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| - This is the kind of place that changes your whole perception about what coffee should taste like. I say "kind of place" like there are a lot of them, but in this town there's only Rising Star and Troubadour right now. I love how knowledgeable everyone on staff is about all of their products, and I also love how none of have that elitist, holier-than-thou attitude towards their customers. My husband came in one afternoon (maybe early evening) a few weeks ago to find they had closed early for a staff meeting. What do you think? They welcomed him in, poured him some coffee and let him relax for a bit while they continued on with their meeting. So -- really good people, and I know they do a lot to support other local businesses (they sell Brewnuts and Cleveland Bagel Co. goodies, as well as a variety of other Cleveland-made stuff).
The most important thing, obviously, is the coffee. It is meticulously sourced, thoughtfully processed and made with all the care in the world. I might be exaggerating slightly about that last part, but every time I go there, I can't help but think "this is the best latte of my life." Whereas usually I get flavored lattes at other cafes, it's almost a crime to do that at Rising Star. The beans themselves are so rich and flavorful. Nowadays I'm more than satisfied with the pour-overs. I just love getting all the aromas and flavors of the single-origin stuff. Oh, and if you ever get the chance to try their cold-pressed coffee, it will knock your little socks off!
I like the atmosphere of their current location, but agree it isn't conducive to groups or people wanting to hang out for a few hours. It feels unfinished in a way, but they have so much equipment there it'd be difficult to fit more tables in. I kind of hope they branch out and open other locations, but then again it's always worth the trip to Ohio City.
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