Maybe you need to be a coffee drinker to gain a full appreciation of Colin's, I'm not sure, but I feel a little bit Emperor's New Clothes about the place. Like... it's good, but is it great? I'm just not seeing it. Friendly proprietor, yes. Best thing about it. And product-knowledgeable, for sure. But I don't find it an inspiring place to hang out or get work done. While the wifi works just fine, you're sort of on a lifeline with it, since the outlets -- if there are any -- are scarcer than a sea lion in the Sahara. Am I the only one who had trouble finding where to plug the laptop in or the only one who looked? [Edited to note that I see fellow yelper Jessica K. mentioned the outlet issue, too, and I am to gather that they indeed are there but are, in fact, difficult to spot. So there you go, I'm just not much of a detective.] This is a review I put off for a while because I felt bad about not being enthralled. It is a homey coffeehouse with a tremendous community spirit and small-town vibe on the edge of a city. But it's not like homey, community-minded coffeehouses are in short supply in Columbus, and most of the others score more points on the cozy scale. In comparison, Colin's feels kind of like a well-stocked office lounge. So... nothing major against the place, but I just can't find the awesome. read more

Good to the last drop! Venturing into work on my late day, I was going to make a bee line to Staufs, but cut my time short & decided to venture closer to home instead & try Colin's coffee for the very first time. Considering my vice for all things espresso, it's surprising to even me that this was my first visit. However, atmosphere is a 'big deal' when it comes to coffee shops & I'm not typically into the strip mall scene, even if it is UA. Glad to make my acquaintance, Colin himself greeted me in between swapping conversation with what appeared to be some native customers. So I ordered my usual, an iced latte with whipped cream...it just makes it that much better. For only $3.25 I got a larger-than-your-average-large latte that lasted me most of my sip-a-long day @ work & the intensity of the espresso held up quite nicely despite the milk to espresso ratio, which is often not the case when I visit other not so 'independent' local coffee shops (ie: Ask for a latte, get a cup of ice with some milk & a pinch of espresso). Although it took some courage & about 4 years, it's good to know that I have a new place to chat & meet up with friends for coffee. Do not fear the strip mall, it may surprise you. read more

It's a piece of childhood for me here - Colin's used to be Helen Huxley's ice cream, and it still reminds me of the ice cream shop in ways. It's the holidays and I was looking for some place to go to get away from family. Me, a book, and something hot and sweet to drink. There's a view of the river here and it's quiet here, but not library quiet - just right for me. My buckeye madness drink (chocolate and peanut butter) is excellent. Sweet, but not Starbucks-chemically-tasting-sweet. Definitely recommend it here! read more

A coffee shop must have personality, and the owner, Colin, is a friendly guy with a great rapport with his customers. Unfortunately, the biggest criteria that I grade a coffee shop on is the quality of their coffee. When Colin made my Latte, he used pre-ground espresso to pull my shots. Then with the portafilter locked onto the machine, water started spurting around and down the outside of the basket and landed in my cup. This means that half of my espresso was just hot water that never extracted any coffee.Whether that results from a broken seal or an extremely dirty group head, that is a major red flag that Colin doesn't care about serving quality drinks. Finally, his milk was foamed with very large air bubbles, leaving my mouth searching for flavor through the dryness of the drink. It was not the velvety smooth microfoam fully incorporated into the espresso that I search for. The result was a latte with no art, nothing pleasure in texture, and horribly extracted espresso that led to an unpalatable drink. read more

Yelp suggested I try Colin's Coffee and, as usual, Yelp didn't steer me wrong. I loved this place. It was lovely that the owner was working and he introduced himself. I was thrilled that he saw my laptop and didn't shutter or scoff but gave me hints on the outlets (there are a million, all along the wall... there will be no problem finding power). I was totally won over that when I asked if I could buy a coffee now and get it later (I only had credit and didn't want him to be charged two fees for little charges) he said not to worry about it because I could run a tab. And the final win was the owner asking me what I was working on (something super time sensitive) and telling me not to worry about rushing out- he'd be cleaning for a while, anyway, so finish what I was doing and relax. (I didn't, I would've felt guilty, but that's an exceptionally kind offer.) While I was there, I had the grilled cheese/tomato soup combo, which was a great and cheap lunch option and then later the deluxe coffee (or something- it's labeled as the best thing they make and a sure addiction), which was tasty and packed a kick. Obviously I think they've got the customer service thing down pat and serve a good product. The decor is a bit cold and cafeteria-like, but it'd certainly work for a coffee date or a quick meeting. read more

