It's a front for a church group, so beware if you don't want to support religion They're very secretive about it, probably because they know people won't go if they know what it's about. I think the church ha Sherwood Oaks
(2)
Sam T.
Meh. Good Americano. [Yelp wouldn't let me post this before I specified which language it was in]
(3)
David F.
My goodness just got scolded by Frank for not wanting to pay the up charge for minimum credit card use. Thought it was my choice to do so or not. It's against the business credit card agreement to charge for minimum use. You can report them at visa.com . Cost of doing business.
(1)
Jason H.
The coffee is solid and affordable. Profits are used to do good in the community. My wife had an italian soda and said it was very good. Staff is friendly and the location great. While some may be offended that the place is 'secretly' Christian, you'd be hard-pressed to notice anything. As a Christian myself I would have like to see more about the ministry itself. You have to really hunt around to even find out what church runs the joint (Sherwood Oaks).
(4)
Brian O.
Great coffeehouse. Love the environment, the people, the coffee, the gelato and 100% of their profits and tips go to helping others. They also have real food.
(5)
Bryan P.
ok coffee. fair trade is nice, but soma around the corner is a step above. or just pop over to bloomingfoods.
(3)
Regina W.
I don't come here frequently, but I have been here several times before. My main reason for coming today was to avoid the Soma location on Grant and still not go to Starbucks on Kirkwood--the Pourhouse seemed to be a happy medium between the two. Today I ordered a speciality drink that I hadn't seen on the menu before--it's called Cream & Crimson. It's an espresso based drink that is pretty much a white mocha with raspberry syrup. Not bad....just average. The lighting in the Pourhouse is also really dim...especially in the back area, so something just to be aware of if you want to get some work done here. It should also be mentioned that the Pourhouse is a nonprofit that is run by a Board of Directors. I was told that while it is not run directly by a church, many people on the board are members of the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church. Come check it out and see for yourself.
(3)
Dina D.
This is a great coffeehouse. The espresso reminds me of Italy, rich and delicious. Their espresso-based drinks are naturally great as well. To my taste, the flavor is a bit richer than Soma. They also have gelato and some small lunch items for those seeking something more than coffee. Seating is plentiful although frequently full. Overall, it's a great place to grab a cup and talk, read or study.
(5)
Allison E.
Pourhouse is a nice place to relax and study for a bit. They have a nicer vibe than Starbucks, and they have good desserts including a delicious mango gelato (among other gelatos). They do coffee, teas, smoothies, sandwiches and some breakfast foods. It makes an effort to be sustainable and has a very relaxed feel.
(5)
Lisa L.
Not impressed by their coffee. Turned off by signs to keep buying if you stay there long. I definitely understand trying to make income and their altruistic efforts, but their badgering signs are off putting.
(2)
Austin J.
Best coffee shop in Bloomington. It's my favorite place to study and feed my coffee addiction. Very casual, welcoming atmosphere with an almost corporate feel. Probably because it's the kind of atmosphere Starbucks tries to create, but it actually works here. Less kitschy and quaint than Soma, but also less pretentious. The coffee here is great and every specialty espresso drink I've had has been excellent. Not overtly sweet and creamy like Starbucks, but a good, well-crafted balance like it should be. Plus this is the first place outside of Europe that I've seen gelato affogato (gelato with an espresso shot pulled over it). Lots of seating, outlets and WiFi makes this an exceptional study spot. The gelato and baked goods are great as well. They also have sandwiches and soups here. I've had neither, so can't speak about them. Pourhouse is also a non-profit venture, so go ahead and feel smug about dropping $4 on a specialty espresso drink; it's feeding kids in Somalia instead of ending up in some corporate chain's pocket. Pourhouse can get busy, but for good reason. With so many great coffeehouses in Bloomington it makes me think that the only people who actually go to Starbucks are international students and parents from out of town. It's also slightly cheaper than most places as well. Check it out next time you're on Kirkwood.
(5)
MsAnthro P.
Feeling I have to step in here and say that this is growing to be my favorite coffee house in town. Keep in mind, I'm sure people on the street think I'm a "hipster" or whatever and might presume I'm one of those condescending atheist Soma-philes who automatically hates anything remotely Christian. Condescending? Yes. Atheist? Yes. Hipster? Maybe. Hateful? Nope. Truth be told I like Soma when I'm in a Soma mood, but let's face it, that place is dirty as hell. PourHouse is really clean, and I appreciate that. Pour House also has lots of CLEAN seating options (soft chairs/couches, stools, chairs at desk-like tables, etc), free Wi-Fi and plenty of available electric outlets. (I have literally stuck to Soma chairs in the past.) It's usually pretty quiet so it's a good place to read, study, get work done, etc., although the weekend decibel level is usually pretty high. Have I heard people have Christianity-related conversations there? Sure, but no more than I've heard at other business in Southern Indiana, Soma and the Spoon included. Don't want to read the religious pamphlets there? Read your Kindle or iPhone or grab a lame IDS instead. Bottom line is the quality and prices are comparable to those of any decent coffee shop, the service is friendly and they serve Gelato, for Christ's sake! (See what I did there?) So yeah, unlike most businesses owned by Christians (which is, let's face it, probably the bulk of businesses in town), these Christians are actually the nice, CHARITABLE type who have NEVER proselytized in my presence. If you have a problem with a portion of the cost and/or the tips going to help Romanian orphans or whatever, maybe YOU are the one with the problem. A non-profit full of volunteers selling coffee to help people? Sounds pretty alt to me.
