Staff is so friendly and welcoming. There's tons of places to sit inside and they even have small tables to sit outside in the brick paved alley way. After school kids seem to hang out there a lot. They have deli sandwiches and wraps and their drinks are always delicious. They're even have a punch card so you can eventually get a free drink!! read more

Wonderful tea and AMAZING supporters of our community! We also enjoy being able to sit inside or outside. Great atmosphere !

Java is genuinely one of my favorite places to get coffee. A wonderful atmosphere in the cutest little Uptown area. Between the live music on certain nights and the local home/handmade goods they sell, AND the coffee, what more could a girl POSSIBLY want? The staff is always so welcoming and friendly, I always feel at home when I visit. Coffee and baked goods are delicious, and there's plenty of seating. People are there all the time to study or work or meet with a friends. Such a lively place and I always love visiting it. If you are in/around the Westerville area at any point, this place is a must! read more

Located in Uptown Westerville, this is the biggest coffee place on the main Street. They offer a lot of coffee options and many snacks. There is always a great assortment of regular and gluten free baked goods (The gf peanut butter cookie is one of my faves). Ample seating is available outside and within the rooms throughout the place. Tables, couches, and comfortable chairs offer the studying, conversation, or game board space desired. If you're into arts, live music and open mic take place throughout the month. Definitely a great place to visit and they always seem to be making improvements/ adding to the goods and merchandise sold. read more

Java Central Cafe and Roaster - Horchata Cold Brew- Delicious! Must try :) - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Westerville, Ohio

First time here and I wasn't disappointed. I purchased the lavender latte and chicken salad on a croissant. The combination was rather pleasing. The wait wasn't long, the decor is rustic, with multiple rooms to lounge and socialize. I'll be back here again! Listen up, Otterbein students receive 10% each purchase, that's definitely worth a quality cup of joe. read more

See all

Friendly service and great food and drink options. Dependable and great ambience. A great place to be in uptown.

Great coffee shop in the heart of uptown Westerville. Java Central roasts their own coffee and has a selection of iced/frozen coffees, warm coffee, teas, nitro brew, New Orleans Nitro (during warmer months), scones and other pastries. Prices are comparable to big name coffee chains, but the product here is way better. Baristas are friendly. Usually a packed house with open mic and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Definitely a must if you're in the area. read more

I have been cafe-hopping and this is the new place to beat. I had their mocha, and it was a heightened experience: ultra creamy, super fine pillow-like foam, beautiful latte art, and super kind and personable baristas. The outdoor seating is fresh and gorgeous, surrounded by trees. A must-try! read more

Love the vibe and the coffee and pastries are usually made excellently! I will say that the food especially is a bit overpriced compared to other cafes/restaurants! read more

Love the coffee and the live music. There seems to be something for everyone every night of the week. Quite trendy for the college crowds.

Best caramel latte I've ever had (caramel drizzle on the menu)! Super friendly staff and a great place to sit and work for a few hours.

Not a great vibe. Very small inside (super quiet -- too quiet to talk) and a few tables outside but the Main Street is very loud and a few feet away. Too quiet inside. Too loud outside. Lots of cigarette butts out by the front tables. Gross. Food selection very small. Good coffee selection. As many tattoos on the staff as the tattoo shop next door. Very hard to find parking nearby. read more

We stopped in here for a coffee one day. It's really nice here. Very friendly staff. Cozy atmosphere! I would definitely come in again if I was in the area!! read more

Small, quaint coffee shop in the heart of Uptown Westerville. Love this place to get light work done. I like the free spirit atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend if you don't like a work place with casual conversation or music playing in the background. Have met here for casual hangouts and for work days. Great for both :) read more

