkin roll. Not a major issue for me concerning the service well made up for it for me, However working in resturant management for over 10 years it is without excuse to have issues like that arise and most would never return. The seating is limited, not because it's a small place because it's probably the biggest in Cincy but it's always so packed it can be a little hard to get a seat.
(5)Stacy K.
I LOVE the location. I LOVE the space. The coffee and food are good. However, I find this place to be challenging on a few levels. First, it can be very loud; since that can be overcome with headphones, it's not a deal-breaker. Second, parking can be tough. Again, not a deal-breaker, just something to be aware of. Third, VERY flaky internet. It never works. There are plugs literally everywhere (even on the ceiling) encouraging electronics use...but when I go in there and can't get onto the Internet, I'm only leave feeling frustrated. So I can't say I'd go back. Perhaps they don't want folks on the Internet, who knows. I would much rather give my money to a local coffee shop than Starbucks--unfortunately Starbucks is my only option if I want reliable Internet. So, if you want to read a book, it's a great place. If you want to work, use the Internet, it's my last choice. If If could do half stars, I'd do 2.5.
(3)Simone B.
Always lackluster. Coffee is fine, but the food is sub-par (quiche is a runny egg, liquidy mess) and the service is always too 'hoity toity' to be actually good - they are more concerned with themselves and their 'image' to pay attention to your order.
(3)Jenny O.
Coffee Emporium is the CHEERS of Coffee Houses. Not to mention there are a billion great gift ideas, and they will help you wrap it too! Love the attention to detail, and feeling like they really appreciate my business...and the coffee and tea selection can't be beat.
(5)Lizbeth T.
It's pretty much unanimous, this is the best coffeehouse in the city. But I have been really happy lately to find that their lunch menu has steadily improved to the point that this is now a legitimate choice for lunch! The pastries have always been great, and long ago Coffee Emporium was the first major weekend outlet in town for tasty Belgian waffles, but their sandwiches and salads seemed like an afterthought. Not so any longer! Some reviewers have commented that lunch here is a bit pricey, but my last time in I paid under $8 for a filling and delicious tuna melt with a side of fresh salad greens. You're hard pressed to do better in the neighborhood.
(5)Ben N.
My wife had been telling me to check out Coffee Emporium for a couple of years, but until recently I'd been too stubborn to get there. It's just me, but her raves about the "best black-bean burger" didn't exactly set off fireworks of gastronomic anticipation in my mind or mouth. Or maybe, I was just too lazy: Central Parkway seemed too far from work (near Fountain Square), although only a block or two farther away than several Court Street places folks from my office frequent. (And it's definitely too far, time-wise, for a mid-afternoon coffee break.) As usual, the wife was right. I figure that, at least at this location, Coffee Emporium has to be just about the best coffeehouse/restaurant of its sort in the Cincinnati area. For coffeehouse fare, the food is top-notch. The black-bean burger is indeed about the best one you're going to find in this town, and the tuna melt is good, too. (Must try more of the grub.) The shop offers fresh fruit or salad greens with the $6.95 sandwiches, which is not a bad deal for healthier-and-fresher-than-average food. What I've had of the coffee has been very good; the beans are roasted on-site and a huge variety of them are available to take home. Iced tea, unfortunatly, is brewed a little weak. The industrial-style, open, pleasantly-lit seating area is appealing and relaxing, and the atmosphere is urbane without being pretentious or hipper-than-thou. (Starbucks feels like McDonald's by comparison.) By dint of its location on the downtown/OTR "border," Coffee Emporium gets an eclectic mix of customers. And the staff is friendly and efficient. Even when you show up in your downtown-worker dorkwear, like I've got to. A valuable Cincinnati asset.
(4)Sarah D.
I think I just hit this place at the wrong time. There seemed to be more staff than people in the place yet it took a long time for them to even realize I was waiting to order. I got an iced coffee and it wasn't all that great. Meh, I don't know. I was just kind of unimpressed. I think I just need to go back and try it again.
(3)Laura V.
Love this place more every time I visit. We stopped by one cool and rainy Saturday after a run and warmed up with some lovely fair trade Guatemalan coffee and a Nutella croissant. They have an impressive variety of locally roasted coffees and the baristas can craft some enticing espresso options. If it weren't for the caffeine I could have happily curled up in one of their cozy chairs for a doze.
(5)Zack F.
I love everything about this place from the location to the atmosphere and decor. They have great coffee, prepared well by competent staff. I think what I like best is how they support so many local businesses through cross promotion. This provides them with an amazing selection of vegan delights, Belgian waffles, and much, much more. Even their t-shirts are cool. Plus they have a dry goods section including all your coffee paraphernalia needs. The large lounge area is relaxing, so come and stay awhile, you are sure to make new friends.
(5)Howard M.
I'm not a coffee guy. If I do drink coffee my wife makes it in a Taylor Swift fashion. That is, it's got so much milk it's blond but still holds a not-to-oftputting bitterness. So this is a coffee house. Yeah. How to review it? By pointing out this is one of the few coffee places that seems to reach out to non-coffee drinkers. On Sunday I had to check on my beehive and the Mrs. went along with me. Except she wanted coffee. So I swung by Coffee Emporium and we were served at a decent speed. Nothing breakneck fast but if you want that then Starbucks is installing drive-thrus now. So my wife got whatever coffee based beverage she wanted. I had a 20 oz Coke is the car so I was just going to stick with that. But of course I was tempted. And it was then that I realized they have several non-coffee drinks that don't make you feel like a child for ordering it. The two I enjoy is a Chaider and a Bumble Bee - The Chaider is a blend of Apple Cider and Chai tea. Unique, different flavor but still more 'adult' than the hot cocoa I'm usually forced to drink. But on Sunday i choose the Bumble Bee. It's steamed milk with honey and vanilla. Now aside from the fact that to this apiarist the name is a bit misleading because Bumble Bees don't produce honey the drink was pleasant. What I like about this particular drink was that it's almost pre-historic. I can picture one of my club-wielding, knuckle dragging fore-fathers mixing up some milk from the family goat with some honey stolen from a fallen tree and maybe even a crunched up vanilla pod. It's was all there a few hundred thousand years ago for him. Thankfully, it's at Coffee Emporium now. Great little drink. I finished it watching my bee hive gather pollen in the February warmth.
(4)Paige P.
Delicious coffee, roasted in house. They offer pretty much every kind of brewing process you could want. I prefer a Chemex of the dark roast, and a veggie wrap most days. They have some pretty delicious food as well. With lots of options for vegetarians. Not to mention the atmosphere is relaxed and funky. They have a constantly rotating selection of local art for sale/display. All in all I'd chose CE over starbucks any day.
(4)Nathan F.
I just started recently going to Coffee Emporium and I love it. I'm not one to go and sit read a book or do work on my laptop, but going here with a few friends for a nice chill evening is fun. I don't know how I'm not going to copy Monika's review pretty much word for word. I'm not much of a coffee drinker so I will either get the chi tea latte which is amazing on a nice cold winter evening, or their Green Pomegranate ice tea with 2 Sweet-n-Low's is fabulous. I'm a meat eater, I love hamburgers, chicken, steak and the occasional piece of fish but someone told me that I had to try their Black Bean Burger. It's a burger so why not. I was surprised at how much I loved it, and with added avocado it makes it just that much better. Coffee Emporium is a great way to spend a nice chill evening with friends without spending too much money and without all the alcohol.......yes, sometimes I don't drink!
(5)Karen Q.
I am a coffee lover.. and this is my favorite place to enjoy a cup of coffee love in Cincinnati. You can actually taste the love of the art of coffee roasting that goes into each cup. These people know and love coffee! They roast the coffee right there and it is always so fresh and delicious!! They can tell you everything about a particular roast and it is fascinating! They have big bins of fresh roast coffee that you can take home by the pound. (I always take some home) My most recent indulgences were Costa Rica La Minta and Mackinac Island Fudge. I think the food is good too and just right for a coffee house. We stopped in for late breakfast and enjoyed some spinach ricotta pie (with a small side of very fresh fruit) and split a vegan pumpkin cinnamon roll that went perfectly with the coffee. The people who work there are very friendly. There is always a mix of professionals having informal meetings, hipsters and coffee lovers. Love it!
(5)Andrew D.
Let me start with the positives. Atmosphere is all coffee house and at the same time remains all Cincinnati. This is the type of place I wish I had hung out in when I was in college. Music is great, windows looking out on the street, and this might be the best cappuccino that I have ever had. Now the one negative. We are downtown so it of course has that rushed vibe, though, I'm sure it doesn't help being here right after lunch. Next... I just wanted a cup of coffee. French press? Pour over? Selection of nice single estates? Nope. Just the typical big metal thermos of a selection of blends to choose from. I'm sure they are good, but I'll stick with my Capp. I will be back many times, excellent place!
(4)Amanda V.
One of my most favorite coffee places in the area. Great drinks, delicious food and friendly service. Free wifi, too! The only thing that can be difficult is parking... usually there is metered street parking, but it's going to cost you quite a few quarters to get a decent amount of time racked up. Special bonus - you get a little chocolate treat (usually a Ghiradelli square) with your food order. Yum!
(5)Jennifer D.
CAPPUCINO! AHHHH! Okay, so maybe I've had too much caffeine. I've only been here once, and I think that's really stupid of me. The coffee here is so good. I also love that they support local businesses- one in fact, that I'm excited about...Sweet Peace Bakery. It's pretty awesome that they carry vegan treats here. I'm not even vegan and I find that exciting. I came in one day for a quick cup, and loved what I saw, it was a lazy Sunday in OTR, but the bathroom was kinda hopping. The staff was very kind and hung onto my coffee for me as I waited for the restroom. Since I didn't spend a lot of time there, I could not actually comment too much on the atmosphere other than that I found it really cute and liked that they had a giant wall of fliers for local events across from the bathroom. It gave me something to read while I waited. I'll be back, Coffee Emporium. I'll be back.
(5)Chris N.
I admit it-I am pretty loyal to the excellent coffee roasters and great coffee shops in Northside-usually my first options on a day to day basis. However, this doesn't stop me from make sure I take the time to visit Coffee Emporium downtown once a week (or more if business takes me close by). Coffee Emporium blends some of the best roasts in town with a great location in Over The Rhine. Inside awaits more than just delicious coffee beans to take home or a great cup of coffee. Tasty pastries, sandwiches and more are available to help fuel your caffeine-infused brain. Plenty of outlets for plugging in the laptop, lots of natural light, a abundance of tables, plus comfy sofas and easy chairs are at your disposal. If it's a nice day, you might want to grab a spot outside on Central Parkway and soak in the urban ambiance as the entire population of Cincinnati seems to pass you by. Coffee Emporium is great whether just relaxing or having an impromptu business meeting. Go find out why for yourself!
(5)Christopher D.
Some of the best coffee in town! Consistent flavor and quality beans used to provide me a delicious cup o joe every time. Some tasty treats to eat too...from sandwiches, pastries and waffles. MMMM.....delicious an inexpensive waffles on the weekend are a great treat when you want a fast, tasty and inexpensive breakfast but don't want to do it yoursefl
(4)Brandon H.
I hate coffee. Seriously. I don't even like toffee, cause it sounds like coffee. So I spend my $6 on their blended chai tea with a shot of vanilla, whip on top. The best $6 you could spend in the Queen City. UPDATE: The above holds true. However, after trying their Mediterranean Chicken Burrito and their Chicken Teriyaki Burrito, I must say their burritos are rather bland. Which is sad, because they have then aura of a wholesome, locally-produced, excellent-taste style food. Which I'm sure applies to their pastries and baked goods. But their "regular" food, at least in my opinion, is not so great. The Mediterranean was alright, at best. Around $7 in price, nothing was spectacular about it, yet it had so many ingredients. Peppers, chicken, the sauce (or grilled chicken water), etc. It looked way better than it tasted after biting into it. The Chicken Teriyaki taste, though, can be summed up like this: cheap, delivered Chinese food (i.e. has been in a container for a few minutes) in a tortilla wrap. No flavor except the sort of "that" flavor that only describes tasteless chicken and that weird McDonalds taste everything has. Thus far, I'd recommend just their beverages. They seem to do a damn good job at that.
(4)Christie D.
One of their delicious cookies + a coffee = one happy girl here.
(5)Nigel C.
Got to say this is one of my favorite places. The crew is so friendly and accommodating. Great place for people watching you never know who you going to see. Only problem is on Weekends it gets crazy so take a deep breath and be prepared to wait for the best coffee in town. For the real Java Junkies, they have a serve yourself station on the right side when you go in. So at least you can prepare yourself a coffee and stand in line while waiting to pay. Keep your cup because for 75 cent you can get a refill later in the day. Also they have a frequent visitor card so you can earn free coffees.
(5)Eric S.
As a visitor to Cincinnati I wanted a place to get a feel for the local flavor and the coffee emporium provided that and more. On a 98 degree day coffee is not the first thing that came to mind, but not only are the iced options some of the best I've had, but it is the best place I have come across to do a little work and a lot of people watching. Everyone was extraordinarily friendly but they seemed to know each person that waked in the door (like cheers in many ways) To make a long story short, if you are in need of a good comfortable spot accompanied by a good pick me up, there is no better spot than the emporium.
(5)Olivia K.
I stumbled upon this place during the recent Cincy Fringe Festival. The place itself is large yet cozy, with plenty of places to sit, as well as outdoor seating. They have a wide array of drinks, as well as pastries and other food items. I had the glacial mudslide, which seemed to me to be basically a frozen hot chocolate (but I'm no food critic.) Finally, the service was splendid. Each worker I came in contact with was kind and energetic, but not annoying.
(5)Akilah H.
Best chai tea latte I've ever had. The hipsters here are less bitingly pretentious than other parts of Over the Rhine and the atmosphere is really inviting. Also, my inner interior designer is very pleased with the decor. Bravo.
(5)Jessalynn S.
Dear Downtown Coffee Emporium, I love you. I don't live or work downtown, but this has quickly become my favorite place to set up shop with grading or other boring professor work. In fact, this might even be my favorite place...ever. (Okay, a bit of hyperbole there.) It was love at first sight, really. On the first day I came here (about two weeks ago), I immediately felt comfortable. There are plenty of tables just the right size for two people (to work on) or spacious for one. The coffee is delicious, of course, and if I wasn't counting my calories right now, I would have done some major damage on the delicious looking collection of sweets at the front register. The only down side here is the parking, of course. I'm working on the logistics of taking the bus (from my house in East Walnut Hills), but if you come during the evenings (after 5) and on the weekends, there are plenty of meters that are turned off by that time. Really, the only way I could love Coffee Emporium more is if I could fold up my car into a briefcase a la George Jetson and not have to worry about the parking situation.
(5)Nikhil N.
The best coffee house in Cincinnati. Reasonably priced, great location and awesome service.
(5)kelly k.
When you walk in, you are delightfully hit with a powerful rich coffee aroma. The smell alone is enough to give you a jolt. This is a wonderful place for coffee lovers, complete with roasting equipment to the left as you enter. They also have a variety of teas, local delicious pastries and cookies, in addition to their breakfast and lunch menu. Every time I've been here, it's been busy and friendly. There is a lot of space and plenty of tables. The menu is limited but very good. I've had lunch and coffee here on several occasions. They have a case of scrumptious looking pastries and other goodies to go along with the strong robust coffees. Overall, this is a great place to meet a friend or just hang out. A must-try if you're a coffee lover!
(4)Rachel M.
Beautiful funky building + awesome cafe treats + no one bothering you to leave = well deserved reputation as THE best cafe in the city. I'm sure there are other fantastic ones, but the vibe this place has is just perfect. If they ever decide to adopt people, they'll have to beat off the fans with a stick (author included).
(5)Paige M.
Did you know Coffee Emporium sells their own varieties of coffee? Dozens and dozens of different kinds of roasts! I'm an at-home coffee drinker, and always figured the Emporium was a local place where people got together for a cup of java. Yes it is, but it's also so much more! I received a bag of Emporium Blend in my Yelp Golden Ticket basket, conveniently, just as I ran out of store-brand coffee. One sip of Emporium's brew and it made me question what I had been drinking all these years. These beans are amazing! I also like how they sell miniature bags of roasts for people to sample new flavors. I bought the Raven's Blend and Winter Solstice. Raven's will definitely wake you up. Boy howdy, is that strong! Winter Solstice has a creamy aftertaste and pairs great with Vanilla Silk. In addition to the new excitement around my own coffee pot, I've returned to Coffee Emporium for the Hot Cocoa Happy Hour. I'm a fan of the Raspberry Hot Chocolate and the Bumblebee, which includes warm milk, vanilla and honey. Of course, Hot Apple Cider with a shot of caramel can warm any soul. Now I find myself having business meeting here and of course, returning to buy more coffee for my home brewing pleasures. Never buy a bag of grocery store coffee again; come to Coffee Emporium and experience greatness!
(5)Alycia B.
I began going to Coffee Emporium over two years ago when I lived right around the corner. I instantly fell in love with their coffee! I love that I can go in and pour my own cup of coffee with however much room I do or don't want for cream. It's convenient for me and the people working. I have never had a cup of "water" coffee there as I have at other coffee shops. I always order the same thing, a cafe au lait, so I can't vouch for any of the other options, but you can't go wrong with a basic cup of coffee here. The pesto panini I have had on multiple occasions is simple and delicious. Again, I haven't had any other food options, though they do have quite a selection. Since they roast their owns beans you can walk in and order whatever type of bean you like at whatever size you like and they will grind it at whatever setting you prefer. So convenient! I have bought some beans to take home a few times, but I prefer to get my already-brewed coffee from them, they have it down to an exact science! The atmosphere is really calm and relaxing, what a coffee house should be. At times they will have acoustic sets or just music playing at a low level. They have plenty of seating indoor and out, along with some big comfy sofas to sink into over a cup of joe and a cook book. Oh, and try the WInter Solstice and the Autumnfest coffee!
(4)Stacey L.
I love this place!!! A great coffee shop with reasonable prices and even better food options. If I lived downtown, this would definitely be a place I would hang out. Here are a few things to try on the menu: Central Parkway Salad- Salad with raisins, apples, feta, and balsamic vinagrette Veggie Burger- Add avacado, Its AMAZING! Holiday Special- This turkey and cranberry sandwich will be gone soon, Try it now! White Chocolate or Spicy Hot Chocolate- Both very flavorful and wonderfully different than the original! Tuscan Tomato Soup- Not the best tomato soup ever, but think and loaded with bow tie pasta. For the next couple months, come out on Tuesdays from 6-8 for the Hot Chocolate Happy Hour! $2 hot chocolate and a chance to hang out and play games with other Yelpers!
(5)Liberty S.
The lavender latte is super weird, I LOVE IT. It has a spice to it you'd expect, with a bit of sweetness. I'm usually a straight espresso or black coffee kind of gal, and I liked it. The best thing though, FREE PARKING on Central Parkway **before 9am. I asked the staff what was good, and they were very friendly. The woman that made my coffee had awesome red hair #goals.
(5)Missy L.
How on Earth have I not written a review of Coffee Emporium yet?! It is by far one of my favorite coffee (and food) spots between downtown and OTR. Located on Central Pwy between Walnut and Main Coffee Emporium offers both delicious coffee and a tasty menu of food items that changes from day to day. First the coffee...ohhh the coffee! I've honestly never had a coffee I didn't enjoy at Coffee Emporium. The beans are always fresh and the delicious aroma engulfs you the moment you walk in the door. They also have the most delicious chai tea latte I've ever tasted. The menu is constantly changing and ranges from pastries and to-go breakfast burritos to more sit down fare like soups, salads, and sandwiches. The ingredients are always fresh and there's such a wide variety of items I'm sure almost anyone could find something they want/need (I know I do nearly every time I go in JUST for coffee). The service is always outstanding. Their employees are both efficient and passionate about what they do. If you are just coming in for a drink you are in and out in less than 5-6 minutes even at their busiest. All and all it's a really outstanding place that I recommend to pretty much anyone who will listen to me rave about them. A++
(5)Brad B.
Great coffee, cold brew coffee and lattes. Coffee Emporium changes up the coffees every day, usually providing 4-5 options, the Autumn Blend and Moka Java are two of my favorites. The pastries and breakfast foods are also very good. I'm a big fan of the breakfast burrito with chorizo, good flavors and very filling! Coffee Emporium can get pretty busy in the mornings, I wish they'd open another register for the busy times.. Waiting 5+ minutes to pay for a cup of coffee can be frustrating. Overall, I'd recommend Coffee Emporium, it's a great spot to sit, chat, drink coffee and people watch!
(3)David C.
I was here during a weekday for a meeting. Coffee Emporium is kind of one of those Cincinnati cornerstones when it comes to hangouts. This downtown spot is well known and always pretty full when I visit. Note: this is not my normal hang-spot, so I'm writing as a visitor. I walked in early afternoon, and the place was packed. Meetings of all kinds going on. I did drink a chai while I was there. Their coffee is roasted in-house. They were roasting while I was there, so the aroma filled the café as we sat. I have one bone to pick - the music was loud while we were there - so, when we started our meeting, it became hard to hear - there was not another table to move to. Looking back on this, I could have said "hey, can you turn that music down...?" Decades in the making, Coffee Emporium is here to stay - so, check it out! Just get ready for busy & noisy.
(4)Emily D.
There is absolutely nothing I dislike about this place. Whenever I drive through Cincinnati, which is fairly often, I always stop by Coffee Emporium even if I do have to wait in ridiculously long lines for a latte. Long lines clearly mean they're doing something right cause that place is always busy.
(5)Witni S.
If you want a taste of OTR, this is your place. Coffee emporium straddles the line between downtown Cinci and OTR. So, you get an eclectic mix of people in suits and people in ink. It's a very cool spot with lots of energy. The coffee was tasty and the service was friendly. I had a white chocolate mocha that hit the spot. Parking around the area is mostly metered and not too hard to come by. I came downtown for a 3pm meeting and was able to find a meter a block and a half away. Easy walk. There's plenty of seating, and the place was pretty packed. One note is that the music was pretty loud. It's kind of nice in one sense because you it drowns out other conversations. At the same time, you have to speak pretty loudly to the person you are meeting with. If you want some head down book reading time, this place may have a bit more energy for you than your typical, quieter coffee shop.
(4)Heather W.
Love the autumn brew and their natural pumpkin spice latte. Delicious treats and breakfast when you're on the go but need something. Great place to study as well.
(4)Karen D.
If you're Downtown or in OTR and looking to catch up with a friend, have a networking meeting, or meeting for an upcoming volunteer event as I was there for a Go Cincinnati project, Coffee Emporium is the place to be. They have a variety of coffees - hot & iced, tea and non-coffee drinks as I'm not a coffee drinker for you to enjoy, served quickly. Large open space with variety of tables for small meeting for two or our meeting grew to over 10 people Coffee Emporium is the place to be downtown.
(4)Nate H.
I really like this place! It's got solid in house roasted coffee, great food, and speedy service! The roastery is off to the side when you walk in here, and if you're curious you can go take a look to see how they work. After that move on to the counter where you can drool over the pastry/food case while you wait to place your order. After that you can browse the extensive selection of coffee goods like grinders, brew methods, beans, and all other manner of accessories on their goodies shelf. As other's have mentioned there's not much for the gluten free people, but I wouldn't consider that a problem. It's a coffee shop, go for the coffee, cause it's great!
(5)Kimberly J.
This place is very large and welcoming. The coffee is great and the atmosphere is just so cool and laid back. Take some time to check out the shop while you're there.
(5)Stephanie M.
Seattle coffee house vibe! (Disclaimer: I've only been to Seattle once, but I went to like six cafes in a span of 2 days) Wallet to Taste Ratio: 3:4 Average coffee house Ambiance: You could sit here for hours. Tons of tables, couches, and seating along the window. Internet lags (understandably), so bring your own. Food: They sort their menu by sandwiches and not sandwiches - how smart! I ordered a latte and scone (honey cream..walnut?) to tide me through my hours of remoting. The latte was a level above starbucks. The scone won me over. The pastry was soft, warm, and slightly salty - topped with a thin layer of slightly sweet cream. Thank you coffee emporium, for being my temporary office for the afternoon.
(4)Saki A.
Love stopping by this place on our doggie walks! The decor is very welcoming and casual, perfect for any group of customers. I usually like to order a choffee, mix between coffee and hot chocolate, which isn't on the menu but the staff always kindly makes. Their yummy sweets are a must get as well, like those humongo cookies that I thoroughly enjoy on my cheat days. Will continually be frequenting this place!
(5)Levi F.
First time being here and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I ended up getting a tuna melt sandwich which was perfectly toasted and literally melted in my mouth! They have a great collection of loose tea that you can choose from. I went with the walnut green after smelling several. It had a lovely fall scent as well as a long lasting flavor. Overall a great spot!
(5)Marchelli H.
I Love Love LOVE this place! It's very energetic but laid back. The coffee selection was very extensive and the drinks are absolutely delicious. Great alternative if you're tired of Starbucks. It's located in a pretty funky neighborhood.
(5)Kara C.
Coffee Emporium just doesn't do it for me. I have been here several times and have never been overly impressed. I enjoy the space and all of the seating options, particularly the comfy couches. The service has always been fast and friendly, even taking orders in line to speed up the process. I will admit that I am not a coffee drinker, so this review will not address that. I have had their smoothies and hot apple cider. I had heard rave reviews about their cider and was very disappointed. It had a watered down taste and was subpar at best. I have noticed that their drinks are served extremely hot. TOO HOT! I understand that people want their coffee, tea, etc served piping hot but this is ridiculous. My husband and I had to wait for our drinks (coffee and cider) to cool off for a very long time, with the lid off even, in order not to burn our mouths. Their smoothies are delicious though, with a variety of flavors! Also, what is with the bathroom situation? You have to get a key to use the restroom. Not only is this inconvenient, but it is also gross. I don't want to touch something that others have taken into the restroom with them. BLEH! Would I come back to Coffee Emporium? Sure. Am I in a hurry to get back? No. In the end, this place is just okay in my opinion.
(3)Brian M.
What can you ask for other than really good coffee and a chill atmosphere to do some studying? Coffee Emporium offers both. Their coffee is great, but I personally find their Glacial Mocha to be especially refreshing on a warm summer day. The space is perfectly laid out for setting up shop and studying. Nice big couches if you are feeling like a more laid back reading day, or a big table if you are looking to spread out a bit more. While I have never actually had their food, it always looks so appetizing.
(4)AJ D.
Best coffee in the city, eat your heart out Starbucks!
(5)Jonathan G.
great food. amazing coffee. friendly staff. nice atmosphere. metered parking at the downtown location is annoying. super-crowding and extraordinarily long lines at the downtown location keep me from going there more than once a month. you absolutely cannot get in and out of the downtown location quickly, if you want a quick morning coffee -- especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. crowds and parking issues aside, it's wonderful.
(4)Neil P.
A bit loud but overall a good place to get good coffee and some work done. This place has tons of seating and if you hit it at prime time it's packed but still manageable. They have some breakfast food on the weekends and pastries at all other times. I'd agree with the other reviews saying that the WiFi is pretty slow. More conducive to hunkering down and working than the Hyde Park location. Unsure about the downtown location.
(4)Shirley A.
Such a cool vibe & inviting interior area . LOVE
(5)Magda C.
Nice place for coffee on a weekend. I especially like blended frozen mocca. Big plus for the artsy bike rack in front!!
(4)Kathleen K.
Conveniently located on Central Parkway, between Downtown and OTR, Coffee Emporium has become my current go-to coffee shop. The open and well-lit space makes the shop a perfect place to spend several hours working and studying. The sweet smell of coffee and pastries doesn't hurt either! Not only are the drinks delicious, but reasonably priced. A medium cup of drip coffee costs two dollars and a dollar to refill. Generally, they have three caffeinated coffees available each day, as well as one decaf. I particularly like the Mackinac Island Fudge, which boasts a chocolate flavor without being too sweet. When used in a café au lait, it tastes like (caffeinated) chocolate milk. In addition to selling good coffees, Coffee Emporium has an impressive selection of teas, both caffeinated and decaf. Try the Roasted Almond with steamed milk! For a coffee shop, Coffee Emporium has a wide array of food items. The pastries are rather expensive, but well worth the cost and a must with any beverage. I recommend the sugar cookies. For those camping out all day, as I often do, the lunch items are tasty and reasonably priced. A sandwich comes with a side (salad or chips) and a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can get waffles with a variety of toppings. However, I found that the waffle that I had, while seemingly crispy, was slightly undercooked. I attribute this flaw to the haste caused by the sheer volume of customers that come in, especially during the weekends. However, despite the frequent long lines, the cashiers do a great job of serving the customers. When taking orders, they manage to handle the line efficiently, all while being extremely friendly. Their strategy of taking down drink orders before a customer pays helps immensely. This coffee shop's only real shortcoming is the bathroom situation: a single locked room, the key for which is hidden behind the register. While their reasons for locking the restroom are certainly justified, I find it inconvenient for the cashier's sake to interrupt him/her to ask for the key, especially when the key is usually in use. Possibly they could make the key more visible, so that you would immediately know whether someone else has the key. However, this one annoyance does not stop Coffee Emporium from being one of the best coffee joints in town. So grab a book (or four), a friend (or four), and spend a whole day in this amazing place!
(5)Sophia B.
My addiction with their chocolate chip cookies, pesto panini & lattes it has graduated to buying bags of their beans for cold brewing at home & their teas are amazing too! Their OTR location is definitely my favorite all year round!
(5)Sean G.
