Ohio Roasting Company — Restaurant in Jackson Township

8/21 Update-- updating to 4 stars! We tried again and went thru the drive through. I got a brown sugar Maple latte (iced) and my son got a watermelon spritzer. My iced latte was STRONG and delicious, it was perfect! Had many a weak iced latte in my day but this one was perfect. My son was obsessed with his spritzer. I'm glad we tried again, everything was perfect - and quick!

OG review when first opened-- I've been here twice now and was disappointed each time. I roast my own coffee at home but often buy locally to support local and when I run out. The first visit, I purchased the Nicaragua. I use a Chemex at home to brew which will bring out flavors. Unfortunately none were brought out here, it was very murky. To be fair the Nicaragua I bought same day from Muggswigz was also just not good so I was willing to try ORC again seeing as how it might have just been the fact that I don't like Nicaraguan beans. First visit also my husband bought Gelato, I want to say pumpkin, and it was really not good. I would definitely recommend working on the Gelato, because I want to love it!

On my second trip I stood in line 10 minutes to buy three bags while the only cashier chatted it up with customer-friends at the counter. I kept looking over to the roasting room to see if the owner would notice but if he did he didn't realize the problem (there were others in line waiting too ahead and behind me). This place needs a second cashier stand/ register to speed up wait times. Especially when just buying beans, waiting is the last thing I want to do.

I bought three roasts on my second trip. Interstate 77 espresso, Mexican Chiapas, and I think Sumatra. The Sumatra was the only roast I could finish. Mexican labeled as Medium roast but the beans were still very dull, not shiny (not all beans get shine in medium roast so not end of world) and generally acidic. I truly think this should have been labeled a light roast, and as a side note it is terrible as a cold brew, please do not attempt. The interstate 77 was fine but nothing to write home about. I pulled some espresso with it but it wasn't strong enough so I just used it as drip. Also the cashier didn't offer to grind my beans, which I don't need, but it's definitely good custom to ask. There was a time before I had a grinder and if the barista forgot to ask if I needed my beans ground, I forgot to ask, and I showed up at home with whole beans and no way to grind them.

I'd have to agree with a previous reviewer that the roasting in house seems gimmicky. If a coffee shop is roasting in house, I expect the coffee beans to be better than those I can buy at the grocery store. Or at least on par so I can justify paying $18/ bag and supporting a local business. More roast profiles would be solid idea. Researching the best ways to roast different beans would also be helpful. Not all do well at a light-med stop.

Pros: This place IS SUPER NICE. They did a great job with the layout, and it's really cool to see the keg options and a ground control roaster. With some fine tuning on the service and roasting I can see it rivaling Starbucks. Staff is very kind also.

Cons: In house roasted coffee is mediocre, even less than mediocre when you consider the price. Really need to fine tune and offer more roast profiles than just medium.. did I mention they were all labeled medium roasts? Keep in mind consumers enjoy different profiles so while roasting to your own preference is fine, it's important to have other options. Long wait times call for 2nd register. Gelato needs some work too because affogatos are life.

Keep going OCR, you are in just the beginning! This post is only meant to offer an honest review by someone who has visited countless coffee shops, and has done a lot of research on coffee and roasting. Your concept is wonderful, this place will be an amazing local...

A Memorable Visit to ORC

A dear friend, WHO I HAVEN’T SEEN IN FOREVERRR, recommended I check this place out—and I’m so glad I did! The space was spotless, well-organized, and fully stocked, with employees buzzing around like busy bees, offering gracious and supremely helpful service.

I walked in unprepared, having forgotten my glasses, which made reading the menu a challenge. There were two people ahead of me in line, but the process was so efficient that it was my turn before I even noticed! I’d initially planned to get something fruity and fresh, but squinting and not wanting to hold up the line, I quickly made my choice:

Banana bread sounds good. Large.

Hot or iced? Iced. What are your milk options?

This is where I discovered what makes ORC unique:

Only oat milk. Oh! That’s fun!

Oat milk, for the uninitiated, is a creamy, plant-based, lactose-free option that’s rich in fiber, low in saturated fat, and environmentally sustainable. It’s perfect for heart health, digestion, and dietary needs, and I’ve never been mad at oat milk—especially as a former Starbucks manager who loved soy options but always appreciated oat’s versatility.

With my drink order placed, I explored the space further. To the left of the register, I found fresh ice water—a nostalgic delight as someone who grew up loving it as a “poor kid’s” beverage. I poured myself a couple of glasses and enjoyed a friendly chat with the barista in between orders.

Then, I spotted the Gelato. A self-proclaimed connoisseur from my university days frequenting a downtown gourmet chocolate shop, I wasn’t too shy to ask for samples. Of the six wells, only four were in use due to refrigeration issues, offering flavors of chocolate, mint, cheesecake, and cinnamon.

Gelato: Denser, creamier, and smoother than regular ice cream, thanks to less air, more milk than cream, and lower fat content, delivering intense flavor and a luxurious texture.

I opted to sample the mint—good quality, though fresh mint always hits differently. The cheesecake flavor, featuring crushed graham crackers and fruit compote, was a hit, with the barista enthusiastically sharing stories of NYC and authentic baked cheesecake. Intrigued by the cinnamon flavor, I started a conversation about texture, only to be handed another sample—smooth and grit-free, earning full marks.

My coffee was ready, so I grabbed it, added a little half-and-half for drinking temp, and poured some over ice for a later treat. With sleek yet festive holiday décor and the barista’s warm hospitality, this visit was a true "treat yo self" moment. Next time, I’m definitely...

Stopped in on opening day after noticing the beautifully remodeled building the past few months from the road. I'm a huge fan of coffee and especially shops that roast their own beans. This shop has that and then some!

The interior has a very modern and "upscale" look. Lots of comfortable chair and table configurations for just about anyone. Also has a reasonably sized outdoor area for seating as well.

The menu includes a variety of items. While of course they serve coffee products, i also noted the delicious looking sandwiches and pastries they had. I did not personally buy any but people definitely were and they looked promising. Probably the biggest eye catch for me was that they serve gelato. Not many (if any?) Good places to get Gelato and I'm excited to go back and try it.

I went for the nitro cold brew as my choice. I've tried nitro anywhere i can and the local places seem to do it best. Ohio Roasting is no exception. It was smooth and had a nice flavor to it and it also wasn't filled with ice like some places seem to do.

Overall i had a very nice experience here. The staff was friendly, service was fast and the location was very nicely finished. I look forward to future trips.

Edit: Something i didn't really notice the first time, the hours are pretty bad. They're only open until 2pm most days. Kinda figured i could make this a Saturday Afternoon stop but unfortunately that makes it difficult. Word of caution if you're...