Most important bit - the coffee is fantastic. Really, their cortado has been consistently better than the Lit or most other coffee shops in the area or elsewhere. I really cannot say anything bad about the coffee, its' delicious and well made. If that's all you care about, ignore the rest of the review. If you consider atmosphere and character to be as important for a cafe, however, read on.
The venue leaves a lot to be desired. They've completely overhauled the interior; a necessary change that they blew spectacularly, in my opinion. The new setup is completely sterile, and the combination of old-time hospital tile with oppressively white walls deprives the space of any potential character or emotional attachment. The echo in the now large space can be deafening, and the people behind the counter appear more like assembly line workers than baristas.
The joint advertises itself as a "coffee laboratory," where new baristas are trained and new ideas are tried out for a willing audience. Maybe this will be the case, but right now the RICB is just another coffee shop on a street full of 'em, and given how off-putting the atmosphere can be, I wonder how long it'll last. The new owners have created a space without the potential for any sort of community while holding to underwhelming irony as a substitute for character and ambiance.