I'm vegan. And sometimes, you just have to drive a hundred miles to get a good - different - vegan treat. I honestly wasn't intending to go to a coffee house (I don't drink coffee), and certainly not as far away as Cincinnati, yet that is exactly where I ended up. First off, I came to the Coffee Emporium based on a "Find Us Here!" link off of Sweet Peace Bakery's web-site. Their products looked awesome, and different, and are sold out of local retail establishments like Coffee Emporium and a handful of other places I wasn't familiar with. I saw the multiple listings for this coffee place and figured "why not?" Let's talk about traffic and parking: certain parts of Cincinnati aren't the easiest to get around, especially if you're not familiar with the areas. It didn't help that there was a major festival a block down the street, so certain streets were blocked off entirely, making GPS navigation somewhat odd. Then, I'm driving around in circles ("Hey look kids, there's Big Ben, and there's Parliament... again.") trying to find a parking spot or a lot - adventure! But I eventually found a place down the street that was reasonably priced ($5 for all-day parking, which was perfect) and parked. After walking a block, which was a good choice given the upcoming vegan treat fest, I came to the Coffee Emporium. Yay! The atmosphere in this location is totally college. Smaller tables, couches, natural light coming in through the multitude of windows...so much natural light! It's also cool how they have metal wire mesh over the windows, and the floor is this built-to-be-dirty long-lasting substance. I find myself wondering if it was stone, concrete, or something else. People all over the place were using laptops: a nice blend of PCs and Macs. I felt a lot of collaboration and discussion in the air: teachers, students, shoppers, shop owners. Little pockets of close-up connection, facilitated by the smallish tables, with just the right amount of space between them. Okay, so, I didn't come here for the atmosphere (although it certainly helps to encourage future visits!) or even the people - I came for the vegan sweets, and some of the random caffeine-free beverages. The beverages seem to be pretty most of the time - I saw a lot of people drinking specialty coffees with the toothpick art in the foam, which I enjoy looking at. I also really enjoy the smell of freshly roasted coffee. What did I drink? I had a cider, which ended up being hot and totally hit the spot. Oh! Speaking of coffee, the hot drink sleeves are neon-green awesomeness. I took a picture and posted it, because it wasn't that boring "recycled paper" look. So we talked about the drinks, the atmosphere, and where to park - let's talk about their fantastic choice of locally-baked vegan baked goods! Sweet Peace Bakery: even the name is awesome! I probably ate too many treats while hanging out, but the two most memorable were the pumpkin cinnamon roll and the coffee cake muffin; out of this world! I probably could have eaten more than one of the cinnamon rolls, but I wisely stayed my hand. The coffee cake muffin is exactly what you'd expect from the name: a super tasty muffin that has coffee cake crumbles baked into it. There's a space separated off by windowed doors, and I'm fairly certain that's a special event location, because it seemed like a wedding party was having a blast, and people were all dressed up in weddingy clothes. From reading some of the signs, pamphlets and postcards kicking around, it also seems like they have periodic themed special events. This really would be the perfect place for a casual event, and if you slid the tables around, you could probably even get a temporary dance floor! Untz untz untz! So overall, a great experience, and worth the drive down from Columbus. Having frequented more than a few coffee houses in Columbus over the years, I can say that this location in Cincinnati feels unique. Plus, there are plenty of shopping and food places nearby, so you'll have other things you can do besides eat pastry and drink coffee. Road trip anyone?
(4)Sable B.
I like Coffee Emporium, I really do. And the staff is great. But for some reason or another I am not head-over-heels in love like most people. Maybe it's because I prefer the one in Hyde Park? I don't know. The Bumble Bee is delicious!
(3)SD L.
Quality coffee and tea. and nice quality food.
(4)Nevena K.
The staff is super nice and their pastries are beautiful.
(5)Heather B.
I have been to Coffee Emporium (CE) no less than a dozen+ times. It is quite possibly the best place to hang out in Cincinnati, but it's almost like they don't know just how cool they are there. The atmosphere is laid back but the staff is extremely efficient and friendly. They have extremely delicious, quickly prepared food on hand as well as all your regularly-requested coffee beverages AND a large assortment of loose-leaf teas. The layout is large enough that you can always find a seat and you can usually choose from a window bar seat, a large table, or a couch/comfy chair. I go there alone to write (free wifi, of course), on dates with my husband, meet ups with friends AND walk with all 4 of my kids to drink steamed milk and do some coloring when we get snowed in. They sell everything you need for at home brewing and tea drinking as well some packaged specialty snacks. There is everything to love here.
(5)Chris P.
Visited CE this morning based on Yelp rating. It was everything people have said, and a full 5 stars. Very friendly service, nice layout, good coffee. I'll make a point to return often.
(5)Liz S.
When I think of a coffee shop close to home (I live downtown) this is the first place I think of. An amazing coffee smell greets you when you walk in. I've always enjoyed the drinks here. When I'm in the mood for a fancy coffee drink, they have great options. They also have delicious smoothies that are not too sweet. When I need something refreshing, I get a pomegranate green tea. It's a great space to hangout either inside or out front. Grab a book or good friend on you're way.
(4)Matt A.
Well, I was a bit depressed when I heard this was a chain that started in Hyde Park. Being the son of a working man in Northside I've been taught that the east side is filled with useless pretension. Now I still believe this is true, the coffee here is pretty good. The roaster is no clown. The aroma of the bean is not lost in the roasting and most importantly they seem to understand the concept of freshness. The beans taste fresh and the coffee I've had never taste old. The sandwiches are less than stellar. The tuna melt is hardly 'melty'. This takes more cheese and more heat. Easy, right? I got a bagel with cream cheese once. It was pretty silly. I opened the bag in the truck and saw it was a plain toasted bagel with a package of Philly cream cheese. When I pay money for a toasted bagel with cream cheese I want you to spread it on there for me. I expect you to buy a decent cheese. I expect to have my food assembled for me. I'm pathetic and lazy. Serve me. .
(4)Richard W.
Coffee Emporium roasts its own beans! This means they can control the flavor...which is very good. Coffee Emporium does not over roast. So there is not a burnt flavor that so many have become used to by going to a certain Star named chain. And the food and snacks are very good too.
(5)Lincoln C.
Two deal breakers; 1. One unisex restroom for a host of caffinated bladders; 2. The slowest wifi I have ever experienced. However, if you can hold it and don't use wifi this is a very good coffee house.
(3)Gordon H.
This is the best coffee spot in the city. It has such a lively atmosphere and everyone regardless of livelihood is touching elbows and getting along. The space is huge and the energy is boundless. The staff are so welcoming and do everything in their power to make it the best experience for each individual. They make sure to remember people and their orders which means the world to customers. The coffee is local and you can't go wrong with any item on the menu whether it is food or coffee! Make sure to support local.
(5)Kathy G.
The best, the best, the best. Coolest, hippest coffee house in Cincy. Coffee always freshly ground steaming hot and taste excellent parentheses even though I only drink decaf. Oatmeal breakfast with hot steam skim milk is my favorite and the maple oatmeal scones are great. My husband always gets the breakfast burrito, he loves it. Ambience is great for meetings, social gatherings, or working alone. Huge, huge space plenty of comfy seating, always parking at meters along Central Parkway or on sidestreets makes this the greatest coffeehouse in Cincinnati.
(5)James B.
This place was straight up awesome, I wish they could just move to Rochester. We came here on a Sunday morning while driving through the city and we stopped here and ended up extremely glad that we did. The lattes were both delicious that we ordered with not an overwhelming amount of syrup, but enough to give them a great flavor and the scones we both got were spot-on awesome. The seating outside was just the extra perk that put it over the top. The staff inside were all wonderful! I would come back here in a heartbeat!
(5)Katie F.
Although I've already written a review for the Coffee Emporium in Hyde Park, I feel this location deserves one as well. I love this place and hang out there at least once a week to have meetings or get some work done. Not only is the atmosphere great, but the employees are so friendly and helpful. They have helped me with so many different purchases outside of food/coffee...different beans, a pour over "dripper" (I don't technically know what they are officially called but it's the V60 and I'm obsessed with it), and also loose-leaf tea. Plus, not only is their coffee great, but their quiches are off the hook!
(5)Karthik R.
Okay so three stars for the coffee but four stars for the location, staff and ambiance. The seating needs to improve though. It has good coffee but nothing or of the way mind blowing.
(3)J B.
Great place that seemed to serve a wide range of patrons. Good selection of drip coffees and fancier drinks.
(5)Jamie W.
This place is so cute! Parking is kind of difficult and it was super crowded even on a Late Sunday afternoon. I had the hot apple cider and it was delicious. I'm not even a huge cider fan. Three of us shared a peanut butter cookie that was really good also and we couldn't even finish it. Awesome atmosphere great place to go when catching up with friends. There is a back room with additional tables. It would be nice if they added some cozier seating back there though.
(4)Elaine W.
Fact: People come here for the food just as much as they do for the coffee, which is funny because I have spent countless hours and afternoons here but have yet to try the real food. The junk food, on the other hand, pah--I know my muffins and coffee cake like none other. BIG PROS: - I love both Coffee Emporium locations (OTR and Hyde Park). This one is a better place to do work, though, as there are more seats, and if you look around, at least 70% of the people here are on their laptops or reading. Free wifi works splendidly here. - Great drink selection, though I wish they had more teas. Can't blame them, I guess, as it is a COFFEE emporium. Love the Aztec spice hot cocoa. Double love the free soy milk substitution (in yo' face, Starbucks). - Enough munchies to keep you here all day long. MINOR CONS: - They play the music a little too loud for my taste. Must bring headphones. Must. - Summers here are sweltering! I usually sit at the long counter by the open windows and crane my neck like a baby giraffe to catch a cooling breath of wind.
(4)Lia V.
I'm a little bit in love with this place. The ambiance is ultra cool - kind of lofty feeling. Plenty of seating. Great location. Good mix of people. DELICIOUS coffee. Service is friendly and quick even when it's busy - appropriate staffing is always appreciated! Prices are a little higher than some of your other coffee joints, but I think it's worth it for sure. I could spend an afternoon in there reading and drinking coffee :-)
(5)Stephen C.
Great coffee shop. Very cyclist friendly. The coffee is great and the staff is very friendly. There are times, though, when they are so busy that customers are lined up out the door. You'd best not be in a huge hurry at those times.
(4)Sally Y.
If you ever wonder what those people who "work from home" do, this is the place to find all the answers. Pop on in on any weekday, and you'll catch a plethora of people chugging along on their laptops, phones, 1 on 1 meetings, and working hard for the money. Seriously. The staff is super friendly with nothing but smiles, the coffee is delicious, and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual work environment or a sit down spot to read a book. Even on weekends, this place is buzzing with those looking for a fun brunch spot, a quick afternoon coffee break, or even just a place to relax for a few minutes before they're off to their next adventure. One last additional bonus? Everything about this place screams OTR. You want to know what the OTR vibe is really like? Take a step inside here.
(4)Soly Z.
Coffee was great and I didn't feel too uncomfortable inside, despite the hipster vibe. Only complaint is that our drinks were cold when they came up on the bar. They use quality, grass-fed dairy and Monin syrups, which are the gold standard when it comes to coffee flavorings.
(3)Alyssa F.
I'm not sure how I've missed reviewing the Emporium before, but I'm glad I waited because now I can talk about the REALLY good sandwich I ate over the weekend. I think it was called Alligator Pear? But it was avocado, cheese, tomato, onion... all on toasted bread with a side. Loved it. Devoured it. The coffee here is really good. My friend had a black bean burger (i think- definitely veggie), and he said it's one of the best he's had in the city. It looked really legit, too. Big bun, all the fixings- like a burger from a full service restaurant. My only complaint here is that the seating is a bit awkward or maybe too crowded or small? Especially when they have a band playing in the main area.
(4)Ploy K.
Coffee Emporium is my new favorite weekend grading spot. The coffee and food are both excellent (the pastries are quite scrumptious!) and I don't feel bad lingering there for hours on end working because that's basically what everyone else is doing, too. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is pleasant - loud enough not to be a library but not so loud you can't get anything done. I love the space, too - the windows let in tons of light which helps keep me motivated, especially in the winter. I think you have to ask to have a mug, though - I've never been asked "here or to-go" and my drink is always put into a paper cup, which is wasteful, but if that's how they do it, cool.
(4)Scott M.
About as good as it gets, honestly... a new favorite of ours that we will hit up every time we visit Cincy. Coffee-wise, the quad macchiato was perfection and the wife loved her iced cold brew. Food-wise, the Alligator Pear sandwich is a dream for avocado lovers and the Mediterranean sliders had the perfect amount of kalamata/feta to compliment the tzatziki. The bakery items we got were very good but not mind-blowing (cinnamon bread, apricot pocket thing). Vibe-wise, very cool. Laid back and casual with lots of room to stretch out and stay a while. Friendly staff too.
(5)Brian L.
I have fallen in and out of love with this over the past few years. Honestly, it is a great establishment with great coffee, latte's, and even food. As a foodie, it ranks at the top of my list. Check out the quiches or the breakfast burritos! They are bomb for low key breakfast. Even the culture and atmosphere of the place brings a sense of nostalgia that makes you want to come back The major downers for me all have to do with space management. With a great establishment comes a great many people. - no parking has turned me away quite a few times - there are never tables available on weekends when you want to relax the most - so many people makes the place louder than I want while trying to get work done - there is 1 bathroom for a place filled with coffee drinkers - the internet is not reliable. - WHY DO YOU CLOSE AT 9PM?! -__- maybe this is good for my general health, but still... Don't get me wrong, I love this place at the right times. It is a Cincinnati Hipster staple.
(3)Cassidy H.
My favorite coffee and beverages in Cincinnati, by far! Coffee is always fresh and hot. The flavored coffees are amazing. But, my all time favorite is the dirty chai (Starbucks cannot even compare!). Note: their lattes have double espresso shots--which I love because it really cuts the sweetness and makes the flavor perfecto. I hear the food is good too. Though I have only had a few items: the maple oat scone, the pumpkin scone, the oatmeal (I prefer the blueberry almond, but the chocolate coconut is good if you want something really chocolatey. Upgrade for seamed milk, totally worth it.) At the Xavier campus location, I like the get the peanut butter and jam sandwich. Simple but tasty.
(5)Samantha W.
I've been hearing a lot about this place and it's as actually as cool and as good as it sounds! I'm definitely not a coffee drinker but they have lots of other things to choose from along with food selections. PARKING: Street parking. I hope you're not expecting anything amazing because parking in downtown is always a pain. BUT, sometimes you do get lucky. So good luck with parking, my friend. AMBIANCE: Really good place to meet people to hang out/work or study as long as you're not one of those people who demands absolute silence. This place has more than enough space and tables (can't say anything about outlets though because I didn't look), so it shouldn't be a problem finding a place to sit. There's also WIFI! A plus for all of us workers and students. I know how it is. Warning though, it can get a little slow when everyone is actually working. Or browsing Facebook. FOOD: I ordered their APPLE TURNOVER ($2.75) which turned out to be nice and warm, not too sweet, with the flakiest crust EVER. YUM. I wish there was a higher crust to filling ratio though, but that's just because I like it like that. The filling consisted of nice big chunks of apple and the taste was perfecto. You should definitely try this if you can't decide on their other tempting food items. I also ordered their 16oz ICED CHAI ($4) which tasted good but seemed not to be well mixed. It was a bit heavy on the cinnamon side in the beginning and a little bit on the milky side near the end but overall it was good. You can taste the chai, but it wasn't overwhelming. Since I was there at an odd hour between breakfast and lunch I didn't purchase any of their sandwiches, but I did overhear someone say it was tasty, so I must come back to try them...can't wait!
(4)Cody B.
Awesome food, amazing coffee (hot or cold), and a stellar staff! It is a little slice of heaven in the Queen City! What can I say, I'm hooked! Definitely try the Hot Turkey sandwich with the spicy pretzels. One of my favorite lunch or light dinner dishes. And they serve all of their food with a piece of premium chocolate! Just an awesome place to be for grabbing coffee, casual food, and/or awesome baked goods. What more could you ask for! And its right in the heart of OTR.
(5)Alyssa K.
The Mackinac Island Fudge coffee is amazing. The environment is very relaxing and friendly - a perfect place to meet with friends, plan your trip in Cincinnati,or do work. The breakfast burritos are delicious and full of flavor.
(5)Nick P.
I love this coffee shop. Friendly staff that learns your name and drink after a while. They're fairly priced and have great coffee selections. Make yourself a regular here; you'll be glad you did. Summer Solstice is my favorite coffee for what it's worth.
(5)Harshal P.
One of the best places in Cincinnati. After the riots in OTR a number of years ago, this Coffee Emporium was one of the first businesses to open in OTR. In some ways it was the leader in helping revitalize the OTR neighborhood. The location is great, convenient to the highway and downtown, and also has a nice but small outdoor seating area. The inside is fairly large, and fairly noisy, but a good environment to sit and talk with friends, read or get work done. The Chai Tea Latte is probably my favorite menu item, but there is a fairly broad menu to select from. I haven't tried any of the sandwiches yet, but others have told me they are average.
(5)Deborah H.
I love Coffee Emporium, and it has nothing to do with the awesome coffee or excellent treats! I feel at home when I'm there, and always run into someone I know (or want to know). From local politicians and business-types, to students and tired shoppers, the eclectic mix of people and great java make Coffee Emporium my kind of place. Did I forget the kind, fun, informative staff? My bad. They are top-notch.
(5)Chanell K.
Let me just say that I have been a fan of Coffee Emporium for years now. This is my favorite location. The spacious, more industrial vibe is perfectly matched with the rustic, homemade trinkets that you can spot around the place. I love walking to get a nice smoothie on a hot day, or stopping in for a warm chai tea on a cold day. There's always a lot of people here, but it's always great! The service is awesome! Everyone is super friendly and willing to answer any questions that you have. They recognize you when you walk in, and pay attention to the customer. We love that. This is probably one of my favorite spots in the city. Whether it be to come and read a book, grab a coffee, do some work, or catch up with an old friend-- this place rules! Coffee Emporium will forever be known as the place where I predict that I will meet my future husband. And yes, I have said that a time or two. Almost to the point where the social media people of Coffee Emporium know me that way. :) Anywho... This place rules! The staff is great! The coffee is amazing! And the food is filling! What else can you want? Oh, and there's free wifi! Hells yea!
(5)John B.
While I am not a coffee drinker, I pretty much love everything else this place serves. The smell of coffee (which I do love) hits you like a warm wave of yummy goodness. The food I've had there has been great and fresh tasting, ya know, the kind of fresh that has you devouring it and wanting to back for more? It's that good. There are all kinds of creative people here reading, working on laptops, and just looking cool. Sometimes I feel out of place. ha ha. Anyways, about the only thing that I could ding this place for is the whole bathroom key thing. I understand why they need to do it, but wish I could just walk in and use the facilities without handling a key that umpteen hundreds of people have touched. #germaphobe Stop on by and grab some food and drink here! Take a bite out of Starbucks' coffee-opoly.
(5)Ashley B.
I usually never give reviews this low, but I am to the point of anger. I have been coming here for almost 5 years and recently there has been a line to the door the past 3 or 4 times I have attempted to get coffee here. I haven't been able to get a latte or a bag of coffee in a couple weeks now. I end up going somewhere else, but Coffee Emporium is my first choice. Now I wonder if I will ever be able to come back. They need to get a second cash register and have more than one person on the bar. People who want coffee have to stand in line for for sometimes 30 minutes (I have done it before with only several people in front of me, I wonder how long I would wait with the line to the door!) behind people who are ordering food and dilly dally in line until they reach the register and finally go "hmmm what do I want? What do you recommend?" It's very frustrating. I feel that if a company is becoming this busy, they need to take steps to accommodate the influx of customers. It's awesome that they have had a gain in popularity, but honestly waiting in line for more than 10 minutes for a cup of coffee is not worth it, no matter how good the coffee is or how good the customer service.
(2)Jay B.
Coffee Emporium has been a mainstay in the gateway district for years. The place has a great vibe, meaning a diverse clientele, good location and of course great coffee and food. Free wi FI doesn't hurt either. Anytime we come back to Cincinnati this is one of the first places we visit.
(5)Liz M.
Great downtown location for good coffee. We were able to walk here from our hotel. I wish we had had the time to really relax here, because this is the kind of place that is spacious and comfortable to set up shop for a meeting or work. Staff was really friendly. They seem to have a lot of regulars. Rightfully so! I got an iced latte, save for being a bit strong, it was awesome. Boyfirend got the turtle latte and it was scrumptious. Best flavored latte I've ever tasted. They serve lots of local pastries and cookies as well as make some of their own. They serve fresh waffles on weekends and have breakfast wraps and lunch options. I would highly recommend stopping here for a leisurely coffee with breakfast or lunch!
(4)Pamela F.
Huge space to gather, not overridden with pretense like sbucks
(3)Jason H.
The breakfast burritos here are legit AND still served in the afternoon - my type of place! :)
(5)Grace S.
Get the roasted almond tea. I'm addicted. I regret only buying 3 ounces since I live 2 states away... :'( ... Aaaand that's all my review is based on since I've only stopped in once for a couple minutes :)
(5)Alexander P.
Coffee Emporium is better than other coffee shops. Here's why: 1. Tons of vegan and speciality items, rotating daily. 2. Huge, open floor plan shop with many nooks and just the right level of noise. 3. Hip yet friendly staff. No aire of pretense - everyone is welcome here. 4. In the historic emery building - a beautiful location. Huge open windows for a 'New York'/ genuine urban feel. 5. Convenient/ metered parking that's free before 9AM. Park, hop in, and leave. 6. Quirky and unique decorating (there's a bike wrapped in yarn as a decoration... Need I say more) 7. Even the lids on their cups are compostable. To many people this doesn't matter - but I think that it underscores another reason of why I like CE - trying to be Eco-conscious when, well they really don't have to. I have a bit of social anxiety when trying new places, especially when I already have a favorite / routine place that fills my need in a certain area. I was worried this place would be a hipster paradise, but I was incredibly surprised. Definitely worth a try - you will never ever want to go anywhere else again!
(5)Sarah F.
Service was awesome and fast for how busy they were on my first visit to the Coffee Emporium. I'm not a coffee drinker, but they had plenty of options for me! On a hot day like today I went for the blended chai drink, a small (12oz) ran me $4. The drink was awesome! Just the right amount of spice and they were able to replace the dairy milk with soy. I didn't get any desserts with my order but there was a ton of sweets that looked delicious! Not to mention plenty of wraps (both with meat and without). I'll make sure to come back for a cupcake soon!
(4)Yencie A.
Service was awesome, great coffee, delicious food and desserts in a cool atmosphere.
(4)James L.
Starbucks doesn't stand a chance! If you ever decide to have a powwow on your lunch break and need a caffeine kick then this is your place. I find myself meeting people here for a sandwich and coffee every time I come to town and I love it more every time. The food is well though out and vegan friendly, and the coffee is brewed in house. What else could you ask for? The place is cool, as in both hip and also a great place to get out of the sun. The ambience is very laid back with comfy couches and laptop addicts all around. It also has a really neat performance stage that draws some really talented artists both young and old school. I don't think it's used during the day, but they do have night gigs there and special events that are open to the public. I live out of town and I really miss this nice bit of Cincy. Please go here and make me jealous.
(5)Joshua A.
Consistently delicious coffee and baked goods! They also offer a variety of lunch/deli items.
(5)April T.
I've only been here a handful of times and every time has been great. Wish I lived closer! The coffee is great and the food always looks amazing, but haven't actually had it. I've had a few deserts and they tasted like heaven. I have to admit, if I lived closer to this place, I would probably be broke, but I would be too hyped up on caffeine to care!
(5)Scott M.
This place just seems to get better every time I go! This weekend I was downtown with a friend and stopped by for a midday snack. I purchased the ::new:: Cold Turkey Sandwich paired with the Watermelon Gazpacho to go along with my Iced Latte (it truly was a Sun-day). The sandwich comes with some luscious avocado (fan favorite). The Watermelon Gazpacho was the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. You simply must try it if you have the opportunity. My compatriot and I chose to sit at one of the tables outside. Never noticed until now, but the outdoor tables range in shape from parallelogram to rhomboid, which made sitting at them a point of conversation, albeit a bit of a challenge logistically speaking (I believe I sat at a 135 degree angle from my friend). Food was brought outside to our table-- what service! I'm quickly becoming a fast fan of the Emporium. Careful with your wallet though, I dropped $16 on my delicious midday snack.
(4)Jessica S.
I'm what some may call a "coffee addict" or "caffeine fiend" and, my friends, my dealer will now be the one and only Coffee Emporium. What I enjoy about this place is exactly what I look for in coffee houses: chill atmosphere, funky decor, friendly staff, comfy seating, lots of options, and good prices. First of all, this Central Parkway shop is HUGE with ample seating. Want to sit at a high-bar table? Got it. Want a sofa? Got that, too. Want a large table for you and 7 of your closest buds? Sure thing. The coffee is good and there are many options, not just in the different styles (macchiato, latte, espresso, iced, hot, etc.) but the things you can have in it to make it your own (different milks, flavors, vegan options, organic/fair-trade, etc.). And, sure, this may sound like what Starbucks does (and in a way, it is) but you have four sizes to choose from and a friendlier staff than any other national chain will ever have. One thing I've never experienced at any other coffee shop are the "artisans". They will sometimes have a table near the front door with a coffee guru to show you different beans that have been roasted different ways, tastings, etc. It's intimidating and awesome all at the same time. I could go on and on about this place, but bottom line: if you want something as simple as a cup of tea or as complex as a mondo iced double white chocolate soy mocha with a Sweet Peace Bakery oatmeal dream pie to go with the live acoustic music... you'll find it here!
(5)Monika N.
I'm not a coffee drinker (at least not plain coffee) but I love working in coffee shops while grading or lesson planning, and this is one of coffee shops of choice. I love their fru-fru drinks (especially the mochas and chai tea latte) and the atmosphere can't be beat. I can sit on a couch or at a table to get work done, and the people watching is always excellent if I need a short distraction. And of course I love that they have free wifi! We've also tried the food and it is excellent! I'm not vegetarian but the black bean burger is to die for! And I honestly typically hate beans! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Matthew C.
Well done, Coffee Emporium! You've officially disproved anyone who thought there wasn't an awesome local establishment serving up great coffee in Cincinnati! Immediately upon walking in, the bright, spacious interior with plenty of seating and small tables along with the smell of freshly brewed coffee will immediately make you feel right at home. This shop lends itself to either meeting a friend for coffee or getting some work done--there appear to be plenty of outlets for laptops. I went with the cafe au lait and my friend had the chai tea latte. Both were excellent! The best part about the cafe au lait is that you're in control--you put as much coffee (and whichever blend) you want in your cup and then take it to the barista who tops it off with steamed milk of your choice. I had one of the full city roasts that was not at all bitter or burnt. My friend said the chai tea latte was also quite good, though she mentioned that it was on the sweeter side. Finally, I love a local coffee shop that supports other local establishments. In Coffee Emporium, you'll find a huge selection of fliers and pamphlets advertising local art, entertainment, and dining. If you're looking for something new and different, check out the selection! So why not 5 stars? While the coffee and atmosphere were superb, the hummus sandwich I had was only mediocre and slightly above average. The hummus was a little bland and the pita bread wasn't as fresh and soft as I would've liked. It still wasn't bad (and I loved the fact that it had sliced apples on it), but Coffee Emporium didn't knock it out of the park on this one.
(4)Louise D.
My visit here was long overdue but I finally made it! What a cool space! It was a lot bigger than I thought it would be and had such a cool vibe to it. People just hanging out, working, blogging, relaxing! If it would be a little closer to Covington I'd be here every day! As Howard said, this is a great spot for non-coffee lovers too, which I am. I really don't like coffee, so I was glad to see that they had a decent smoothie offer, with fresh fruits. Yum! Great place to pop in after a stroll to OTR, loved it!
(4)Anna S.
I came to Cincinnati with my nose turned way up, pretentious as can be, about my coffee preferences. Justified only by living in Brooklyn and drinking what I thought was the brew of the gods over there. Coffee Emporium knocked the bullshit right out of me, and with charm, genuine niceness and delicious coffee that changes daily. These guys make a mean Americano and do everything with this level of cheer that I've never seen anywhere. They also have vegan coffee cake and vegan pumpkin cinnamon rolls. So my fellow veg-heads, please pop in and try them. Great people, great, coffee and an atmosphere that makes me not feel so out of place away from home. Love you guys, thank you.
(5)Andrew S.
Decent Coffee, but I'm not sure what the hype is about. Awesome selection and well-staffed. Definitely get you through the line well, but how important is quality in serving each customer? Eh, not so great. Don't go for a cappuccino. Try BLOC Coffee! Don't go for pastry. (It's pretty dry and overly sweet) Go when you need a place to grab some wifi and some great smells with a friend. Awesome location without the excellence I hope for.
(3)Zack H.
Coffee for hipsters, technically located in the most hipster neighborhood in the city, OtR. I came here today for the first time, and I was mildly surprised with how large it was. It's a surprisingly good place to meet up with friends, strangers or the hundreds of homeless people wandering OtR (they need a coffee and food every now and then at your expense, after all). There must have been 20 tables and 5 circles of couches for people to work on their laptops or whatever. They have free WiFi here, so that helps. Oh yeah, they also serve coffee here. I had a grande hazelnut coffee. The coffee was above average, nothing spectacular. If anything, it was a little bitter, but there was a distinct hazelnut taste. This place is Starbucks without the high prices and iffy service. In other words, it's well worth your time and money.
(4)Sam N.
LOVE this place. The food is great, coffee is good, staff are friendly. I could sit there for hours and study. I feel welcomed there. It's important to have places like that in downtown Cincinnati to help with the revival of its urban core. I only hope the city continues to thrive and succeed.
(5)Ben D.
Staff is super friendly; the breakfast burritos are great. The baked goods are worth checking out too; I love the chocolate muffin. All the coffee drinks are great. Mostly, the ambiance sells this place, very homey and comfy.
(5)Michelle B.
Coffee emporium's turtle latte rocks my world. Originally, I gave them a lower rating for the less than impressive scone but I've bumped it to 5 stars after enjoying a mouth watering chocolate pastry and a perfectly ripe banana. I brought my toddler in while my husband got his hair cut accross the street. We fit right in, no eyes rolling about spoiling adult coffee time and the place was loud and comfortable enough to accomodate a little squirmy kid (we sat in one of the upholstered chair areas and he took turns moving from chair to chair). I also love that they recycle and compost. And offer water in glasses instead of disposable. We'll see how the compostable cup the coffee came in does in my backyard compost bin. I'll be back, I miss you already, xoxo.
(5)David G.
Brilliant! Big coffee and community love at Coffee Emporium. Perfect blend of neighborhood soul and java-geekery! I know when and where these beans were roasted--and, thank you. I had espresso and took to-go some brewed Ethiopian Amaro Gayo full-city roast. Beautiful roast and beautiful brew. In Cinci for a conference. Will be back for more coffee for sure.
(4)Susan L.
I am not a coffee drinker, but I like coffee emporium, it is a great comfortable place to meet up with someone, even for work or just to talk.. The have some great teas, so I am fine there. For breakfast they have Taste of Belgium waffles, but unless you get their early, I think people in the building get them all before anyone else can get them. The staff is very friendly, it is a neighborhood handout, comfortable and cozy.
(4)Bethany S.
Delicious chai and a casual, fun atmosphere. I stopped in randomly as an out-of-towner and plan to come again!
(5)Chenney C.
There is nothing that I could say that could add onto what is already mentioned. This place is hands down my favorite coffee shop...ever. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because of its working hours. I'm a night owl, and I need a spot 24/7 that I could spot myself at odd hours in the night and work my life away. Eww, what a bah humbug thing of me to say. You can definitely tell I'm ready for the Christmas holiday to start. Did I mention the Chai Tea Latte is my favorite? I'm also excited to also buy some coffee beans to use in my much anticipated new coffee grinder.
(4)Jay S.
