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| - I've been a regular customer of the Ohio City Rising Star for over a year, so of course I was ecstatic to learn that a second location was opening within walking distance from my apartment. I've been quite a few times, and they've done a great job with the space.
The seating seems designed to be communal, and I enjoy the ambiance. There is actually ample seating at this location, with a wrap-around bar and a few tables for larger groups, so you can hang around here more easily than at the other one. They'll serve you if you sit at the bar, so that's nice. Rumor has it that they'll be expanding the seating in their Ohio City location before long as well, once they get a dedicated space for their roasting operation (which is currently two large drum roasters in the back of their Ohio City shop).
The coffee is the same fantastic coffee they serve at the other location. It's mostly fairly lightly-roasted single-origin coffee. You can have brewed coffee brewed in a Bee House pour-over or an Aeropress, Iced coffee (cold brew), or any number of espresso drinks with two options for espresso (either their current espresso blend, or a rotating single origin). They have seasonal drinks as well, both coffee-based and otherwise. Sadly, they don't have the siphon/vacuum pots in this location, but the other options are sufficient.
They use a Mahlkonig EK43 for a brew grinder and two Mahlkonig K30's for espresso. Their espresso machine is a Synesso.
They do have limited food and pastry offerings. Pastries are from Zoss Bakery on Cedar Rd and are very good. They have bagels from the Cleveland Bagel Company which are decent; nothing to write home about, but not bad (although I grew up in NYC so my standards for bagels are pretty high).
They do sell beans in this location as well. They're high quality beans, usually roasted well, and the ones on the shelves are usually fresh, within a week of their roast date (printed on the back). Pricing may seem steep to those not used to specialty coffee, but it's in line with other specialty shops at $14.50 for most 12 oz bags.
Rising Star is a welcome addition to the area, and certainly the best coffee in the neighborhood.
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