Had the cinnamon latte with oatmilk - it was smooth. Glad to find that it was not overly sweet -- well balanced with the taste of coffee, the creaminess of the oat, and the hints of cinnamon. The place was abuzz with students. There were some seating outside as well. The service was efficient.. read more

Slow Train Cafe - Slow Train Cafe: oat milk honey cinnamon latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oberlin, Ohio

I went on a Saturday morning and ordered a vanilla cold-brew. The line was long which isn't a big deal, however the clerk was pretty rude. No hellos, no thank yous, no indication our transaction was over. The wait was a little long for a cold brew but it was busy so again, no big deal. But they never called my name for the drink. I had to approach the counter and ask. When I got my drink, it was nearly white. The little coffee flavor in it was bitter and little else. And no vanilla. I virtually never get refunds on food, I used to be in food service for a long time. But this was a big disappointment and I didn't feel like I got what I paid for. I love Oberlin and had hoped I found a new "spot." This probably won't be it. read more

Woke up this morning and needed coffee. Daughter took me here. Cozy place with lots of seating. Coffee is great but service is a bit slow. Will come here again tomorrow morning. read more

TLDR; cozy ambiance with lots of interior seating but my latte was far too milky a super cute cafe near oberlin college. upon entering, the lighting and seating had a cozy ambiance and most customers are students grabbing coffee before class or sitting at the cafe to study. i read that slow train and the local were the most popular cafes in town, and opted for slow train due to better lighting. ordered at the kiosk and my drink came out in less than 10 minutes. // iced lavender latte, 16 oz ($5.50) // i got the iced lavender latte with the default whole milk. in hindsight i should have gotten skim milk or asked for lighter milk because my drink was very milky. the lavender flavor was fragant but a bit subtle. however, the espresso flavor was not strong and it mainly tasted like milk. a little disappointed given the high reviews, but the atmosphere and people were nice. a little dim though if you're trying to read or study with physical books. read more

See all

The best lattes I have ever had! Service is always attentive and swift. The outdoor seating is a nice bonus. read more

Wonderful community vibe, friendly and attentive waitstaff, delicious coffee and yummy treats. 10/10, no notes!

They say fresh but when they were making my food i saw them through the window taken a frozen dish and putting it the oven. Fresh frozen maybe but not freshly made and served. Same with the smoothies. Why freeze fruit when you can cut fresh fruit and just put ice in it. read more

A great place for coffee. It's also for a vegan pastry. Slow Train Cafe may imply a laid back atmosphere. For the most part this is the how it is. The service is prompt thankfully. By far the most important thing here is coffee. Good thing it's really good. The prices aren't that bad despite being in a hip college town. It's about $2 for a medium drip coffee. The pastries are good too. It has several vegan kinds. The last time they had a vegan jumbo power muffin. The pastries usually are about $2 to $3 depending on what kind you get, and they also have a few sandwiches. It cares much about the environment. It won't provide plastic stirrers. You can get a metal one that you can keep and bring it back with you. read more

Slow Train Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oberlin, Ohio

The coffee was good as was the service but it was a little pricey and compared to the other coffee place in town, the vibe was bland.

Only came in for a drink but had a positive experience. I'm very picky about my chai -- i would give theirs a 7/10. I liked the spice levels but it tasted a little burnt. My fiancé ordered french press and loved it. Staff was polite and everything seemed very clean. Lots of seating! read more

Slow Train Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oberlin, Ohio

UPDATE: GLOVES ARE NOT WORN DURING FOOD HANDLING My bagel sandwich was handled by some college students' raw, grubby mits. Talk about heath code violations!! read more

Very cute little spot for good cup of coffee! Fun atmosphere and the moment you enter you feel welcomed by the wonderful hypnotic smell of coffee! read more

I am not a fan of coffee, but I am a sucker for good hot chocolate or chai tea. My friends and I stopped here on our lunch break today. I got a hot chocolate and a cinnamon poptart. The poptart was amazing! I really wanted another one, it was that good. I have also had their chocolate chip cookies before which are the best. They aren't allowing guests to dine in currently, but it was nice to get a sweet treat to take back to work. read more