This place is legit. Best cafe downtown or Northern KY period. They could stay open a bit later, but that's OK. Waffles = Killer. Orange Jillius (named after Jill girl that works there) = Tasty. Vibe = Makes you feel like you're in a major city. Ahhhh nice.
(5)Andrew F.
Pro: Service, environment, the coffee Con: On a Saturday/Sunday morning, I don't ask for much more than coffee and something to nourish my hungover body. The only problem with this place is It gets so crowded, I cannot zone out at one of the tables or couches while waking up!
(4)Heather K.
A few months ago when I started working in OTR and frequenting Coffee Emporium, I couldn't have been more smitten. I love the coffee (Winter Solstice is my absolute FAVORITE coffee in the history of the world!), and the service, and the atmosphere, and the convenient location, and pretty much everything about it. BUT, when I first started coming here coworkers and I would go about once a week and sometimes more for a carry-out lunch. Their sandwiches are lovely (I'd kill for their tuna recipe) and they have hot options, cold options, veggie/vegan options...basically anything you want. However, slowly but surely their sandwiches & sides began significantly declining in size while the prices stayed the same. At one point in time $9 for lunch seemed reasonably when it was tasty and filling, but now every time I get a sandwich I feel like I could have made it at home for less than $3. I still love Coffee Emporium and I'm sure I always will, but I won't be eating lunch their quite as often as before.
(3)Sheila M.
I made a trip out here on a Sunday to check it out because of the great reviews, and because one of my friends loves it as a study spot. Just note that it is downtown and you may run into some shady situations. (Guy passes me, stares me down and goes "Damn, das some good p**sy!" That was a new one...shudder). The fact that the place was packed was a good sign, as were the copious seating area and the large tables for spreading out my study materials. I liked the variety of sandwiches, pastries, and drinks to choose from, as well as the quality of the pastry I bought (lemon pound cake was rich and lemony, as it should be). The actual studying didn't work too well for me, as I found it particularly loud, with the Bob Dylan blasting from the speakers, people chatting, and babies screaming. But I know not everyone goes to a coffeeshop to focus on organic chemistry problems, so my review remains positive. Good atmosphere, good quality, good parking situation on Sunday -- how can I complain?
(4)Jackie S.
I don't actively seek out coffee shops, nor do I drink coffee, but I look forward to the times when I'm asked to join my co-workers for a little break and a walk to the Coffee Emporium. This is as grass-fed as it gets, people. You can lock up your bike to the beautiful bike rack outside and stroll on in to the industrial-chic roasting site and shop, passing the many (too many to mention individuals) pieces of unique artistry on your way to the pastry counter. The baristas will ask for your name when you place your order so you can find a seat and wait for your upcoming sip of heaven to be made. Personal favorites include the Orange Julius or an iced chai. I also enjoy the people watching and the amazing aroma wafting through the building. I would say that it's a tad off the beaten path, but it's definitely worth it for the unique experience - whether you drink coffee or not.
(4)Monica W.
I have always had a good experience here. The atmosphere at Coffee Emporium is very lively and cozy all at the same time with lots of seating. The employees are very knowledgeable on their products and are very helpful. I always switch my order up every time I go here but my favorite drink I have ordered is the Aztech spice mocha. I ordered a Florentine quiche yesterday that was really yummy!
(5)Stephanie L.
If I were to sit down and imagine what a perfect neighborhood coffee shop should be, it would offer exactly what Coffee Emporium does. What is that you may ask? Well, some examples are the following: -Locally roasted coffee for amazing, fresh taste -A selection of breakfast items to go with those yummy morning drinks. -An inviting, cozy atmosphere (including couches/ soft chairs) for gathering together with friends -Seating ranging from couches, to small tables for 4 (which can be combined together for larger groups) to bar height counter seating at the windows facing outside. -Tasty, fresh selections of soups/ sandwiches for lunch -Belgian waffle with fresh fruit brunches on the weekend! -Featured food items from local bakeries -Free wifi -Plenty of outlets So if you're by yourself in the city and looking for a place to relax and check your email pull up a bar seat at the window. With a business partner or friends and looking to catch up over great coffee or lunch? Nab a table in the middle of the room. Want to snuggle up to your sweetie over some warm drinks on a rainy day? Find a cozy couch spot! This place has it all. The only thing that would make me love Coffee Emporium even more is if they were open in the evening too!
(5)Andrew N.
Good coffee, a nice assortment of pastries and simple foods (some of it from Findlay market nearby) and a nice cozy atmosphere round out this great coffee shop. It's a big space, so there are plenty of tables and a number of couches to lounge around. I've tried to get work done here several times, but unless it's fairly mindless busy work, I find it can be hard to focus as it borders on the louder side of things; there is no quiet area, per se. However, if you're coming here just to unwind with a strong cup and relax (or stand out) amongst hipsters, you've found the right place.
(4)Courtney R.
Coffee Emporium Hyde Park is a better place to work outdoors, but Coffee Emporium OTR's big windows and spread-out space makes it a great atmosphere for work. Love their coffee and love the fact they have locally sourced energy bars. The service is great, the crowd is fun (and distracting) to watch, and there are plenty of plugs. Can't ask for much more.
(5)Lauren C.
I love Coffee Emporium - specifically the downtown location! The employees are incredibly friendly - always smiling and upbeat. CE serves 4 different drip coffees per day, and they have Snowville creamery milk and half and half (grassfed milk amazingness from Ohio). Coffee emporium also supports other local businesses through sales of a wide variety of local pastries and treats. They also have a pretty good size menu of salads, sandwiches... and made to order waffles for breakfast. The inside of coffee emporium is amazing - it's spacious and has multiple different areas. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Alison M.
On any weekday you will find a number of notable Cincinnatians having one-on-one meetings here. And it really is a perfect spot for that. The wide open, warehouse style floor plan keeps the tables far enough apart to ensure the privacy of your conversation. And as Alex mentioned, they definitely have the acoustics under control, so you can speak at a normal conversational level. I love the huge windows that allow tons of sunlight to come in. The Coffee Emporium is located on the ground level of the historic Emory building, and it has a lot of OTR charm. Sitting just across the street from the Central Business District, however, it draws many customers from both neighborhoods. It's a nice blend of different crowds. I am not a coffee drinker, so I can't speak to the quality of their brews. However, their chai tea latte is one of the better that I've had. Parking would be difficult during morning or evening rush hour, but, otherwise, finding a metered spot on Central is usually no problem.
(5)Niamh O.
So I started heading down here at Jessalynn S.'s recommendation, and while I cannot say I'm quite as enthused as she is with the spot, it is pretty hard to beat. The negatives: parking and hours. You have to pay for parking before six pm, and I'm a cheapskate, so I tend to arrive right at 6 and park in the metered spots after the meters shut off. Hours: they close at eight--woes! I truly wish they would stay open later, as it is a great place to get some work done. On to the positives: HUGE space. I cannot imagine showing up here and not finding a table to your liking. Loads of counter space by the windows, some sofas and armchairs, and plenty of small tables. The plug access is more limited, but the music is great, the atmosphere is awesome, and even though it lamely closes at eight, maybe this is in its favor: It helps make me less lame. Because when it closes, I toss the bag in the car and walk to the Lackman for a few pints. WIN.
(4)Daniel V.
The Coffee Emporium has an excellent selection of coffees to choose from and a big, open room to find seating. There is a great variety of pastries to choose from, especially if you like gluten-free or vegan options. There is always local artwork on the walls, so take the time to browse and see what your favorite local artist is up to!
(4)Terry E.
A consistent local coffee house with great baristas. My favorite drink is the nonfat Aztec Warrior.
(4)Angela C.
Tasty food, good coffee, free wireless, eco-friendly and local food focus- all key in my book for a great local coffee shop. There is a lot of space for meeting with friends or bringing a laptop to get some work done. I'm not sure I have been there enough to have a good gauge on the complaints some other reviewers had about the noise, but I did not notice it being unbearably loud. It might not be quiet enough for serious studying. Either way, Coffee Emporium is popular- and for good reason.
(5)Emily H.
My favorite coffee shop, at least downtown if not in the city. I have reviews for other places where I think the coffee is marginally to noticeably better. However, Coffee Emporium has a better mix of coffee, atmosphere, food, space, location and other amenities. The coffee is all direct trade which is very important, and all the coffee drinks are well-crafted compared to Starbucks. In addition to the coffee drinks they also have several other smoothie and non-coffee type drinks but I will say I've never gotten those because I always drink coffee! On top of the great coffee, they also have great food! All of their breakfast and lunch selections are great and they serve the best local pastries and other baked goods from around the city. It's pretty hard to resist those when I'm placing my order. Lastly, their space is great. It's an eclectic, artful mix without being over the top or too shabby. There's plenty of space to sit, work or hang out with your friends. I always try to go here when anyone suggests meeting for coffee!
(5)Becky S.
Best Feature: FANTASTIC coffee! Worst Feature: Parking on the streets nearby (may cost $$) Today was my first visit to Coffee Emporium - and I was NOT disappointed! :-) I met up with a former professor and a few of my friends for some java and conversation. Getting down there was no problem, but finding a parking spot was tricky. There is no private lot, so we found a side street near Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Unfortunately, we did not catch it at the right time and did have to pay for parking, so be aware - you will need some change if you are planning on parking on the street. I was delighted to see, upon entering, that there was plenty of room and seating available. You can also sit outside, if you are so inclined. The noise level was tolerable and allowed for conversation. You can pick from hot coffee drinks, cold coffee drinks, non-coffee drinks, and they even specify on the menu what includes and excludes espresso, so you will find a LOT to offer. I ordered myself a glacial peanut butter and chocolate coffee beverage and eagerly awaited trying this delicious-sounding concoction. They also have a variety of food dishes available - I would love to go back and try one of their sandwiches. Glad they have nomnomitty goodness for the hungry! They even have a sign letting you know that you can help save the environment - if you're dining in, you can put your beverage in a glass cup rather than use a paper cup and waste resources. Nice!! :-) The coffee was absolutely divine! They make it worth the money for sure. The staff was definitely friendly and made the transaction a pleasant experience. I'd definitely say this is a great place to go for coffee - it's worth the trip downtown! It's now going on my coffee favorites list. :-)
(5)Kat C.
Only my favorite place ever! This may be because of the great people or the phenomenal healthy food or the sweet desserts or the fact they have almond milk for their lattes. But they definitely haven't missed a detail when it comes to being a 'good people' business. Fav food = vine street salad
(5)Jennifer Y.
My only complaint: the hours. Seriously? You can't operate a coffee shop only during work/class hours. Thank god they are open on the weekends ... Otherwise. fantastic. Coffee is great. Food is delicious. Music is appropriately indie/emo and not sing a long tunes. Free Wifi. Interesting people. Board games. I mean, what else do you need? I've spent eight hours on a Saturday afternoon here studying for an exam. Multiple times. I was never bothered by the staff or other patrons. I was comfortable yet uncomfortable enough to not slack or fall asleep. Does that make sense? It's a fine line but I think all you coffee shop studiers out there know what I'm talking about. Thank you for my good grades this year, Coffee Emporium!!! :)
(4)Nora C.
Great little local coffeeshop! Lots of good seating (love those comfy chairs!) and a comfortable noise level...not quiet, but not exactly loud. Bright windows let in lots of natural light and make for great downtown people watching...or just a way to get your Vitamin D while doing spreadsheets with a latte in hand. Nice selection of sandwiches for lunch. They have the frappucino type fancy drinks, plus just really good regular coffee. Whole/Ground Beans and loose leaf tea to bring home, too!
(5)Bea D.
The staff is very knowledgable about their products, including beans by the pound. They can grind for espresso or French press with a high quality mill. The pastries are local and fresh. The atmosphere is relaxing, great for meeting others, and a refreshing departure from cookie cutter coffee shops.
(5)Devon C.
This is probably one of the best coffee houses in the entire Cincinnati area! It has such a great sort of community atmosphere. You will see all types come in this place from college students to Cincinnati Ballet dancers to SCPA students and faculty to business and corporate types too. Original artwork on display on the walls. Some cool furniture some which is artistic too. The coffee is well made and those that take your order at the register and also the baristas are helpful and friendly. Their shots are generally stronger. So if you usually get a 20 ounce latte with 4 shots at Starbucks you would really only need three here. Their food selections are fantastic too. I highly recommend this establishment!
(5)Vanessa V.
The second coffee shop we visited in Cincy and clearly the better option for sitting and working all day. Lots of seating, outlets, and people clicking away at their computers. There is also a roasting room with windows so you can peer in. Oh, and great coffee. Yay. I'd come back.
(4)Melissa B.
Best vanilla latte with happy, fun service! The place has a really hip feel to it...it made me feel good just to be there.
(5)Chelsea V.
I have been visiting this Cafe' since it was, well, more like a cafe' - a little nook tucked away on Central Parkway with a few tables and chairs seated outdoors. Now it has become a coffee center, still on it's appropriately named street complete with a separate Roasterrie room and building! I have bought everything from plain old coffee, to beans, food, and specialty drinks. A great coffee haven, but sometimes so busy it takes a while to get your order and the coffee is always piping, I mean PIPING hot. The menu isn't huge, but offers great fresh food, with ingredients from our many local farmers. One of my favorite things about this shop - Snowville creamery. Not only the best home grown milk in your Latte, but feel free to take a carton home with you! Nice work Emporium, you nailed that one for me....and curious about any new yummy tub nubs? This shop is always happy to introduce new and organic goodies, I see something new every time I go in from honey dipped pretzel twists to delicious vegan chocolate chip cookies. Please - ENJOY!
(4)Christopher G.
The first time I went to Coffee Emporium was for a show during the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. It was called, if I remember, Oatmeal and Cigarettes. It featured a full grown man in a diaper, and the entire soundtrack was from the album I'm Wide Awake It's Morning by Bright Eyes. That's the kind of place this is. If you're not into that sort of thing (shame on you), just go during lunch. I've only been here twice, but if it weren't for the fact that I live in Kentucky I'd be in every week. It's the best that a coffee joint has to offer. Let's start with size, usually an issue with this sort of place. Not so with Coffee Emporium. It's not just adequate, either--it's spacious. Enormous, even. Easily two or three times the size of a typical Starbucks. Who knew? The coffee is excellent, of course, or I'd be silly to give it five stars. But it's also available in a number of specialty blends. Granted, a lot of places do this, but Coffee Emporium does it better than most. The turtle chocolate one is my pick. The staff is amazing, too, at least in my experience. They're friendly and chatty, the kind of baristas that seem like they actually enjoy their job. About the only issue is location. It's not very convenient if you don't live downtown, and parking is a bit of a hassle. But then, I mean, everything around there is a bit of a hassle when it comes to parking. If you're used to that sort of thing, it's not especially troublesome.
(5)Leisa W.
Coffee Emporium was a staple for us when we first moved here, and our moving company neglected to bring our belongings (including french press and coffee cups) for two weeks. It's a great coffee shop, with lots of couches and other seating, and a large area. And even though it's a Cincinnati chain, it's not that other evil empire chain and I'd rather come here any day of the week. I'm giving four stars for coffee, service, and yummy baked goods. I've actually never sat inside (always taken it to go), and I've never had a full meal here (I believe they serve sandwiches, etc). So, my review is kind of good-for-nothing, I guess. But just this: Go to Coffee Emporium! They are local, and we love local, and they AREN'T Starbucks!
(4)Geoffrey G.
A great space with some really amazing coffee. I love that they roast the beans in-house, and have such a variety of coffee brewing all the time. Their espresso is really nice, too, and the staff is very helpful in choosing what whole-bean to take home or what drink to decide on. The space is great, with a variety of couches, coffee tables, and table-and-chair set ups to take advantage of the free wireless and the chill music playing. Not a far walk from downtown, and although it's right on Central Park Way, the traffic noise is not that bad at all.
(5)Laura G.
Looking for a cool spot to hook up your Mac and tweet away while sipping a killer latte? Search no further, Coffee Emporium is on top of it. I've been to Coffee Emporium for a few occasions including meetings, quiet work sessions and even a party. The interior manages to marry industrial with comfortable and provides plenty of sitting and (silent cheer!) lots of outlets. The baristas are beyond attentive and fabulous but here's a tip: take a seat while your coffee or tea is being made. This isn't Starbucks, so a little more care is being put into your beverage. I think the barista making my iced mocha was really feeling the pressure of my hovering at the counter. Sorry dude and well done under pressure! I should also mention that tea lovers must, must, must try the vanilla walnut tea. Just a hint of nut and a taste of sweetness. Perfection.
(5)Jaime S.
Coffee Emporium is it for coffee in Cincinnati. There is Really nothing to say that hasn't already been said. The staff is amazing, the coffee even more so, the food items are excellent and everything else they sell is great too. If you "love" Starbucks get yourself to Coffee Emporium, you'll be amazed how much better it tastes when the staff truly cares about the end product! Just say no to burnt coffee!
(5)Cynthia R.
Cool space, welcoming vibe, friendly staff, great drinks, good location. I finally had a reason to go when I had a scheduled meeting with Mr @YelpCincy himself there. And if he chose the place, that must mean it's good, right? Right. I really wish I had brought my laptop when I went since it seemed like everyone else who was there solo had one in front if them. I'll definitely bring it the next time I go, as well as try one of the many food recommendations other reviewers mentioned. A very cool Cincy spot for sure.
(5)Erin Z.
I eat lunch here almost 3 times per week. It is some of the freshest, most flavorful food that I have had since I moved here. I have yet to have a sandwich, salad, or soup that I didn't enjoy. The espresso is also great, but it is double-strength, so make sure you keep that in mind when you order. Everyone there is so friendly, even when it is busy. The selection of locally prepared items is also fun to sample. My favorite are the Be Happy flax seed bar, gluten-free Betterfinger bar, L'atour chocolates, and any of Donna's cookies (they taste like cookies mixed with cake batter). It makes me feel like I am back in a big city in an art-inspired coffee shop, but with the warm, friendly people Cincinnati is known for.
(5)Allison J.
Coffee Emporium has all of the signs of a shop that is brewing some serious coffee - a room sectioned off from customers filled with massive bulk bags of beans. A place down the street dedicated to roasting their stuff. A short, focused lunch menu and no less than two pastry cases of breakfast type foods made locally. They even sell Donna's Cookies. No frozen-and-thawed banana breads here, Coffee Emporium sells high-quality stuff. The coffee I've had has been good, and the service is friendly and efficient. They're even kind to me when I stumble through the door basically wearing pajamas and big circles under my eyes. I had an apple-raisin-feta-balsamic type salad when I went at lunch time last weekend. What should appear with my salad when it was delivered to my table? A square of Ghiardelli chocolate. (It was milk chocolate, and kind of old, but still chocolate) I felt that CE was rewarding me for eating vegetables at lunch when I could have had a slice of pound cake, and I appreciate that. Loved the iced chai too - rich and spicy, not all thinned-out and milky. There's no doubt in my mind I'll be back to Coffee Emporium. Mostly because it's around the corner from my apartment, but even if it wasn't, I'd make a trip down to Central Parkway for some awesome baked goods and solid coffee drinks.
(5)Adam B.
What a great little place for coffee or lunch! Feels like the Pacific Northwest! Very cool!
(5)Andrew D.
Coffee houses come in many varieties, and frequently try too hard to engender an 'environment' without delivering a genuinely quality product. Coffee Emporium started with the coffee and the rest followed: a wrong turn will bring a visitor to a large room filled with industrial-sized bins of un-roased coffee hailing from across the globe. Backtracking to the dining area, a visitor will note that customers range from disaffected urban hipsters to Mercedes-driving soccer moms to attorneys conducting hushed business. The coffee, of course, is what brings customers together. Let us all share in harmonious praise of the wide selection of brewed delight! I get the impression that Coffee Emporium is still figuring out their menu options: while the food is very tasty, the selection boils down to 'muffins, a few wraps and waffles'. No complaints: the muffins (especially the Morning Glory flavor) are excellent. While there are a few couches to the side, most of the dining area is peppered with round tables and chairs. Don't come to Coffee Emporium to soak in a warm, cozy fireside java; this is an area for discussion, work and study. I ritualistically arrive at Coffee Emporium on weekends, log on to the free WiFi and rock out financial analytics with the assistance of the caffeine deities. The lighting is bright, the music is not too loud and the exposed ducting does an ample job of absorbing nearby chatter. + Coffee selection is wide, quality is very high + Front desk staff is responsive, pleasant, hip and (sometimes) pretty funny + Menu is limited but fulfilling and well suited toward the venue + Bright, casual, energetic dining area is comforting without excessive distraction - + Everyone goes to Coffee Emporium, regardless of social background. Diversity is good.
(5)Pat F.
Coffee Emporium has it all. Good drinks, great sandwiches, a nice relaxed atmosphere, free WiFi...all of it. The space is pretty great, too, "urban" and "hip" without being "annoying" and "showy." Whether you're a student looking for some place to read or you work downtown and want to have a business lunch or you just want a cup of coffee, this is the place for you. Everyone comes here, parents with babies, local politicians, regular folks looking for a caffeine jolt, you name it. They even have waffles for brunch on weekends. The only thing to look out for is that they close really early - 6pm. So make sure it's a daytime coffee craving that you're having. Or come for lunch. Like I said, the food is good too.
(5)Jonathan E.
+1 for above average coffee. one of the better i've found in cincinnati so far. -1 for no air conditioning and poor ventilation (it actually smells like a high school cafeteria in here) -1 for cleanliness. my table appeared not to have been wiped down for
(3)Brad K.
I'm not a big fan of downtown Cincinnati (because of the traffic and all that, not because I hate my hometown), but this coffee joint is definitely worth it. Lots of open space and comfy chairs. The "warehouse-y" feel is the best of urban designs. The coffee and pastries are great too, a rarity amongst coffee shops. But there's only one bathroom (and the key is hanging on the wall) so don't wait until the last second. Trust me on this one.
(5)Keally D.
Coffee Emporium brews the best cup o' joe in the city. Hands down. May be the best coffee I've ever had, even beating out Philz in San Francisco and all the coffee contenders in Seattle. Unfortunately, the Central Parkway location is only open till 6pm. Hard to get a later night latte with their current hours. Suppose I may have to start getting up earlier. Really. It's that good.
(5)Juliane S.
Noisy. Very, very noisy. I tend to want my coffee shops quiet and this isn't it. The food is exceptional - but expensive. It caters to a younger crowd and given it's location this might be a good thing. The decor is what makes it so loud - old converted warehouse space with zero noise cancellation or absorption. The coffee is good - not great but good. The service is outstanding given that the place is consistently busy. Emporium is a chain in Cincinnati, they have three locations. It's a favorite amoung the locals because of its location and younger feel. Which is fine.
(3)Alexandra K.
I love coming here for lunch, snacks, or a mid-workday jolt. It's located around the corner from where I work and is a great option for healthy food. I've had lunch here several times and have really enjoyed the following items. Their curried chicken salad sandwich is decadent, the snicker doodle cookies are soft and wonderful, and their iced vanilla lates are perfect for a pick me up. It's hot and iced lates are much better than getting hot coffee. They sell various grounds of coffee to go. You can scoop it yourself or they have pre-packaged ones. The space is also really nice. There are cute couches and tables and chairs to hang out on and do work while you eat. I love the atmosphere!
(4)Jill C.
I have gone to several of the Yelp Hot Cocoa happy hours. Yes the hot chocolate is good, but so is the chai tea, the pumpkin muffin, the cranberry scone and the cold mocha frappes. I have yet to make down for lunch to try one of their delicious looking quiches displayed in the case.
(4)Justine M.
From the food to the coffee to the atmosphere, I love this place. One of my favorite coffee places was the late Buzz, so the noise level here doesn't bother me, but it could be an issue for those looking for a more mellow place to hangout or work. I recommend the Aztec Mocha, or the Bumble Bee with a Buzz (espresso added), which are my two favorites drinks.
(4)Stuart T.
This is a great coffee shop. It's large and open design doesn't make it seem crowded or stuffy like others. I am not a big coffee person, what I have had has been good though. They have a variety of drink options as well as bakery and sandwich and salad option. They play great music there as well. It's as downtown coffee shop should be.
(5)Andre U.
I'm from Los Angeles so I looked on Yelp for the best coffee with the best reviews and found C. Emporium. It is fantastic. Great service. Great food and bev. I had a black bean veggie burger and almond milk latte, upon the request of Kara. The vibe is very warm with the guests, as well. Definitely worth a trip. I would be here frequently if I lived in here.
(5)T. J.
A great place to go for a cup of Joe, however did not expect to get great flavored coffee here as you would a starbucks. The atmosphere here really wins if for this place. Plenty of places to sit with outside seating as well. Priced pretty good.
(3)Marie E.
Best place to study! You have to pay for parking but it is only $5 for the day if you park in the lot around the corner ( first turn on your right if you are passing the coffee emporium on your right) on the left side. Warning they only take cash in the machine. There is no attendant. Plenty of seating and just the right amount of noise. Good food options in addition to the great selection of coffee. Downtown one is the best but I do like the Hyde park one tool. Just tried the Mocha Mocha and chai freeze. Both were very good. Also, they use compostable cups which makes me happy.
(5)Kasey M.
I had a late breakfast here today and fell in love with this place. The atmosphere is great and the furniture was comfortable. The ladies working this morning were doing a great job getting coffee and food out fast. They were really personable and made us feel like we were just over at a friend's house. The prices were much better than visiting Starbucks. Great coffee shop if you are downtown.
(5)Jared Q.
This is my fav coffee shop in Cincy. Great, fresh roasted coffee meets charming urban atmosphere. This is the perfect spot to meet a friend or grab a bite for lunch. If you order an espresso drink with foam you're likely to get a beautiful picture decoration from the barrista too!
(5)Brandon K.
Great location, nice concept. Some negatives have been recently improved, like it's no longer a huge echo chamber in there which was a real problem before, they put an expensive array of acoustic tiles on the ceiling which really helps. Like the fact that the owner or manager sometimes walks around with a coffee pot offering refills. This seems like a recent development. Service is kind of uneven... inconsistent about how they prepare baked goods (warmed up or not, brought to you or not) and the speed of their espresso drink service seems pretty slow for an operation of their size. Sometimes my drink order has been in for minutes with no one making any coffee drinks before they get going on it. I see some patrons get things brought to them, in ceramic cups, while others wait for their names to be called (barely audible above the music) and have to get up to get their coffee in paper cups. Why the difference?
(3)Joseph C.
Coffee Emporium has a good selection of house-roasted coffees, and a nice space to either work or spend time with friends. Like many downtown establishments, parking can be an issue, especially during busy hours. The staff is friendly, responsive, and helpful. If you buy a lot of coffee to drink at home, they also have a coffee card program.
(4)Shannon B.
Love their Alligator Pear sandwich!
(5)Lizz R.
From coffee to pastries to friendly service, this place is everything a coffee shop should be. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, there are some great non-coffee selections to choose from. My personal favorite is the chai tea. Plus, you have the added benefit of supporting a local business with a great mission. If you are ever curious about the type of relationships they maintain with their suppliers, just ask. It's quite inspiring!
(5)Mike M.
love it. just recently had the food and i loved that too. a nice place to chill or meet someone for a meeting. pricey, but worth it. the iced teas are killer and the coffee seems to have a narcotic agent in it. for that, i am grateful on early mornings on the way to the drop inn center for board meetings. lord know a little extra energy is good when discussing how to best help those who need it the most. so, thanks for helping me make important decsions, coffee emporium. i love you.
(4)Matthew R.
Hip little coffee shop! Reminds me of Seattle. I came in, got a good cup of coffee, great service. I admired the seating, but didn't stay long. Excited to return for a proper latte and some quiet reading.
(5)Rob J.
The perfect place to get some work done, relax, or meet someone for a meeting. The coffee and tea are always good, and their prepared foods outstanding. An amazing asset for the neighborhood.
(5)Brittany W.
Wonderful coffee, EXCELLENT helpful baristas!! Good experience
(5)Dan R.
I'm not a coffee drinker, but I still love coffee shops, especially ones in my neighborhood. This is a great place to grab a drink and hang out. On a recent snowy day Erica and I bundled up and walked over and got a hot chocolate and watched it snow. Having a place like this near our home is awesome. My only complaint is they need to stay open later! We need more late night coffee shops in OTR to hang out at!
(4)Adam S.
Oh Coffee Emporium, I'm so glad I found you. Stuck in the land of big hotels and chain restaurants near the convention center, in town for a 2 day meeting, I set out to find someplace to work and chill for awhile that wasn't my hotel room. Despite the chain link fence covering the windows, the Coffee Emporium is actually quite inviting inside and is a huge space. They have a huge selection of coffee as you would expect, a nice sandwich menu, and a wide range of teas. The woman working the place was very friendly and not condescending in the "I work at a cool coffee house therefore you suck" mentality. I only wish they stayed open later than 6pm because I would live here for this short trip.
(5)Matthew B.
My gf & I got sandwiches, iced decaf, and a mango smootie. My sandwich was unique, healthy, and very tasty. She didn't care for her egg & beef burrito. My iced decaf was delicious. I like everything about the atmosphere! Outside has nice seating with views of downtown, as well as the courthouse and prison. Police frequent the joint. Parking is a piece of cake. The crowd is hip and mellow. The staff is ultra considerate. You have to bus your own table, but I can deal with that. Oh, and its roomy too - unlike starbucks.
(5)Robert M.
Really good Coffee place, plenty of choices. Features Baked goods from several place like shadeu. Come on the weekends for the waffles. Had the Aztec Mocha. Well worth stopping by and trying by itself.
(5)Steve A.
This place is great. Tons of drink choices, especially tea. And very spacious. I loved looking at all the different teas in their jars. The staff was knowledgable when I asked for a tea recommendation. I went with their suggestion and it was exactly what I was looking for.
(4)Michael A.
Nice open space with many choices for seating. I would rate this as a good place to meet a colleague or friend for a coffee/tea and conversation. The restroom is nice and clean, just make sure you grab the key by the counter. The new hours are great, which keep the place open until 8 PM.
(4)Becca E.
I am not a really big coffee drinker generally, so the fact that I like this place is saying something. I particularly enjoyed the Bumblebee (steamed milk with honey and vanilla) which you can also get with a buzz which is also very tasty. It doesn't have that coffeehouse feel though, something about the way it is laid out and the fact that it is always packed make it seem more cafeteria to me, but other than that it has a nice atmosphere. I have never had any of the food items there, but I will definitely be trying them sometime soon.
(4)Sean B.
Coffee Emporium is my office away from office. Great space with wonderful locally roasted coffee. A steady mix of OTR hipsters and City Hall makes this people watching central.
(4)Jo P.
Coffee emporium is one of my favorite downtown spots. They have delicious breakfasts. Great lunch. The coffee is wonderful and the baked goods are to die for! Best of all the atmosphere is great. There is also plenty of table space if you need to pull out your lap top while you enjoy a good cup of coffee.
