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Hello, my name is Donna, and I am a javaholic. Hopelessly hooked to the devil’s drink. Coffee crazy.
I have no intention of trying to shake the habit, so please refrain from all offers of steps and sponsorship. Undoubtedly, after one uncaffeinated morning with me, you would be driving me to the nearest Starbucks yourself — two blocks in any direction.
It’s not that I’m evil without my morning “cuppa” — it’s that I’m … OK, I am evil. And sullen. And sloth. I depend on coffee to get my neurons firing so that I’m able to … uhhh … form … ummm …
words, which are, of course … uhhh …important. My editor seems to think so.
Equal to my devotion of the black broth are the places and people who commune around it. Coffee is the fuel of highly charged sociability, the drink of community, and I’m as addicted to the coffeehouse experience as the brew itself. Coffeehouses offer the lure of companionship, a place for fermenting political opinion, an able chess opponent or a nexus of creativity.
Excluding the ubiquitous Starbucks, there are approximately two dozen coffeehouses in Greater Cincinnati, most of them concentrated on the East side, downtown and around the UC area. While some are quiet meeting places and others are bustling with activity, they’re all welcome havens for conversation, a place to read, study or just be.
Breathe in the intoxicating aroma and savor the satiny liquor of a few of my favorites.
Kaldi’s
1204 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-241-3070
Named after the Abyssinian goatherd reported to have first discovered the stimulating properties of coffee beans (his goats became unusually lively after feeding on the berries), Kaldi’s tops the list as most well-rounded coffeehouse experience. Sit up front at the bar for conversation with just about anyone and everyone who walks through the door or retreat to the back room for undisturbed reading.
The Scene: European coffeehouse meets San Francisco bohemian bookstore
The Coffee: Seven Hills
Customer’s Fave: Kaldi’s House Blend and the Organic French Roast
Who Hangs Out: Daytime: suits and local residents, SCPA students and staff; Evenings: A wide mix, often depending on entertainment
Foodstuff: Snacks, salads, sandwiches, burritos. Full bar. A la carte brunch on Sundays
Goodstuff: Kaldi’s is a consistent supporter of local music and artists: Bluegrass on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jazz on the weekends, rotating artists’ work on the walls
Sitwell’s
324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7487
Sitwell’s is the place I meet friends for coffee and lively conversation in the evenings or a quieter lunch with a book during the day. The big front window is a great place to catch the afternoon sun and watch the parade of diversity on Ludlow Avenue.
The Scene: Funky college coffeehouse meets free-spirited warmth and goodwill
The Coffee: Seven Hills, Fair Trade Organics
Customer’s Fave: Indian Malabar roast and Mocha Java
Who Hangs Out: Daytime: artists, students, professors, neighborhood residents; Evening: Esquire Theater crowd and, according to owner Lisa Storey, “hardcore, drink-all-night hammerheads”
Foodstuff: Breakfast, sandwiches, salads, desserts. Try the splendid Briemato sandwich — toasted Brie on a croissant with roma tomatoes, olive oil, basil and greens. Stunning variety of teas, including Ayurvedic
Goodstuff: Sporadic evening entertainment from poetry readings to belly dancers to Celtic Folk music
Otherstuff: One of the few coffeehouses where a smoking section is available, but only after 3 p.m. Storey’s motto: “Friends don’t let friends go to Starbucks.”
Coffee Emporium
3316 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-321-5943
Cincinnati’s oldest coffeehouse, circa 1973. A diminutive coffeehouse in a Victorian painted lady, this wins hands-down for the most intense, hypnotic coffee incense. My favorite for summer iced coffees under the wisteria-covered patio. A second location resides in the Emery Building at 110 E. Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine.
The Scene: Whimsical charm meets quiet comfort
The Coffee: Roasts their own
Customer’s Fave: Raven’s Blend and the house espresso blend of French Zimbabwe, French Sumatra and Indian Monsooned Malabar. Sizes come in “Lil’ Jo,” “Med. Mo” and “B.A.D.”
Who Hangs Out: Besides the neighborhood residents, it draws a diverse clientele from around the city. On my last visit, I ran into one of CityBeat‘s film reviewers, TT Clinkscales, with his laptop and 10 adorable grannies known as “The Red Hat Society” (yep, all wearing grand red hats and so cute I wanted to pinch their cheeks) having a proper afternoon tea.
Foodstuff: Scones, pastries from Take the Cake, chocolates and “Waffle Madness” on Sunday mornings, which TT claims is “action-packed.” Sounds like a must-see.
Otherstuff: Custom-made gift baskets and WiFi access. Open until 8 p.m. on weeknights and 6 p.m. on weekends.
Scribbles
616 Main St., Covington, 859-291-9400
Open just two months, Scribbles is already attracting a following, due largely to the passionate owners, Carla and Rodney Wilson. Devoted to books and music, they opened Scribbles as a way to support their habit and get involved in the community. Being a bit of the page freak myself, it’s easy to spend several hours deconstructing storylines with Rodney and Carla or hanging out on the couch and perusing Books I’m Dying to Read from their shelves.
The Scene: Bookgeek meets simple living room
The Coffee: Seven Hills
Customer’s Fave: French Zimbabwe roast and Caramel Macchiatos. Medium and large only because, according to Carla Wilson, “no one should bother with a small cup of coffee.”
Who Hangs Out: Since they’re brand new, residents and MainStrasse business owners. But not for long.
Foodstuff: Baked goods, smoothies and frappes. Carla is on a highly focused personal mission to find the baker from the now-closed WildFlour Bakery to bake for Scribbles. This is a total win-win, so help her out if you know where he is.
Otherstuff: Not currently open for late evening hours except for First Fridays Gallery Walk. Seasonal patio. Half-price books, used CDs and vinyl.
And a few other favorites
Kaffe Klatsch, St. Gregory at Pavilion, Mount Adams, 513-929-0048
Ikea clean comfort, eggplant and chocolate colors. Seven Hills Coffee with the Vesuvius roast and Caramel Leches are customers’ favorites. Fabulous grilled paninis (try the Smoked Turkey, Arugula, Tomato and Goat Cheese), salads, homemade soup. Seasonal patio. Rotating local artists on walls. Plenty of parking in the $2 garage next door.
Lookout Joe’s, 3181 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout, 513-871-8626
Casual eclectic. Roasts their own, with the roasting process visible. Customer’s favorites: Black and Tan (French roast Columbian and light roast Nicaraguan) and Almond Roca Mochas. Fair Trade Organics available. On a recent weekday afternoon, the entire place was packed with students studying, neighborhood residents and business solos with spread sheets and cell phones. Sandwiches, soups and a few pastries. Daytime and evening hours, seven days a week.
College Hill Coffee Co., 6128 Hamilton Ave., 513-542-2739
Beautiful, large, sunny interior with central horseshoe bar and a mixture of modern with antiques. A.L. Van Houtte Coffee from Canada, plus Seven Hills Highlander Grog, customers’ favorite. Mostly neighborhood residents, senior citizens (several retirement communities in this part of town) and bridge clubs. Absolutely must try the big, gooey house-made cinnamon roll! Known for their quiches, chicken salad and soups. Coffee is served in a 16 oz. warming carafe for $1.75 — smart. Chess, checkers and books invite you to lounge for a good while. Daytime hours only. ©
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2004.