Tucked away off Main Street in OTR, is this little coffee shop. The sign out front, is plain and hard to make out. It's a sign, but to read it, you must be right next to it. Like they want you to want to stray off the street to see what it is. Inside, an old renovated house has been converted to this coffee shop. Patties, few, coffee much. Seating along a narrow bar on one side and two high top duces up from in the windows. A narrow street of no description and a coffee bar with the same. Clean lines, bare walls and natural lighting. The step up into the structure has a European feel of a small village shop. Espresso is perfect, coupled with a pastry if you like. Served on a diminutive tray. Come here to escape the street, come here to enjoy the coffee. Or both. read more

Decent little coffee place. A little expensive for my taste, and not a lot of seating. Has a vibe similar to many European cafes I have visited. The pastries are very good, and I appreciate that they sell the equipment they use to make their coffee. read more

Collective Espresso - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The employees get along and it was nice to be in that environment. Coffee was delicious and I had an easy time sitting st the coffee bar and working. Great natural light, too read more

It's easy to pass by this gem of a shop if you don't look closely for their sidewalk-level sandwich-board sign. But once you've found your way in the door, you know immediately that you're in for a superior cup of coffee by the spare decor and expert setup of fine tools and machinery that marks an excellent coffee shop. Collective Espresso also has a warm, welcoming attitude; you can tell that is a regular gathering place for neighborhood residents and that they are invested in the vitality of other local businesses. I enjoyed a splendid cappuccino and a later cup of drip coffee to fuel me on my day of Cincinnati sight-seeing. I'll look forward to returning whenever I am in town! read more

Honestly not impressed by this place. They only have street parking and I did not feel very safe walking from my car to the shop. When I got there, I ordered a latte and it was fine- the barista made a beautiful flower with the foam, which I really enjoyed. They don't have a loyalty program, but they do have two restrooms that were clean. They have free WiFi for customers, you just have to ask for the password. All of the seating was high top and there wasn't enough room on the tabletop to fit more than a laptop. I didn't get much work done because I felt cramped and I really dislike high seating, so it wasn't a great experience for me. read more

Great little coffee shop off Main Street. It has a la Marzocco so you know they don't mess around. Additionally they have single origin espresso shots which is what I ordered. Stepped up to the counter and ordered my double espresso with the single origin beans from Colombia. The barista and cashier were all the same girl. She prepared the tray and included the Pellegrino which is major when it comes to tasting espresso. The espresso had a lot of depth and was less acidic than a lot of other espressos that I get normally which was perfect for me. Nice place to study. Get a dessert. Look out the window. Enjoy the decor. Come and drink a coffee or espresso like a true connoisseur! read more

Collective Espresso - Single origin espresso from Colombia. Yesssss - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I have a high key obsession with inviting coffee shops. Coffee cafes fall into three categories for me: snooty hipster, inviting/comforting, and Starbucks. Luckily, Collective Espresso falls into the inviting/comforting category. I don't even remember what prompted me to come find this place. I know I had heard of it, and that it served a mean cup of joe, but I strictly remember walking around OTR with no particular reasoning. I didn't exactly stumble on it, as I was searching for them. Was I in the mood for coffee? Did a reliable source talk up the place so much that my intrigue got the best of me? Just as the time old question of how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know. I do admit, I was apprehensive about coming in. The shop has a very sterile feel to it; it's bare boned in a decorative fashion, and the menu is also reflective of that. You will not be able to buy an iced mocha macchiato, half whip, sub almond milk, shaken at the precise temperature of 35 degrees. Baristas around the world will forever be okay with that. Collective Espresso represents a coffee purist's view on how it should be drank; you can order one of their 6 well-known offerings or get out. Now, I'm sure you wouldn't be told that, because as I said, this a comforting place. They would probably very nicely and apologetically explain they only offer what's up on their board, all while explaining how and why they make each drink the way they do. I myself always enjoy a good mocha, so that's what I purchased and left to walk around more. The mocha was very, very good. They are obviously well rehearsed in the coffee making business and it shows. It was a smooth coffee flavor with the slightest hint of chocolate. It wasn't the best I've ever had; that will forever and always be Cafe Phenix in Columbus. But it most certainly in my top 3, and it's a drink I've enjoyed multiple times since my first adventure finding them. Collective Espresso is a no-frills coffee spot that takes pride in the quality of their product. It's not too difficult to find, and I highly recommend taking the detoured walk to grab a cup. read more