(5)Ben C.
This place actually feels like a legitimate coffe shop. For a second I thought I was back in Portland seeing small brand names, healthy options, a cool atmosphere and free wifi.
(5)Alan D.
This is my first review since joining Yelp and it seems rather pointless to add another rave review to an already popular venue but that's what I'm going to do. Here is my review and it's another 5 stars for the Coffee Emporium. I recently moved downtown but I drive past the Coffee Emporium (CE) every day on my way to work in Kentucky. I've been frequenting Tazza Mia by Fountain Square for my weekend coffee but the sheer size of CE piqued my interest and I made up my mind to visit come the weekend. This morning arrives so I pack up my laptop and a list of work I needed to get done and walk over. I order a 'mondo' latte and grab a seat looking out the window next to an outlet. My coffee shows up moments later and I get ready to do some work about the same time a nice rain / storm sets in. I think I sat there for the next 3 hours sipping my coffee, getting my work done and doing some occasional people watching or glancing out the window to watch the rain and lightning. The coffee was excellent, the convenience of power / free wifi much appreciated, employees were nice, people were cool, location is superb; there's not a single thing I can complain about. It looks like I will be making this a regular thing. I look forward to trying their specialty blends and all those baked goods.
(5)Sam N.
You may have to park a few streets away at a meter but it's totally worth it. Great place to work on your laptop or study, though it can be slightly echoey at busy times. You can tell their coffee is fresh as are their pastries and soups!
(4)Dan B.
I've been to a few special events at the Coffee Emporium. It's not a regular stop for me, but everytime I have been there I have had a great cup of coffee. They do a lot of cool events, including plays during the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Local art is featured on the walls and as I said before and maybe most importantly, great coffee.
(4)NICK D.
The go-to spot for casual meetings and unfiltered time killing. The staff is always friendly, the food is great, and the coffee is always delicious. You feel good going to coffee emporium on several levels- great establishment for the neighborhood.
(5)John M.
Nice place with cool atmosphere. Good coffee and food options (like Starbucks but better). If you work downtown, put your dishwater office coffee down and walk over to this place. The walk won't kill you and the coffee is worth it!
(4)Kat K.
Great coffee and amazing environment! Haven't tried the food yet, but I'll get around to it eventually.
(5)Brett B.
Excellent! Great alternative to the big coffee chains.
(5)Sarah B.
Great food, great coffee, friendly staff -- what more can you ask for? A bit noisy at times, but otherwise I have no complaints.
(4)Serena S.
This place has good coffee and a good variety of food and beverages. Two thumbs up from me. I visit it whenever I am nearby.
(4)Stephen C.
I go to Cincinnati just for this place. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. Good food. Great coffee. I would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Steve K.
I had a meeting before work at Coffee Emporium, it was so disorganized. The coffee was ok, but seriously, who can't brew a decent cup of coffee?
(2)Brian G.
Really great atmosphere in the downtown location. I used to bike there and just sit and read. What more could you want from a coffehouse? Good stuff.
(4)James M.
I'm a coffee snob, looking down on Starbucks the way most Starbucks connoisseurs look down on Sanka. But Coffee Emporium has it all--bold, complex coffees (even their decafs!), a huge variety of teas, all kindsa yummy treats, and the most beautiful dining area I've ever experienced in any restaurant. Their shop is a half hour drive from my apartment, but I'll be making a weekly pilgrimage there from now on.
(5)Kate H.
I love, love, love Coffee Emporium. They are tied for best coffee in the city. It's addictive - once you try it you won't really like much else. They have great food, very sweet employees, and the dining area is always filled with sunshine and good music.
(5)Nate S.
Best coffee in the city! In love stopping in the place on those cold weekend mornings to get a nice cup of Joe. This is definitely high-quality coffee, and not one of those conglomerate places. The venue is no cookie-cutter place - it's for sure a one of a kind. The staff is always so friendly, and they always smile. There's definitely something to be said about a place where all the employees are so happy! I don't eat here often, but the food is good for sure! I suggest getting a cup of coffee and buying some for home - that's what I do.
(5)Angela H.
Xavier University recently opened a Coffee Emporium location inside the Gallagher Student Center, and as a student, I couldn't be more thrilled. I'm not much of a coffee drinker so I appreciate the number of tea and other non-coffee drinks the location has to offer. I don't know what all goes into a Bumblebee Steamer but it sure tastes like a honey graham cracker (YUM). The pomegranate iced tea is just sweet enough to not need additional sugar and it's refreshing on warm days. I haven't yet sampled the Butterfinger drink but I hear it tastes just like a liquified version of the candy bar, so that can't possibly be bad. I have only one complaint with Coffee Emporium-the smoothies have got to be re-thought. I tried a Blueberry smoothie and actually had to throw it away, it had such a strange aftertaste and texture.
(4)Amy A.
Just as great as the location in Hyde Park, but with a city vibe. Hopefully the hours will keep getting longer!
(5)Jennifer H.
I love this location compared to the Hyde Park one. It's the same menu, but with the addition of an extensive lunch menu. They also carry Myra's Dionysus soups and side dishes from What's For Dinner, that you can take with you to go for a meal later. It's small but very warm and cozy. I love Coffee Emporium's coffee, but I much prefer this location's staff and clientele. Plus, the lunches are great-I adore the Central Parkway salad (greens, raisins, apples, walnuts and feta). I notice they do Waffle Madness like the Hyde Park location but they do it on Saturdays, so you could have an entirely waffle-filled weekend, if you play your cards right.
(5)John L.
By far the best local espresso bar in the city. The staff certainly knows what they're doing behind the espresso machine. I've never been disappointed. It's possible you'll be treated to some charming latte art if you are sticking around with your latte. I've never had the same experience at any other coffee shop in the area. Prices are similar to most coffee shops. One difference is that extra espresso shots are sold as a couple. This solves the problem of throwing the additional shot away--you might as well add it to your drink since you paid for it. If you drive by at the right time you can smell the fresh roasting coffee from the Diedrich roaster in the adjacent space. Free Wi-Fi is available without any nonsense of forms etc. If there's ever a problem with the shop's wireless you can sometimes find a neighboring business with an open network. Parking is sometimes a hassle and requires circling the block a few times, but it usually doesn't take more than a few minutes to find a spot. Meters outside give 10 free minutes so you have plenty of time to grab a cup on your way to work. I've never tried the lunch menu, but I've enjoyed pastries and cookies and each meets my preceding expectations.
(5)Angelina M.
A Cincinnati staple when it comes to coffee shops. I can't even count how many times I've been here and keep coming back for great coffee and delicious sweets. The staff do a great job recommending coffee beans to take home and suggestions on trying a new drink. Some of my favorites include the chocolate chip cookies--dense and rich, the pb&j bar, and the ricotta and spinach pie. I usually just get hot or iced coffee but I also love the honey steamer for something different. Coffee Emporium is a great place for all clientele. I love to see business executives, artists, and homeless people all under one roof enjoying some caffeine. It's a great place for all hours and meals of the day.
(5)Mark R.
Coffee Emporium is everything you could want in a local restaurant/coffee dive! The staff is very attentive and can make a great cup of joe!! The sandwiches are a great option for a quick lunch. The turkey sandwich is a go-to for me. For a good pick-me-up, a Milky Way Latte is a sure winner!!! Great part of the OTR neighborhood!!!!!!!!
(4)Heather M.
I had no idea this place was here!! My boyfriend's mother always get the concentrated cold brew coffee from this place and recommended me to go here and try it out. I couldn't believe how big this place was!! A great place to study, read, or even have a small group to study or have a meeting. Once you enter the place, you get a cool wave of glorious smells of coffee in the air. I love the smell of good coffee brewing. I could probably just stay in there for 5 minutes inhaling that beautiful aroma and be good for the day! ha ha Anyway, I got the Bourbon Cold Brew Concentrate Bottle. $17 but the lady told me that I can bring it back and get a discount on the next one. Love the incentive for customers to be more "Green." I did get a breakfast burrito before I left and it was pretty tasty. Not like San Diego's but pretty good for being in the Midwest. The portion was a good healthy size. The staff was very nice and looked like a well oiled machine back there. There were a lot of people there but didn't feel too crowded which was very nice. I did come back the second time to exchange my bottle for a new one. The kept my old one to clean and reuse and gave me a new bottle I believe $5 less! The bottle lasts me about 10 days. I use about 4oz of it per work day and mix it with a protein shake. very tasty! So glad to have this close to my work so I can enjoy a nice coffee or breakfast before going into work. CAUTION: Parking still sucks. (Did you expect anything different downtown?) 0:-D
(4)Giannabrie F.
Great little coffee shop in downtown Cincinatti. There was a "buzz" in this place (no pun intended) and it truly seemed to be the place to see and be seen. Lots of local professional coming in and out. The menu options were decent and fresh baked goods were in abundance. Cons? Took WAY too long to get your drink/food. Like 15 minutes or so. Which is odd. I ordered the oatmeal and it was soupy and lumpy...The banana nut bread was decent though. Total hipster place, comfortable, a little noisy, big space, normal prices. Worth stopping in if in the area.
(3)Hollyann H.
I've really tried to like Coffee Emporium, but it's just not going to happen. It's probably the most overpriced and overrated coffee in the area next to Starbucks. Their normal hot coffee blends are good. However, their lattes, frappes, and smoothies all taste pretty horrible to me. Their food is so and so, and most of their baked goods are really dry and lacking flavor every time I've bought any. The people who work here are usually really rude and not friendly or welcoming at all. And god forbid if you ask a question they talk to you like you're a moron and you're inconveniencing them. However, The good things about this place is location and the atmosphere. If you are meeting up with someone just to grab a quick drink with someone or having a work meeting this would be a good place. But at the end of the day there are just so many more amazing coffee places in the area.
(2)Allyson G.
As a major hipster coffee connoisseur of all the beautiful states of this united nation, the Coffee Emporium does an exquisite job making the perfect cup of enjoyable coffee. If your not smiling after your first sip, you're either drinking the wrong order or you have no idea what coffee is all about. Start off with a Bubble Bee Buzz or an iced vanilla latte with honey. Add the honey - just trust me. Oh and if you are at all American, make sure you splurge, soak up the maple syrup and gluten with a fresh BELGIUM WAFFLE. There so good you'll smack a kid. No really, if some unruly unwatched child comes along and gets their hand near your plate... It's over Becky. And finally, DON'T EVEN THINK about putting your hand on that door until you walk out with a bag of their Bourbon Barrel Coffee Beans! YES BOURBON!! Hey, it's 5 O'clock somewhere why not drink and stay awake with a buzz. Just sayin! Finally, take a buzz filled walk over the bridge, it will surely take your breath away. Enjoy Cincinnati Goers.
(5)Joel L.
I don't even drink coffee but still go here once a week! I've been here about six times. The service is always amazing. There's a line but it moves quickly. Everyone is alert, quick, and nice while also making time to answer questions, give recommendations, etc. The interior is amazing. It's eclectic and gives a genuine hipster feel (in a good way). The food is amazing. There's a great variety and the freshness of the ingredients is clear in every dish. Coffee Emporium is yet another great representation of Cincinnati's thriving food culture. I would be excited to bring out-of-towners to this establishment.
(5)Ty H.
Line was very long, but Alison took orders for folks in line, so it wasn't a bad wait at all. Love that their drinks are very creative and they offer a ton of different Flavors! Wifi stinks
(4)Emily S.
Had a wonderful time enjoying waffles and coffee on Sunday morning! Their coffee is always the best part of waking up (iced vanilla latte is the personal favorite), and I will plan a visit there on the weekends simply to get a waffle with all the trimmings. The fruit is freshly cut and is always superb looking, and the baked goods/sandwiches always smell/look wonderful. Highly recommend for a little afternoon pick me up, or a place to hang out/work/read/relax!
(5)Katie B.
Holy heck, how is this the first time I've been to this Coffee Emp location? I'll tell ya why: because I've got a Coffee Emp in my office lobby downtown and a Coffee Emp down the street from my house in Hyde Park... So, why on earth would I inconvenience myself by going to OTR, you ask? BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS FREAKING AWESOME, THAT'S WHY. Take every Coffee Emp you've been to and quadruple it's awesomeness and that'll give you a FRACTION of how cool this place actually is. The hipster coffee shop feel totally works, and they actually have a legit food menu (like, I got a chicken salad sandwich and it came on a glass plate with a freaking Ghirardelli chocolate square). The people are awesome (I know a handful of them from frequenting the Great American locations -- Hey, Isaac and Justin!), helpful, and super friendly. There's tons of seating -- from high tops to low tops, to couches and lounge chairs. They even turned their old "roasting room" into an overflow capacity room, which, for me, turned into Katie's glorious study room -- AAAAALL to myself. ONLY downside is that their Wifi was suuuuuper slow and actually made me leave sooner than I would've liked. That said, I cannot WAIT to go back for round two!
(5)Benjamin H.
Ah, Coffee Emporium. My first coffee house I went to when visiting OTR for the first time. Ok, to get this out of the way first, the parking situation sucks. It's right on the always busy Central Pkwy, there's some meters out front that if you're lucky you can grab. Otherwise you're walking a little. It is worth it I promise. Great drinks and great baristas. The girls I see always are bubbly and have a smile on their face as they help newcomers pick out a drink. Plus they also sell coffees that are fair trade. As far as their food goes, it's also good. They're kind of famous for their belgium waffles. They're pretty and taste as good as they look. Their breakfast burritos are also filling and delicious. It gets a bit busy in there at times, but it's a great place to hang out and enjoy a great menu.
(5)Ian T.
Coffee Emporium is the quintessential urban coffee shop, and I mean that in a good way. The interior is funky and artsy with eclectic pieces everywhere you look. The little touches like the pun board were great. And I have to say that, if representative of their clientele, indicates they attract a pretty clever crowd. Their coffee is good, and many varieties are on offer. The barristas are colorfully hipster without exhibiting attitude. Also, as a former graphic designer and forever illustrator... I must say I really like the aesthetic of their packaging and visual design. In fact, I was such a fan of it that I bought a shirt from them simply because I liked their typographic treatment and illustration. Very nice coffeeshop, and I would definitely go out of my way to visit.
(4)Erin K.
Oh coffee emporium, how do I love thee - let me count the ways: +Your deliciously concocted beverages, including (but not limited to) your aztec hot chocolate and...the best coffee in Cincy. +Your kitschy decor and cozy atmosphere (you have both couches, tables and chairs to meet everyone's needs from the student to the people who just want to chill +Your delectable baked goods that meet both vegan and gluten-free people's needs +Your friendly and knowledgeable staff +Your comparable prices and the fact that you are local I really love and appreciate you! Thanks for all you do for us Cincinnati-ans!
(5)Sarah F.
This is my coffeeshop of choice when meeting for coffee downtown. It's got a fun, funky, laid back vibe that's great for casual business "coffee meetings" or just getting a little work done solo. It's much more spacious than any other coffeeshop downtown. There's lots of seating--traditional tables & chairs set-up as well some couch/comfy chair vignettes. There's also outdoor seating, but people tend to camp out there on nice days so I've never actually been able to sit out there. There's a good selection of coffee and non-coffee drinks (I like the pomegrante iced green tea on hot days) and some nibbles in a cold case as well. Prices are premium (in line with Starbucks). Parking is hit or miss (depending on time of day and construction), but I've always been able to find some kind of street parking by going around a block or two.
(5)Justin K.
Ah Coffee Emporium. Although it's my second favorite coffee shop (Collective Espresso being my favorite) it is a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee of different varieties as well as a rather large selection of tea. It has kind of become the epicenter of downtown coffee shops. While there you will always see a wide variety of people. Business meetings, people relaxing on their lunch breaks, people doing homework etc. The place is usually quite busy. They also offer a pretty good food selection to enjoy with whatever you're eating. The staff there is great and is always friendly and chatty. They have four drip coffees always ready for you to get yourself. A bold blend, Medium bodied blend, typically a flavored coffee, and a decaf. One of the most underrated things I look for in a coffee shop would be the music in the background. Coffee Emporium always has great music for my mood and I find myself shazaming quite often while in there. My favorite thing to eat is the Breakfast Burrito. It's pretty basic but delicious (Cheese, eggs, and hash browns). So if you're downtown and looking for the quickest coffee option, Coffee Emporium is a fantastic place.
(4)Mike J.
Its a pretty great place with very good coffee. Slightly over-hyped and consequently is frequently overcrowded.
(4)Adam B.
One of my favorite places to get a coffee. It's close to work downtown and has the Glacial Mocha, a delicious concoction of coffee, whole milk, ice and whipped cream. While it likely has about 1000 calories in it, it's totally worth it on a hot day. It's also a good place to sit and read, as there is ample seating inside (and some seating outside). It's always a little busy but never too full to find a seat.
(5)Alexander D.
Their coffee here is great and probably even beats Starbucks. The ambiance is great and the space inside is huge! I would love to come here more often but I wish they had a rewards program similar to Starbucks because I buy it so much that I save a lot of money with the gold Starbucks membership. I highly recommend this place to any coffee lovers in the area.
(5)Brittany S.
Adorable hippie baristas. I have a big fat crush on you. And you. And you. The way you misspell my name on the cup and talk about warm beverages and wifi passwords.... Ooo la la. You melt my heart. You know what else turns me on? Smart branding. Yeah, I said it. Coffee Emporium has some brilliant packaging that deserves being noted. The adorable hippie baristas and excellent branding at Coffee Emporium are worth five stars alone but it gets better... *viewing window into the coffee roastery - one side is where it's made, the other where its consumed - love this! *plentiful plants, décor and natural light - for me, a good coffee shop is just as much about the cool environment as it is about the coffee *sweet treats made locally - try the chocolate chip cookie! *tea selection that comes with knowledgeable staff to explain each flavor Can't wait for my next morning spent working at Coffee Emporium.
(5)Emily H.
It's a cool place. Cool atmosphere, got a mixed Berry smoothie, was pretty good but the employees are not nice. They're actually ass holes..
(2)Eugene K.
This review is for the quality of roasted coffee. If you are in the market for fresh locally roasted coffee this is the place! They are very consistent and sell bags by the pound (not 12oz like most places). So $ per oz this is a fantastic deal. I only buy their single origin roasts with the light green label, not really a big fan of roasts past full city or with added flavor. Recently had their Kona which I thought was over roasted and they gladly refunded it for me and let me pick out ($35 worth of stuff). If you want the best pour overs and pulls of espresso in Cincinnati, go to collective espresso.
(4)Tyler M.
I HAD to write an update for this place. I'm obsessed. You can't check in here 10 times and NOT go back and give them 5 stars. Coffee + great food + awesome staff + THE BEST PEOPLE WATCHING EVER = My favorite place to relax in the city. Prices are just a touch high, but totally worth it to have this kind of atmosphere. Coffee Emporium is to my life as The Central Perk is to F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Want to relax? come to coffee emporium. Want to see someone you know? come to coffee emporium. Where is the mayor of Cincinnati? No, seriously...he's here, getting coffee. Where is the entirety of the sophomore class of SCPA? It would appear as though they are all smoking in front of coffee emporium and still full of angst.
(5)Rebekah M.
This space is really casual lots of tables great for studying or extra work but it can get loud. They have great food choices mostly for breakfast and a couple sandwiches. The coffee is excellent and the staff is very friendly and efficient even when they are busy. They do have a couple tables outside to enjoy the busy bustling streets of Cincinnati.
(5)Bianca D.
This place has great hipster vibe! Anyone who knows me knows that I love hipster-y things and have no shame about it! Most of the staff either have beanies, tattoos, or both (right on!) extra points for septum piercings. I enjoyed one of the coffee options and it had a great flavor profile! can't remember the name of it now. My bf had an espresso drink, the white truffle latte! It was so good, almost like desert. After I ordered our drinks I decided I wanted to get coffee for the men sleeping outside the salvation army next door. I went out to check if they were there and came back in and placed my order. I paid, but the barista didn't give me my cups until after he had helped 3 other people in line (que missing star). I understood, but at the same time I didn't want miss the homeless people after buying all this coffee! There were empty cups next to the self service station, but after comparing the size of my cup, I thought the empty cups just sitting there were a little bigger. I didn't want to steal something I didn't pay for! So I anxiously waited, and the barista finally told me that I could indeed use those empty cups, but he gave me 4 cups from behind the counter anyways. Slight hiccup, but overall a good experience! I would suggest the staff beware and be prepared to inform new customers about their cup situation. I will be visiting again! Especially since I so rarely get the chance to help people who sleep on the street at night with hot coffee. Being next door to the salvation army is a prime location!
(4)Justin W.
I have been here a few times and each time was a great experience. They coffee is really good, the service was always top notch even when it was busy and the prices are definitely reasonable. When you are looking for something outside of the national chain store vibe I think this is the place to go. Looking forward to going back again!
(5)Julie M.
We love Coffee Emporium! Love that this place is local and blows every other coffee place out of the water when it comes to seating! You can actually sit down and enjoy your coffee inside or outside (even if people are taking up space "working" on their laptops! ). I just wish it was had a parking lot (because I am not so good at parallel parking). As much as we love the coffee, we love this place even more for their waffles and the variety of fresh and delicious waffle toppings. Best waffles in Cincy!
(5)Erin J.
Highly pretentious-do-gooder-fair-trade coffee place. Lovely architecture. Comfortable atmosphere. Great place for meetings and meet-ups. Bike friendly. Tasty local food. (They also have really good chocolate-chipped cookies.) Baristas aren't always the nicest. ...even if they're the kind wearing 'locs and/or Birkenstocks.
(2)Jeff D.
What a great place! I stopped in for the first time on a Sunday morning for a cup and breakfast. There was a line of people that moved very swiftly, the organization and efficiency of the staff is impressive. Although crowded, there was plent of comfortable seating. The spinach ricotta pie was delicious and I was pleased with the quality & selection of the drip coffees. I will definitely visit this hip & trendy coffee shop again.
(5)Tiera A.
Hands down, the best coffee shop downtown! First of all, I just love the location and size of this place. Located on Central Parkway, it's super easy to access and once you're inside there is plenty of space. Maybe I'm a bit jaded or annoyed by all of the tiny restuarants and bars in the OTR area so I can appreciate a regular sized place, like Coffee Emporium. Not only is Coffee Emporium (CE) a great place for coffee (obviously) but they have great bites like brownies and other snacks. They also offer lunch. For lunch, you'll find things like salads, sandwiches and soups. I absolutely love their sandwiches. What I find most refreshing about CE is the people that work there. Each time I go, I encounter a smiling and friendly face. The people that work here seem so happy, like they really enjoy what they do. Once, I met a guy who worked there that told me he quit his corporate job because he hated it but now works at CE and couldn't be happier! How awesome is that? CE makes him happy and it makes me happy too!
(4)Katie B.
Holy heck, how is this the first time I've been to this Coffee Emp location? I'll tell ya why: because I've got a Coffee Emp in my office lobby downtown and a Coffee Emp down the street from my house in Hyde Park... So, why on earth would I inconvenience myself by going to OTR, you ask? BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS FREAKING AWESOME, THAT'S WHY. Take every Coffee Emp you've been to and quadruple it's awesomeness and that'll give you a FRACTION of how cool this place actually is. The hipster coffee shop feel totally works, and they actually have a legit food menu (like, I got a chicken salad sandwich and it came on a glass plate with a freaking Ghirardelli chocolate square). The people are awesome (I know a handful of them from frequenting the Great American locations -- Hey, Isaac and Justin!), helpful, and super friendly. There's tons of seating -- from high tops to low tops, to couches and lounge chairs. They even turned their old "roasting room" into an overflow capacity room, which, for me, turned into Katie's glorious study room -- AAAAALL to myself. ONLY downside is that their Wifi was suuuuuper slow and actually made me leave sooner than I would've liked. That said, I cannot WAIT to go back for round two!
(5)Benjamin H.
Ah, Coffee Emporium. My first coffee house I went to when visiting OTR for the first time. Ok, to get this out of the way first, the parking situation sucks. It's right on the always busy Central Pkwy, there's some meters out front that if you're lucky you can grab. Otherwise you're walking a little. It is worth it I promise. Great drinks and great baristas. The girls I see always are bubbly and have a smile on their face as they help newcomers pick out a drink. Plus they also sell coffees that are fair trade. As far as their food goes, it's also good. They're kind of famous for their belgium waffles. They're pretty and taste as good as they look. Their breakfast burritos are also filling and delicious. It gets a bit busy in there at times, but it's a great place to hang out and enjoy a great menu.
(5)Ian T.
Coffee Emporium is the quintessential urban coffee shop, and I mean that in a good way. The interior is funky and artsy with eclectic pieces everywhere you look. The little touches like the pun board were great. And I have to say that, if representative of their clientele, indicates they attract a pretty clever crowd. Their coffee is good, and many varieties are on offer. The barristas are colorfully hipster without exhibiting attitude. Also, as a former graphic designer and forever illustrator... I must say I really like the aesthetic of their packaging and visual design. In fact, I was such a fan of it that I bought a shirt from them simply because I liked their typographic treatment and illustration. Very nice coffeeshop, and I would definitely go out of my way to visit.
(4)Alexander D.
Their coffee here is great and probably even beats Starbucks. The ambiance is great and the space inside is huge! I would love to come here more often but I wish they had a rewards program similar to Starbucks because I buy it so much that I save a lot of money with the gold Starbucks membership. I highly recommend this place to any coffee lovers in the area.
(5)Sarah F.
This is my coffeeshop of choice when meeting for coffee downtown. It's got a fun, funky, laid back vibe that's great for casual business "coffee meetings" or just getting a little work done solo. It's much more spacious than any other coffeeshop downtown. There's lots of seating--traditional tables & chairs set-up as well some couch/comfy chair vignettes. There's also outdoor seating, but people tend to camp out there on nice days so I've never actually been able to sit out there. There's a good selection of coffee and non-coffee drinks (I like the pomegrante iced green tea on hot days) and some nibbles in a cold case as well. Prices are premium (in line with Starbucks). Parking is hit or miss (depending on time of day and construction), but I've always been able to find some kind of street parking by going around a block or two.
(5)Justin K.
Ah Coffee Emporium. Although it's my second favorite coffee shop (Collective Espresso being my favorite) it is a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee of different varieties as well as a rather large selection of tea. It has kind of become the epicenter of downtown coffee shops. While there you will always see a wide variety of people. Business meetings, people relaxing on their lunch breaks, people doing homework etc. The place is usually quite busy. They also offer a pretty good food selection to enjoy with whatever you're eating. The staff there is great and is always friendly and chatty. They have four drip coffees always ready for you to get yourself. A bold blend, Medium bodied blend, typically a flavored coffee, and a decaf. One of the most underrated things I look for in a coffee shop would be the music in the background. Coffee Emporium always has great music for my mood and I find myself shazaming quite often while in there. My favorite thing to eat is the Breakfast Burrito. It's pretty basic but delicious (Cheese, eggs, and hash browns). So if you're downtown and looking for the quickest coffee option, Coffee Emporium is a fantastic place.
(4)Mike J.
Its a pretty great place with very good coffee. Slightly over-hyped and consequently is frequently overcrowded.
(4)Adam B.
One of my favorite places to get a coffee. It's close to work downtown and has the Glacial Mocha, a delicious concoction of coffee, whole milk, ice and whipped cream. While it likely has about 1000 calories in it, it's totally worth it on a hot day. It's also a good place to sit and read, as there is ample seating inside (and some seating outside). It's always a little busy but never too full to find a seat.
(5)Nate S.
Best coffee in the city! In love stopping in the place on those cold weekend mornings to get a nice cup of Joe. This is definitely high-quality coffee, and not one of those conglomerate places. The venue is no cookie-cutter place - it's for sure a one of a kind. The staff is always so friendly, and they always smile. There's definitely something to be said about a place where all the employees are so happy! I don't eat here often, but the food is good for sure! I suggest getting a cup of coffee and buying some for home - that's what I do.
(5)Brittany S.
Adorable hippie baristas. I have a big fat crush on you. And you. And you. The way you misspell my name on the cup and talk about warm beverages and wifi passwords.... Ooo la la. You melt my heart. You know what else turns me on? Smart branding. Yeah, I said it. Coffee Emporium has some brilliant packaging that deserves being noted. The adorable hippie baristas and excellent branding at Coffee Emporium are worth five stars alone but it gets better... *viewing window into the coffee roastery - one side is where it's made, the other where its consumed - love this! *plentiful plants, décor and natural light - for me, a good coffee shop is just as much about the cool environment as it is about the coffee *sweet treats made locally - try the chocolate chip cookie! *tea selection that comes with knowledgeable staff to explain each flavor Can't wait for my next morning spent working at Coffee Emporium.
(5)Emily H.
It's a cool place. Cool atmosphere, got a mixed Berry smoothie, was pretty good but the employees are not nice. They're actually ass holes..
(2)Eugene K.
This review is for the quality of roasted coffee. If you are in the market for fresh locally roasted coffee this is the place! They are very consistent and sell bags by the pound (not 12oz like most places). So $ per oz this is a fantastic deal. I only buy their single origin roasts with the light green label, not really a big fan of roasts past full city or with added flavor. Recently had their Kona which I thought was over roasted and they gladly refunded it for me and let me pick out ($35 worth of stuff). If you want the best pour overs and pulls of espresso in Cincinnati, go to collective espresso.
(4)Tyler M.
I HAD to write an update for this place. I'm obsessed. You can't check in here 10 times and NOT go back and give them 5 stars. Coffee + great food + awesome staff + THE BEST PEOPLE WATCHING EVER = My favorite place to relax in the city. Prices are just a touch high, but totally worth it to have this kind of atmosphere. Coffee Emporium is to my life as The Central Perk is to F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Want to relax? come to coffee emporium. Want to see someone you know? come to coffee emporium. Where is the mayor of Cincinnati? No, seriously...he's here, getting coffee. Where is the entirety of the sophomore class of SCPA? It would appear as though they are all smoking in front of coffee emporium and still full of angst.
(5)Ron B.
It gets the job done in terms of spacious coffee shop with some energy and good offerings. Not so much that destination for gluten-free eats, some snacks though and obviously the normal salad situation which is fine if that's what you're in the mood for. But if you're coming because Yelp tells you that it's a good spot for gluten-free food and you you're going to be in coffee shop + gluten-free food substance heaven while you work, you're going to come away disappointed. Nonetheless, it's a great spot to hang out and seriously, I wish it were in Kentucky rather than here. Surely worth visiting again and if you're a huge coffee nerd, you'll be in heaven.
(3)Bianca D.
