Exploring Yellow Springs from Dino's Coffee

Have you ever chosen Yellow Springs as your top place to study?

……

Yeah, me neither. But this week I decided it was worth a try—even if the attempt failed at least I would have something to write about. And hey, it worked! While exploring Yellow Springs I’ve decided that the town has lots of activities to offer, but, so far, a good study space is not one of them.

This week’s adventure featured a new character: Luke and I’s friend, Nolan. Other than being our frequent third wheel, Nolan is a mechanical genius, loyal friend, and passionate storyteller.

Our quest was not as academically productive as we might have hoped, but the snow, wind, and freezing temperatures made me happy to be inside.

Atmosphere

Overall, Dino’s Coffee meets the standards of a local coffee shop without having an overwhelming “Yellow Springs” vibe. It has a unique atmosphere and eclectic charm. Red paneling with orange and green accent walls is hidden by a combination of flags, Dino’s gear, and Cleveland sports apparel.

Dino’s is one small room that has the maximum number of little tables crammed into the space. Large, open windows let in a lot of light and help connect the shop to the outside, but they can’t make up for the lack of physical space. Also—sketchy restroom. But I guess that might not be your top priority, who knows?

I got some help with my musical analysis. Dino’s plays loud 70s and 80s rock and pop music (for example: R.E.M., Madness, and The Police). Nolan explained all the music to me because it used to be his go-to genre, and I know nothing about that musical category.

The music definitely fit the diverse, not-quite-hippie atmosphere. That is until it got rudely interrupted every 10-15 minutes. Huh? Exactly. The ads weren’t doing anything to add to the vibe of Dino’s Coffee.

As we sat there, with our homework precariously situated on our small table, I noticed locals greet each other as they came and went. Dino’s Coffee seems more like a casual spot for friends than an atmosphere for focused scholarship.

Drinks & Prices

On the drink side of things, Dino’s Coffee has plenty of good, non-coffee options! Ironic, right?

Their tea selection includes a wide variety of caffeinated and herbal teas—also, tea is the cheapest option, just throwing that out there. I especially like the Pomegranate Raspberry because it’s nice and sweet without adding anything to it.

During our visit to Dino’s I asked Luke and Nolan to give me their expertise (or just valid personal opinions) on their drinks.

Mocha review from Luke: The coffee was average, and it tasted good, but Dino’s isn’t anything special in terms of quality.

Nolan on the Chai Charger: It met expectations. They had fast service and knew how to make drinks. “I feel more awake now, which was my goal.”

My side note: I learned that Nolan’s drink is just chai with espresso, but I still don’t completely understand what chai is. Chai? Matcha? I know, I’m a bad, non-coffee drinking millennial. Maybe I’ll figure out the difference during my java journey.

Dino’s has higher prices but nothing absurd, and they have all your typical iced and hot options with standard coffee shop flavors.

All in all, Dino’s Coffee might not be my favorite study spot given the limited space and distracting atmosphere, but I haven’t given up on the hippie town as a whole.

What are your favorite local spots in Yellow Springs?