This coffee shop is a great little gem, kind of hidden on a little side street in OTR. My husband and I have a weekly tradition of trying out a new coffee shop- and this one did not disappoint! Per our usual, we both enjoyed almond milk lattes, and they were perfectly made. Creamy and delightful. The staff was very friendly and enjoyable. There is plenty of seating room if you are looking to stay and hang out for a little while. They also had a couple tasty treats at the counter (we didn't try them, but they sure looked great!) Just a little heads up, If you're looking for a sugary frappe or flavored coffee, this is not the place for you. They have simple syrup that you can add to your drink, but that's it! So don't go and expect to get a caramel vanilla macchiato:) Perfect little place to pop in for a coffee in OTR! read more

Just good coffee. Collective is tucked away in a sketchy little corner of downtown. We often have to trek through alleys that smell of urine after finding a parking space to get here. But believe me, the trek is worth the coffee. Sometimes it may be difficult to find a seat, but there is usually space at the double sided bar, at least to lean in and enjoy your espresso shot. I haven't tried the cold brew here yet, but their set up looks awesome. I'm sure we will return for more destination coffee trips. read more

Collective Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I've never truly enjoyed a matcha until I tried the iced blueberry matcha lemonade. The matcha was whisked with love and it was truly delicious read more

Came here the other day while in town on business. It's a super cute coffee shot off the beaten path. Had an Iced Latte and was delicious. Free wifi too! read more

Collective Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Fucking shit rules, double A-plus. On-the-real I'm an expat now but every time I'm in town I hit it like every morning even if it means marching my hungover ass all the way across OTR in baking ass July. Also, Dave & Dustin are doep and you should definitely line their pockets. If you see Ken Bruce tell him he owes me money. read more

INT. COLLECTIVE ESPRESSO - DAY LEVI, a nerdy-looking white man with a great haircut sits alone in a brilliantly-designed, minimalistic coffee shop. The layout allows for patrons to sit around the coffee bar in order to chat with the knowledgeable baristas, but LEVI is sitting at a high-top table in order to accommodate his laptop. The whirring of the computer fan is disrupting the peaceful and hushed ambiance. LEVI (approaching the bar) Hey, can I get another coffee of the day? This biz is brewed *perfectly.* The BARISTA, too confident and wise to use words, up-nods to LEVI and refills a weighty diner mug, emblazoned with the Collective Espresso brand. The cup fills with a delightful, full-bodied coffee that LEVI wishes he could pronounce. LEVI (trying to sound convincing) This is a really complex taste. I'm getting notes of... um... Reaching for words, LEVI gives up. He knows he can't fake it. He'll never be a barista. LEVI (Cont'd) ...I'll never be a barista. A woman walks in, with her dog trotting behind her. She grabs coffee brewing supplies and a bag of small-batch roasted whole bean coffee from the shelf. WOMAN Can I please get a hot tea, to go? BARISTA No problem. LEVI returns to his table, opens his laptop, and begins writing a Yelp review. The dog sniffs LEVI's feet. DOG (looking up at LEVI, speaking) I'm getting notes of 'trying too hard.' CUT TO: Credits. read more

So damn good! My favorite cappuccino in recent years anywhere. Thank you. Now can you please teach the rest of the Cincinnati coffee places how to make a cappuccino please?? read more