This place has great hipster vibe! Anyone who knows me knows that I love hipster-y things and have no shame about it! Most of the staff either have beanies, tattoos, or both (right on!) extra points for septum piercings. I enjoyed one of the coffee options and it had a great flavor profile! can't remember the name of it now. My bf had an espresso drink, the white truffle latte! It was so good, almost like desert. After I ordered our drinks I decided I wanted to get coffee for the men sleeping outside the salvation army next door. I went out to check if they were there and came back in and placed my order. I paid, but the barista didn't give me my cups until after he had helped 3 other people in line (que missing star). I understood, but at the same time I didn't want miss the homeless people after buying all this coffee! There were empty cups next to the self service station, but after comparing the size of my cup, I thought the empty cups just sitting there were a little bigger. I didn't want to steal something I didn't pay for! So I anxiously waited, and the barista finally told me that I could indeed use those empty cups, but he gave me 4 cups from behind the counter anyways. Slight hiccup, but overall a good experience! I would suggest the staff beware and be prepared to inform new customers about their cup situation. I will be visiting again! Especially since I so rarely get the chance to help people who sleep on the street at night with hot coffee. Being next door to the salvation army is a prime location!
(4)Justin W.
I have been here a few times and each time was a great experience. They coffee is really good, the service was always top notch even when it was busy and the prices are definitely reasonable. When you are looking for something outside of the national chain store vibe I think this is the place to go. Looking forward to going back again!
(5)Julie M.
We love Coffee Emporium! Love that this place is local and blows every other coffee place out of the water when it comes to seating! You can actually sit down and enjoy your coffee inside or outside (even if people are taking up space "working" on their laptops! ). I just wish it was had a parking lot (because I am not so good at parallel parking). As much as we love the coffee, we love this place even more for their waffles and the variety of fresh and delicious waffle toppings. Best waffles in Cincy!
(5)Erin J.
Highly pretentious-do-gooder-fair-trade coffee place. Lovely architecture. Comfortable atmosphere. Great place for meetings and meet-ups. Bike friendly. Tasty local food. (They also have really good chocolate-chipped cookies.) Baristas aren't always the nicest. ...even if they're the kind wearing 'locs and/or Birkenstocks.
(2)Jeff D.
What a great place! I stopped in for the first time on a Sunday morning for a cup and breakfast. There was a line of people that moved very swiftly, the organization and efficiency of the staff is impressive. Although crowded, there was plent of comfortable seating. The spinach ricotta pie was delicious and I was pleased with the quality & selection of the drip coffees. I will definitely visit this hip & trendy coffee shop again.
(5)Tiera A.
Hands down, the best coffee shop downtown! First of all, I just love the location and size of this place. Located on Central Parkway, it's super easy to access and once you're inside there is plenty of space. Maybe I'm a bit jaded or annoyed by all of the tiny restuarants and bars in the OTR area so I can appreciate a regular sized place, like Coffee Emporium. Not only is Coffee Emporium (CE) a great place for coffee (obviously) but they have great bites like brownies and other snacks. They also offer lunch. For lunch, you'll find things like salads, sandwiches and soups. I absolutely love their sandwiches. What I find most refreshing about CE is the people that work there. Each time I go, I encounter a smiling and friendly face. The people that work here seem so happy, like they really enjoy what they do. Once, I met a guy who worked there that told me he quit his corporate job because he hated it but now works at CE and couldn't be happier! How awesome is that? CE makes him happy and it makes me happy too!
(4)Cindy G.
Update: HOLY FOOD HAVEN. In years past I have been so busy rushing from place to place that I've just grabbed my cup to go. Yesterday I had a great lunch all by myself and it was glorious. Now on to the good stuff. ATTENTION BREAKFAST LOVERS: THEY SERVE BREAKFAST ALL DAY! I almost passed out. I could barely tell the friendly barista my order. Choking back tears of joy at 1pm in the afternoon I ordered up a bacon burrito (I gotta have my eggs people without it, I am like a caffeine addict without coffee WATCH OUT). And of course, followed that with a Donna's Gourmet cookie, because duh. Now back the point. I can probably count two or three places in the entire city that serve breakfast all day and am happy to say that my burrito was delicious. Bacon, eggs, potatoes, cheese all for around $5. What's not to love? Speaking of love. Coffee Emporium -- will you marry me? (Stop in for lunch & check out their other food offerings like quiche, salads, soups, sammies & more. This place is so much more than a coffee shop!)
(5)Lonnetta P.
Who doesn't love this place? It's huge, plenty of coffee/tea options available, free Wifi and staff members are always pleasant. A nice selection of retail items you'll notice as you walk in. The coffee is great! They offer different milk options upon request. It can get a little noisy at times, but it's not too bad. The food is pretty good but a little pricey. I've tried the black bean burger and the turkey sandwich. The sandwiches come with a side item. I recommend the spicy pretzels to add a nice crunch with the entree.
(4)Julie B.
I have been visiting this location for a few years now. I have never received anything but great service and smiles. The food is delicious and the coffee is my favorite in town. I wish there was a Coffee Emporium in Eastgate I would like to work in it. But I don't mind the drive to this clean and friendly place.
(5)Alyona Z.
This place is great, the staff is extra friendly and helpful to an indecisive self as myself. I ordered the Americano and it was very good. Along with an iced turtle coffee which was tasty as well. I'd highly recommend coming to this place for sure.
(5)Julia C.
This morning was my first time at this location (I've been to the Hyde Park location before), and overall it was a good experience. I stopped in before work to get a drink and some breakfast to-go. The breakfast burrito with bacon is delicious (although a little small for the price, in my opinion), and the pomegranate green tea is fantastic! There was only one other person in line so the wait wasn't long, and my burrito and tea came out fairly quickly. The one potential downside to this location is parking - I think it probably depends on what time of day you're there. Since I stopped by at around 10:30am, I think I missed any breakfast or lunch rushes and easily found metered parking out front on Central, but I can see parking being more of a problem if it was a busier time of day.
(4)Levi B.
Coffee Emporium is Over The Rhine's community living room. I'll get this out of the way, first: 4 stars because their Wifi recently has been really really slow. It used to be easy to connect and fast...for coffee house Wifi. It's still free, but it's hard to use this place as an office anymore. Maybe that's their goal. Oh well. I love this place. The vibe, the coffee, the muffins, the lunch, the community board, the seating options, the bathroom key, the bike-friendliness, the ambiance...all that stuff is tops. The coffee scene in Cincinnati is on point, and I really appreciate what each local shop brings to the table. But I'm going to single out the people at Coffee Emporium by saying they are home-grown, city-loving, I'm-cool-but-I-won't-rub-it-in-your-face, artists. They make it a point to be friendly, helpful, casual, and fast all while being professional. I haven't had a single negative experience with a human behind the bar at Coffee Emporium. Plus, their food is really good, and the muffins in the bake case are always delightful. I especially love their Morning Glory muffin for breakfast and the Black Bean Burger (as a salad) for lunch. I've even used their catering service a couple times, and been pleasantly surprised by the speed and generosity.
(4)Emily R.
I came here with a friend for a meeting of the minds, and this was the first time I've ever been here, I really like the atmosphere and the general vibe. They were very understanding about substituting for dietary needs and brought our food out to our table. I got a sandwich that was super tasty and my friend got a super yummy looking salad (I had to photograph it because it was so pretty). I also got a pumpkin spiced latte, because tis the season! I don't normally drink any coffee, but I do like to try the specialty ones every so often. I just asked for less of the dairy items in it :) They had a cool sign board up by the bathroom, which was all about Puns, so I participated and took some photos of it. I appreciated that the bathroom was clean and stocked as well. I also appreciated that the establishment didn't wreak of coffee smell, (which has in the past given me headaches.) All in all, a good experience, and I would like to go back, only after its free to park at the meters. ^_^
(4)Sandra F.
My husband and I usually go to the Coffee Emporium in Hyde Park and love that place! We were in the downtown area and it's been awhile since we went to this location. I usually get the Turtle Latte (tall for $3.50) and my husband loves the iced pomegranate tea (grande $2.75). Once again, Coffee Emporium always delivers quality taste of coffees and teas. Everytime we visit here, it is extremely busy, but the employees are very quick and efficient in making our drinks. I also noticed how this coffee shop has expanded their menu! Besides coffee and teas, they also carry sandwiches, baked items, soup, pasta salad, wraps, quiche and chocolates (also vegetarian friendly) All within reasonable pricing. My favorite to get with my coffee is the zucchini bread! Addicted to it! This Coffee Emporium is very spacious, cozy,has lovely decor, plenty of seating including a lounge couch. There is free wifi and outdoor seating. Never a dissapointment and I can see why they are voted best of 2014! #supportlocal
(4)Alicia B.
My fave coffee shop in Cincinnati. It's spacious, the coffee is excellent. I haven't adventured the food yet, but it always looks good on others' tables. Great to get work done or have a civilized chat with friends.
(5)Phil A.
Casual atmosphere that's great for hanging out or working. The coffee is the best in the city and the food is great. I come here often for a reason.
(5)Maggie B.
Delicious baked good with lots of options. Lots of beverage choices too. A great place to stop in for a snack or the sit a while and hang out.
(4)Alicia K.
By far the best coffee shop in the city. Love that they use Snowville and the food is delicious too. Can't say enough good things.
(5)Amber J.
Wonderful hand crafted drinks and great food. I love their breakfast burritos but find the size not worth the $7. The staff is beyond amazing!!! Keep up the good work!
(4)Erin K.
Oh coffee emporium, how do I love thee - let me count the ways: +Your deliciously concocted beverages, including (but not limited to) your aztec hot chocolate and...the best coffee in Cincy. +Your kitschy decor and cozy atmosphere (you have both couches, tables and chairs to meet everyone's needs from the student to the people who just want to chill +Your delectable baked goods that meet both vegan and gluten-free people's needs +Your friendly and knowledgeable staff +Your comparable prices and the fact that you are local I really love and appreciate you! Thanks for all you do for us Cincinnati-ans!
(5)Rebekah M.
This space is really casual lots of tables great for studying or extra work but it can get loud. They have great food choices mostly for breakfast and a couple sandwiches. The coffee is excellent and the staff is very friendly and efficient even when they are busy. They do have a couple tables outside to enjoy the busy bustling streets of Cincinnati.
(5)Alex N.
1) be a movie/tv extra 2) run into Clooney, mayor, police chief ..etc 3) be part of a news telecast 4) be part of a art piece 5) ....its endless Yea that is only a partial list of things you can encounter at Coffee Emporium while you are on an endeavor for the BEST coffee in town. O and the food is right up there with the best of them. The place is a gem and my favorite part of OTR hands down. I like it so much that I thought I had already reviewed it. If you are ever around town and want to find a quite and calm place to do some coffee shop work. Don't come here lol. It isn't quit and definitely not calm. I would say it resembles chaos sometimes but the best chaos. You will see people from the court house, offices and locals running in and out trying to get their daily fix of the best coffee in town. If you venture further you will see a couches and a stage with tables. The stage doubles as a poem/music stage at times on certain evenings. If you are not ADD have headphones and want to get some work done this is a great place to be. The biggest problem with getting work done in coffee shops is 1) outlets 2) wifi time. Wifi time ? yea, try doing something significant on your computer at Panera and you will see what I mean. They only permit 30mins of wifi time during peak hours... You know - the times when people actually want to do shit. Sorry for digressing. But back to outlets there are outlets at every table, couch and stool. I have not seen this at any other place but they put outlets above the tables. All you have to do it get up on your chair and plug it it. Food, They have lots of it and its great. Your choices range from deli sandwiches to a plethora of breakfast food. I suggest the breakfast burrito. They serve breakfast all day long. So even the Sonny Koufaxes out there can still enjoy breakfast with Scuba Steve.
(5)Ben M.
Went in for breakfast a few weeks ago. The line was very long, so someone who appeared to be a manager was taking orders in line. He was clearly in a hurry, but was nonetheless rude to my wife and I. Also waited over 20 minutes for a bagel with cream cheese because the person behind the counter forgot my order. Coffee was ok but not great.
(2)Thanh L.
I love coffee shops and I love coffee art! Coffee was good but every time I come the line is insanely longggg! So don't come if you're in a hurry to go.
(4)Brian M.
This is probably the best coffee to drink in all of OTR. The number of coffees they offer is amazing. My personal favorite is the Bourbon Barrel flavor. It's just a shame you literally have to buy a bag of it (at $18 no less) if you want it (they've never had it ready to serve by the cup when I've gone). There is a nice open space there to go and relax, read, work on your computer, chat, etc. However, the wifi is SLOW, slower than the time it takes them to do a pour-over. If they could just fix this, I'd give them 4 stars rather than 3.
(3)Jay G.
Neat place. Good coffee and food. Friendly staff. Worth stopping in for a visit!
(5)Michael D.
Outstanding coffee. I went specifically for the breakfast wrap as I was told how great it was. I was extrmeely unimpressed. It was soggy, small, and lacked flavor. I will go back for the coffee.
(3)Marcus F.
I've been to Coffee Emporium quite a few times throughout the time span they've remained opened. If you want my honest review in a short sentence it'll go something like this, "This place is so-so; the only reason I keep on coming back for more is because a colleague keeps requesting it for lunch." If you want my full detailed review, keep on reading... Alright -- maybe the first paragraph seemed a bit harsh, but that's the general feeling I have about this coffeehouse. As I've mentioned before I have been quite a number of times, however I'll just cut it short and list a few of the most recent visits. * On one occurrence a colleague and I had both had a quiche. I nearly wanted to vomit because as soon as I bit into the quiche it was extremely cold. Being the humble person she is, my colleague was hesitant to send back the quiches. They reheated the bland egg and herb concoction, in which I figured they'd at least apologize for giving a customer food that wasn't fit to eat. I ended up having to douce the thing with pepper because even with whatever herbs they used, it was so bland. I was not impressed. As a person who is knowledgeable of how a good quiche should taste - the one at Coffee Emporium seemed like an amateur science experiment gone wrong. * Vegetable soup. A fairly easy soup to put together. Apparently they don't at least try the soup before giving it to customers because like their coffee the soup tasted like soap. I felt like the ingredients weren't fresh either, along with the soap aftertaste. The (stale) sliced baguette they give you is very hard to chew, even after letting it bask in the soup. * Like the vegetable soup the coffee has a soap-like aftertaste. In other words it's not good. As a coffee shop shouldn't your coffee be one of the best menu options? No matter what time of the day I've gone, the coffee always tastes burnt with a soap aftertaste. The only way it's fit to drink is heavily putting creamer as well as sugars in the drink. Which makes it unhealthy. Those are just the most recent visits. I've given Coffee Emporium plenty of tries of providing me with something that I like. I'm not one to complain about things, but handing a customer a quiche that's cold wouldn't be considered good business ethics. Two last issues I have with the Coffee Emporium. When it's around lunchtime on a weekday it's understandable to want to rush the customers through the line. When it's in the afternoon and I'm the only one in line, there is no need to rush me. If I want to be informed of the various products, I should be treated with more respect as a customer, on the other hand the employees always rush me through the line so that they can get back to idle chit-chat. That alone is very unprofessional and something I would expect at a larger corporate coffeehouse. Lastly, the need new furniture. I'm not even referring to the fact that everything looks as if it has come from a flea market, I'm mentioning the fact that every table I've sat at seems to wiggle whilst eating. I've sat at nearly all of the tables and have had this issue. Going for the "hipster" look is all fine and dandy, but a restaurants furniture needs to be functional as well. I've spilt things on the table from the wiggle and wobble nature of them. I wanted to like Coffee Emporium so much. It seems as if each time I visit - I leave disappointed.
(2)Christopher S.
A neighborhood staple. They do coffee right, with no frills. The food is great, and not just typical coffee shop food. Keep doing what you're doing!
(4)Ed J.
There is a reason that this is a Cincinnati coffee institution - they've been here for years providing great coffee and great service. I came in one Sunday evening looking for Hario coffee filters. The place I usually would go was closed, and nobody seemed to have them anywhere else I checked. As a last chance I came downtown, and at first it seemed that the fine people at this establishment were also out of these seemingly rare filters. When I asked the barista, she was sure they still had some, and searched high and low for ten minutes and emerged triumphantly from the back room with a package. I was very happy, and got a celebratory espresso (excellently made) and thanked the barista for taking the time to find this for me. I found out here that the barista was one of the owners. Imagine that, the owner of one of the best and biggest coffee empires in Cincinnati pulling espresso shots on Sunday night and cheerfully and doggedly searching for a bag of coffee filters for a customer who was nobody special. That is exemplary service. I'll keep coming back for that alone - fortunately the coffee and the food are also fantastic.
(5)Liberty S.
The lavender latte is super weird, I LOVE IT. It has a spice to it you'd expect, with a bit of sweetness. I'm usually a straight espresso or black coffee kind of gal, and I liked it. The best thing though, FREE PARKING on Central Parkway **before 9am. I asked the staff what was good, and they were very friendly. The woman that made my coffee had awesome red hair #goals.
(5)Missy L.
How on Earth have I not written a review of Coffee Emporium yet?! It is by far one of my favorite coffee (and food) spots between downtown and OTR. Located on Central Pwy between Walnut and Main Coffee Emporium offers both delicious coffee and a tasty menu of food items that changes from day to day. First the coffee...ohhh the coffee! I've honestly never had a coffee I didn't enjoy at Coffee Emporium. The beans are always fresh and the delicious aroma engulfs you the moment you walk in the door. They also have the most delicious chai tea latte I've ever tasted. The menu is constantly changing and ranges from pastries and to-go breakfast burritos to more sit down fare like soups, salads, and sandwiches. The ingredients are always fresh and there's such a wide variety of items I'm sure almost anyone could find something they want/need (I know I do nearly every time I go in JUST for coffee). The service is always outstanding. Their employees are both efficient and passionate about what they do. If you are just coming in for a drink you are in and out in less than 5-6 minutes even at their busiest. All and all it's a really outstanding place that I recommend to pretty much anyone who will listen to me rave about them. A++
(5)Brad B.
Great coffee, cold brew coffee and lattes. Coffee Emporium changes up the coffees every day, usually providing 4-5 options, the Autumn Blend and Moka Java are two of my favorites. The pastries and breakfast foods are also very good. I'm a big fan of the breakfast burrito with chorizo, good flavors and very filling! Coffee Emporium can get pretty busy in the mornings, I wish they'd open another register for the busy times.. Waiting 5+ minutes to pay for a cup of coffee can be frustrating. Overall, I'd recommend Coffee Emporium, it's a great spot to sit, chat, drink coffee and people watch!
(3)David C.
I was here during a weekday for a meeting. Coffee Emporium is kind of one of those Cincinnati cornerstones when it comes to hangouts. This downtown spot is well known and always pretty full when I visit. Note: this is not my normal hang-spot, so I'm writing as a visitor. I walked in early afternoon, and the place was packed. Meetings of all kinds going on. I did drink a chai while I was there. Their coffee is roasted in-house. They were roasting while I was there, so the aroma filled the café as we sat. I have one bone to pick - the music was loud while we were there - so, when we started our meeting, it became hard to hear - there was not another table to move to. Looking back on this, I could have said "hey, can you turn that music down...?" Decades in the making, Coffee Emporium is here to stay - so, check it out! Just get ready for busy & noisy.
(4)Emily D.
There is absolutely nothing I dislike about this place. Whenever I drive through Cincinnati, which is fairly often, I always stop by Coffee Emporium even if I do have to wait in ridiculously long lines for a latte. Long lines clearly mean they're doing something right cause that place is always busy.
(5)Witni S.
If you want a taste of OTR, this is your place. Coffee emporium straddles the line between downtown Cinci and OTR. So, you get an eclectic mix of people in suits and people in ink. It's a very cool spot with lots of energy. The coffee was tasty and the service was friendly. I had a white chocolate mocha that hit the spot. Parking around the area is mostly metered and not too hard to come by. I came downtown for a 3pm meeting and was able to find a meter a block and a half away. Easy walk. There's plenty of seating, and the place was pretty packed. One note is that the music was pretty loud. It's kind of nice in one sense because you it drowns out other conversations. At the same time, you have to speak pretty loudly to the person you are meeting with. If you want some head down book reading time, this place may have a bit more energy for you than your typical, quieter coffee shop.
(4)Heather W.
Love the autumn brew and their natural pumpkin spice latte. Delicious treats and breakfast when you're on the go but need something. Great place to study as well.
(4)Karen D.
If you're Downtown or in OTR and looking to catch up with a friend, have a networking meeting, or meeting for an upcoming volunteer event as I was there for a Go Cincinnati project, Coffee Emporium is the place to be. They have a variety of coffees - hot & iced, tea and non-coffee drinks as I'm not a coffee drinker for you to enjoy, served quickly. Large open space with variety of tables for small meeting for two or our meeting grew to over 10 people Coffee Emporium is the place to be downtown.
(4)Nate H.
I really like this place! It's got solid in house roasted coffee, great food, and speedy service! The roastery is off to the side when you walk in here, and if you're curious you can go take a look to see how they work. After that move on to the counter where you can drool over the pastry/food case while you wait to place your order. After that you can browse the extensive selection of coffee goods like grinders, brew methods, beans, and all other manner of accessories on their goodies shelf. As other's have mentioned there's not much for the gluten free people, but I wouldn't consider that a problem. It's a coffee shop, go for the coffee, cause it's great!
(5)Kimberly J.
This place is very large and welcoming. The coffee is great and the atmosphere is just so cool and laid back. Take some time to check out the shop while you're there.
(5)Stephanie M.
Seattle coffee house vibe! (Disclaimer: I've only been to Seattle once, but I went to like six cafes in a span of 2 days) Wallet to Taste Ratio: 3:4 Average coffee house Ambiance: You could sit here for hours. Tons of tables, couches, and seating along the window. Internet lags (understandably), so bring your own. Food: They sort their menu by sandwiches and not sandwiches - how smart! I ordered a latte and scone (honey cream..walnut?) to tide me through my hours of remoting. The latte was a level above starbucks. The scone won me over. The pastry was soft, warm, and slightly salty - topped with a thin layer of slightly sweet cream. Thank you coffee emporium, for being my temporary office for the afternoon.
(4)Saki A.
Love stopping by this place on our doggie walks! The decor is very welcoming and casual, perfect for any group of customers. I usually like to order a choffee, mix between coffee and hot chocolate, which isn't on the menu but the staff always kindly makes. Their yummy sweets are a must get as well, like those humongo cookies that I thoroughly enjoy on my cheat days. Will continually be frequenting this place!
(5)Levi F.
First time being here and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I ended up getting a tuna melt sandwich which was perfectly toasted and literally melted in my mouth! They have a great collection of loose tea that you can choose from. I went with the walnut green after smelling several. It had a lovely fall scent as well as a long lasting flavor. Overall a great spot!
(5)Marchelli H.
I Love Love LOVE this place! It's very energetic but laid back. The coffee selection was very extensive and the drinks are absolutely delicious. Great alternative if you're tired of Starbucks. It's located in a pretty funky neighborhood.
(5)Kara C.
Coffee Emporium just doesn't do it for me. I have been here several times and have never been overly impressed. I enjoy the space and all of the seating options, particularly the comfy couches. The service has always been fast and friendly, even taking orders in line to speed up the process. I will admit that I am not a coffee drinker, so this review will not address that. I have had their smoothies and hot apple cider. I had heard rave reviews about their cider and was very disappointed. It had a watered down taste and was subpar at best. I have noticed that their drinks are served extremely hot. TOO HOT! I understand that people want their coffee, tea, etc served piping hot but this is ridiculous. My husband and I had to wait for our drinks (coffee and cider) to cool off for a very long time, with the lid off even, in order not to burn our mouths. Their smoothies are delicious though, with a variety of flavors! Also, what is with the bathroom situation? You have to get a key to use the restroom. Not only is this inconvenient, but it is also gross. I don't want to touch something that others have taken into the restroom with them. BLEH! Would I come back to Coffee Emporium? Sure. Am I in a hurry to get back? No. In the end, this place is just okay in my opinion.
(3)Brian M.
What can you ask for other than really good coffee and a chill atmosphere to do some studying? Coffee Emporium offers both. Their coffee is great, but I personally find their Glacial Mocha to be especially refreshing on a warm summer day. The space is perfectly laid out for setting up shop and studying. Nice big couches if you are feeling like a more laid back reading day, or a big table if you are looking to spread out a bit more. While I have never actually had their food, it always looks so appetizing.
(4)AJ D.
Best coffee in the city, eat your heart out Starbucks!
(5)Jonathan G.
great food. amazing coffee. friendly staff. nice atmosphere. metered parking at the downtown location is annoying. super-crowding and extraordinarily long lines at the downtown location keep me from going there more than once a month. you absolutely cannot get in and out of the downtown location quickly, if you want a quick morning coffee -- especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. crowds and parking issues aside, it's wonderful.
(4)Neil P.
A bit loud but overall a good place to get good coffee and some work done. This place has tons of seating and if you hit it at prime time it's packed but still manageable. They have some breakfast food on the weekends and pastries at all other times. I'd agree with the other reviews saying that the WiFi is pretty slow. More conducive to hunkering down and working than the Hyde Park location. Unsure about the downtown location.
(4)Shirley A.
Such a cool vibe & inviting interior area . LOVE
(5)Magda C.
Nice place for coffee on a weekend. I especially like blended frozen mocca. Big plus for the artsy bike rack in front!!
(4)Kathleen K.
Conveniently located on Central Parkway, between Downtown and OTR, Coffee Emporium has become my current go-to coffee shop. The open and well-lit space makes the shop a perfect place to spend several hours working and studying. The sweet smell of coffee and pastries doesn't hurt either! Not only are the drinks delicious, but reasonably priced. A medium cup of drip coffee costs two dollars and a dollar to refill. Generally, they have three caffeinated coffees available each day, as well as one decaf. I particularly like the Mackinac Island Fudge, which boasts a chocolate flavor without being too sweet. When used in a café au lait, it tastes like (caffeinated) chocolate milk. In addition to selling good coffees, Coffee Emporium has an impressive selection of teas, both caffeinated and decaf. Try the Roasted Almond with steamed milk! For a coffee shop, Coffee Emporium has a wide array of food items. The pastries are rather expensive, but well worth the cost and a must with any beverage. I recommend the sugar cookies. For those camping out all day, as I often do, the lunch items are tasty and reasonably priced. A sandwich comes with a side (salad or chips) and a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can get waffles with a variety of toppings. However, I found that the waffle that I had, while seemingly crispy, was slightly undercooked. I attribute this flaw to the haste caused by the sheer volume of customers that come in, especially during the weekends. However, despite the frequent long lines, the cashiers do a great job of serving the customers. When taking orders, they manage to handle the line efficiently, all while being extremely friendly. Their strategy of taking down drink orders before a customer pays helps immensely. This coffee shop's only real shortcoming is the bathroom situation: a single locked room, the key for which is hidden behind the register. While their reasons for locking the restroom are certainly justified, I find it inconvenient for the cashier's sake to interrupt him/her to ask for the key, especially when the key is usually in use. Possibly they could make the key more visible, so that you would immediately know whether someone else has the key. However, this one annoyance does not stop Coffee Emporium from being one of the best coffee joints in town. So grab a book (or four), a friend (or four), and spend a whole day in this amazing place!
(5)Sophia B.
My addiction with their chocolate chip cookies, pesto panini & lattes it has graduated to buying bags of their beans for cold brewing at home & their teas are amazing too! Their OTR location is definitely my favorite all year round!
(5)Sean G.
I'm vegan. And sometimes, you just have to drive a hundred miles to get a good - different - vegan treat. I honestly wasn't intending to go to a coffee house (I don't drink coffee), and certainly not as far away as Cincinnati, yet that is exactly where I ended up. First off, I came to the Coffee Emporium based on a "Find Us Here!" link off of Sweet Peace Bakery's web-site. Their products looked awesome, and different, and are sold out of local retail establishments like Coffee Emporium and a handful of other places I wasn't familiar with. I saw the multiple listings for this coffee place and figured "why not?" Let's talk about traffic and parking: certain parts of Cincinnati aren't the easiest to get around, especially if you're not familiar with the areas. It didn't help that there was a major festival a block down the street, so certain streets were blocked off entirely, making GPS navigation somewhat odd. Then, I'm driving around in circles ("Hey look kids, there's Big Ben, and there's Parliament... again.") trying to find a parking spot or a lot - adventure! But I eventually found a place down the street that was reasonably priced ($5 for all-day parking, which was perfect) and parked. After walking a block, which was a good choice given the upcoming vegan treat fest, I came to the Coffee Emporium. Yay! The atmosphere in this location is totally college. Smaller tables, couches, natural light coming in through the multitude of windows...so much natural light! It's also cool how they have metal wire mesh over the windows, and the floor is this built-to-be-dirty long-lasting substance. I find myself wondering if it was stone, concrete, or something else. People all over the place were using laptops: a nice blend of PCs and Macs. I felt a lot of collaboration and discussion in the air: teachers, students, shoppers, shop owners. Little pockets of close-up connection, facilitated by the smallish tables, with just the right amount of space between them. Okay, so, I didn't come here for the atmosphere (although it certainly helps to encourage future visits!) or even the people - I came for the vegan sweets, and some of the random caffeine-free beverages. The beverages seem to be pretty most of the time - I saw a lot of people drinking specialty coffees with the toothpick art in the foam, which I enjoy looking at. I also really enjoy the smell of freshly roasted coffee. What did I drink? I had a cider, which ended up being hot and totally hit the spot. Oh! Speaking of coffee, the hot drink sleeves are neon-green awesomeness. I took a picture and posted it, because it wasn't that boring "recycled paper" look. So we talked about the drinks, the atmosphere, and where to park - let's talk about their fantastic choice of locally-baked vegan baked goods! Sweet Peace Bakery: even the name is awesome! I probably ate too many treats while hanging out, but the two most memorable were the pumpkin cinnamon roll and the coffee cake muffin; out of this world! I probably could have eaten more than one of the cinnamon rolls, but I wisely stayed my hand. The coffee cake muffin is exactly what you'd expect from the name: a super tasty muffin that has coffee cake crumbles baked into it. There's a space separated off by windowed doors, and I'm fairly certain that's a special event location, because it seemed like a wedding party was having a blast, and people were all dressed up in weddingy clothes. From reading some of the signs, pamphlets and postcards kicking around, it also seems like they have periodic themed special events. This really would be the perfect place for a casual event, and if you slid the tables around, you could probably even get a temporary dance floor! Untz untz untz! So overall, a great experience, and worth the drive down from Columbus. Having frequented more than a few coffee houses in Columbus over the years, I can say that this location in Cincinnati feels unique. Plus, there are plenty of shopping and food places nearby, so you'll have other things you can do besides eat pastry and drink coffee. Road trip anyone?
(4)Sable B.
I like Coffee Emporium, I really do. And the staff is great. But for some reason or another I am not head-over-heels in love like most people. Maybe it's because I prefer the one in Hyde Park? I don't know. The Bumble Bee is delicious!