See all

When I moved to the northeastern end of Columbus, I set out to find a coffee shop similar to ones in the German Village, Short North, or Grandview area that I had been used to. I came across Java Central, so I gave it a try. The first time I was simply strolling around Westerville and decided to stop in for a coffee to go. The people were nice, and the place seemed cool, so I thought it would turn out to be the place where I'd go to read, sip coffee, do some work, etc. So I returned. It was a chilly, rainy day the second time I went. At around 9:30 AM on a Sunday, I wondered in with my bag of students' papers that I needed to grade and a little work for my own research. I had thought of staying for maybe a couple of hours. It was somewhat crowded, but I was able to grab a table in the back room before going up front to place my order. The ordering process was much slower than on my previous visit, and it took nearly 15 minutes from the time I got in line (2 people in front of me) until I had my coffee in hand. The woman making the coffee was obviously trying her hardest to keep up with the order, but a couple of other guys who work there kept coming to her with questions that took her attention away from the task at hand. I had ordered what looked like a donut hole, which I ate as I was waiting for the coffee. It was dry and bland. The back room where I sat was full. I won't say that it was full in a good way. In fact, I wound up staying for only about half an hour because of the people there. At the risk of sounding like a cantankerous old man, the people in that room were loud and obnoxious. I know that a cafe is a place for people to meet and talk, socialize, etc., but a bit of decorum is also expected. Two guys loudly talked about some party where they had drunk way too much, one mentioning in a voice for all to hear how much he had "vommed" the next day. And two other guys talked rather openly about the size of one of their friend's manpart. At another table was a guy beating the keyboard of his computer as if it were a 1920s typewriter, with loud rock music emanating from his phone and his fingers drumming the table when he wasn't typing; he was not wearing headphones, so everyone in the room could hear his music. And at another table was a gamer who also had no headphones, so that I had loud music coming at me from one side and gun blasts from this guy's game coming at me from the other side. At one point I got up and walked around the cafe to see if there were other tables in a different area free, but alas, nothing. So I left. Would I go back? The layout of the place and the decor make me want to go back. It seems like a cool place to hang out. Because of the loudness of the people that morning, I don't want to go back. I got the feeling that the level of noise is normal for the place, but I don't know. Maybe one day I'll go back, check out the noise and space availability before taking a table, and update my review. We'll see...who knows. read more

As an Otterbein student, coffee is extremely important to me. Java Central's coffee is amazing. I got a frozen buckeye coffee drink, and it was heavenly. My four stars is simply because I came for breakfast, and there weren't many options for it. I wish there could be more food, but the coffee is great! read more

I'm not the biggest coffee fan but I do crave it every once and a while, I like the more personal vibes of a restaurant and this fits perfectly with it's extremely clean and relaxing lounging area, however one experience had just ruined it all. I ordered a mocha with water and proceeded to sit down, after that I went to the front for an estimated amount of 45 seconds to look outside. I come back and all my drinks are gone, a full water bottle and half of a mocha. I was extremely enraged looking everywhere and seeing if anyone could of took it. Nobody seemed to be the culprit. So I went to the front and asked if I could have a refund or make me another one and they declined, no cameras or anything to prove that I was right. It was pretty good enraging I had to buy another water and skip out on half my coffee because the EMPLOYEES DO NOT CARE IF YOUR DRINKS GET STOLEN IN PLAIN SIGHT! DO NOT come here if you wanted to get majorly cheated out of your money Best thing about this place is that they have the best music playlist of anyplace I've been too thats about it read more

I like JC a lot. Good coffee, fair prices, always clean, well staffed with attentive and friendly baristas. In winter, it can tend to be a bit crowded at their peak times, to the point you may have to take your coffee to go. If you get the chance to sit though, it's an intimate setting to converse, with several additional rooms in the back and seating along the way. In summer their patio seating is wonderful. Always a treat to hit up JC and it's easily my preferred Westerville coffee location. read more

Friday open mic night at Java Central Café is a wonderful experience! It's free entertainment (however, donations are gratefully accepted). And, it's fun!! Ralph is awesome! He runs the place and makes things run smoothly. It's a cozy atmosphere where you can kick back and enjoy a latte, or whatever coffee-based beverage you like while listening to amateur musicians, poets, and comedians courageously perform before the public. I highly recommend this venue. Kevin D. read more

I've been here before, for coffee. Very nice ambience, friendly people...but the coffee was just so-so. That was before they started roasting their own beans...I had coffee there yesterday (I ordered the "Coffee Toffee") wow, what a big difference from the LAST time...it was excellent! I went there to see " Lil Red and the Rooster "....that was a first for me, but it won't be my last! Awesome blues duo; they packed the house, and played for three hours (with a short intermission.) I'll be going back for them, other live music events, and yes, great coffee. read more

