5:2:8 Creative Coffee Collective — Restaurant in Ottawa

I really wanted to like this little coffee shop. Went out of our way to visit it as I saw online that they’re about featuring rotating micro roasters and emphasizing the coffee itself, and that they encourage minimizing waste through reusable cups. The space itself is cool too, nice vibe and good music though very dead on a weekend afternoon. Unfortunately, our experience was a bit disappointing. It was so dead, one of the guys in the back working @ Torta Boyz (?) had to nudge the barista to get her to see we were in and needed to be served. While we were ordering, I asked which coffee was featured as the espresso and the barista had no idea which seemed strange for a place that is supposed to be focused on the coffee. We ordered oatmeal cinnamon cookies and cortados. The cookies were fine but I’ve had far better cookies at nearly every other coffee shop nearby. For the cortados, we were expecting small cups with 1:1 espresso to milk. Instead, the coffee came in large mugs (16 oz maybe?) filled to the brim. I know there are variations on the cortado but general consensus is usually 1:1 espresso to milk and no variation I've ever heard of comes this diluted/massive. I’m okay with dark roasts but the drink somehow tasted watery as well as over extracted and bitter. It’s the first time I think I’ve ever left an independent coffee shop without drinking all of my coffee (my partner also didn’t finish his). Suffice to say, this was a huge letdown. Places in Ottawa like Arlington Five, Drip House, Art House Café, Red Door Provisions, Ministry of Coffee, Little Victories and Equator all are worth more of your time. I’m disappointed because I think the idea of the place is sound, the concept of rotating micro roasters is unique for Ottawa (kind of like a coffee version of Bar Lupulus) but, especially for a place that I thought was going to be really elevated and on point about their coffee, this just didn’t hit the marks when we visited. I may try again one more time in the next few months and revise my review if I have a better...

Really cool spot with a LOT of potential. The staff are always welcoming and the atmosphere is great. The events they have with local artists are also really intriguing for someone such as myself who was forcibly relocated from the west end of Toronto.

My only gripe and reason why I am not giving it 5 stars is the price. $4.00+ for a drip is absolutely bonkers and I frankly don't think I've seen it anywhere else (note again, I moved from downtown Toronto). Most "nicer" cafes I've been to, usually offer drip coffee for $2.50 - $3.25...maybe $3.50 at most. I would say $3.00-$4.25 for an Americano, or other espresso based drink seems standard. To make things worse, I'd say the drip I got was only ok, definitely not worth $4.00 pre tax. In my view, I think you need at least to give the customer the option of getting something reasonably priced. For example, in Toronto one of my favourite cafes offered drip for $2.50. You best believe I went there frequently because I didn't mind spending that much for a quick coffee semi-regularly. Every so often I'd get a pastry with it or splurge on an espresso based drink. This is a win-win for customer and business.

The same goes for the beans. My partner came back with a bag of 225g beans (apologies if the amount if incorrect) and she said it cost $23 with a discount. Assuming the discount was 15% that means the normal price is $27 for 225g. Again, do some basic googling and walking into roasteries in Toronto or Ottawa and you will easily find some of the highest quality coffee for more...

Very cool idea, Jay and staff were very friendly, and I liked the background of how this place came to be. My issue lies more with their customer service after my initial purchase.

Please note that they don't do to-go cups, only $15 "deposits" for returnable mugs. I put "deposits" in quotations because it seems like they actually view the deposit as credit towards a gift card or coffee when you return the mug. After insisting that I would prefer to have my money returned, they were unsure how to do so and asked that I come back later in the day so they could resolve it. When I did return after lunch there were new people working, they had not figured out how to process the return, nor did they have any idea who I was or a record of the issue from the morning for the next staff coming in. They still didn't know how to process a return either, and I was asked to come back later once again. This time I was asked to leave a name and phone number so that they could at least call me when it was figured out.

As I said, the staff are very kind and I do think the concept is interesting. I am, however, disappointed that I had to come back twice for a simple return and I feel that the situation was handled poorly by not only the staff but presumably one of the owners or founders that I initially spoke to in forcing me to keep...