Slow Train Cafe - Pumpkin Coffee Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oberlin, Ohio

I would love coming in here just to hang out. Grab a drink and sit down to relax. Lots of students working on school work or people socializing. Just wish they had more live music nights. Maybe an open mic night. read more

I love the dirty chai lattes and the lavender vanilla scones! I highly recommend going for a meetup with a friend or a study sesh. The coffee is great and the atmosphere is very nice. The staff are kind and friendly. read more

Great coffee and pastries, but every single time I've been to Slow Train they have been so wildly understaffed, that the wait to even get a very simple order is 20+ minutes. Every. Single. Time. I just left the café now, in fact, and it took over 30 minutes for me to order and actually receive an iced latte. I feel so bad for the poor staff there -- there were only 2 of them working and there was a line practically out the door the entire time I was waiting. They were working as hard as they could, but there were just not enough staff there to keep up. The management REALLY needs to do something about this problem -- very hard on the staff and customers are constantly aggravated. read more

A great place to meet up with friends for a quick drink or a nice place to study. They have indoor and outdoor seating and have coffee and spirits and baked goods but not lunch or dinner items. I enjoy going here for a nice latte. read more

Very good drinks but hit or miss food as far as non-pastries are concerned. Bagels are sometimes slightly stale.

There were four people in line when the doors opened at 8 am, and after sampling the goods, I can appreciate why. I got a 12 oz latte with added house-made vanilla and lavender syrups, which was totally delicious, with just the right amount of flavor. I was pleasantly surprised by the food options as well -- my husband and I picked up bagels with spreads (provided by Cleveland Bagels, I believe), but it was tough to choose from the numerous savory and sweet options in the pastry case! The low of the meal was sadly the lavender scone. While the concept was appealing, the end result was something that, between the consistency and flavor, gave me the sensation of biting into a bar of fragrant soap. I feel like any of the other scone options would have been fine, though. The combined cost was $12.50 for all four items, which was reasonable. Wait time was fine as well, the employees were pleasant, the shop was cute, and post-COVID I could have totally seen myself spending a morning there. All in all, a win in my book! read more

Inexpensive, delicious coffee products. A warm, relaxed atmosphere. Helpful, attentive service. These are some of the few qualities of Slow Train that make it such a great place to spend an hour, an afternoon, or an entire semester. Ample seating and free wireless access make for a great study environment, or just a place to meet friends and chat. The live entertainment on weekends is superb. In short, there is no better place to be in Oberlin if you are looking for coffee, entertainment, or new people. read more

Slow Train Cafe - Medium Cafe Mocha, expertly poured. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oberlin, Ohio

See all

Cute place within perfect walking distance from The Hotel at Oberlin! I got an iced dirty chai and an everything bagel with cream cheese. It was fairly priced and decently quick! read more

Slow Train Cafe - Iced dirty chai and an everything bagel with cream cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oberlin, Ohio

Love the vegan options in drinks especially their chocolate syrup! I wish they had more vegan pastries, though, Coffee service is quick and helpful. They even serve alcohol, if you drink. Willing be returning! read more

See all

The environment and raspberry cheese danish were actually quite acceptable, but the three iced coffees my group had (americano, vanilla latte and regular coffee) were quite possibly the worst any of the three of us had ever had. I do not know what kind of bean was used nor how it was roasted. I asked about this, but the staff had no idea, either. The iced coffees were roughly the color of pale iced tea, to which a staff person poured at least 1/2 cup of 1/2&1/2 in each. I asked for, and received, an extra shot of espresso, which curiously came out of a plastic squeeze bottle.We took two sips each and handed the coffees back to the staff to pour down the sink rather than flooding the trash cans. The coffee that Slow Train is now using is simply not acceptable. read more

Service can be slow only because there always seems to be a line. Coffee and pastries are excellent.