Woohoo a small business, locally owned coffee shop! Due to this, I will forgive the fact that the prices on your menu are incorrect and my bill was several dollars more than I was expecting. This was a fun little place to hang out and have a cup of joe. Colin's has a wide variety of unique flavored drinks. I got a straight cup of java, but the person I was with got a honey vanilla thing that tasted great. I brought home a couple of hot cocoas for the kiddos, and both of their drinks were both gone in minutes. I noticed they have a book lending library, which is a novel idea (pun totally intended!) The place is quaint (aka small) so I can see how it might get busy, but when we went it was an all around relaxing place to relax with some coffee and good company. read more

I love Colin's Coffee! Not only because I get to see one of my favorite guitarists / singers (the owner, Colin) every time I visit. But mostly because he makes everyone feel welcome. It gets crowded but it is a great place to meet a friend or hold a coffee meeting! Go to Colin's Coffee if you want to support a small business & someone passionate about the Central Ohio community!! read more

The grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch was great. And Colin put on a great show at Comfest! read more

Very friendly place with great drinks. Environment wise, they make the best of their location in an odd little plaza. Inside is very welcoming and you can tell that the regulars are all really close with the staff. Drink wise, I really can only attest to the dirty chai latte because that's what I have gotten the last three times I went in. They are just too good to switch drinks. I tried a dirty chai at a coffee shop in walking distance from my house, but it was not nearly as good, so instead, I drive 10 minutes to Colin's. I did also try the cinnamon toast latte the first time I visited which was tasty as well. But like I said, I just can't bring myself to switch drinks. Really a great find-- I just recently moved to Columbus and am happy to have already come across it. I am a bit of a coffee shop snob and wherever I live I like to find one or two shops I really enjoy, and so far this is my one shop. If the 5 stars was not proof enough of my level of satisfaction, I created a yelp account just so I could leave a review for Colin's. To Colin's, keep up the good work! I hope to muster up the will power to try some other drinks in my future visits. read more

This was my first visit to Colin's Coffee and it will most likely be my last. I ordered a regular decaf coffee & a McRoy breakfast sandwich. The coffee was OK & since it was the first - it was on the house... The McRoy breakfast sandwich was extremely bland. The bagel was very dry. I felt like I overpaid for something that I could have made better at home. Anyway, what's done is done. Nice trying you, Colin's. read more

1. Excellent Coffee 2. Engaged Service 3. Great Seating Options 4. Ample Parking 5. Loyal Fanbase These are the 'must-haves' to achieve a 5-Star Rating, which Colin's Coffee deserves many times over. read more

You have to visit Colins Coffee!! To out of town visitors, the appeal may not be obvious, but to the locals, its beyond charming. Colin is the main draw...a friendly, "No Hit Wonder" rock and roll musician with a powerful sense of community and who is genuinely fond of all his customers. Colin is known to have accepted IOUs scribbled on napkins as payment. The Coffee is Great and so is the food. But here is what is important to know about Colins...it is the "Cheers" of coffee shops...the customers are friendly and engaging as is Colin and his little band of Baristias... Everybody will be glad to see you walk thru that door... What you will not find.....the pretentious snobbery, god-awful coffee and outrageous prices of Starbucks. read more

My iced salty caramel latte was yummy! Colin greeted me when I first walked in. Makes you feel welcome. Nice to know there are still nice people our there. :) read more

My wife and I stopped for some coffee and a bagel with cream cheese well before we went to daily Mass at nearby Saint Andrew Church. New to Columbus, Colin was very friendly and personable with us, offering tips on the local area. The bagel was very good, with plenty of cream cheese -- and as near to a NY style bagel as I can remember. Certainly better than the Panera bagel-product. Coffee was also very good with hot decaf available for my "half-caff." We're looking forward to going back. read more

