Impero Coffee Roasters

It took me some time to stop in, but that might have been my passive aggressive nature. For several months, I heard people rave about it and if there is one thing I really despise, it is doing what I am told. I stopped in for the very first time last weekend, after most of the hoopla had died down of course, and experienced what might be the most paradise like java experience I Have ever had.

This hipster chic coffee shop nestled in short north makes me feel at peace with my inner hipster. At first, I thought why is this place so slow? Do they even notice there’s a line? What’s going on? Then I got my coffee with my thoughtful leaf design and all was forgiven. I decided to come here one day to get out of the home office. I was nervous about posting up for several hours. Would this be cool with them? Is the wifi going to support my productivity? Yes, and yes. Great wifi and no one hassled me about consuming a table for myself, getting on conference calls, and clicking away. The bathrooms are also very clean.
The coffee is quite satisfying. I’ve only gotten the mocha, both iced and hot were great. The staff is very friendly; I think I’ve seen the same 3 people every time I’ve been there. Overall, it’s a relaxing little nook in the heart of bustling Short North. I’m glad they’re here.

This is my third time here and each time I have to go again and remind them that I order something and they forgot to bring it! What is their problem?

Awesome barista, very friendly, tasty Cubano!!!
Oh and the donuts!!!
A little small if you wanted to hang out for a bit, mostly a grab and go joint.

A few months back I did the Columbus Coffee Experience, and tried an Americano at each of 4 local coffeeshops in Columbus. Impero won out as my favorite Americano in Columbus.
Today I tried the cold brew coffee and was kind of thrown off by how strong it was. I am less of an expert on cold brew, so your mileage may vary.
5 stars for a great atmosphere and a great Americano!

A few friends and I are in Columbus for work. We were walking around the Short North and happened upon this fantastic coffee shop! We got a couple Cubanos with almond milk, a few hot chocolates with whipped cream and one very awesome triple latte. Mox was our barista and she knocked it out of the park! She was really friendly and definitely knows how to sling good coffee! If you find yourself taking a stroll down High Street, do yourself a favor and stop in for a great drink and good company!

Good. Friendly staff good lattes! Great wifi: password is roasters. Overall quiet relaxing environment.

I come here a lot and never have I had a bad cup of coffee. They never burn it (which is so rare– take note, coffee shops of Columbus!), I love that they use Snowville creamery, and the service is always on top of it. Best coffee roaster in town.

I am pretty much destined to love any coffee shop that’s worth a damn — be warned.
Impero is definitely worth a damn. Walk in and that aroma hits you, BAM — tractor beam.
They have a great rotating selection of coffees and speciality beverages. They even boast some tasty treats to nom while you sip your liquid magic.
I love the urban rustic feel and the people were nice, busy but nice.

Any time I’m in the short north in the morning I make a point to visit. I know it’s a small chain but it’s about as «hole in the wall» «hipster» as you can get. And I mean that in the best way possible. It’s usually full of locals the baristas know by name and order.
Not only do they have great coffee but they have a pretty decent food menu if you’re just looking for a quick sandwich.
The coffee is where this place shines though. I usually get a pour over and this time I tried it with Bali beans. I think they rotate beans frequently so you may not see these beans for long but it was easily the best quality tasting coffee I’ve ever had. I don’t know if it was the way the barista made it or the bean itself but it was incredibly smooth with a lot of flavor. He described it as «like dark chocolate if you take away all of the bitter tart notes» and it was pretty spot on.
If you want a frilly pseudo coffe that more closely resembles a milkshake with a hint of coffee, go to Starbucks. But as for me I’ll take the coffee that doesn’t need doctored up to be delicious.

Just had a shot of expresso and a heart warming cup of cappuccino. Tasting the bean of the coffee with just enough warmth to warm you up inside without scorching your tongue. Already feeling alive after just a few sips. Highly recommend for coffee goers and for people who wish to get that kick start to their day.

I am always looking for a good donut. Found some!!! «The Boss» and «Ozzy’s Bat Head» are awesome! The Boss is a cake donut that is light but you know it is cake. The outside of the donut has a lovely crunch with a soft, yummy inside. Ozzy’s Bat Head may look like an ordinary donut hole but the cayenne is inspired! Highly recommend. #foodie

Great coffee, and fair prices for the quality. I don’t know as much about Impero overall, as I’ve only had regular hot coffee here. I will say this — they support local art, have tables to hang out and work, and currently have DONUTS! Lyric Donuts, to be exact. My coffee was good; a Guatemalan blend, I believe.
Now, let’s talk about that donut! I had the Purple Glaze donut (get it? Purple GLAZE??) and it was pretty tasty. All of the donuts have a musical name, as the owner/​baker is the drummer for Bummers. BUMMER DRUMMER. Anyway, I really liked the citrusy lavender glaze on the top of the donut. It kept trying to crumble away from the donut though, so that made it a little more difficult to eat. The donut itself was actually a lot lighter than it looked.
Great place to grab a cup of coffee (and a donut) in the Short North!