I know I'm going to get blasted for this review....especially with so many reviewers loving this place....but...so be it. I'm not local, and relied on the reviews of this cafe to determine a location that would be central and inviting for an informal meeting. The location of this cafe is good - it's in the right place...and it probably has a strong appeal to the college crowd...but for me....not so much. Parking is "eh" - if you can find a spot on the street, you are in good shape - otherwise park in the parking structure across the street...it's not terrible - but there isn't a private designated lot. The actual cafe has a rustic beat-up feel to it...similar to an old Detroit bar. What was disturbing to me is that I found the entire place to be absolutely filthy...disgusting filthy. The bathroom was gross, and the decorations in there were CAKED with dust - probably haven't been touched or moved in over a year. The girl who took my order was so inappropriately dressed I think my jaw fell open. She looked extremely dirty and unkept, and her shirt was nasty and looked like it had been balled up under the bed and she just threw it on so she wasn't naked...oh, and it was crop top, and she did not have any business wearing a crop top. At all. It took forever to receive my croissant, which was microwaved I think twice....during my wait I watched coffee drinks being made...there was such a lack of presentation it made me cringe. Everything seemed to just be slopped around. In general, the place had a little too much grunge going on for my taste. If you are a student, looking for a place to knock out some work or have a study group, maybe this will be appeal to you...if you like that whole scene ....go for it....but for an informal business meeting...and my snooty standards....no thank you. read more

This coffee is alright but their service is awful. I've been a fairly regular customer since June- usually ordering an Albino Squirrel, White Mocha or an Americano. After a couple months I moved to only ordering their American because their flavored lattes are inconsistent. Sometimes they're really good but frequently they are too sweet/syrupy and other times you can't taste the flavor at all. I have had drinks remade in the past- and the staff is never particularly friendly about it. Friends of mine in town have had similar experiences. Last week I went in for an americano and the barista spilled my coffee on me- specifically on my hand- I understand it was a mistake but his response was "you might want to run some cold water on it". They had no burn cream, spray or anything in their first aid kit and never even offered to pay for my coffee. They did make me a new one while I was holding my hand under cold water in their bathroom. They also put some ice in a bag for me to hold on my hand as I drove to work where we have a proper first aid kit that enabled me to better treat my hand. At work, a coworker of mine told me they know someone who had a similar experience with having hot tea spilled on her chest. Shouldn't they be documenting injuries in their store and have an appropriate first aid kit to treat burns? Needless to say, this experience was not positive and I will not be returning after their terrible service and mediocre coffee. read more

My girlfriend and I went here with high expectations; we assumed the coffee would be good and the service even better (because we love Oberlin and plus, local places are usually the best.) Sadly, that was not the case. The baristas were very snooty with us, tried to talk us out of our drinks for something higher priced and were not helpful at all with trying to aid us in our first experience there. All three of the baristas had very snooty attitudes. They even ignored us three times when we were ready to order to take other peoples' orders! Not only that, for another customer, they gave her a drink for free and said "you could just tip us." What kind of person honestly does that? We finally got our (expensive) drinks, and they were awful. I ordered a vanilla latte, and there was ZERO trace of vanilla in that. As we were leaving, we placed our cups in the tray where the dishes went (which is what we were supposed to do) and one barista, as we were leaving, said in such an unprofessional manner, "hey how did you like your drinks guys?" It was more than obvious that they were mocking us and we feel as if they knew they made our drinks with no effort and consideration. We won't be back for a while. I sincerely hope your experience there is way better than ours. read more

This is a new and fun coffee and tea shop that also serves wine. The welcoming and pleasant interior is both adult and kid friendly. Very cool. This is a welcome addition and appears to be quite well received in this small college town. read more

Everything about Slow Train is quality. From their landlords, the non-profit Sustainable Community Associates to their great coffee (yes, good coffee. not the swill you've been forcing yourself to drink at Java Zone) to their great food to their FULL BAR. As an aside, it's so great to see this development up and running. I remember when this idea was first introduced as a community center to be owned by OSCA, the student-run housing co-operative, and it was voted down. Years later, this building is here! She's gorgeous and gives downtown a much-needed facelift. Slow Train is part of that. Classy, welcoming, comfortable, a place for earnest politics study group discussions, adults, and faux adults (me). read more

