Collective Espresso — Restaurant in Cincinnati

2023: 4/5 stars. Collective has lost some of its magic over the years. It's still pretty good, but the costs have just gone up a lot. Pour overs that were once $3–4 are now $6–7, when they actually have them, for example. They are using North South for pastries now which is a big win. They have largely stopped doing lots of the fine touches that used to make them what they are, such as the single origin espresso option. I still visit, but a lot less than I used to. There are so many other options now compared to OTR in 2016... the newest spots, Redtree and Coffia are both worth checking out.

2016: 5/5 stars. It's the best coffee shop in OTR and in Cincinnati. The espresso drinks are nice, pour overs are great, and they do some weird stuff like espresso lemonade ("spronade"). The baristas are very friendly and the owners are down to earth and around most days. Very good...

Great street scene. No cars showed up out front for the 3 hours I was there. The cool outdoor seating made from pallets create a calm, inviting place to sit & enjoy the city. Baristas are fast at making drinks, knowledgeable about coffee, & friendly. Pour over coffee available in various beans & even brew method: hario or chemex! Clean aesthetic & calm atmosphere, music not too loud. Clean bathroom. Outlets available inside. Good WiFi Dog-friendly! coffee & brewing equipment available for purchase Great for to-go, but not many seats so get them while they’re open: only 8 or so coffee bar spots, two two-person tables & two more tables outside. No bike parking, but there are polls right...

I’m a bit sad about what I had ordered. I got an oat cortado with lavender over ice. I got a steamed cortado that was then poured over ice…it melted the ice instantly making it a murkey tasting profile and an undrinkable drink.

I had already left by the time I tasted it and I now feel like I wasted money on something I can’t even drink. The economy makes money so tight for a lot of customers so when we do spend, it’s very intentional. I understand mistakes or unknown things go on so i really do understand as someone who’s been on the other side of the bar. I just wanted to share my experience.

Otherwise, the shop is really cute and intimate and also has a lovely outdoor...