I’ve stopped in here a several times now. In terms of straight up coffee quality, this is an essential destination on any Columbus coffee map.
But I should be up front here: Impero is for customers who value coffee quality above everything else. That’s what the owners pay the most attention to, and it shows. The space has a slight waiting room vibe. The furniture is mediocre, and the baristas are often spacey and/​or (endearingly) grumpy.
But the coffee. My god, the coffee is good. I’ve had their delicious espresso (light, balanced caramel and chocolate goodness), and a couple different single-​origin pour overs. If you are a casual chain coffee shop fan, the regular cup of joe here might just change your opinion of how good coffee can taste. And if you’re already an nth wave coffee fan, there are plenty of offerings to satisfy your picky palate (Ethiopian Yrgicheffe comes to mind).
Oh, there is a simple menu with light breakfast fare and decent sandwiches. The chicken herb pesto on sourdough is quite tasty.
I will be back to Impero the next time I’m craving a cup. Probably tomorrow.

This was stop 3 of 4 on coffee quest. (The t shirt is really cool and very soft!). The drink I chose was a Cortado, made with whole milk, a pinch of raw sugar, and a pinch of sea salt. It was presented with foam art. The barista here (Mike, I believe) truly stands out as a nice and cool guy who loves his job. They have four sizes of coffee, which the largest being represented by the infinity symbol – for $ 3.50 you can drink all you want as long as you are there. The seating area is smaller than the other three shops I visited, but ample enough. They spin vinyl on a commercial phonograph by Califone. (Good choice, it will stand up to the heavy use.). Nice vibe here set by the barista. Friendly clientele as well. The «Cheers» of Short North coffee.

Chose this place after not finding a seat at another coffee spot nearby. I ordered a caramel macchiato and the barista was quick to inform me that a traditional macchiato and the «Starbucks macchiato» are two different drinks (My fierce Starbucks loyalty has given me the faux confidence of a coffee connoisseur…) and suggested that I go with a caramel latte instead. I was thankful for the advice!
Nice coffee, espresso and tea menu. Small menu of sandwiches and wraps. Plenty of seating, nice place to work solo or meet with friends! Check it out!

«Yeah. We know you want something specific. But trust me, we are snobs here. And you are obviously not worthy of our coffee.»
Guess what? I am not impressed with their approach. I LIKE foam in my iced latte. Stop spinning your pretentious vinyl and try it out. You actually might like it– and make another $ 5.

And yet another close by latte stop in the 3 blocks I am walking. Another really cute digs with more food options than others near. I shall return.

Okay here’s the deal: If you’re looking for the most high-​end coffee in Columbus, or the hippest spot to Instagram, or the place your friends will be jealous that you «checked in» at, this isn’t it.
What Impero is, however, is the best spot in the Short North to grab a cup of excellent coffee or tea, eat a surprisingly good sandwich, and hang out or get some work done. This is where it really excels.
I’ve been in too many coffee shops that pump their music way too loud; Impero has a single record player playing a well-​curated selection of LP’s at a modest background volume.
Some shops are too pretentious for drip coffee, meaning a $ 4 pourover is the only option; Impero has really great pourover if you want it, but they also have delicious house-​roasted drip coffee for $ 2 (with 25-​cent refills).
And finally, gone are the days of fake smiles from baristas, or worse, bougie attitudes scoffing at your choices; Impero’s staff is chill, friendly, and patient.
If ‘Cheers’ was a coffee shop, this would be it.

I have visited here once and had a great experience. The interior was neat and clean. The barista was very friendly and worked fast. I was surprised they only had one person working on a Saturday but he did a great job. We did have to wait a few minutes though. I didn’t mind since we were not in a hurry. The menu selection was pretty good. There were some cool daily specials.
I am not much of a coffee drinker but we decided to stop by and get an iced mocha. It tasted great. I don’t really have any complaints.
I probably won’t be frequently visiting since I don’t drink coffee all that much. I would not mind coming back though.