"Friends don't let friends drink Starbuck's. Der Dutchman is here" sign greets you as you walk in through the side entrance of Colin's Coffee, a defiant local coffee shop. Having had so-so experiences when this place was still Brewster's Coffee, I ventured back per recommendations of several B&N regulars, and I'm glad I did. The listless employees had been replaced by Colin, a fellow with a wicked sense of humor who can be found showcasing his multitude of talents on different occasions. CC's coffees are full-bodied with the proper amount of coffee to water ratio. Aside from the typical espresso drinks and smoothies, breakfast and sandwiches menu can be found on the walls behind the register as well. Fancy drink prices parallel that of Starbuck's, but I found the drip coffee to be a wee bit cheaper. Despite the sparse decorations, CC offers an environment quite conducive to learning. Free WiFi would have secured my clientele had CC not closed by 2:30ish. Pay close attention to the arrows denoting direction of travel shown in each lane. As if Ohio drivers weren't horrendous enough, caffeine in their systems make them completely lose all sense of direction and steering capabilities. read more

I guess my first impression of Colin's Coffee was ultimately the deciding factor in my 2 star review. The barista was unfriendly from the get-go and never improved, and I'll spare the details because one might find them irrelevant. Now, onto the product: I ordered some sort of honey vanilla latte. It just didn't taste like I expected it to. It lacked flavor, and the espresso tasted stale and burnt. It was one of the most disappointing cups of specialty coffee I have ever had. The atmosphere was ok, minus the really dirty trash can sitting directly across from our table. I didn't order any food, so I can't touch base about that. The upside is, the owner is a very nice guy. I wish I had better things to say about the service and the coffee. read more

Up here to meet some people for a quick chat. The coffee was excellent, I tried the eggnog latte which was not trying to overflavor anything, great mild flavor. I also got a 1/2# of whole bean hylander grogg this morning. It was an excellent roast with great flavor through my auto-drip. My star off is for the location, you'd drive by it if you didn't know it was there. Also, the entrances and exits for the shopping plaza it's in are just as hard to find. Lastly, they only had hard-back chairs, it would be nice to have a small space of lounge furniture. read more

Went to grab a coffee and a snack not knowing that it was after they closed at 3. They were kind enough to still serve me. I like to support independent shops but I was disappointed. The coffee was watery and the cookie I had was on the stale side. Hopefully this was a one off. read more

A truly GREAT small business, and one of the few stand-alone neighborhood coffee shops left in town. My wife and I are a part of the early crowd, every morning between 6 and 8 AM, we stop in for a large Dark Roast, and occasionally spring for their AMAZING "McRoy Sandwich." Beyond quality coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches, they offer witty banter and a friendly atmosphere. Don't carry cash and hate using your credit card for such small purchases (business owners don't like it either!)? Buy a gift card and keep it stored in their rolodex for use each morning! A true gem in Columbus. read more

Nice local place that's not Starbuck's or Panera. Other comments about the regular's are on target - attention seems to be more focused there than providing consistent strong service to all. Still, it's my go-to place as I prefer the homey feel of the independent shop vs. the corporate feel of the others. Coffee is good, but admittedly I am not all that choosy on coffee. Breakfast sandwiches are excellent. read more

I stopped in to Colin's Coffee on one of my circular trips around the city. It is very laid back and emphasizes local ownership and support. I ordered a large coffee and it was great. Would stop again. read more

I was staying out in Hilliard while visiting the area and I can's stomach drinking Starbucks or Caribou. Fortunately, we found Colin's coffee, nice little coffee business in an otherwise bland and faceless suburban strip mall. Colin himself was on site to serve my drink and was, by far, one of the friendliest coffee owners I've met. The quality of his coffee is good. The one quirky thing about this place is that it doesn't have set hours. During the week, it closes as '2is' - on the day I visited, Colin was getting ready to close up about 12:30. So it's not exactly the type of place to go for an afternoon meeting or a place to study at night; but if you you want a good cup of morning coffee, you can get it here. read more

Not just really good coffee, but also nice sandwiches and other good grub, at reasonable prices.

