Food Review: A coffee tour around Cleveland
The promise of a warm, comforting coffee causes many college students to flock to their favorite coffee shop near campus. To decide on the best one, I visited shops less than a mile from Lee and judged them based on atmosphere, customer service, proximity to campus and quality of their white chocolate mocha (my go-to drink). Below are my rankings from least favorite to best overall.
All photos by Ellie Beth Potter.
The Mill
As a typical hangout spot for Lee students to study, socialize or relax, The Mill provides a comforting and mellow environment for customers. The baristas were helpful and attentive. My drink was ready less than a minute after ordering. The Mill’s seating, however, is limited and difficult to deal with on busier days.
My white chocolate mocha had a strong sweetness and creaminess from the foam and chocolate but lacked the actual taste of coffee. While this may suit customers with a strong sweet tooth and not much interest in coffee, I was disappointed with the lack of bitterness to offset the sweetness of the white chocolate. Rating: 3.75/5
Bear Brew
As the name suggests, Bear Brew maintains a rustic feel with wooden tables, floors, a bar and an exposed stone wall with stuffed bears in the crevices. The baristas are friendly to everyone and bring drinks out within three minutes of ordering.
The coffee is strong and a stark contrast to the brew at The Mill. The white chocolate does not add much sweetness to the flavor, so Bear Brew is for those who want the bitter coffee flavor. Bear Brew is the closest walk from campus, but the many one-way streets can cause it to be a longer drive. Other than that, Bear Brew’s flexible seating and flavorful coffee make it a good hangout spot, especially for those in need of a quick pick-me-up. Rating: 4.25/5
Inman Coffee
Inman Coffee is well known among Lee students for their free concerts and affiliation with the Salvation Army. The coffee shop has a stage for additional seating during the day. It also has a bright, open atmosphere ideal for meetings or study groups. Customers are met with a friendly smile from a helpful barista, but the service is not exceptionally quick.
The drink itself was an excellent blend of strong and sweet. Being only a three-minute drive from campus, Inman’s open and natural environment is great for students to meet together and enjoy a good cup of coffee. Rating: 4.5/5
Ocoee Coffee
Ocoee Coffee, recently established out of an old house, is a cozy place to hang out with friends, study or meet for a club or Bible study. The baristas are friendly and make drinks quickly. Ocoee also offers many food options for brunch or an afternoon snack.
The coffee is just strong enough and balances the sweetness of the white chocolate well. With plenty of seating options ranging from the main house to the boat house, Ocoee is the perfect spot for students to meet up. Out of all the great coffee shops near Lee, Ocoee has to be my favorite. Rating: 4.75/5