(3)SD L.
Quality coffee and tea. and nice quality food.
(4)Nevena K.
The staff is super nice and their pastries are beautiful.
(5)Heather B.
I have been to Coffee Emporium (CE) no less than a dozen+ times. It is quite possibly the best place to hang out in Cincinnati, but it's almost like they don't know just how cool they are there. The atmosphere is laid back but the staff is extremely efficient and friendly. They have extremely delicious, quickly prepared food on hand as well as all your regularly-requested coffee beverages AND a large assortment of loose-leaf teas. The layout is large enough that you can always find a seat and you can usually choose from a window bar seat, a large table, or a couch/comfy chair. I go there alone to write (free wifi, of course), on dates with my husband, meet ups with friends AND walk with all 4 of my kids to drink steamed milk and do some coloring when we get snowed in. They sell everything you need for at home brewing and tea drinking as well some packaged specialty snacks. There is everything to love here.
(5)Chris P.
Visited CE this morning based on Yelp rating. It was everything people have said, and a full 5 stars. Very friendly service, nice layout, good coffee. I'll make a point to return often.
(5)Liz S.
When I think of a coffee shop close to home (I live downtown) this is the first place I think of. An amazing coffee smell greets you when you walk in. I've always enjoyed the drinks here. When I'm in the mood for a fancy coffee drink, they have great options. They also have delicious smoothies that are not too sweet. When I need something refreshing, I get a pomegranate green tea. It's a great space to hangout either inside or out front. Grab a book or good friend on you're way.
(4)Matt A.
Well, I was a bit depressed when I heard this was a chain that started in Hyde Park. Being the son of a working man in Northside I've been taught that the east side is filled with useless pretension. Now I still believe this is true, the coffee here is pretty good. The roaster is no clown. The aroma of the bean is not lost in the roasting and most importantly they seem to understand the concept of freshness. The beans taste fresh and the coffee I've had never taste old. The sandwiches are less than stellar. The tuna melt is hardly 'melty'. This takes more cheese and more heat. Easy, right? I got a bagel with cream cheese once. It was pretty silly. I opened the bag in the truck and saw it was a plain toasted bagel with a package of Philly cream cheese. When I pay money for a toasted bagel with cream cheese I want you to spread it on there for me. I expect you to buy a decent cheese. I expect to have my food assembled for me. I'm pathetic and lazy. Serve me. .
(4)Richard W.
Coffee Emporium roasts its own beans! This means they can control the flavor...which is very good. Coffee Emporium does not over roast. So there is not a burnt flavor that so many have become used to by going to a certain Star named chain. And the food and snacks are very good too.
(5)Lincoln C.
Two deal breakers; 1. One unisex restroom for a host of caffinated bladders; 2. The slowest wifi I have ever experienced. However, if you can hold it and don't use wifi this is a very good coffee house.
(3)Gordon H.
This is the best coffee spot in the city. It has such a lively atmosphere and everyone regardless of livelihood is touching elbows and getting along. The space is huge and the energy is boundless. The staff are so welcoming and do everything in their power to make it the best experience for each individual. They make sure to remember people and their orders which means the world to customers. The coffee is local and you can't go wrong with any item on the menu whether it is food or coffee! Make sure to support local.
(5)Kathy G.
The best, the best, the best. Coolest, hippest coffee house in Cincy. Coffee always freshly ground steaming hot and taste excellent parentheses even though I only drink decaf. Oatmeal breakfast with hot steam skim milk is my favorite and the maple oatmeal scones are great. My husband always gets the breakfast burrito, he loves it. Ambience is great for meetings, social gatherings, or working alone. Huge, huge space plenty of comfy seating, always parking at meters along Central Parkway or on sidestreets makes this the greatest coffeehouse in Cincinnati.
(5)James B.
This place was straight up awesome, I wish they could just move to Rochester. We came here on a Sunday morning while driving through the city and we stopped here and ended up extremely glad that we did. The lattes were both delicious that we ordered with not an overwhelming amount of syrup, but enough to give them a great flavor and the scones we both got were spot-on awesome. The seating outside was just the extra perk that put it over the top. The staff inside were all wonderful! I would come back here in a heartbeat!
(5)Katie F.
Although I've already written a review for the Coffee Emporium in Hyde Park, I feel this location deserves one as well. I love this place and hang out there at least once a week to have meetings or get some work done. Not only is the atmosphere great, but the employees are so friendly and helpful. They have helped me with so many different purchases outside of food/coffee...different beans, a pour over "dripper" (I don't technically know what they are officially called but it's the V60 and I'm obsessed with it), and also loose-leaf tea. Plus, not only is their coffee great, but their quiches are off the hook!
(5)Karthik R.
Okay so three stars for the coffee but four stars for the location, staff and ambiance. The seating needs to improve though. It has good coffee but nothing or of the way mind blowing.
(3)J B.
Great place that seemed to serve a wide range of patrons. Good selection of drip coffees and fancier drinks.
(5)Jamie W.
This place is so cute! Parking is kind of difficult and it was super crowded even on a Late Sunday afternoon. I had the hot apple cider and it was delicious. I'm not even a huge cider fan. Three of us shared a peanut butter cookie that was really good also and we couldn't even finish it. Awesome atmosphere great place to go when catching up with friends. There is a back room with additional tables. It would be nice if they added some cozier seating back there though.
(4)Elaine W.
Fact: People come here for the food just as much as they do for the coffee, which is funny because I have spent countless hours and afternoons here but have yet to try the real food. The junk food, on the other hand, pah--I know my muffins and coffee cake like none other. BIG PROS: - I love both Coffee Emporium locations (OTR and Hyde Park). This one is a better place to do work, though, as there are more seats, and if you look around, at least 70% of the people here are on their laptops or reading. Free wifi works splendidly here. - Great drink selection, though I wish they had more teas. Can't blame them, I guess, as it is a COFFEE emporium. Love the Aztec spice hot cocoa. Double love the free soy milk substitution (in yo' face, Starbucks). - Enough munchies to keep you here all day long. MINOR CONS: - They play the music a little too loud for my taste. Must bring headphones. Must. - Summers here are sweltering! I usually sit at the long counter by the open windows and crane my neck like a baby giraffe to catch a cooling breath of wind.
(4)Lia V.
I'm a little bit in love with this place. The ambiance is ultra cool - kind of lofty feeling. Plenty of seating. Great location. Good mix of people. DELICIOUS coffee. Service is friendly and quick even when it's busy - appropriate staffing is always appreciated! Prices are a little higher than some of your other coffee joints, but I think it's worth it for sure. I could spend an afternoon in there reading and drinking coffee :-)
(5)Stephen C.
Great coffee shop. Very cyclist friendly. The coffee is great and the staff is very friendly. There are times, though, when they are so busy that customers are lined up out the door. You'd best not be in a huge hurry at those times.
(4)Sally Y.
If you ever wonder what those people who "work from home" do, this is the place to find all the answers. Pop on in on any weekday, and you'll catch a plethora of people chugging along on their laptops, phones, 1 on 1 meetings, and working hard for the money. Seriously. The staff is super friendly with nothing but smiles, the coffee is delicious, and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual work environment or a sit down spot to read a book. Even on weekends, this place is buzzing with those looking for a fun brunch spot, a quick afternoon coffee break, or even just a place to relax for a few minutes before they're off to their next adventure. One last additional bonus? Everything about this place screams OTR. You want to know what the OTR vibe is really like? Take a step inside here.
(4)Soly Z.
Coffee was great and I didn't feel too uncomfortable inside, despite the hipster vibe. Only complaint is that our drinks were cold when they came up on the bar. They use quality, grass-fed dairy and Monin syrups, which are the gold standard when it comes to coffee flavorings.
(3)Alyssa F.
I'm not sure how I've missed reviewing the Emporium before, but I'm glad I waited because now I can talk about the REALLY good sandwich I ate over the weekend. I think it was called Alligator Pear? But it was avocado, cheese, tomato, onion... all on toasted bread with a side. Loved it. Devoured it. The coffee here is really good. My friend had a black bean burger (i think- definitely veggie), and he said it's one of the best he's had in the city. It looked really legit, too. Big bun, all the fixings- like a burger from a full service restaurant. My only complaint here is that the seating is a bit awkward or maybe too crowded or small? Especially when they have a band playing in the main area.
(4)Ploy K.
Coffee Emporium is my new favorite weekend grading spot. The coffee and food are both excellent (the pastries are quite scrumptious!) and I don't feel bad lingering there for hours on end working because that's basically what everyone else is doing, too. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is pleasant - loud enough not to be a library but not so loud you can't get anything done. I love the space, too - the windows let in tons of light which helps keep me motivated, especially in the winter. I think you have to ask to have a mug, though - I've never been asked "here or to-go" and my drink is always put into a paper cup, which is wasteful, but if that's how they do it, cool.
(4)Scott M.
About as good as it gets, honestly... a new favorite of ours that we will hit up every time we visit Cincy. Coffee-wise, the quad macchiato was perfection and the wife loved her iced cold brew. Food-wise, the Alligator Pear sandwich is a dream for avocado lovers and the Mediterranean sliders had the perfect amount of kalamata/feta to compliment the tzatziki. The bakery items we got were very good but not mind-blowing (cinnamon bread, apricot pocket thing). Vibe-wise, very cool. Laid back and casual with lots of room to stretch out and stay a while. Friendly staff too.
(5)Brian L.
I have fallen in and out of love with this over the past few years. Honestly, it is a great establishment with great coffee, latte's, and even food. As a foodie, it ranks at the top of my list. Check out the quiches or the breakfast burritos! They are bomb for low key breakfast. Even the culture and atmosphere of the place brings a sense of nostalgia that makes you want to come back The major downers for me all have to do with space management. With a great establishment comes a great many people. - no parking has turned me away quite a few times - there are never tables available on weekends when you want to relax the most - so many people makes the place louder than I want while trying to get work done - there is 1 bathroom for a place filled with coffee drinkers - the internet is not reliable. - WHY DO YOU CLOSE AT 9PM?! -__- maybe this is good for my general health, but still... Don't get me wrong, I love this place at the right times. It is a Cincinnati Hipster staple.
(3)Cassidy H.
My favorite coffee and beverages in Cincinnati, by far! Coffee is always fresh and hot. The flavored coffees are amazing. But, my all time favorite is the dirty chai (Starbucks cannot even compare!). Note: their lattes have double espresso shots--which I love because it really cuts the sweetness and makes the flavor perfecto. I hear the food is good too. Though I have only had a few items: the maple oat scone, the pumpkin scone, the oatmeal (I prefer the blueberry almond, but the chocolate coconut is good if you want something really chocolatey. Upgrade for seamed milk, totally worth it.) At the Xavier campus location, I like the get the peanut butter and jam sandwich. Simple but tasty.
(5)Samantha W.
I've been hearing a lot about this place and it's as actually as cool and as good as it sounds! I'm definitely not a coffee drinker but they have lots of other things to choose from along with food selections. PARKING: Street parking. I hope you're not expecting anything amazing because parking in downtown is always a pain. BUT, sometimes you do get lucky. So good luck with parking, my friend. AMBIANCE: Really good place to meet people to hang out/work or study as long as you're not one of those people who demands absolute silence. This place has more than enough space and tables (can't say anything about outlets though because I didn't look), so it shouldn't be a problem finding a place to sit. There's also WIFI! A plus for all of us workers and students. I know how it is. Warning though, it can get a little slow when everyone is actually working. Or browsing Facebook. FOOD: I ordered their APPLE TURNOVER ($2.75) which turned out to be nice and warm, not too sweet, with the flakiest crust EVER. YUM. I wish there was a higher crust to filling ratio though, but that's just because I like it like that. The filling consisted of nice big chunks of apple and the taste was perfecto. You should definitely try this if you can't decide on their other tempting food items. I also ordered their 16oz ICED CHAI ($4) which tasted good but seemed not to be well mixed. It was a bit heavy on the cinnamon side in the beginning and a little bit on the milky side near the end but overall it was good. You can taste the chai, but it wasn't overwhelming. Since I was there at an odd hour between breakfast and lunch I didn't purchase any of their sandwiches, but I did overhear someone say it was tasty, so I must come back to try them...can't wait!
(4)Cody B.
Awesome food, amazing coffee (hot or cold), and a stellar staff! It is a little slice of heaven in the Queen City! What can I say, I'm hooked! Definitely try the Hot Turkey sandwich with the spicy pretzels. One of my favorite lunch or light dinner dishes. And they serve all of their food with a piece of premium chocolate! Just an awesome place to be for grabbing coffee, casual food, and/or awesome baked goods. What more could you ask for! And its right in the heart of OTR.
(5)Alyssa K.
The Mackinac Island Fudge coffee is amazing. The environment is very relaxing and friendly - a perfect place to meet with friends, plan your trip in Cincinnati,or do work. The breakfast burritos are delicious and full of flavor.
(5)Nick P.
I love this coffee shop. Friendly staff that learns your name and drink after a while. They're fairly priced and have great coffee selections. Make yourself a regular here; you'll be glad you did. Summer Solstice is my favorite coffee for what it's worth.
(5)Harshal P.
One of the best places in Cincinnati. After the riots in OTR a number of years ago, this Coffee Emporium was one of the first businesses to open in OTR. In some ways it was the leader in helping revitalize the OTR neighborhood. The location is great, convenient to the highway and downtown, and also has a nice but small outdoor seating area. The inside is fairly large, and fairly noisy, but a good environment to sit and talk with friends, read or get work done. The Chai Tea Latte is probably my favorite menu item, but there is a fairly broad menu to select from. I haven't tried any of the sandwiches yet, but others have told me they are average.
(5)Deborah H.
I love Coffee Emporium, and it has nothing to do with the awesome coffee or excellent treats! I feel at home when I'm there, and always run into someone I know (or want to know). From local politicians and business-types, to students and tired shoppers, the eclectic mix of people and great java make Coffee Emporium my kind of place. Did I forget the kind, fun, informative staff? My bad. They are top-notch.
(5)Chanell K.
Let me just say that I have been a fan of Coffee Emporium for years now. This is my favorite location. The spacious, more industrial vibe is perfectly matched with the rustic, homemade trinkets that you can spot around the place. I love walking to get a nice smoothie on a hot day, or stopping in for a warm chai tea on a cold day. There's always a lot of people here, but it's always great! The service is awesome! Everyone is super friendly and willing to answer any questions that you have. They recognize you when you walk in, and pay attention to the customer. We love that. This is probably one of my favorite spots in the city. Whether it be to come and read a book, grab a coffee, do some work, or catch up with an old friend-- this place rules! Coffee Emporium will forever be known as the place where I predict that I will meet my future husband. And yes, I have said that a time or two. Almost to the point where the social media people of Coffee Emporium know me that way. :) Anywho... This place rules! The staff is great! The coffee is amazing! And the food is filling! What else can you want? Oh, and there's free wifi! Hells yea!
(5)John B.
While I am not a coffee drinker, I pretty much love everything else this place serves. The smell of coffee (which I do love) hits you like a warm wave of yummy goodness. The food I've had there has been great and fresh tasting, ya know, the kind of fresh that has you devouring it and wanting to back for more? It's that good. There are all kinds of creative people here reading, working on laptops, and just looking cool. Sometimes I feel out of place. ha ha. Anyways, about the only thing that I could ding this place for is the whole bathroom key thing. I understand why they need to do it, but wish I could just walk in and use the facilities without handling a key that umpteen hundreds of people have touched. #germaphobe Stop on by and grab some food and drink here! Take a bite out of Starbucks' coffee-opoly.
(5)Ashley B.
I usually never give reviews this low, but I am to the point of anger. I have been coming here for almost 5 years and recently there has been a line to the door the past 3 or 4 times I have attempted to get coffee here. I haven't been able to get a latte or a bag of coffee in a couple weeks now. I end up going somewhere else, but Coffee Emporium is my first choice. Now I wonder if I will ever be able to come back. They need to get a second cash register and have more than one person on the bar. People who want coffee have to stand in line for for sometimes 30 minutes (I have done it before with only several people in front of me, I wonder how long I would wait with the line to the door!) behind people who are ordering food and dilly dally in line until they reach the register and finally go "hmmm what do I want? What do you recommend?" It's very frustrating. I feel that if a company is becoming this busy, they need to take steps to accommodate the influx of customers. It's awesome that they have had a gain in popularity, but honestly waiting in line for more than 10 minutes for a cup of coffee is not worth it, no matter how good the coffee is or how good the customer service.
(2)Jay B.
Coffee Emporium has been a mainstay in the gateway district for years. The place has a great vibe, meaning a diverse clientele, good location and of course great coffee and food. Free wi FI doesn't hurt either. Anytime we come back to Cincinnati this is one of the first places we visit.
(5)Liz M.
Great downtown location for good coffee. We were able to walk here from our hotel. I wish we had had the time to really relax here, because this is the kind of place that is spacious and comfortable to set up shop for a meeting or work. Staff was really friendly. They seem to have a lot of regulars. Rightfully so! I got an iced latte, save for being a bit strong, it was awesome. Boyfirend got the turtle latte and it was scrumptious. Best flavored latte I've ever tasted. They serve lots of local pastries and cookies as well as make some of their own. They serve fresh waffles on weekends and have breakfast wraps and lunch options. I would highly recommend stopping here for a leisurely coffee with breakfast or lunch!
(4)Pamela F.
Huge space to gather, not overridden with pretense like sbucks
(3)Jason H.
The breakfast burritos here are legit AND still served in the afternoon - my type of place! :)
(5)Grace S.
Get the roasted almond tea. I'm addicted. I regret only buying 3 ounces since I live 2 states away... :'( ... Aaaand that's all my review is based on since I've only stopped in once for a couple minutes :)
(5)Alexander P.
Coffee Emporium is better than other coffee shops. Here's why: 1. Tons of vegan and speciality items, rotating daily. 2. Huge, open floor plan shop with many nooks and just the right level of noise. 3. Hip yet friendly staff. No aire of pretense - everyone is welcome here. 4. In the historic emery building - a beautiful location. Huge open windows for a 'New York'/ genuine urban feel. 5. Convenient/ metered parking that's free before 9AM. Park, hop in, and leave. 6. Quirky and unique decorating (there's a bike wrapped in yarn as a decoration... Need I say more) 7. Even the lids on their cups are compostable. To many people this doesn't matter - but I think that it underscores another reason of why I like CE - trying to be Eco-conscious when, well they really don't have to. I have a bit of social anxiety when trying new places, especially when I already have a favorite / routine place that fills my need in a certain area. I was worried this place would be a hipster paradise, but I was incredibly surprised. Definitely worth a try - you will never ever want to go anywhere else again!
(5)Sarah F.
Service was awesome and fast for how busy they were on my first visit to the Coffee Emporium. I'm not a coffee drinker, but they had plenty of options for me! On a hot day like today I went for the blended chai drink, a small (12oz) ran me $4. The drink was awesome! Just the right amount of spice and they were able to replace the dairy milk with soy. I didn't get any desserts with my order but there was a ton of sweets that looked delicious! Not to mention plenty of wraps (both with meat and without). I'll make sure to come back for a cupcake soon!
(4)Yencie A.
Service was awesome, great coffee, delicious food and desserts in a cool atmosphere.
(4)James L.
Starbucks doesn't stand a chance! If you ever decide to have a powwow on your lunch break and need a caffeine kick then this is your place. I find myself meeting people here for a sandwich and coffee every time I come to town and I love it more every time. The food is well though out and vegan friendly, and the coffee is brewed in house. What else could you ask for? The place is cool, as in both hip and also a great place to get out of the sun. The ambience is very laid back with comfy couches and laptop addicts all around. It also has a really neat performance stage that draws some really talented artists both young and old school. I don't think it's used during the day, but they do have night gigs there and special events that are open to the public. I live out of town and I really miss this nice bit of Cincy. Please go here and make me jealous.
(5)Joshua A.
Consistently delicious coffee and baked goods! They also offer a variety of lunch/deli items.
(5)April T.
I've only been here a handful of times and every time has been great. Wish I lived closer! The coffee is great and the food always looks amazing, but haven't actually had it. I've had a few deserts and they tasted like heaven. I have to admit, if I lived closer to this place, I would probably be broke, but I would be too hyped up on caffeine to care!
(5)Scott M.
This place just seems to get better every time I go! This weekend I was downtown with a friend and stopped by for a midday snack. I purchased the ::new:: Cold Turkey Sandwich paired with the Watermelon Gazpacho to go along with my Iced Latte (it truly was a Sun-day). The sandwich comes with some luscious avocado (fan favorite). The Watermelon Gazpacho was the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. You simply must try it if you have the opportunity. My compatriot and I chose to sit at one of the tables outside. Never noticed until now, but the outdoor tables range in shape from parallelogram to rhomboid, which made sitting at them a point of conversation, albeit a bit of a challenge logistically speaking (I believe I sat at a 135 degree angle from my friend). Food was brought outside to our table-- what service! I'm quickly becoming a fast fan of the Emporium. Careful with your wallet though, I dropped $16 on my delicious midday snack.
(4)Jessica S.
I'm what some may call a "coffee addict" or "caffeine fiend" and, my friends, my dealer will now be the one and only Coffee Emporium. What I enjoy about this place is exactly what I look for in coffee houses: chill atmosphere, funky decor, friendly staff, comfy seating, lots of options, and good prices. First of all, this Central Parkway shop is HUGE with ample seating. Want to sit at a high-bar table? Got it. Want a sofa? Got that, too. Want a large table for you and 7 of your closest buds? Sure thing. The coffee is good and there are many options, not just in the different styles (macchiato, latte, espresso, iced, hot, etc.) but the things you can have in it to make it your own (different milks, flavors, vegan options, organic/fair-trade, etc.). And, sure, this may sound like what Starbucks does (and in a way, it is) but you have four sizes to choose from and a friendlier staff than any other national chain will ever have. One thing I've never experienced at any other coffee shop are the "artisans". They will sometimes have a table near the front door with a coffee guru to show you different beans that have been roasted different ways, tastings, etc. It's intimidating and awesome all at the same time. I could go on and on about this place, but bottom line: if you want something as simple as a cup of tea or as complex as a mondo iced double white chocolate soy mocha with a Sweet Peace Bakery oatmeal dream pie to go with the live acoustic music... you'll find it here!
(5)Monika N.
I'm not a coffee drinker (at least not plain coffee) but I love working in coffee shops while grading or lesson planning, and this is one of coffee shops of choice. I love their fru-fru drinks (especially the mochas and chai tea latte) and the atmosphere can't be beat. I can sit on a couch or at a table to get work done, and the people watching is always excellent if I need a short distraction. And of course I love that they have free wifi! We've also tried the food and it is excellent! I'm not vegetarian but the black bean burger is to die for! And I honestly typically hate beans! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Matthew C.
Well done, Coffee Emporium! You've officially disproved anyone who thought there wasn't an awesome local establishment serving up great coffee in Cincinnati! Immediately upon walking in, the bright, spacious interior with plenty of seating and small tables along with the smell of freshly brewed coffee will immediately make you feel right at home. This shop lends itself to either meeting a friend for coffee or getting some work done--there appear to be plenty of outlets for laptops. I went with the cafe au lait and my friend had the chai tea latte. Both were excellent! The best part about the cafe au lait is that you're in control--you put as much coffee (and whichever blend) you want in your cup and then take it to the barista who tops it off with steamed milk of your choice. I had one of the full city roasts that was not at all bitter or burnt. My friend said the chai tea latte was also quite good, though she mentioned that it was on the sweeter side. Finally, I love a local coffee shop that supports other local establishments. In Coffee Emporium, you'll find a huge selection of fliers and pamphlets advertising local art, entertainment, and dining. If you're looking for something new and different, check out the selection! So why not 5 stars? While the coffee and atmosphere were superb, the hummus sandwich I had was only mediocre and slightly above average. The hummus was a little bland and the pita bread wasn't as fresh and soft as I would've liked. It still wasn't bad (and I loved the fact that it had sliced apples on it), but Coffee Emporium didn't knock it out of the park on this one.
(4)Louise D.
My visit here was long overdue but I finally made it! What a cool space! It was a lot bigger than I thought it would be and had such a cool vibe to it. People just hanging out, working, blogging, relaxing! If it would be a little closer to Covington I'd be here every day! As Howard said, this is a great spot for non-coffee lovers too, which I am. I really don't like coffee, so I was glad to see that they had a decent smoothie offer, with fresh fruits. Yum! Great place to pop in after a stroll to OTR, loved it!
(4)Anna S.
I came to Cincinnati with my nose turned way up, pretentious as can be, about my coffee preferences. Justified only by living in Brooklyn and drinking what I thought was the brew of the gods over there. Coffee Emporium knocked the bullshit right out of me, and with charm, genuine niceness and delicious coffee that changes daily. These guys make a mean Americano and do everything with this level of cheer that I've never seen anywhere. They also have vegan coffee cake and vegan pumpkin cinnamon rolls. So my fellow veg-heads, please pop in and try them. Great people, great, coffee and an atmosphere that makes me not feel so out of place away from home. Love you guys, thank you.
(5)Andrew S.
Decent Coffee, but I'm not sure what the hype is about. Awesome selection and well-staffed. Definitely get you through the line well, but how important is quality in serving each customer? Eh, not so great. Don't go for a cappuccino. Try BLOC Coffee! Don't go for pastry. (It's pretty dry and overly sweet) Go when you need a place to grab some wifi and some great smells with a friend. Awesome location without the excellence I hope for.
(3)Zack H.
Coffee for hipsters, technically located in the most hipster neighborhood in the city, OtR. I came here today for the first time, and I was mildly surprised with how large it was. It's a surprisingly good place to meet up with friends, strangers or the hundreds of homeless people wandering OtR (they need a coffee and food every now and then at your expense, after all). There must have been 20 tables and 5 circles of couches for people to work on their laptops or whatever. They have free WiFi here, so that helps. Oh yeah, they also serve coffee here. I had a grande hazelnut coffee. The coffee was above average, nothing spectacular. If anything, it was a little bitter, but there was a distinct hazelnut taste. This place is Starbucks without the high prices and iffy service. In other words, it's well worth your time and money.
(4)Sam N.
LOVE this place. The food is great, coffee is good, staff are friendly. I could sit there for hours and study. I feel welcomed there. It's important to have places like that in downtown Cincinnati to help with the revival of its urban core. I only hope the city continues to thrive and succeed.
(5)Ben D.
Staff is super friendly; the breakfast burritos are great. The baked goods are worth checking out too; I love the chocolate muffin. All the coffee drinks are great. Mostly, the ambiance sells this place, very homey and comfy.
(5)Michelle B.
Coffee emporium's turtle latte rocks my world. Originally, I gave them a lower rating for the less than impressive scone but I've bumped it to 5 stars after enjoying a mouth watering chocolate pastry and a perfectly ripe banana. I brought my toddler in while my husband got his hair cut accross the street. We fit right in, no eyes rolling about spoiling adult coffee time and the place was loud and comfortable enough to accomodate a little squirmy kid (we sat in one of the upholstered chair areas and he took turns moving from chair to chair). I also love that they recycle and compost. And offer water in glasses instead of disposable. We'll see how the compostable cup the coffee came in does in my backyard compost bin. I'll be back, I miss you already, xoxo.
(5)David G.
Brilliant! Big coffee and community love at Coffee Emporium. Perfect blend of neighborhood soul and java-geekery! I know when and where these beans were roasted--and, thank you. I had espresso and took to-go some brewed Ethiopian Amaro Gayo full-city roast. Beautiful roast and beautiful brew. In Cinci for a conference. Will be back for more coffee for sure.
(4)Susan L.
I am not a coffee drinker, but I like coffee emporium, it is a great comfortable place to meet up with someone, even for work or just to talk.. The have some great teas, so I am fine there. For breakfast they have Taste of Belgium waffles, but unless you get their early, I think people in the building get them all before anyone else can get them. The staff is very friendly, it is a neighborhood handout, comfortable and cozy.
(4)Bethany S.
Delicious chai and a casual, fun atmosphere. I stopped in randomly as an out-of-towner and plan to come again!
(5)Drew P.
This place is the modern equivalent of that 90's movie local record store that you just had to shop at. If you lived in Nebraska or Montana you'd dream of going to Chicago or San Francisco just to stand in the glow of real city life and all that worldly wild influence. Are you pickin up what I'm puttin down? This is High Fidelity on steroids, no, IT'S ON COFFEE! I like it. More please.
(5)Elizabeth L.
Wait, listen. I came to eat a sammy here because I heard they're ALL amazing. And amazing they were. But I gotta point this out: the prices are unrelenting. This goes for everything on their menu. I know fancy coffee is getting more and more assimilated into the $3-$5 range, but come on, Coffee Empo. You're already doing good things-- supporting local art, bringing artisan legal addictive stimulants to the masses-- can't you make it affordable as well? For $6.95 (the cheapest sammy), you get a delicious yet not-worth-paying-that-much-for-a-sammy kind of sandwich. Tyranical, I tell you! Maybe I'm just cheap because I always feel like I can make the sandwich at home..
(4)Will H.
EAT DRINK FOOD THINGS HERE! HERE! The black bean burger... i still dream of it at night and find little bits of my pillow chewed up in the morning... And the free cookie! And the spicy pretzels! And the quiche! And the teas! And the list could go on forever.... Best Sandwich Baristas in the city, hands down!
(5)Alex S.
Please ignore everything I wrote in my last review ... at least all the bad parts. When I first moved down to OtR I came into Coffee Emporium and talked about how I got an ok-cup-of-coffee and it was loud. REALLY LOUD (I did write nosy instead of noisy, a fact that was pointed out to me later, but that was corrected). However, I threw a party there the other day and noticed that it wasn't as echoy as it once was. Me: Is it quieter here? Tony: Oh, notice that, did you? Me: I did. Tony: Well, $5,000 worth of noise cancelling tiles in the ceiling will do that. And so it is, tons of tiles attached to the ceiling (not in a tacky tacked up way either, you wouldn't even notice them if they weren't pointed out) have made this coffee shop much, much quieter! It's still louder than your average Starbucks, but it's a million times more awesome too, so there you go. As for the coffee? I have no idea what I was talking about. Maybe I just got a bad cup that one day but every other time the coffee has been great. They grind their own beans, it comes out hot, and it's basically what I'm looking for. I hold as many meetings as I can in this coffee shop (because I work from home and it's right around the corner - but that's not the only reason, since there are like nine coffee shops right around the corner from me). I have never been unhappy here - they even let you sit and finish your work at 6pm when they're officially closed as they clean-up. Any coffee shop that won't throw me out is a winner in my books.
(5)Brittnay C.
AWESOME food and such a fun environment. I highly recommend you try the Black Bean burger with the house made sauce, its delicious and you can only get it at this location.
