BLOC Coffee Company — Restaurant in Cincinnati

One of the best in the city, along with Collective Espresso in Northside. Their espresso is above average, but could use more refinement. Their espresso bean variety switches relatively frequently, so I question how they are able to really dial things in to perfection with it changing so often. The espresso can be a bit inconsistent depending on the barista, and I suspect that it is not reaching it's full flavor potential. Better, I think, to stick to one or two solid performers, hunker down, really figure out the fine nuances, then knock it out of the park. Staff are incredibly kind and helpful while most seem to be skilled and attentive baristas who know their espresso stuff and enjoy their craft. A secret tip: there are a few general giveaways that signal a coffeeshop is a cut above the rest - high-quality milk (from Snowville Creamery in this case, the best in Ohio!), barista nerd and industry-specific magazines strewn about tables, and high quality sparkling mineral water for sale - this place has all three. Also, if a barista here at Bloc isn't happy with a pull, they will do it over again and take the time to do it right, which is always a VERY good indication that they know their stuff. You can wait an extra 2 minutes for perfection. This is a faith-based business, and the regulars who incessantly study and talk Bible babble can become rather obnoxious and distracting. That said, they do real and lasting work in the community, and we have never been made to feel uncomfortable. Our biggest gripe are their new hours - closing at 4pm is just ridiculous, and they should hire some non-religious staff to be open on Sundays. They are dog-friendly too, but please don't ruin this for everyone by bringing a crappy misbehaving dog into the place. On a hot day, try their bizarre espresso-orange juice-seltzer drink. It smells like rotting zombie grandma ass, but...

The staff at BLOC coffee are great: helpful, courteous, and low-key, perfect for this little west side coffee shop. The place has great music (at least when I've been there), the furniture is a beautiful DIY wood variety (although I enjoy bench seating and not a lot of cushion) and it's not too loud or busy. I also saw that they have a happy Hour from 5 to 7 of their alcoholic drink menu! The cortado is great, especially with their single-origin beans, and they have almond, soy, and oat for milk alternatives. I really recommend the espresso drinks if you like espresso, as the cortado I had was surprisingly smooth, not bitter (compared to other faster large chain coffee proprietors) but still very robust. The special skill of the baristas is obvious here. Highly recommend this place if you're a west-sider looking for great coffee close to home or anyone looking for a nice atmosphere with good drinks. Fall 2022 update: The seasonal drinks are great. Ordered a butterscotch latte today and its...

I was so looking forward to checking the new building out and it is so nice! It is a perfect shop for the Incline district. I ordered a double coffee with almond milk which was only $4 and added a vegan donut. After I paid, I realized that the donut was $5.25 and thought that it was priced too high. My friend was charged a higher price for her grilled cheese sandwich and was told that the price on the huge menu was wrong. So I guess the lesson is that we should've asked prior to purchasing what the prices were so as not to be surprised after. We left early because a group of teenagers took over the place and we couldn't hear ourselves...