Here's what happened. I walk into Collective Espresso. I grab a bag of Kuma Ethiopia beans, walk up to the counter and tell the Intelligentsia shirted barista with curly hair hanging over his eyes that "I want this and a pour-over out of this." I pay and walk away, and the dude promptly Grinds my entire bag of beans without me seeing. I watch him make my pour-over and then I walk out happy, confused and disgusted. Why would this complete coffee freak grind another complete coffee freak's entire bag of quality coffee beans? The confusion aside, the Place was delightful. For some reason I really like the effect of how tall and narrow the room is. Cozy is not the right word but something like that. And the way the bar area is in the middle with the bathroom right behind it. And a passageway behind the bathroom so you could just walk around and around the baristas and their work space. And the coffee was delightful. The second best cup of coffee I'd had all day, and the second best cup of coffee I'd had all month. At the time they were using Deeper Roots out of Cincinnati, Quills out of Louisville and Kuma out of Seattle. I was impressed. This is sadly the first coffee shop I have been to in Cincinnati and not sadly it was as good as I could hope for. Except that they ground my beans. But then I realized what had happened. The barista thought I had said, "I want these beans in pour-over Grind." Oohh ok. So it was my fault. I just didn't specify clearly enough what I wanted. So they get five stars because it was my fault. I'll give that to the them because I believe they are good enough that they would not just grind someone's beans without being told. So here's my advice. Go to Collective Espresso. Get some coffee. Probably anything will be good. But be clear about what you want. read more

Popped in here with a couple girlfriends looking for a cute, local coffee shop in Cincy. The shop was cute and quaint and the atmosphere welcoming but the Mocha seriously lacked flavor and my Latte just tasted like milk only. The menu items covered the basics but minimal menu items. I don't plan to return read more

As someone who is actively learning more about coffee, I often feel uncomfortable going into serious coffee shops that are stereotypically frequented by coffee snobs and hipsters alike. Collective Espresso, however, is different. The baristas were extremely welcoming and friendly. I felt comfortable asking questions and thoroughly enjoyed my cappuccino. Definitely plan on going back! read more

Collective Espresso - Cappuccino 4/25 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Prompted by my boyfriend to write a review for this place, here I am to tell you that this is the best coffee in the city. It's overwhelmingly obvious when someone is passionate about what they do and the blokes that run Collective Espresso are passionate about coffee. They approach coffee the way an art gallery approaches objets d'art...carefully analyzing the notes of a specific brew before offering its beauty for public consumption. What's better: these guys are both curator and artist, crafting each cup for their customers. $2 morning coffee is going to set your day in a marvelous direction. You can feel good about supporting local biz rather than guzzling your typical gallon-o-pike place (although I am oft guilty of such offenses). If you have time to stay, there's a wonderful selection of coffees to sip and savor. Definitely, definitely worth the parking headache (if you're worried about such things). read more

Minimalist decor. Tiny, clean place. Soothing, twangy music to slowly wake me into the bustlings of Monday. Your typical mustachioed, knowledgeable baristas. I appreciated the wood cover for the iPad and the tiny counter. Expect a place where you can go to appreciate coffee, espresso, etc. Expect to enjoy your coffee, the ambiance, the company of your friends and baristas. Don't expect a place to spread out your paperwork, your dyi project or your binders from the 5 classes you're studying for. The counter space is enough just for your drinks and snacks. An aesthetically pleasing place but one that does not encourage long stays, which makes sense. Most importantly, the coffee is good. Not good because of catchy names or delicious whipped cream frap. It's good because they know their coffee and the key to making a perfect cup is to treat it like exact science. The espresso was strong, but not bitter or overwhelming. Just perfect! The polite barista kindly explained his method. They use a scale to measure the precise amount of coffee and water that'll go into the chemex. They know their stuff. My friends and I agreed that it's the best coffee we've had in Cincinnati and for that 5 stars. read more

Collective Espresso - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I couldn't be more thankful that Dustin and Dave opened Collective Espresso. No one has done a better job of feeding my caffeine addiction in this city than them. All three of their locations are phenomenal. To me, it is hands down the best coffee you can have in Cincinnati. I love this location so much because it's friendly, cozy, and inviting. The staff there is knowledgeable about all of their coffee that they serve and do a great job of conveying that to someone not up to there level of knowledge. I've always told them I want a pour over or ChemEx of their choosing and each time my mind is pretty much blown. They serve the cleanest flavorful coffee in town and it's by far the first coffee shop I recommend when someone asks where they should go for coffee! read more