(4)Ricky M.
I've passed by this location for almost a year before trying it. The food was great, I had the chicken salad sandwhich. Drink was nice. Service was AMAZING and I rarely say that. The girls that helped me find what I wanted to order were nice, conversational and helpful. They even delivered the food to me. Cons: Only issue I had is I found a few pieces of hair in my Cinn, Pumpkin roll. Not a major issue for me concerning the service well made up for it for me, However working in resturant management for over 10 years it is without excuse to have issues like that arise and most would never return. The seating is limited, not because it's a small place because it's probably the biggest in Cincy but it's always so packed it can be a little hard to get a seat.
(5)Stacy K.
I LOVE the location. I LOVE the space. The coffee and food are good. However, I find this place to be challenging on a few levels. First, it can be very loud; since that can be overcome with headphones, it's not a deal-breaker. Second, parking can be tough. Again, not a deal-breaker, just something to be aware of. Third, VERY flaky internet. It never works. There are plugs literally everywhere (even on the ceiling) encouraging electronics use...but when I go in there and can't get onto the Internet, I'm only leave feeling frustrated. So I can't say I'd go back. Perhaps they don't want folks on the Internet, who knows. I would much rather give my money to a local coffee shop than Starbucks--unfortunately Starbucks is my only option if I want reliable Internet. So, if you want to read a book, it's a great place. If you want to work, use the Internet, it's my last choice. If If could do half stars, I'd do 2.5.
(3)Simone B.
Always lackluster. Coffee is fine, but the food is sub-par (quiche is a runny egg, liquidy mess) and the service is always too 'hoity toity' to be actually good - they are more concerned with themselves and their 'image' to pay attention to your order.
(3)Jenny O.
Coffee Emporium is the CHEERS of Coffee Houses. Not to mention there are a billion great gift ideas, and they will help you wrap it too! Love the attention to detail, and feeling like they really appreciate my business...and the coffee and tea selection can't be beat.
(5)Lizbeth T.
It's pretty much unanimous, this is the best coffeehouse in the city. But I have been really happy lately to find that their lunch menu has steadily improved to the point that this is now a legitimate choice for lunch! The pastries have always been great, and long ago Coffee Emporium was the first major weekend outlet in town for tasty Belgian waffles, but their sandwiches and salads seemed like an afterthought. Not so any longer! Some reviewers have commented that lunch here is a bit pricey, but my last time in I paid under $8 for a filling and delicious tuna melt with a side of fresh salad greens. You're hard pressed to do better in the neighborhood.
(5)Ben N.
My wife had been telling me to check out Coffee Emporium for a couple of years, but until recently I'd been too stubborn to get there. It's just me, but her raves about the "best black-bean burger" didn't exactly set off fireworks of gastronomic anticipation in my mind or mouth. Or maybe, I was just too lazy: Central Parkway seemed too far from work (near Fountain Square), although only a block or two farther away than several Court Street places folks from my office frequent. (And it's definitely too far, time-wise, for a mid-afternoon coffee break.) As usual, the wife was right. I figure that, at least at this location, Coffee Emporium has to be just about the best coffeehouse/restaurant of its sort in the Cincinnati area. For coffeehouse fare, the food is top-notch. The black-bean burger is indeed about the best one you're going to find in this town, and the tuna melt is good, too. (Must try more of the grub.) The shop offers fresh fruit or salad greens with the $6.95 sandwiches, which is not a bad deal for healthier-and-fresher-than-average food. What I've had of the coffee has been very good; the beans are roasted on-site and a huge variety of them are available to take home. Iced tea, unfortunatly, is brewed a little weak. The industrial-style, open, pleasantly-lit seating area is appealing and relaxing, and the atmosphere is urbane without being pretentious or hipper-than-thou. (Starbucks feels like McDonald's by comparison.) By dint of its location on the downtown/OTR "border," Coffee Emporium gets an eclectic mix of customers. And the staff is friendly and efficient. Even when you show up in your downtown-worker dorkwear, like I've got to. A valuable Cincinnati asset.
(4)Sarah D.
I think I just hit this place at the wrong time. There seemed to be more staff than people in the place yet it took a long time for them to even realize I was waiting to order. I got an iced coffee and it wasn't all that great. Meh, I don't know. I was just kind of unimpressed. I think I just need to go back and try it again.
(3)Laura V.
Love this place more every time I visit. We stopped by one cool and rainy Saturday after a run and warmed up with some lovely fair trade Guatemalan coffee and a Nutella croissant. They have an impressive variety of locally roasted coffees and the baristas can craft some enticing espresso options. If it weren't for the caffeine I could have happily curled up in one of their cozy chairs for a doze.
(5)Zack F.
I love everything about this place from the location to the atmosphere and decor. They have great coffee, prepared well by competent staff. I think what I like best is how they support so many local businesses through cross promotion. This provides them with an amazing selection of vegan delights, Belgian waffles, and much, much more. Even their t-shirts are cool. Plus they have a dry goods section including all your coffee paraphernalia needs. The large lounge area is relaxing, so come and stay awhile, you are sure to make new friends.
(5)Howard M.
I'm not a coffee guy. If I do drink coffee my wife makes it in a Taylor Swift fashion. That is, it's got so much milk it's blond but still holds a not-to-oftputting bitterness. So this is a coffee house. Yeah. How to review it? By pointing out this is one of the few coffee places that seems to reach out to non-coffee drinkers. On Sunday I had to check on my beehive and the Mrs. went along with me. Except she wanted coffee. So I swung by Coffee Emporium and we were served at a decent speed. Nothing breakneck fast but if you want that then Starbucks is installing drive-thrus now. So my wife got whatever coffee based beverage she wanted. I had a 20 oz Coke is the car so I was just going to stick with that. But of course I was tempted. And it was then that I realized they have several non-coffee drinks that don't make you feel like a child for ordering it. The two I enjoy is a Chaider and a Bumble Bee - The Chaider is a blend of Apple Cider and Chai tea. Unique, different flavor but still more 'adult' than the hot cocoa I'm usually forced to drink. But on Sunday i choose the Bumble Bee. It's steamed milk with honey and vanilla. Now aside from the fact that to this apiarist the name is a bit misleading because Bumble Bees don't produce honey the drink was pleasant. What I like about this particular drink was that it's almost pre-historic. I can picture one of my club-wielding, knuckle dragging fore-fathers mixing up some milk from the family goat with some honey stolen from a fallen tree and maybe even a crunched up vanilla pod. It's was all there a few hundred thousand years ago for him. Thankfully, it's at Coffee Emporium now. Great little drink. I finished it watching my bee hive gather pollen in the February warmth.
(4)Paige P.
Delicious coffee, roasted in house. They offer pretty much every kind of brewing process you could want. I prefer a Chemex of the dark roast, and a veggie wrap most days. They have some pretty delicious food as well. With lots of options for vegetarians. Not to mention the atmosphere is relaxed and funky. They have a constantly rotating selection of local art for sale/display. All in all I'd chose CE over starbucks any day.
(4)Nathan F.
I just started recently going to Coffee Emporium and I love it. I'm not one to go and sit read a book or do work on my laptop, but going here with a few friends for a nice chill evening is fun. I don't know how I'm not going to copy Monika's review pretty much word for word. I'm not much of a coffee drinker so I will either get the chi tea latte which is amazing on a nice cold winter evening, or their Green Pomegranate ice tea with 2 Sweet-n-Low's is fabulous. I'm a meat eater, I love hamburgers, chicken, steak and the occasional piece of fish but someone told me that I had to try their Black Bean Burger. It's a burger so why not. I was surprised at how much I loved it, and with added avocado it makes it just that much better. Coffee Emporium is a great way to spend a nice chill evening with friends without spending too much money and without all the alcohol.......yes, sometimes I don't drink!
(5)Karen Q.
I am a coffee lover.. and this is my favorite place to enjoy a cup of coffee love in Cincinnati. You can actually taste the love of the art of coffee roasting that goes into each cup. These people know and love coffee! They roast the coffee right there and it is always so fresh and delicious!! They can tell you everything about a particular roast and it is fascinating! They have big bins of fresh roast coffee that you can take home by the pound. (I always take some home) My most recent indulgences were Costa Rica La Minta and Mackinac Island Fudge. I think the food is good too and just right for a coffee house. We stopped in for late breakfast and enjoyed some spinach ricotta pie (with a small side of very fresh fruit) and split a vegan pumpkin cinnamon roll that went perfectly with the coffee. The people who work there are very friendly. There is always a mix of professionals having informal meetings, hipsters and coffee lovers. Love it!
(5)Andrew D.
Let me start with the positives. Atmosphere is all coffee house and at the same time remains all Cincinnati. This is the type of place I wish I had hung out in when I was in college. Music is great, windows looking out on the street, and this might be the best cappuccino that I have ever had. Now the one negative. We are downtown so it of course has that rushed vibe, though, I'm sure it doesn't help being here right after lunch. Next... I just wanted a cup of coffee. French press? Pour over? Selection of nice single estates? Nope. Just the typical big metal thermos of a selection of blends to choose from. I'm sure they are good, but I'll stick with my Capp. I will be back many times, excellent place!
(4)Amanda V.
One of my most favorite coffee places in the area. Great drinks, delicious food and friendly service. Free wifi, too! The only thing that can be difficult is parking... usually there is metered street parking, but it's going to cost you quite a few quarters to get a decent amount of time racked up. Special bonus - you get a little chocolate treat (usually a Ghiradelli square) with your food order. Yum!
(5)Jennifer D.
CAPPUCINO! AHHHH! Okay, so maybe I've had too much caffeine. I've only been here once, and I think that's really stupid of me. The coffee here is so good. I also love that they support local businesses- one in fact, that I'm excited about...Sweet Peace Bakery. It's pretty awesome that they carry vegan treats here. I'm not even vegan and I find that exciting. I came in one day for a quick cup, and loved what I saw, it was a lazy Sunday in OTR, but the bathroom was kinda hopping. The staff was very kind and hung onto my coffee for me as I waited for the restroom. Since I didn't spend a lot of time there, I could not actually comment too much on the atmosphere other than that I found it really cute and liked that they had a giant wall of fliers for local events across from the bathroom. It gave me something to read while I waited. I'll be back, Coffee Emporium. I'll be back.
(5)Chris N.
I admit it-I am pretty loyal to the excellent coffee roasters and great coffee shops in Northside-usually my first options on a day to day basis. However, this doesn't stop me from make sure I take the time to visit Coffee Emporium downtown once a week (or more if business takes me close by). Coffee Emporium blends some of the best roasts in town with a great location in Over The Rhine. Inside awaits more than just delicious coffee beans to take home or a great cup of coffee. Tasty pastries, sandwiches and more are available to help fuel your caffeine-infused brain. Plenty of outlets for plugging in the laptop, lots of natural light, a abundance of tables, plus comfy sofas and easy chairs are at your disposal. If it's a nice day, you might want to grab a spot outside on Central Parkway and soak in the urban ambiance as the entire population of Cincinnati seems to pass you by. Coffee Emporium is great whether just relaxing or having an impromptu business meeting. Go find out why for yourself!
(5)Christopher D.
Some of the best coffee in town! Consistent flavor and quality beans used to provide me a delicious cup o joe every time. Some tasty treats to eat too...from sandwiches, pastries and waffles. MMMM.....delicious an inexpensive waffles on the weekend are a great treat when you want a fast, tasty and inexpensive breakfast but don't want to do it yoursefl
(4)Brandon H.
I hate coffee. Seriously. I don't even like toffee, cause it sounds like coffee. So I spend my $6 on their blended chai tea with a shot of vanilla, whip on top. The best $6 you could spend in the Queen City. UPDATE: The above holds true. However, after trying their Mediterranean Chicken Burrito and their Chicken Teriyaki Burrito, I must say their burritos are rather bland. Which is sad, because they have then aura of a wholesome, locally-produced, excellent-taste style food. Which I'm sure applies to their pastries and baked goods. But their "regular" food, at least in my opinion, is not so great. The Mediterranean was alright, at best. Around $7 in price, nothing was spectacular about it, yet it had so many ingredients. Peppers, chicken, the sauce (or grilled chicken water), etc. It looked way better than it tasted after biting into it. The Chicken Teriyaki taste, though, can be summed up like this: cheap, delivered Chinese food (i.e. has been in a container for a few minutes) in a tortilla wrap. No flavor except the sort of "that" flavor that only describes tasteless chicken and that weird McDonalds taste everything has. Thus far, I'd recommend just their beverages. They seem to do a damn good job at that.
(4)Christie D.
One of their delicious cookies + a coffee = one happy girl here.
(5)Nigel C.
Got to say this is one of my favorite places. The crew is so friendly and accommodating. Great place for people watching you never know who you going to see. Only problem is on Weekends it gets crazy so take a deep breath and be prepared to wait for the best coffee in town. For the real Java Junkies, they have a serve yourself station on the right side when you go in. So at least you can prepare yourself a coffee and stand in line while waiting to pay. Keep your cup because for 75 cent you can get a refill later in the day. Also they have a frequent visitor card so you can earn free coffees.
(5)Eric S.
As a visitor to Cincinnati I wanted a place to get a feel for the local flavor and the coffee emporium provided that and more. On a 98 degree day coffee is not the first thing that came to mind, but not only are the iced options some of the best I've had, but it is the best place I have come across to do a little work and a lot of people watching. Everyone was extraordinarily friendly but they seemed to know each person that waked in the door (like cheers in many ways) To make a long story short, if you are in need of a good comfortable spot accompanied by a good pick me up, there is no better spot than the emporium.
(5)Olivia K.
I stumbled upon this place during the recent Cincy Fringe Festival. The place itself is large yet cozy, with plenty of places to sit, as well as outdoor seating. They have a wide array of drinks, as well as pastries and other food items. I had the glacial mudslide, which seemed to me to be basically a frozen hot chocolate (but I'm no food critic.) Finally, the service was splendid. Each worker I came in contact with was kind and energetic, but not annoying.
(5)Akilah H.
Best chai tea latte I've ever had. The hipsters here are less bitingly pretentious than other parts of Over the Rhine and the atmosphere is really inviting. Also, my inner interior designer is very pleased with the decor. Bravo.
(5)Jessalynn S.
Dear Downtown Coffee Emporium, I love you. I don't live or work downtown, but this has quickly become my favorite place to set up shop with grading or other boring professor work. In fact, this might even be my favorite place...ever. (Okay, a bit of hyperbole there.) It was love at first sight, really. On the first day I came here (about two weeks ago), I immediately felt comfortable. There are plenty of tables just the right size for two people (to work on) or spacious for one. The coffee is delicious, of course, and if I wasn't counting my calories right now, I would have done some major damage on the delicious looking collection of sweets at the front register. The only down side here is the parking, of course. I'm working on the logistics of taking the bus (from my house in East Walnut Hills), but if you come during the evenings (after 5) and on the weekends, there are plenty of meters that are turned off by that time. Really, the only way I could love Coffee Emporium more is if I could fold up my car into a briefcase a la George Jetson and not have to worry about the parking situation.
(5)Nikhil N.
The best coffee house in Cincinnati. Reasonably priced, great location and awesome service.
(5)Marie E.
Best place to study! You have to pay for parking but it is only $5 for the day if you park in the lot around the corner ( first turn on your right if you are passing the coffee emporium on your right) on the left side. Warning they only take cash in the machine. There is no attendant. Plenty of seating and just the right amount of noise. Good food options in addition to the great selection of coffee. Downtown one is the best but I do like the Hyde park one tool. Just tried the Mocha Mocha and chai freeze. Both were very good. Also, they use compostable cups which makes me happy.
(5)kelly k.
When you walk in, you are delightfully hit with a powerful rich coffee aroma. The smell alone is enough to give you a jolt. This is a wonderful place for coffee lovers, complete with roasting equipment to the left as you enter. They also have a variety of teas, local delicious pastries and cookies, in addition to their breakfast and lunch menu. Every time I've been here, it's been busy and friendly. There is a lot of space and plenty of tables. The menu is limited but very good. I've had lunch and coffee here on several occasions. They have a case of scrumptious looking pastries and other goodies to go along with the strong robust coffees. Overall, this is a great place to meet a friend or just hang out. A must-try if you're a coffee lover!
(4)Rachel M.
Beautiful funky building + awesome cafe treats + no one bothering you to leave = well deserved reputation as THE best cafe in the city. I'm sure there are other fantastic ones, but the vibe this place has is just perfect. If they ever decide to adopt people, they'll have to beat off the fans with a stick (author included).
(5)Paige M.
Did you know Coffee Emporium sells their own varieties of coffee? Dozens and dozens of different kinds of roasts! I'm an at-home coffee drinker, and always figured the Emporium was a local place where people got together for a cup of java. Yes it is, but it's also so much more! I received a bag of Emporium Blend in my Yelp Golden Ticket basket, conveniently, just as I ran out of store-brand coffee. One sip of Emporium's brew and it made me question what I had been drinking all these years. These beans are amazing! I also like how they sell miniature bags of roasts for people to sample new flavors. I bought the Raven's Blend and Winter Solstice. Raven's will definitely wake you up. Boy howdy, is that strong! Winter Solstice has a creamy aftertaste and pairs great with Vanilla Silk. In addition to the new excitement around my own coffee pot, I've returned to Coffee Emporium for the Hot Cocoa Happy Hour. I'm a fan of the Raspberry Hot Chocolate and the Bumblebee, which includes warm milk, vanilla and honey. Of course, Hot Apple Cider with a shot of caramel can warm any soul. Now I find myself having business meeting here and of course, returning to buy more coffee for my home brewing pleasures. Never buy a bag of grocery store coffee again; come to Coffee Emporium and experience greatness!
(5)Bea D.
The staff is very knowledgable about their products, including beans by the pound. They can grind for espresso or French press with a high quality mill. The pastries are local and fresh. The atmosphere is relaxing, great for meeting others, and a refreshing departure from cookie cutter coffee shops.
(5)Geoffrey G.
A great space with some really amazing coffee. I love that they roast the beans in-house, and have such a variety of coffee brewing all the time. Their espresso is really nice, too, and the staff is very helpful in choosing what whole-bean to take home or what drink to decide on. The space is great, with a variety of couches, coffee tables, and table-and-chair set ups to take advantage of the free wireless and the chill music playing. Not a far walk from downtown, and although it's right on Central Park Way, the traffic noise is not that bad at all.
(5)Alycia B.
I began going to Coffee Emporium over two years ago when I lived right around the corner. I instantly fell in love with their coffee! I love that I can go in and pour my own cup of coffee with however much room I do or don't want for cream. It's convenient for me and the people working. I have never had a cup of "water" coffee there as I have at other coffee shops. I always order the same thing, a cafe au lait, so I can't vouch for any of the other options, but you can't go wrong with a basic cup of coffee here. The pesto panini I have had on multiple occasions is simple and delicious. Again, I haven't had any other food options, though they do have quite a selection. Since they roast their owns beans you can walk in and order whatever type of bean you like at whatever size you like and they will grind it at whatever setting you prefer. So convenient! I have bought some beans to take home a few times, but I prefer to get my already-brewed coffee from them, they have it down to an exact science! The atmosphere is really calm and relaxing, what a coffee house should be. At times they will have acoustic sets or just music playing at a low level. They have plenty of seating indoor and out, along with some big comfy sofas to sink into over a cup of joe and a cook book. Oh, and try the WInter Solstice and the Autumnfest coffee!
(4)Stacey L.
I love this place!!! A great coffee shop with reasonable prices and even better food options. If I lived downtown, this would definitely be a place I would hang out. Here are a few things to try on the menu: Central Parkway Salad- Salad with raisins, apples, feta, and balsamic vinagrette Veggie Burger- Add avacado, Its AMAZING! Holiday Special- This turkey and cranberry sandwich will be gone soon, Try it now! White Chocolate or Spicy Hot Chocolate- Both very flavorful and wonderfully different than the original! Tuscan Tomato Soup- Not the best tomato soup ever, but think and loaded with bow tie pasta. For the next couple months, come out on Tuesdays from 6-8 for the Hot Chocolate Happy Hour! $2 hot chocolate and a chance to hang out and play games with other Yelpers!
(5)Chenney C.
There is nothing that I could say that could add onto what is already mentioned. This place is hands down my favorite coffee shop...ever. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because of its working hours. I'm a night owl, and I need a spot 24/7 that I could spot myself at odd hours in the night and work my life away. Eww, what a bah humbug thing of me to say. You can definitely tell I'm ready for the Christmas holiday to start. Did I mention the Chai Tea Latte is my favorite? I'm also excited to also buy some coffee beans to use in my much anticipated new coffee grinder.
(4)Jay S.
This place is legit. Best cafe downtown or Northern KY period. They could stay open a bit later, but that's OK. Waffles = Killer. Orange Jillius (named after Jill girl that works there) = Tasty. Vibe = Makes you feel like you're in a major city. Ahhhh nice.
(5)Andrew F.
Pro: Service, environment, the coffee Con: On a Saturday/Sunday morning, I don't ask for much more than coffee and something to nourish my hungover body. The only problem with this place is It gets so crowded, I cannot zone out at one of the tables or couches while waking up!
(4)Heather K.
A few months ago when I started working in OTR and frequenting Coffee Emporium, I couldn't have been more smitten. I love the coffee (Winter Solstice is my absolute FAVORITE coffee in the history of the world!), and the service, and the atmosphere, and the convenient location, and pretty much everything about it. BUT, when I first started coming here coworkers and I would go about once a week and sometimes more for a carry-out lunch. Their sandwiches are lovely (I'd kill for their tuna recipe) and they have hot options, cold options, veggie/vegan options...basically anything you want. However, slowly but surely their sandwiches & sides began significantly declining in size while the prices stayed the same. At one point in time $9 for lunch seemed reasonably when it was tasty and filling, but now every time I get a sandwich I feel like I could have made it at home for less than $3. I still love Coffee Emporium and I'm sure I always will, but I won't be eating lunch their quite as often as before.
(3)Sheila M.
I made a trip out here on a Sunday to check it out because of the great reviews, and because one of my friends loves it as a study spot. Just note that it is downtown and you may run into some shady situations. (Guy passes me, stares me down and goes "Damn, das some good p**sy!" That was a new one...shudder). The fact that the place was packed was a good sign, as were the copious seating area and the large tables for spreading out my study materials. I liked the variety of sandwiches, pastries, and drinks to choose from, as well as the quality of the pastry I bought (lemon pound cake was rich and lemony, as it should be). The actual studying didn't work too well for me, as I found it particularly loud, with the Bob Dylan blasting from the speakers, people chatting, and babies screaming. But I know not everyone goes to a coffeeshop to focus on organic chemistry problems, so my review remains positive. Good atmosphere, good quality, good parking situation on Sunday -- how can I complain?
(4)Jackie S.
I don't actively seek out coffee shops, nor do I drink coffee, but I look forward to the times when I'm asked to join my co-workers for a little break and a walk to the Coffee Emporium. This is as grass-fed as it gets, people. You can lock up your bike to the beautiful bike rack outside and stroll on in to the industrial-chic roasting site and shop, passing the many (too many to mention individuals) pieces of unique artistry on your way to the pastry counter. The baristas will ask for your name when you place your order so you can find a seat and wait for your upcoming sip of heaven to be made. Personal favorites include the Orange Julius or an iced chai. I also enjoy the people watching and the amazing aroma wafting through the building. I would say that it's a tad off the beaten path, but it's definitely worth it for the unique experience - whether you drink coffee or not.
(4)Monica W.
I have always had a good experience here. The atmosphere at Coffee Emporium is very lively and cozy all at the same time with lots of seating. The employees are very knowledgeable on their products and are very helpful. I always switch my order up every time I go here but my favorite drink I have ordered is the Aztech spice mocha. I ordered a Florentine quiche yesterday that was really yummy!
(5)Stephanie L.
If I were to sit down and imagine what a perfect neighborhood coffee shop should be, it would offer exactly what Coffee Emporium does. What is that you may ask? Well, some examples are the following: -Locally roasted coffee for amazing, fresh taste -A selection of breakfast items to go with those yummy morning drinks. -An inviting, cozy atmosphere (including couches/ soft chairs) for gathering together with friends -Seating ranging from couches, to small tables for 4 (which can be combined together for larger groups) to bar height counter seating at the windows facing outside. -Tasty, fresh selections of soups/ sandwiches for lunch -Belgian waffle with fresh fruit brunches on the weekend! -Featured food items from local bakeries -Free wifi -Plenty of outlets So if you're by yourself in the city and looking for a place to relax and check your email pull up a bar seat at the window. With a business partner or friends and looking to catch up over great coffee or lunch? Nab a table in the middle of the room. Want to snuggle up to your sweetie over some warm drinks on a rainy day? Find a cozy couch spot! This place has it all. The only thing that would make me love Coffee Emporium even more is if they were open in the evening too!
(5)Andrew N.
Good coffee, a nice assortment of pastries and simple foods (some of it from Findlay market nearby) and a nice cozy atmosphere round out this great coffee shop. It's a big space, so there are plenty of tables and a number of couches to lounge around. I've tried to get work done here several times, but unless it's fairly mindless busy work, I find it can be hard to focus as it borders on the louder side of things; there is no quiet area, per se. However, if you're coming here just to unwind with a strong cup and relax (or stand out) amongst hipsters, you've found the right place.
(4)Courtney R.
Coffee Emporium Hyde Park is a better place to work outdoors, but Coffee Emporium OTR's big windows and spread-out space makes it a great atmosphere for work. Love their coffee and love the fact they have locally sourced energy bars. The service is great, the crowd is fun (and distracting) to watch, and there are plenty of plugs. Can't ask for much more.
(5)Alison M.
On any weekday you will find a number of notable Cincinnatians having one-on-one meetings here. And it really is a perfect spot for that. The wide open, warehouse style floor plan keeps the tables far enough apart to ensure the privacy of your conversation. And as Alex mentioned, they definitely have the acoustics under control, so you can speak at a normal conversational level. I love the huge windows that allow tons of sunlight to come in. The Coffee Emporium is located on the ground level of the historic Emory building, and it has a lot of OTR charm. Sitting just across the street from the Central Business District, however, it draws many customers from both neighborhoods. It's a nice blend of different crowds. I am not a coffee drinker, so I can't speak to the quality of their brews. However, their chai tea latte is one of the better that I've had. Parking would be difficult during morning or evening rush hour, but, otherwise, finding a metered spot on Central is usually no problem.
(5)Niamh O.
So I started heading down here at Jessalynn S.'s recommendation, and while I cannot say I'm quite as enthused as she is with the spot, it is pretty hard to beat. The negatives: parking and hours. You have to pay for parking before six pm, and I'm a cheapskate, so I tend to arrive right at 6 and park in the metered spots after the meters shut off. Hours: they close at eight--woes! I truly wish they would stay open later, as it is a great place to get some work done. On to the positives: HUGE space. I cannot imagine showing up here and not finding a table to your liking. Loads of counter space by the windows, some sofas and armchairs, and plenty of small tables. The plug access is more limited, but the music is great, the atmosphere is awesome, and even though it lamely closes at eight, maybe this is in its favor: It helps make me less lame. Because when it closes, I toss the bag in the car and walk to the Lackman for a few pints. WIN.
(4)Daniel V.
The Coffee Emporium has an excellent selection of coffees to choose from and a big, open room to find seating. There is a great variety of pastries to choose from, especially if you like gluten-free or vegan options. There is always local artwork on the walls, so take the time to browse and see what your favorite local artist is up to!
(4)Terry E.
A consistent local coffee house with great baristas. My favorite drink is the nonfat Aztec Warrior.
(4)Emily H.
My favorite coffee shop, at least downtown if not in the city. I have reviews for other places where I think the coffee is marginally to noticeably better. However, Coffee Emporium has a better mix of coffee, atmosphere, food, space, location and other amenities. The coffee is all direct trade which is very important, and all the coffee drinks are well-crafted compared to Starbucks. In addition to the coffee drinks they also have several other smoothie and non-coffee type drinks but I will say I've never gotten those because I always drink coffee! On top of the great coffee, they also have great food! All of their breakfast and lunch selections are great and they serve the best local pastries and other baked goods from around the city. It's pretty hard to resist those when I'm placing my order. Lastly, their space is great. It's an eclectic, artful mix without being over the top or too shabby. There's plenty of space to sit, work or hang out with your friends. I always try to go here when anyone suggests meeting for coffee!
(5)T. J.
A great place to go for a cup of Joe, however did not expect to get great flavored coffee here as you would a starbucks. The atmosphere here really wins if for this place. Plenty of places to sit with outside seating as well. Priced pretty good.
(3)Becky S.
Best Feature: FANTASTIC coffee! Worst Feature: Parking on the streets nearby (may cost $$) Today was my first visit to Coffee Emporium - and I was NOT disappointed! :-) I met up with a former professor and a few of my friends for some java and conversation. Getting down there was no problem, but finding a parking spot was tricky. There is no private lot, so we found a side street near Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Unfortunately, we did not catch it at the right time and did have to pay for parking, so be aware - you will need some change if you are planning on parking on the street. I was delighted to see, upon entering, that there was plenty of room and seating available. You can also sit outside, if you are so inclined. The noise level was tolerable and allowed for conversation. You can pick from hot coffee drinks, cold coffee drinks, non-coffee drinks, and they even specify on the menu what includes and excludes espresso, so you will find a LOT to offer. I ordered myself a glacial peanut butter and chocolate coffee beverage and eagerly awaited trying this delicious-sounding concoction. They also have a variety of food dishes available - I would love to go back and try one of their sandwiches. Glad they have nomnomitty goodness for the hungry! They even have a sign letting you know that you can help save the environment - if you're dining in, you can put your beverage in a glass cup rather than use a paper cup and waste resources. Nice!! :-) The coffee was absolutely divine! They make it worth the money for sure. The staff was definitely friendly and made the transaction a pleasant experience. I'd definitely say this is a great place to go for coffee - it's worth the trip downtown! It's now going on my coffee favorites list. :-)
(5)Kat C.
Only my favorite place ever! This may be because of the great people or the phenomenal healthy food or the sweet desserts or the fact they have almond milk for their lattes. But they definitely haven't missed a detail when it comes to being a 'good people' business. Fav food = vine street salad
(5)Jennifer Y.
My only complaint: the hours. Seriously? You can't operate a coffee shop only during work/class hours. Thank god they are open on the weekends ... Otherwise. fantastic. Coffee is great. Food is delicious. Music is appropriately indie/emo and not sing a long tunes. Free Wifi. Interesting people. Board games. I mean, what else do you need? I've spent eight hours on a Saturday afternoon here studying for an exam. Multiple times. I was never bothered by the staff or other patrons. I was comfortable yet uncomfortable enough to not slack or fall asleep. Does that make sense? It's a fine line but I think all you coffee shop studiers out there know what I'm talking about. Thank you for my good grades this year, Coffee Emporium!!! :)
(4)Nora C.