Being a townie, and indignant to change, it took me a long time to drag my feet through Slow Train's front door. When I finally did ... I REALIZED ... ... hey. This place isn't so bad after all! In fact, I kinda like it! I do! I DO like it! HEY MIKEY! HE LIKE'S IT! The atmosphere is cozy, the service is friendly, the coffee is good ... and hey! It's fairly reasonably priced as coffee shops go. So I am glad I got over my snootiness and enjoyed what (new) Oberlin has to offer. read more

If you're just looking for a good cup of coffee and/or a nice place to sit, this isn't it. Snarky and rude cashier/barista, with terrible customer service and/or any shred of caring if your coffee is good or bad. The young lady who helped us is someone you'll want to avoid. Day ruiner. read more

I was here during a visit to Oberlin this Spring and was pleasantly surprised by this place. It was the kind of place I think I would have loved when I was a student in the late 90s/early 2000s and was kind of jealous of the current students for having this. I loved that they had both coffee drinks and alcohol to choose from, and there was plenty of space to work and lounge. I'll definitely make it a destination next time I'm in Oberlin. I do miss Rax a little... read more

I crave the glorious Albino Squirrel. Where do I go? Slow Train. This place is always packed full of college students and has some pretty sweet live talent occasionally. There's no place like Oberlin, and the culture among the workers here is definately nothing less than amazing. read more

The go-to spot for a quick coffee run or hanging out with friends or doing homework. It's decent coffee but I gotta say it's way overpriced. Except the drip and the Arnold Palmer. The snacks are good, definitely recommend the cheesecake and the croissants if you're hungry! read more

I've been trying to decide for a while what I think of Slow Train. It's one of the few (perhaps only?) coffeeshop in downtown Oberlin. It's very trendy - lots of distressed wood, cool chalkboard in the back for artistic types, and a lot of open space for meeting up or work. I like people-watching here and getting a feel for who attends school here. I have to say that it very much reminds me of a Midwestern-y version of coffeeshops in the Mission in SF. So in that sense, I like it. The coffee and tea hasn't been super remarkable, but I like it. I mostly get tea and coffee (mostly Americano, and I drink it black) and it will do. The baristas are generally responsive (though not always warm, except for a few) and they are attentive. Some Americano spilled over my cup during preparations so she cleaned it up for me with a small towel. Very nice! Cool atmosphere and great place to park+work for the afternoon. read more

Love this place! My gf and I come here very often for Albino Squirrels. We have a Starbucks by us, but they close at 9. Slow train is open late most of the year. And the drinks are strong and tasty! read more

Definitely a different vibe than The Local but equally impressed. This place has a lighter, more open feel as it has huge windows compared to the cave-like sensibility of The Local. I think it's a matter of personal preference. Really great tea and the baked goods looked delicious and fresh! Greater selection than The Local. Baristas were attentive and seemed into their jobs. read more

I'm gonna have to say pass on this joint if you're looking for a really good coffee experience. The espresso was watery and bitter. The cappuccino was a sea of milk. Nice space however, simple and open. Staff was very friendly and pleasant. Not bad folks, just mediocre coffee. read more

I'm a big fan of Slow Train; it's a wonderful place to sit alone or with friends, drink coffee, work or play on the computer, read, etc. The coffee is good and the service is friendly. I wish the food were a little better. My husband, who's French, really liked his pain au chocolat but I was disappointed in my croissant, and other pastries I've tried have been no better. Ditto for the afternoon/evening food. A better bet is to get a muffin at Black River Cafe or a doughnut at Gibson's and have it with your coffee. Wine nights are fun, music nights are fun but of varying quality, and trivia nights are way fun but more so in the summer when the students are gone. Sorry, students - we love you but it's crazy crowded and noisy during the school year. read more

I LOVE this place! Best cup of coffee and baked goods anywhere around here ...