Collective Espresso - ChemEx? Yes please! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Collective Espresso is a great coffee choice downtown. They have a variety of local coffees. It's not really convenient to me, but if I happen to be in the area it makes for a very nice treat. Collective Espresso features a variety of craft coffees which is a little different from most coffee shops, which will generally stick with one brand. I LOVE Quills coffee from Louisville, and this happens to be one of the features coffees. If you are in the area this could be an especially great location to try new coffees and to develop your palate- if you are interested in doing so. read more

Found this place on Yelp, and being new to Cincinnati and in love with good coffee, decided to try it. Espresso is awesome, full-bodied and very rich and foamy... They also have danishes, and the raspberry is to die for, again very fresh and tasty-sweet. Offers free wifi which is always a plus... They make everything to order, as I found out when I ordered a brew afterward - got a 1/2 and 1/2 caffeine, and it was very very good coffee. And the big plus.... As opposed to Sbux, the place smells absolutely delightful of beans and ground coffee.... The barista, I think part-owner? also was great to talk with, and shard some of the history of the OTR neighborhood. I absolutely love places like this and will definitely be back! read more

Collective Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Exceptional espresso. Really, exceptional. All coffee is prepared to order--featuring local, regional and national roasters. Love. Love. Love. (If you're a coffeegeek, extra fun with v60s, chemexes and the Strada) read more

There's something inviting about Collective Espresso in OTR. I visited in the middle of the morning twice for coffee. Their special poured coffee had an unbelievable complexity that I couldn't handle, and their normal drip coffee was great. The atmosphere was calming, the decoration was very chic, and the baristas were extremely helpful. The only downside of this place would be there's limited table space if you need room to work. read more

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I'm nowhere near a coffee expert or drinker, but when I needed a morning caffeine jolt, I thought, why not skip the usual chain places and finally check out Collective? Finding it was only due in part to my phone's GPS so I hope that they get plenty of traffic. I am sure the neighborhood gives them plenty of business. Anyways, I found their simple menu a breath of fresh air as I am frequently overwhelmed by the Starbucks' half-cafe-mocha chai berry blah blah blah options. The nice guy behind the counter took my naive coffee palate and suggested a mocha which I was sipping in a few minutes. The caffeine rush came in full effect and I was zipping around downtown like a maniac. Great place. read more

What to expect: Coffee. Good coffee. And options of which good coffee to choose from. Step out of your regular paper-cup-grind, take a break with a friend at the real coffee bar: collective espresso. Agreed with Broysen R. - this is worth a drive. What I purchased: A Chemex of the SanFran Ethiopia & a Cappuccino a la Quill espresso. Dave and Dustin (we are now best friends, hence first-name reference) are super kind, informative, and don't put off much of that "coffee-snob" vibe. No-frills: this is not a place for lunch. It is a place for coffee. read more

Espresso is fantastic, some of the best I've ever tasted. I liked my first one so much I got a second! Also, their espresso is priced well. The interior is cool, not much seating, but lots of nice looking wooden things that I think they made themselves. A+ Their hours are a little short, no evening espresso for you, Cincinnati! read more

I stopped by for opening day with some friends (one who had been to the private, pre-opening preview a few days earlier and had great things to say). The space is nice, small, but very simple and clean with about a dozen available seats and plenty of standing room. A good place to go and catch up over coffee. I tried the cortado: very smooth and delicious, just the right amount of milk. The presentation was lovely, perfectly swirled and served in a tumbler. I would definitely go back to try some of the other wonderful coffee's available. Yum! read more

Great place. 3 years and going strong. Good cold brew. Small space but nice. Coffee very good. Nice break from walking and a great vibe. Check it out. read more