Great little local coffeeshop! Lots of good seating (love those comfy chairs!) and a comfortable noise level...not quiet, but not exactly loud. Bright windows let in lots of natural light and make for great downtown people watching...or just a way to get your Vitamin D while doing spreadsheets with a latte in hand. Nice selection of sandwiches for lunch. They have the frappucino type fancy drinks, plus just really good regular coffee. Whole/Ground Beans and loose leaf tea to bring home, too!
(5)Devon C.
This is probably one of the best coffee houses in the entire Cincinnati area! It has such a great sort of community atmosphere. You will see all types come in this place from college students to Cincinnati Ballet dancers to SCPA students and faculty to business and corporate types too. Original artwork on display on the walls. Some cool furniture some which is artistic too. The coffee is well made and those that take your order at the register and also the baristas are helpful and friendly. Their shots are generally stronger. So if you usually get a 20 ounce latte with 4 shots at Starbucks you would really only need three here. Their food selections are fantastic too. I highly recommend this establishment!
(5)Vanessa V.
The second coffee shop we visited in Cincy and clearly the better option for sitting and working all day. Lots of seating, outlets, and people clicking away at their computers. There is also a roasting room with windows so you can peer in. Oh, and great coffee. Yay. I'd come back.
(4)Melissa B.
Best vanilla latte with happy, fun service! The place has a really hip feel to it...it made me feel good just to be there.
(5)Chelsea V.
I have been visiting this Cafe' since it was, well, more like a cafe' - a little nook tucked away on Central Parkway with a few tables and chairs seated outdoors. Now it has become a coffee center, still on it's appropriately named street complete with a separate Roasterrie room and building! I have bought everything from plain old coffee, to beans, food, and specialty drinks. A great coffee haven, but sometimes so busy it takes a while to get your order and the coffee is always piping, I mean PIPING hot. The menu isn't huge, but offers great fresh food, with ingredients from our many local farmers. One of my favorite things about this shop - Snowville creamery. Not only the best home grown milk in your Latte, but feel free to take a carton home with you! Nice work Emporium, you nailed that one for me....and curious about any new yummy tub nubs? This shop is always happy to introduce new and organic goodies, I see something new every time I go in from honey dipped pretzel twists to delicious vegan chocolate chip cookies. Please - ENJOY!
(4)Stuart T.
This is a great coffee shop. It's large and open design doesn't make it seem crowded or stuffy like others. I am not a big coffee person, what I have had has been good though. They have a variety of drink options as well as bakery and sandwich and salad option. They play great music there as well. It's as downtown coffee shop should be.
(5)Andre U.
I'm from Los Angeles so I looked on Yelp for the best coffee with the best reviews and found C. Emporium. It is fantastic. Great service. Great food and bev. I had a black bean veggie burger and almond milk latte, upon the request of Kara. The vibe is very warm with the guests, as well. Definitely worth a trip. I would be here frequently if I lived in here.
(5)Christopher G.
The first time I went to Coffee Emporium was for a show during the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. It was called, if I remember, Oatmeal and Cigarettes. It featured a full grown man in a diaper, and the entire soundtrack was from the album I'm Wide Awake It's Morning by Bright Eyes. That's the kind of place this is. If you're not into that sort of thing (shame on you), just go during lunch. I've only been here twice, but if it weren't for the fact that I live in Kentucky I'd be in every week. It's the best that a coffee joint has to offer. Let's start with size, usually an issue with this sort of place. Not so with Coffee Emporium. It's not just adequate, either--it's spacious. Enormous, even. Easily two or three times the size of a typical Starbucks. Who knew? The coffee is excellent, of course, or I'd be silly to give it five stars. But it's also available in a number of specialty blends. Granted, a lot of places do this, but Coffee Emporium does it better than most. The turtle chocolate one is my pick. The staff is amazing, too, at least in my experience. They're friendly and chatty, the kind of baristas that seem like they actually enjoy their job. About the only issue is location. It's not very convenient if you don't live downtown, and parking is a bit of a hassle. But then, I mean, everything around there is a bit of a hassle when it comes to parking. If you're used to that sort of thing, it's not especially troublesome.
(5)Leisa W.
Coffee Emporium was a staple for us when we first moved here, and our moving company neglected to bring our belongings (including french press and coffee cups) for two weeks. It's a great coffee shop, with lots of couches and other seating, and a large area. And even though it's a Cincinnati chain, it's not that other evil empire chain and I'd rather come here any day of the week. I'm giving four stars for coffee, service, and yummy baked goods. I've actually never sat inside (always taken it to go), and I've never had a full meal here (I believe they serve sandwiches, etc). So, my review is kind of good-for-nothing, I guess. But just this: Go to Coffee Emporium! They are local, and we love local, and they AREN'T Starbucks!
(4)Lauren C.
I love Coffee Emporium - specifically the downtown location! The employees are incredibly friendly - always smiling and upbeat. CE serves 4 different drip coffees per day, and they have Snowville creamery milk and half and half (grassfed milk amazingness from Ohio). Coffee emporium also supports other local businesses through sales of a wide variety of local pastries and treats. They also have a pretty good size menu of salads, sandwiches... and made to order waffles for breakfast. The inside of coffee emporium is amazing - it's spacious and has multiple different areas. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Angela C.
Tasty food, good coffee, free wireless, eco-friendly and local food focus- all key in my book for a great local coffee shop. There is a lot of space for meeting with friends or bringing a laptop to get some work done. I'm not sure I have been there enough to have a good gauge on the complaints some other reviewers had about the noise, but I did not notice it being unbearably loud. It might not be quiet enough for serious studying. Either way, Coffee Emporium is popular- and for good reason.
(5)Laura G.
Looking for a cool spot to hook up your Mac and tweet away while sipping a killer latte? Search no further, Coffee Emporium is on top of it. I've been to Coffee Emporium for a few occasions including meetings, quiet work sessions and even a party. The interior manages to marry industrial with comfortable and provides plenty of sitting and (silent cheer!) lots of outlets. The baristas are beyond attentive and fabulous but here's a tip: take a seat while your coffee or tea is being made. This isn't Starbucks, so a little more care is being put into your beverage. I think the barista making my iced mocha was really feeling the pressure of my hovering at the counter. Sorry dude and well done under pressure! I should also mention that tea lovers must, must, must try the vanilla walnut tea. Just a hint of nut and a taste of sweetness. Perfection.
(5)Jaime S.
Coffee Emporium is it for coffee in Cincinnati. There is Really nothing to say that hasn't already been said. The staff is amazing, the coffee even more so, the food items are excellent and everything else they sell is great too. If you "love" Starbucks get yourself to Coffee Emporium, you'll be amazed how much better it tastes when the staff truly cares about the end product! Just say no to burnt coffee!
(5)Cynthia R.
Cool space, welcoming vibe, friendly staff, great drinks, good location. I finally had a reason to go when I had a scheduled meeting with Mr @YelpCincy himself there. And if he chose the place, that must mean it's good, right? Right. I really wish I had brought my laptop when I went since it seemed like everyone else who was there solo had one in front if them. I'll definitely bring it the next time I go, as well as try one of the many food recommendations other reviewers mentioned. A very cool Cincy spot for sure.
(5)Erin Z.
I eat lunch here almost 3 times per week. It is some of the freshest, most flavorful food that I have had since I moved here. I have yet to have a sandwich, salad, or soup that I didn't enjoy. The espresso is also great, but it is double-strength, so make sure you keep that in mind when you order. Everyone there is so friendly, even when it is busy. The selection of locally prepared items is also fun to sample. My favorite are the Be Happy flax seed bar, gluten-free Betterfinger bar, L'atour chocolates, and any of Donna's cookies (they taste like cookies mixed with cake batter). It makes me feel like I am back in a big city in an art-inspired coffee shop, but with the warm, friendly people Cincinnati is known for.
(5)Jill C.
I have gone to several of the Yelp Hot Cocoa happy hours. Yes the hot chocolate is good, but so is the chai tea, the pumpkin muffin, the cranberry scone and the cold mocha frappes. I have yet to make down for lunch to try one of their delicious looking quiches displayed in the case.
(4)Justine M.
From the food to the coffee to the atmosphere, I love this place. One of my favorite coffee places was the late Buzz, so the noise level here doesn't bother me, but it could be an issue for those looking for a more mellow place to hangout or work. I recommend the Aztec Mocha, or the Bumble Bee with a Buzz (espresso added), which are my two favorites drinks.
(4)Allison J.
Coffee Emporium has all of the signs of a shop that is brewing some serious coffee - a room sectioned off from customers filled with massive bulk bags of beans. A place down the street dedicated to roasting their stuff. A short, focused lunch menu and no less than two pastry cases of breakfast type foods made locally. They even sell Donna's Cookies. No frozen-and-thawed banana breads here, Coffee Emporium sells high-quality stuff. The coffee I've had has been good, and the service is friendly and efficient. They're even kind to me when I stumble through the door basically wearing pajamas and big circles under my eyes. I had an apple-raisin-feta-balsamic type salad when I went at lunch time last weekend. What should appear with my salad when it was delivered to my table? A square of Ghiardelli chocolate. (It was milk chocolate, and kind of old, but still chocolate) I felt that CE was rewarding me for eating vegetables at lunch when I could have had a slice of pound cake, and I appreciate that. Loved the iced chai too - rich and spicy, not all thinned-out and milky. There's no doubt in my mind I'll be back to Coffee Emporium. Mostly because it's around the corner from my apartment, but even if it wasn't, I'd make a trip down to Central Parkway for some awesome baked goods and solid coffee drinks.
(5)Adam B.
What a great little place for coffee or lunch! Feels like the Pacific Northwest! Very cool!
(5)Andrew D.
Coffee houses come in many varieties, and frequently try too hard to engender an 'environment' without delivering a genuinely quality product. Coffee Emporium started with the coffee and the rest followed: a wrong turn will bring a visitor to a large room filled with industrial-sized bins of un-roased coffee hailing from across the globe. Backtracking to the dining area, a visitor will note that customers range from disaffected urban hipsters to Mercedes-driving soccer moms to attorneys conducting hushed business. The coffee, of course, is what brings customers together. Let us all share in harmonious praise of the wide selection of brewed delight! I get the impression that Coffee Emporium is still figuring out their menu options: while the food is very tasty, the selection boils down to 'muffins, a few wraps and waffles'. No complaints: the muffins (especially the Morning Glory flavor) are excellent. While there are a few couches to the side, most of the dining area is peppered with round tables and chairs. Don't come to Coffee Emporium to soak in a warm, cozy fireside java; this is an area for discussion, work and study. I ritualistically arrive at Coffee Emporium on weekends, log on to the free WiFi and rock out financial analytics with the assistance of the caffeine deities. The lighting is bright, the music is not too loud and the exposed ducting does an ample job of absorbing nearby chatter. + Coffee selection is wide, quality is very high + Front desk staff is responsive, pleasant, hip and (sometimes) pretty funny + Menu is limited but fulfilling and well suited toward the venue + Bright, casual, energetic dining area is comforting without excessive distraction - + Everyone goes to Coffee Emporium, regardless of social background. Diversity is good.
(5)Pat F.
Coffee Emporium has it all. Good drinks, great sandwiches, a nice relaxed atmosphere, free WiFi...all of it. The space is pretty great, too, "urban" and "hip" without being "annoying" and "showy." Whether you're a student looking for some place to read or you work downtown and want to have a business lunch or you just want a cup of coffee, this is the place for you. Everyone comes here, parents with babies, local politicians, regular folks looking for a caffeine jolt, you name it. They even have waffles for brunch on weekends. The only thing to look out for is that they close really early - 6pm. So make sure it's a daytime coffee craving that you're having. Or come for lunch. Like I said, the food is good too.
(5)Jonathan E.
+1 for above average coffee. one of the better i've found in cincinnati so far. -1 for no air conditioning and poor ventilation (it actually smells like a high school cafeteria in here) -1 for cleanliness. my table appeared not to have been wiped down for
(3)Brad K.
I'm not a big fan of downtown Cincinnati (because of the traffic and all that, not because I hate my hometown), but this coffee joint is definitely worth it. Lots of open space and comfy chairs. The "warehouse-y" feel is the best of urban designs. The coffee and pastries are great too, a rarity amongst coffee shops. But there's only one bathroom (and the key is hanging on the wall) so don't wait until the last second. Trust me on this one.
(5)Keally D.
Coffee Emporium brews the best cup o' joe in the city. Hands down. May be the best coffee I've ever had, even beating out Philz in San Francisco and all the coffee contenders in Seattle. Unfortunately, the Central Parkway location is only open till 6pm. Hard to get a later night latte with their current hours. Suppose I may have to start getting up earlier. Really. It's that good.
(5)Juliane S.
Noisy. Very, very noisy. I tend to want my coffee shops quiet and this isn't it. The food is exceptional - but expensive. It caters to a younger crowd and given it's location this might be a good thing. The decor is what makes it so loud - old converted warehouse space with zero noise cancellation or absorption. The coffee is good - not great but good. The service is outstanding given that the place is consistently busy. Emporium is a chain in Cincinnati, they have three locations. It's a favorite amoung the locals because of its location and younger feel. Which is fine.
(3)Alexandra K.
I love coming here for lunch, snacks, or a mid-workday jolt. It's located around the corner from where I work and is a great option for healthy food. I've had lunch here several times and have really enjoyed the following items. Their curried chicken salad sandwich is decadent, the snicker doodle cookies are soft and wonderful, and their iced vanilla lates are perfect for a pick me up. It's hot and iced lates are much better than getting hot coffee. They sell various grounds of coffee to go. You can scoop it yourself or they have pre-packaged ones. The space is also really nice. There are cute couches and tables and chairs to hang out on and do work while you eat. I love the atmosphere!
(4)Brandon K.
Great location, nice concept. Some negatives have been recently improved, like it's no longer a huge echo chamber in there which was a real problem before, they put an expensive array of acoustic tiles on the ceiling which really helps. Like the fact that the owner or manager sometimes walks around with a coffee pot offering refills. This seems like a recent development. Service is kind of uneven... inconsistent about how they prepare baked goods (warmed up or not, brought to you or not) and the speed of their espresso drink service seems pretty slow for an operation of their size. Sometimes my drink order has been in for minutes with no one making any coffee drinks before they get going on it. I see some patrons get things brought to them, in ceramic cups, while others wait for their names to be called (barely audible above the music) and have to get up to get their coffee in paper cups. Why the difference?
(3)Joseph C.
Coffee Emporium has a good selection of house-roasted coffees, and a nice space to either work or spend time with friends. Like many downtown establishments, parking can be an issue, especially during busy hours. The staff is friendly, responsive, and helpful. If you buy a lot of coffee to drink at home, they also have a coffee card program.
(4)Shannon B.
Love their Alligator Pear sandwich!
(5)Lizz R.
From coffee to pastries to friendly service, this place is everything a coffee shop should be. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, there are some great non-coffee selections to choose from. My personal favorite is the chai tea. Plus, you have the added benefit of supporting a local business with a great mission. If you are ever curious about the type of relationships they maintain with their suppliers, just ask. It's quite inspiring!
(5)Mike M.
love it. just recently had the food and i loved that too. a nice place to chill or meet someone for a meeting. pricey, but worth it. the iced teas are killer and the coffee seems to have a narcotic agent in it. for that, i am grateful on early mornings on the way to the drop inn center for board meetings. lord know a little extra energy is good when discussing how to best help those who need it the most. so, thanks for helping me make important decsions, coffee emporium. i love you.
(4)Matthew R.
Hip little coffee shop! Reminds me of Seattle. I came in, got a good cup of coffee, great service. I admired the seating, but didn't stay long. Excited to return for a proper latte and some quiet reading.
(5)Rob J.
The perfect place to get some work done, relax, or meet someone for a meeting. The coffee and tea are always good, and their prepared foods outstanding. An amazing asset for the neighborhood.
(5)Brittany W.
Wonderful coffee, EXCELLENT helpful baristas!! Good experience
(5)Kasey M.
I had a late breakfast here today and fell in love with this place. The atmosphere is great and the furniture was comfortable. The ladies working this morning were doing a great job getting coffee and food out fast. They were really personable and made us feel like we were just over at a friend's house. The prices were much better than visiting Starbucks. Great coffee shop if you are downtown.
(5)Jared Q.
This is my fav coffee shop in Cincy. Great, fresh roasted coffee meets charming urban atmosphere. This is the perfect spot to meet a friend or grab a bite for lunch. If you order an espresso drink with foam you're likely to get a beautiful picture decoration from the barrista too!
(5)Dan R.
I'm not a coffee drinker, but I still love coffee shops, especially ones in my neighborhood. This is a great place to grab a drink and hang out. On a recent snowy day Erica and I bundled up and walked over and got a hot chocolate and watched it snow. Having a place like this near our home is awesome. My only complaint is they need to stay open later! We need more late night coffee shops in OTR to hang out at!
(4)Adam S.
Oh Coffee Emporium, I'm so glad I found you. Stuck in the land of big hotels and chain restaurants near the convention center, in town for a 2 day meeting, I set out to find someplace to work and chill for awhile that wasn't my hotel room. Despite the chain link fence covering the windows, the Coffee Emporium is actually quite inviting inside and is a huge space. They have a huge selection of coffee as you would expect, a nice sandwich menu, and a wide range of teas. The woman working the place was very friendly and not condescending in the "I work at a cool coffee house therefore you suck" mentality. I only wish they stayed open later than 6pm because I would live here for this short trip.
(5)Matthew B.
My gf & I got sandwiches, iced decaf, and a mango smootie. My sandwich was unique, healthy, and very tasty. She didn't care for her egg & beef burrito. My iced decaf was delicious. I like everything about the atmosphere! Outside has nice seating with views of downtown, as well as the courthouse and prison. Police frequent the joint. Parking is a piece of cake. The crowd is hip and mellow. The staff is ultra considerate. You have to bus your own table, but I can deal with that. Oh, and its roomy too - unlike starbucks.
(5)Robert M.
Really good Coffee place, plenty of choices. Features Baked goods from several place like shadeu. Come on the weekends for the waffles. Had the Aztec Mocha. Well worth stopping by and trying by itself.
(5)Steve A.
This place is great. Tons of drink choices, especially tea. And very spacious. I loved looking at all the different teas in their jars. The staff was knowledgable when I asked for a tea recommendation. I went with their suggestion and it was exactly what I was looking for.
(4)Michael A.
Nice open space with many choices for seating. I would rate this as a good place to meet a colleague or friend for a coffee/tea and conversation. The restroom is nice and clean, just make sure you grab the key by the counter. The new hours are great, which keep the place open until 8 PM.
(4)Becca E.
I am not a really big coffee drinker generally, so the fact that I like this place is saying something. I particularly enjoyed the Bumblebee (steamed milk with honey and vanilla) which you can also get with a buzz which is also very tasty. It doesn't have that coffeehouse feel though, something about the way it is laid out and the fact that it is always packed make it seem more cafeteria to me, but other than that it has a nice atmosphere. I have never had any of the food items there, but I will definitely be trying them sometime soon.
(4)Sean B.
Coffee Emporium is my office away from office. Great space with wonderful locally roasted coffee. A steady mix of OTR hipsters and City Hall makes this people watching central.
(4)Jo P.
Coffee emporium is one of my favorite downtown spots. They have delicious breakfasts. Great lunch. The coffee is wonderful and the baked goods are to die for! Best of all the atmosphere is great. There is also plenty of table space if you need to pull out your lap top while you enjoy a good cup of coffee.
(5)Ben C.
This place actually feels like a legitimate coffe shop. For a second I thought I was back in Portland seeing small brand names, healthy options, a cool atmosphere and free wifi.
(5)Alan D.
This is my first review since joining Yelp and it seems rather pointless to add another rave review to an already popular venue but that's what I'm going to do. Here is my review and it's another 5 stars for the Coffee Emporium. I recently moved downtown but I drive past the Coffee Emporium (CE) every day on my way to work in Kentucky. I've been frequenting Tazza Mia by Fountain Square for my weekend coffee but the sheer size of CE piqued my interest and I made up my mind to visit come the weekend. This morning arrives so I pack up my laptop and a list of work I needed to get done and walk over. I order a 'mondo' latte and grab a seat looking out the window next to an outlet. My coffee shows up moments later and I get ready to do some work about the same time a nice rain / storm sets in. I think I sat there for the next 3 hours sipping my coffee, getting my work done and doing some occasional people watching or glancing out the window to watch the rain and lightning. The coffee was excellent, the convenience of power / free wifi much appreciated, employees were nice, people were cool, location is superb; there's not a single thing I can complain about. It looks like I will be making this a regular thing. I look forward to trying their specialty blends and all those baked goods.
(5)Sam N.
You may have to park a few streets away at a meter but it's totally worth it. Great place to work on your laptop or study, though it can be slightly echoey at busy times. You can tell their coffee is fresh as are their pastries and soups!
(4)Dan B.
I've been to a few special events at the Coffee Emporium. It's not a regular stop for me, but everytime I have been there I have had a great cup of coffee. They do a lot of cool events, including plays during the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Local art is featured on the walls and as I said before and maybe most importantly, great coffee.
(4)NICK D.
The go-to spot for casual meetings and unfiltered time killing. The staff is always friendly, the food is great, and the coffee is always delicious. You feel good going to coffee emporium on several levels- great establishment for the neighborhood.
(5)John M.
Nice place with cool atmosphere. Good coffee and food options (like Starbucks but better). If you work downtown, put your dishwater office coffee down and walk over to this place. The walk won't kill you and the coffee is worth it!
(4)Kat K.
Great coffee and amazing environment! Haven't tried the food yet, but I'll get around to it eventually.
(5)Brett B.
Excellent! Great alternative to the big coffee chains.
(5)Sarah B.
Great food, great coffee, friendly staff -- what more can you ask for? A bit noisy at times, but otherwise I have no complaints.
(4)Serena S.
This place has good coffee and a good variety of food and beverages. Two thumbs up from me. I visit it whenever I am nearby.
(4)Stephen C.
I go to Cincinnati just for this place. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. Good food. Great coffee. I would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Steve K.
I had a meeting before work at Coffee Emporium, it was so disorganized. The coffee was ok, but seriously, who can't brew a decent cup of coffee?
(2)Brian G.
Really great atmosphere in the downtown location. I used to bike there and just sit and read. What more could you want from a coffehouse? Good stuff.
(4)James M.
I'm a coffee snob, looking down on Starbucks the way most Starbucks connoisseurs look down on Sanka. But Coffee Emporium has it all--bold, complex coffees (even their decafs!), a huge variety of teas, all kindsa yummy treats, and the most beautiful dining area I've ever experienced in any restaurant. Their shop is a half hour drive from my apartment, but I'll be making a weekly pilgrimage there from now on.
(5)Kate H.
I love, love, love Coffee Emporium. They are tied for best coffee in the city. It's addictive - once you try it you won't really like much else. They have great food, very sweet employees, and the dining area is always filled with sunshine and good music.
(5)Angela H.
Xavier University recently opened a Coffee Emporium location inside the Gallagher Student Center, and as a student, I couldn't be more thrilled. I'm not much of a coffee drinker so I appreciate the number of tea and other non-coffee drinks the location has to offer. I don't know what all goes into a Bumblebee Steamer but it sure tastes like a honey graham cracker (YUM). The pomegranate iced tea is just sweet enough to not need additional sugar and it's refreshing on warm days. I haven't yet sampled the Butterfinger drink but I hear it tastes just like a liquified version of the candy bar, so that can't possibly be bad. I have only one complaint with Coffee Emporium-the smoothies have got to be re-thought. I tried a Blueberry smoothie and actually had to throw it away, it had such a strange aftertaste and texture.
(4)Amy A.
Just as great as the location in Hyde Park, but with a city vibe. Hopefully the hours will keep getting longer!
(5)Jennifer H.
I love this location compared to the Hyde Park one. It's the same menu, but with the addition of an extensive lunch menu. They also carry Myra's Dionysus soups and side dishes from What's For Dinner, that you can take with you to go for a meal later. It's small but very warm and cozy. I love Coffee Emporium's coffee, but I much prefer this location's staff and clientele. Plus, the lunches are great-I adore the Central Parkway salad (greens, raisins, apples, walnuts and feta). I notice they do Waffle Madness like the Hyde Park location but they do it on Saturdays, so you could have an entirely waffle-filled weekend, if you play your cards right.
(5)John L.
By far the best local espresso bar in the city. The staff certainly knows what they're doing behind the espresso machine. I've never been disappointed. It's possible you'll be treated to some charming latte art if you are sticking around with your latte. I've never had the same experience at any other coffee shop in the area. Prices are similar to most coffee shops. One difference is that extra espresso shots are sold as a couple. This solves the problem of throwing the additional shot away--you might as well add it to your drink since you paid for it. If you drive by at the right time you can smell the fresh roasting coffee from the Diedrich roaster in the adjacent space. Free Wi-Fi is available without any nonsense of forms etc. If there's ever a problem with the shop's wireless you can sometimes find a neighboring business with an open network. Parking is sometimes a hassle and requires circling the block a few times, but it usually doesn't take more than a few minutes to find a spot. Meters outside give 10 free minutes so you have plenty of time to grab a cup on your way to work. I've never tried the lunch menu, but I've enjoyed pastries and cookies and each meets my preceding expectations.
(5)Angelina M.
A Cincinnati staple when it comes to coffee shops. I can't even count how many times I've been here and keep coming back for great coffee and delicious sweets. The staff do a great job recommending coffee beans to take home and suggestions on trying a new drink. Some of my favorites include the chocolate chip cookies--dense and rich, the pb&j bar, and the ricotta and spinach pie. I usually just get hot or iced coffee but I also love the honey steamer for something different. Coffee Emporium is a great place for all clientele. I love to see business executives, artists, and homeless people all under one roof enjoying some caffeine. It's a great place for all hours and meals of the day.
(5)Mark R.
Coffee Emporium is everything you could want in a local restaurant/coffee dive! The staff is very attentive and can make a great cup of joe!! The sandwiches are a great option for a quick lunch. The turkey sandwich is a go-to for me. For a good pick-me-up, a Milky Way Latte is a sure winner!!! Great part of the OTR neighborhood!!!!!!!!
(4)Heather M.
I had no idea this place was here!! My boyfriend's mother always get the concentrated cold brew coffee from this place and recommended me to go here and try it out. I couldn't believe how big this place was!! A great place to study, read, or even have a small group to study or have a meeting. Once you enter the place, you get a cool wave of glorious smells of coffee in the air. I love the smell of good coffee brewing. I could probably just stay in there for 5 minutes inhaling that beautiful aroma and be good for the day! ha ha Anyway, I got the Bourbon Cold Brew Concentrate Bottle. $17 but the lady told me that I can bring it back and get a discount on the next one. Love the incentive for customers to be more "Green." I did get a breakfast burrito before I left and it was pretty tasty. Not like San Diego's but pretty good for being in the Midwest. The portion was a good healthy size. The staff was very nice and looked like a well oiled machine back there. There were a lot of people there but didn't feel too crowded which was very nice. I did come back the second time to exchange my bottle for a new one. The kept my old one to clean and reuse and gave me a new bottle I believe $5 less! The bottle lasts me about 10 days. I use about 4oz of it per work day and mix it with a protein shake. very tasty! So glad to have this close to my work so I can enjoy a nice coffee or breakfast before going into work. CAUTION: Parking still sucks. (Did you expect anything different downtown?) 0:-D
(4)Giannabrie F.
Great little coffee shop in downtown Cincinatti. There was a "buzz" in this place (no pun intended) and it truly seemed to be the place to see and be seen. Lots of local professional coming in and out. The menu options were decent and fresh baked goods were in abundance. Cons? Took WAY too long to get your drink/food. Like 15 minutes or so. Which is odd. I ordered the oatmeal and it was soupy and lumpy...The banana nut bread was decent though. Total hipster place, comfortable, a little noisy, big space, normal prices. Worth stopping in if in the area.
(3)Hollyann H.
I've really tried to like Coffee Emporium, but it's just not going to happen. It's probably the most overpriced and overrated coffee in the area next to Starbucks. Their normal hot coffee blends are good. However, their lattes, frappes, and smoothies all taste pretty horrible to me. Their food is so and so, and most of their baked goods are really dry and lacking flavor every time I've bought any. The people who work here are usually really rude and not friendly or welcoming at all. And god forbid if you ask a question they talk to you like you're a moron and you're inconveniencing them. However, The good things about this place is location and the atmosphere. If you are meeting up with someone just to grab a quick drink with someone or having a work meeting this would be a good place. But at the end of the day there are just so many more amazing coffee places in the area.
(2)Allyson G.
As a major hipster coffee connoisseur of all the beautiful states of this united nation, the Coffee Emporium does an exquisite job making the perfect cup of enjoyable coffee. If your not smiling after your first sip, you're either drinking the wrong order or you have no idea what coffee is all about. Start off with a Bubble Bee Buzz or an iced vanilla latte with honey. Add the honey - just trust me. Oh and if you are at all American, make sure you splurge, soak up the maple syrup and gluten with a fresh BELGIUM WAFFLE. There so good you'll smack a kid. No really, if some unruly unwatched child comes along and gets their hand near your plate... It's over Becky. And finally, DON'T EVEN THINK about putting your hand on that door until you walk out with a bag of their Bourbon Barrel Coffee Beans! YES BOURBON!! Hey, it's 5 O'clock somewhere why not drink and stay awake with a buzz. Just sayin! Finally, take a buzz filled walk over the bridge, it will surely take your breath away. Enjoy Cincinnati Goers.
(5)Joel L.
I don't even drink coffee but still go here once a week! I've been here about six times. The service is always amazing. There's a line but it moves quickly. Everyone is alert, quick, and nice while also making time to answer questions, give recommendations, etc. The interior is amazing. It's eclectic and gives a genuine hipster feel (in a good way). The food is amazing. There's a great variety and the freshness of the ingredients is clear in every dish. Coffee Emporium is yet another great representation of Cincinnati's thriving food culture. I would be excited to bring out-of-towners to this establishment.
(5)Ty H.
Line was very long, but Alison took orders for folks in line, so it wasn't a bad wait at all. Love that their drinks are very creative and they offer a ton of different Flavors! Wifi stinks
(4)Emily S.
Had a wonderful time enjoying waffles and coffee on Sunday morning! Their coffee is always the best part of waking up (iced vanilla latte is the personal favorite), and I will plan a visit there on the weekends simply to get a waffle with all the trimmings. The fruit is freshly cut and is always superb looking, and the baked goods/sandwiches always smell/look wonderful. Highly recommend for a little afternoon pick me up, or a place to hang out/work/read/relax!
(5)