No better coffee shop than Java! This place had me falling in love with coffee after one drink. I ordered the buckeye mocha and it was amazing. They have a large selection of delicious coffees, teas, smoothies and more and the staff is so friendly and helpful! The place is very inviting and perfect for studying! Always a great day when I can get Java :) read more

The owners and staff of Java really care about the people they serve. It is a beacon of light, warmth and creativity, offering delicious food and drinks to the community. Love this place!! read more

My absolute favorite coffee shop! The baristas are SO awesome, everyone is so friendly and the coffee is top notch! Open Mic night is cool and while they can get busy, its just a sign of how much this little shop is loved! read more

I like to try local coffee shops in different cities and Columbus seems to have a wealth of them. Java central seems like a nice and cozy local favorite. Has the usual flavors and types of coffee, plus some specialty flavors, available as hot, iced or frozen (frappe style?). I tried the Coffee Toffee (white chocolate and toffee-nut) in iced and loved it so much that have ordered the same thing on my subsequent (3) visits. Friendly staff, located in a pretty college downtown type area. Seating is limited but I always found space to sit. The inner rooms usually have some literary or musical events/hangouts going on which sound interesting. Prices are pretty average. Mine cost 3.85$ for small, 4.35$ for medium and 4.85$ for a large. Also have some snacks like muffins and quiches. read more

amazing yummy sweet adorable happy yay! sweet workers and kind environment that makes studying fun! read more

Java Central Cafe and Roaster - iced 20 oz honey latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Westerville, Ohio

I really like the atmosphere and ambiance of the back rooms but those fill up pretty quickly on a friday/saturday due to the live music (also a plus).There's lost of mismatched furniture throughout which makes it perfect for a cozy and relaxing time. I didn't really like the seating in front of the coffee house where you order the coffee - as it felt really impersonal and didn't seem to fit the rest of the cafe. I wish it was a bit more intimate, perhaps just updating the decor? The coffee itself wasn't that great but they did make really good foam. The tea latte was pretty good and they do offer non dairy milk options. read more

Uptown Westerville, with its proximity to Otterbein College, is in desperate need of a decent coffee house. Java Central tries its darnedest, but ultimately fails. Java Central's sign indicates that it does offer "coffee and gifts." Well, remember how in Crayola boxes, Yellow-Green was much more green than yellow and Green-Yellow was much more yellow than green? It's like that here: Java Central is more gifts than coffee. Silly me to be drawn in by the first word on the sign. The shop's hours are the biggest pain. It closes at 7 p.m. Seven?! C'mon. In a college town, this is ridiculous. Add to all that the fact that there is little seating inside, and you've got a sub-par coffee house. Kudos for the outdoor seating that never closes, though. read more

This is the best coffee place I have been been too . It is quaint , friendly staff and the drinks are amazing . I recommend trying the pumpkin chai latte. They even have local musicians play on a regular basis . Great place , great people , great location and great coffee and tea ! read more

Java just started roasting coffee beans on location. WOW, these beans are good! So excited that there's a respectable roaster uptown! I used to drive downtown just to buy beans from a local roaster. No more! If you've never had a cup of coffee made from fresh roasted beans, then I can guarantee you that you've never had a good cup of coffee before. Try their house roast! It's awesome! read more

A deceptively large local coffee shop that feels like the first floor of a grandparent's home, Java offers a long list of drinks, local art for sale, and apparently live entertainment. The atmosphere is very homey - comfy arm chairs, a library of books, and multiple rooms to choose from. The furniture and floors are a bit worn but still pretty clean. It is also very quiet with minimal background noise. However, the acoustics are such that sound carries. So, just a note - if you are having a very personal conversation about your struggle with mental illness... you might want to discuss it elsewhere. Even if the only other person there is around the corner and behind a wall, she still be able to hear every word you are saying no matter how quietly you speak. If you are that person, you might consider earplugs/headphones if you are easily distracted and want to study. As for drinks, I went with a standard cappuccino which was crafted into existence by a barista who knew what he was doing, even if he wasn't enthused. The foam was very well made and carefully poured, so props to that. The espresso blend, though, is just a bit too acidic for my tastes. Bright and bold is great, but I prefer rich and mellow. Maybe a little mocha would even things out? Note on parking - there is a ton of space behind the buildings, so no need to struggle with traffic to park on the streets. If you're in the area and love "local", Java's is worth a visit. If I am around again, I might give one of the other drinks a try. There are a list to choose from, and I'm willing to bet the hot choco is pretty good. read more