Collective Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Stopped in here with a friend at an odd hour on the afternoon of a cold December day. Found Collective Espresso's espresso delicious, but also found the clientele very interesting and a delight to engage in a conversation. My friend and I talked about business incubation with a philosophy student, who was writing most of what we were saying and provided some valuable and occasionally amusing insight. The two guys who opened the place were working the bar, they were quite nice as well, chatting to each group of people, keeping up with the conversations pretty well. The atmosphere is easy, intelligent and calming. The chai is pretty much your standard chai, spicy, but not as spicy as Tazza Mia (a good thing). A little more creamier than most. I really enjoyed my time at Collective Espresso (can we call it CE from now on? "Ah yeah man, I'll meet you at the CE.") and will be back again. PS. You can pay with Square (for you technologically forwards)! read more

My first stop in any new town is, naturally, a local coffee shop. I must say that driving through this location was a little unexpected. Most of the stores around it are boarded up or super slow. There were many people sitting on the streets but not so many actually looking to go anywhere. But back to the coffee. I had a delicious cappuccino (though bummed that because I asked for it to-go that the barista didn't do the latte art). Place is super small and quiet, and I felt a bit awkward sitting down by the window to work on a couple things. This place has its cappuccino down, but I think if you're looking for a place to sit, talk, or work you should seek another. read more

If you want a great cup of coffee in a casual, non pretentious atmosphere, this is your place! They keep it simple. Just coffee and a few pastries. Limited seating. I prefer to sit at the bar so you can watch them make your coffee. They offer pour overs, chemex and espresso drinks. I do believe they have tea for non coffee drinkers. I love to bring a friend and split a chemex brew. (It's enough for 2 cups of coffee) And depending on what beans you pick, it usually costs around $6 or less for a chemex brew. Which ends up being $3 or less for a cup of coffee. Not bad! I like that they rotate the roaster that they highlight about every month. Keeps me coming back to see what kind of roast I can try next. The staff is very friendly and informative. They know their coffee, but aren't snobby about it. Very easy to chat with and they love your feedback. My only request is that they add another table by the other window. Sometimes their seating gets a little cramped. But it does usually clear out in a few minutes if you are willing to wait. read more

Coffee and espresso are the best in town. Hands down. If you're looking for smooth, not burnt bean coffee this is the spot in Cincinnati.

So excited to have spent a few minutes at this cafe. As a former native to Over the Rhine, it is great to see a new vibrant cityscape. As far as coffee goes, they pulled from pretty great espresso from Deeper Roots Coffee (local roaster to Cincy) as well as an espresso blend from Hex Coffee. Really impressed w/ the quaint environment and the very knowledgable staff. From one coffee professional to another, great job. read more

Collective KNOWS WHAT'S UP!!! Proper cortado, friendly staff and a delicious cold brew lemonade which I could solely exist on.

Never had an espresso taste like that long time ago.. A coffee master!! High recommended Small place Warm atmosphere and a very good taste of espresso read more

No joke - *the best* cappuccino I've had in Cincinnati. It's amazingly creamy and oh-so-flavorful. I've also had their pour overs and those are outstanding, too. The guys that work there are very friendly and extremely knowledgable. Go out of your way to try Collective Espresso; you'll understand why I think they're so great when you do. read more

This place served coffee where and when I wanted it, which was OTR at 7:30 am, but there's not a ton of space, so don't expect to meet friends and hang out around a table. Bar seating is a nice touch, and the coffee I ordered was delicious and expertly made. Just not as chill as I was hoping for. Plenty of excellent reviews so it obviously has some loyal customers. read more

Alright so - this is an awesome coffee place in OTR nicely hidden on a street. It's a simple layout and very open! My friend and I got there 15 minutes before they closed and the barista was the nicest guy ever. Their air had broke but the guy was so cool to chat with, it didn't matter! My friend and I got an iced americano and also their espresso lemonade. Recommend the americano - not the biggest fan of the espresso lemonade lol which the barista could tell so he offered to make me something new - but I didn't want him to because wanted to see if it would grow on me - it didn't BUT I would still go back! read more

Great little coffee spot. Latte is awesome. Not much seating, but WiFi is strong, and free.