Like any Ohio City watering hole, Phoenix Coffee Co. invites you to pull up to the bar for easy conversation and a snifter full of the frothy stuff on draft. "You can sit there just like you would with a bartender," says lead barista David Rinicella of the reclaimed wood brew bar. The hip shop — with exposed ductwork, white walls featuring works from local artists and Edison lights hung above a long pub-height table — channels its boozy neighbors by pouring kegged cold-brewed coffee and tea creations from pressurized taps. "[The gas] expands your blood vessels, so caffeine travels through your bloodstream quicker," he says. "It's like rocket fuel." Cafegoers can also appreciate the craft of artisan coffee through weekly Friday Night Flights with rotating brews such as an Ethiopian roast served as an espresso, cappuccino and pour-over to emphasize its diverse notes. Drink we love: The Nitro Toddy cold-brewed coffee ($3.50) has a foamy head with a stout consistency and a malty, roasted coffee flavor. 3000 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, 216-400-7901, phoenixcoffee.com
Some Like It Hot: Tap Dance
Phoenix Coffee Co. in Ohio City plays into the neighborhood's love for craft brews of all kinds.
