Small Cafes to Try in Cincinnati
Are you feeling tired from staying up late last night annotating for your rigorous literature class or trying to memorize the unit circle for your pre-calc quiz? Sounds like you are in need of a caffeine pick-me-up before school, but you want to try something new, not just your go to Starbucks or Dunkin’. Here are a couple smaller cafe chains to give a try in Cincinnati - all of which do takeout!
Cream and Sugar is a black-owned coffee shop located on 3546 Montgomery Rd. This shop is open from 8 AM - 2 PM Monday through Saturday. Cream and Sugar prides themselves on spreading love and inclusion encouraging people from all walks of life to come in and enjoy themselves in a welcoming environment. Their coffee menu consists of iced and hot lattes, cappuccinos, teas, and much more all priced around $2-$4. In addition to coffee, they also serve brunch toast, yogurt bowls, and salads priced from $6-$10.
Black Coffee is another local black owned coffee shop located on 824 Elm St. This shop is open from 7 AM -3 PM Tuesday through Friday and 9 AM - 4 PM on Saturday. I have to say this is my personal favorite coffee shop to go to as not only are you supporting a small business, but their coffee is also smooth and delicious! They have an eccentric atmosphere with amazing artwork posted on the walls, groovy music, and welcoming workers. They serve espresso and brewed drinks with milk alternatives such as almond and oat milk. Their coffee price ranges from $2.50-$5.75. They also serve pastries and sandwiches, price ranging from $3-$8.75.
Urbana is another local coffee chain with four locations located on 312 Walnut St, 1130 Broadway St., 114 W Elder St. (in Finlay Market), and on 2714 Woodburn Ave. The locations all have different hours, but the one closest to SUA is open from 7 AM - 5PM. Tuesday through Friday and 8 AM - 5PM on Saturday and Sunday. Urbana gives off a clean and rustic atmosphere, but also a modern vibe with their hardwood floors and blue accents throughout the cafe. This shop serves tons of different coffee like lattes, cortados, drip coffee, cold brew, and even tea ranging from $2-$5 in price. They also serve small bites such as fruit tarts, croissants, and bagels ranging from $3-$5.50.
Deeper Roots is a Cincinnati based cafe chain with three locations found on 1814 Race St, 2108 Colerain Ave., and 3056 Madison Rd. Their hours also differ, but the location closest to school is open 7:30 AM - 4 PM Sunday through Saturday. Deeper Roots is known for their drive to improve the quality of the coffee they serve while also caring for their workers and communities who produce their coffee in Guatemala. My favorite blend from the company is called Losantiville sporting dark fruit, chocolate, sweet smoke, and fully body flavors.At the shop, they serve drip coffee and teas ranging from about $3-$5 in price. Highly recommend this shop to test out!