I can sum this place up in one word: cozy. Ok, Ok, I won't stop there. Some highlights from my visit: -Lots of little rooms and nooks with comfy furniture to sit in. -Friendly barista -Destination doughnuts! (I didn't order one, but I love that they carry them) -Great dark roast and espresso -I noticed they have live music and open mic nights; not while I was there, but how cool! -Local artists showcased all over the walls I love everything about this place pretty much. read more

We were really excited to try this coffee shop- we had read really good reviews and were excited about the area it was in. The parking is a little tough, but once you find a spot, it is free parking. We got in line to order, and as we were waiting we saw the cashier take money with the same hand he touched the food with. For sanitary reasons, we walked out and will not be returning. Very disappointed. read more

Great coffee and great people. Also great location and vibe. The staff takes the time to get to know their customers. Couldn't count how many times I've sat down outside or in the back and someone brought my order to me. Or how many times various folks have called me by name. Really one of the best coffee spots in Columbus. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in Westerville. While attending Otterbein this became my usual spot. I recently made a trip and was happy to see not much had changed. I love the atmosphere. Good music with plenty of tables and comfy couches. Art from local artists hangs on the walls. The cafe mocha is my favorite drink. The regular coffee options are also good. The food options are nothing exciting and my blueberry bagel was just okay. One change I noticed was more menu options. More specialty drinks are now offered like the Buckeye Latte. Bottom line: Great place to work and enjoy a cup of joe. read more

Java central is the best! Owners are totally committed to making this coffee house part of the Uptown Westerville community. Great coffee and tea variety, rolls, donuts, sandwiches, salads, etc. They are big time supporters of the arts in Westerville, featuring live music and a gallery that showcases local artists work. Currently redecorating should be done in a week or so. Outside seating available and take out. Java is the heart of Uptown! read more

iced coffee was way too strong... I almost wonder if they gave me concentrate by accident? I should have said something so that is my fault. The soda (peach ginger) and cookie was awesome. They have music in the back and wifi works on patio. Many groups were there studying or playing games. Such a good vibe. Staff is incredibly nice. Its like a Grandma's house inside. read more

This is one of my go to places in Uptown Westerville, so I figured I should write a review! I love this place so much I might as well move in. Coffee is delicious, snacks are awesome (bacon scones, anyone?), and friendly staff. I love coming here with friends, family, or just by myself. Give this place a chance and you won't be disappointed. read more

Because I do about 60% of my work online, I spend more time in coffee shops than any reasonable human ever should. Java Central has recently become my favorite work spot. I appreciate that Java Central has several small rooms with comfortable seating, which makes working a more pleasant experience. There is also a fair amount of outdoor seating for those rare days when the Ohio weather cooperates. The barista is always pleasant and efficient without being overbearing. I also enjoy that the shop has eclectic character rather than the dull, overdone ambiance of the big boys. The commitment to the community is nice too - it's great to see Java Central hosting local musicians and artists. The coffee? Excellent. Admittedly, I usually stick to the chai charger, but on those mornings when only a large cup of black coffee will do, it's a great cuppa joe. read more

This place has gone downhill man; their baked goods are bad (beignets were raw inside, muffins were just gross, etc.) and their coffee (my wife bought me a bag) was so under-roasted that it actually made me feel ill. But that's not all man; why are the people that work here so snide? It's to the point of rudeness and I'm done with this place. read more

This is one of those inconspicuous places. Very unassuming when you walk by, but open the door and it is outstanding! I told the barista i was a virgin at JC, she laughed, and gave me the run down on their coffee. While I waited, i nosed around and found a great place to hang out and to eat. There were some college students there, but that made the ambiance even better! Will be back! Stopped back in and tried another round. Like this place. Will be coming back for entertainment one night read more