Address: 590 Main St
Vermilion, OH 44089
Phone: (440) 967 4664
Credit Cards: yes
Outdoor seating: yes
Wifi: No
Today was the day of the Woolleybear Festival. For those of you that don't know, it's the biggest one day festival in Ohio. Sure, it's a festival for an insect that just happens to be furry and cute...it's still pretty fun. I ventured into Vermilion, my hometown, for the Woolleybear and of course, had to check out the only coffee shop in the town that I haven't been able to review. That being said, there are only 2 coffee shops in this little town, it's not exactly a hot bed of caffeinated activity.
Decidedly Different is situated right off the main drag in Vermilion. It's about a block away from the lake and it gets a lot of local traffic. There is a coffee shop (Huggy's) across the bridge as well but there doesn't seem to be any sort of competition going on. It's a small town after all.
Now before I write this, it doesn't need to be said that I am a coffee snob. I like to watch my espresso shots come out and make sure they are perfectly timed before I feel comfortable drinking them. If I can hear my milk steaming across the room I feel physically uncomfortable. I am not happy with just a latte. I want a perfect latte, and I want it quickly. Knowing this about myself, I had to try and check my little quirks before I went in. Vermilion is a small town with most residents that are happy with just having a cute coffee shop in town. I am not the typical coffee shop customer and I know that I will need to lower my standards a bit before judging.
First off, the place is really cute. There are a handful of tables and chairs that are the typical mismatchy type that a lot of coffee shops have these days. There is local bakery in the display case like fresh biscotti and delicious brownies with frosting. They had some drip coffee (1 regular, 1 decaf and of course a flavored coffee) as well as the standard espresso menu on the wall. I asked if they had soy milk, and they didn't, they had almond milk. I am not a big fan of almond milk, but due to my intolerance of lactose it was my only option. I also ordered an americano for Chad. The young girl working there was one of the owner's daughter. From what I have read this place is owned by 2 local couples. When I was there I saw 2 women working, and some high school age kids helping out. Everyone was very very nice and helpful. The young girl helping me didn't really have a clue about coffee and even when one of the customers asked how one of the coffees tasted, she couldn't offer any help. If you're not a coffee drinker, and haven't tasted your product I am sure it is a bit challenging. And while she was nice, I had to repeat my order a few times. The young cashier also seemed pretty distracted by her boyfriend that had come for a visit. I know I know, it's young love. But dang it mama wants her coffee and I want my taste buds to be happy so SNAP SNAP!
They had a small, rather sad looking espresso machine. I couldn't make out the brand but it wasn't anything to be impressed by. As I watched by shots come out as slow as molasses, I became more and more worried about my drink. I won't even TALK about the fact the shots came out into a dingy looking measuring cup. I won't even mention THAT. When my milk was being steamed by the biggest milk pitcher ever created, and I could hear the shrill scream of the steaming echo in my ear drums, worry became dread. When I finally got my latte, I had to ask for more flavor syrup to try and mask the bitter taste of the espresso. Chad was able to drink his latte with a shrug but even he admitted that it was "just ok".
I know that Decidedly Different is a small town coffee bar, and I know there is something to be said for a locally owned business that is doing well in this economy. Also, I can't overlook their customer service. When I find that is there is good customer service going on, I can overlook a lot. The women working there weren't coffee snobs, they weren't worried about the perfection of my shots or the overall drink quality. But, the cost was reasonable and they truly seemed to enjoy their job and their customers.
So, I am a bit torn with this. Sure my drink tasted like bitter ass and my milk was burnt to hell, but they did it all with a smile. So, the truth is that I won't be coming back to Decidedly Different. But you know what? For their customer base, they are probably a perfect business. Some people want flavored coffee and a cozy place to hang out...I just want something more.
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