As I was giving a bud a ride to work, I seen a sign out side of this place for free coffee. So I figured there's no better time to try this place out for a cup :) I didn't grab any food, just the coffee, and my only comment would be that the brew needed strengthened up a bit. Maybe I just like a good strong coffee, but this one seem to be a bit watered down for me. I will try them again of course, and hopefully I will be able to grab a bite while I am there :) read more

Popped in for a cup of coffee in the early afternoon on Saturday and was greeted warmly by the owner. I ordered a cup of brewed Columbian, which was served pronto and was great. My order was to-go, but the place has nice light and looked like it would be decent to hang out. I wish we had something like Colin's in the Polaris area. read more

Everyone that works there is very nice. Coffee is not too burnt tasting. I had an iced coffee. the taste was similar to McDonalds coffee. have plenty of reading materials. Closes early so not the best place to study at. Many groups there enjoying coffee and talking. Great location. read more

I am a big fan of Starbucks, but decided to stop in here one morning before work. I'm glad I did! It's a small business, conveniently on my way to work. The owner, Colin, was working the morning I stopped in and he was very helpful. I originally ordered a frozen coffee with non fat milk. Assuming I was looking for a healthier beverage, he suggested I try an iced mocha instead. He also offered to make the other if I wasn't satisfied. I appreciated his suggestion and my iced mocha was great. I also got a strawberry scone, which was absolutely delicious. Colin seemed very proud of his business and thanked me several times for stopping in. The rest of the menu looked good, so this won't be my last visit! read more

Fantastic and friendly service! I was welcomed the moment I walked in the door and wasn't pressured to hurry up and order something. I was actually encouraged to take my time and figure out what I wanted since it was my first time in. My grilled cheese sandwich was indeed World Famous delicious and my Coffee Deluxe was equally as good. I will definitely be bringing friends here in the future! read more

Nice and unique coffee place to try. Their breakfast sandwiches are good and will check out this place again!

I get my hair cut at Zia salon right across from Colin's, and I always schedule it when I know they're open. Best hazelnut coffee ever! Friendly staff, exceptional coffee! read more

Delicious coffee and warm atmosphere! Colin made my coffee and was absolutely fantastic and personable. Stopped in to do some work and I will definitely be back. I felt so welcomed and taken care of. read more

There are a couple of thing I would like to preface with first for my 2-star review: I always try to give local businesses a chance and I'm often more lenient with my expectations since these folks are not in the strictly run corporate franchise world. So here goes nothing... My first impression of the exterior of the coffee house is quaint. They have some outdoor seating (mind you it's still too cold to sit outside, but available for warmer months). The interior seems inviting and open. The large chalkboard menu displays a variety of specialty drinks and breakfast/lunch offerings. The barista greeted me and offered to take my order. Upon discovering that this was my first visit she offered to make me a custom beverage and made some recommendations. I ordered the "Deluxe" coffee that I've read so much about and was sorely disappointed. The coffee was burnt like it had been sitting on a warmer for several hours. I then asked about the once-weekly scones only offered on Wednesdays and was told a curt "No, we don't have any" by the barista. I was referred to a pathetic looking display case that held two muffins, two danishes, and cookies all wrapped in plastic wrap. I can't say that I'll be going back and couldn't make any recommendations about other items since they were unavailable. I've read other reviews about regulars being treated like gold and new-comers being left in an awkward stand off of learning the menu. Regulars may provide repeat business, but new customers bring business in by word of mouth. read more

It's a great place !!and no u r wrong I haven't sold it short if u don't believe me check it out yourselve then u can judge!!

Great coffee. Great library of rock books. Decent enough breakfast options.

walked in and out in a flash. hot chai latte was good and the barista was really nice and genuine. happy to have stopped and will stop in again! read more

Love this place. Colin recommended his Viennese blend of beans. Excellent flavor, not acid, not bitter like the Starbuck's I've been drinking. Great friendly personal service here. Good scones on Wednesday. Hollis Humphries read more

My girlfriend and I both agree that Colin's has the best coffee we've ever had. Great place, he's super personable and very nice.

Great little coffee shop in UA. My PSL was great, a variety of snacks and small meals, and the staff was friendly!

Absolutely the worst grilled cheese and tomato soup I have ever had. Soup was watery.Not as advertised. Sign stated Der Dutchman bread but i watched it being made from bread out of a schwebel's bag. Place was dirty. Person working the counter kept playing with her hair. Would not recommend. read more

I wanted to experience Colins coffee, as I heard so many good things about it. I tried the iced coffee, and it was disappointing. The taste if it was gross, and it was overpriced for amount you got. Also, any company that has to criticize another one, such as Colins saying "Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks", is a poor business. I will not return to Colins. Starbucks is so much better. read more