(4)
Randy S.
Love it! Great management and a company that cares more about others first, then profits second. I love the rooms that are available to the community.
(5)
Mark W.
The coffee here is top notch and the service is great too. I love that they share their profits to help the community. If you aren't a coffee drinker, you can still find plenty of treats--try the ice cream or Italian sodas. The Pourhouse has lots of seating and a great environment to hang out or get work done. There is even seating in the back that is fairly excluded that would be great for studying or reading.
(4)
Yvonne M.
Pourhouse Cafe= "pouring goodness" Perfect location and atmosphere, great place for studying, using laptop or simply hanging out and coffee-ing. Love it.
(5)
Zack S.
The Pourhouse is competitively prices with Starbucks, but the money goes to a good cause and the coffee is way better. Easy decision in my book.
(5)
Vanessa V.
Preferred this immensely over Soma. Very nice employees, great coffee and gelato, and comfy seating with outlets and space to spread out. It has more of a corporate feeling, Which might be a downside to some but at least it's clean...
(4)
Chad B.
I am surprised this place doesn't have more reviews. It was renovated recently, so this interior is really nice. I sampled some ice cream (really good!) and then had a really good cup of coffee called something to do with Mayan. I like this place probably a little more than Soma because it is more of an open space and less hipster. The coffee is just as good.
(5)
J K.
May favorite study-and-caffeinate in Bloomington!
(5)
Dan S.
This place is amazing. There are several reasons this is my favorite place. 1: it's huge. There is plenty of space and a varitey of seating types for differing tastes. 2: it's a very community oriented joint. They work hard with charities all over bloomington. I feel good spending my money here and seeing do a little extra work around town. 3: they have great coffee and a good menu of foods and desserts including lunch specials. 4: the people are very welcoming. Usually I feel awkward as a new cutomer in coffehouse. I'm worried about making coffee house blunder with the clients and employees judging me. The pourhouse doesn't give off this vibe. This is my favorite coffee house in bloomington hands down.
(5)
Annee T.
A great place to hang out and get work done and do a little good, all at the same time. Free wifi, solid drinks, and delicious pumpkin pie (at least last fall).
(4)
Garbaggio S.
I hate when I walk into a place and suddenly realize that it is 'secretly christian'.
(1)
Colleen M.
This place is pretty awesome. Good coffees, good location, and they always seem to be doing something good for charity. Staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is great. I wish I had spent more time here in college, it was right down the street from my last apartment... great place to study or even just hang out with a group of girls and get caught up. Not too many places in bloomington are like that without alcohol, once discovered that made this place a nice change of pace.
(4)
Jamie J.
it is pretty on the inside, but 100% of their tips and proceeds go to charity? What about the people who work there? They dont deserve the tips they earn? Seems suspicious
(3)
Timothy Y.
Food fun and helping people! What else could you ask for?
(5)
Alex F.
The coffee is decent at the atmosphere is alright. It's usually pretty crowded, fairly noisy, and there's limited seating with access to electrical outlets. I really like the fact that all of their tips go to charity and that some employees (from what I understand) work on a volunteer basis. I think the coffee could be better and they could certainly use more electrical outlets! My other complaint is that they are closed on Sundays to host a Church group. While this is great for the community/limited number of people who attend this Church, the rest of us have to go elsewhere for coffee/working space.
(3)
Nan M.
I don't understand why a church operating a coffee shop is such a big deal, especially in this case. I'm pretty sure some of the money goes towards charity, and unlike most coffee shops, this one allows homeless people as long as they aren't disruptive. It's not like they give you a Jesus pamphlet or read you the Bible every time you order. On the outside, it really is like any other coffee shop except for the Christian pamphlets in a far corner, basically. I don't understand the problem. It is a nice, chill place to be.
(4)
Marina K.
They have the greatest GELATTO in the world, Seriously better than the one in Rome and Florence. Biscotti is my now favorite but I won't stop until I try them all
(5)
Lisa F.
I like this place pretty well and were I in that part of town more often would have far more coffee in there. Yes there are some fliers with christian bands on them laying around because the shop is run by a ministry who's proceeds go to good causes like an orphanage in Africa to the local Habitat for Humanities. A different charity every month. While there is a knowledge that this place has a ministry behind it I have walked in with a Pagan and an Atheist and both have felt very comfortable in there because they don't push it. It's more about the coffee and the Gelato visually. My one problem is the Gelato is not NEARLY enough of a portion to be worth the money. The coffee is certainly worth the trip. That said unlike SOMA and other coffee shops in town we don't get the dirty looks when we bring our toddler in there. If anything we get the baristas getting excited and chatting away at our little guy. That's how you keep patrons, make them feel welcome AFTER college.
(4)
Jenn L.
This is a cute cafe with spacious seating. A nice place to study or read a book while sipping coffee. Friendly staffs and a nice interior set up. I ordered the turtle mocha hoping for it to taste sweet like the turtle chocolate candy bar. For some reason, it didn't have a sweet taste to it. It had a roasted scent to it but it just tasted like a milky mocha drink. However, when I got to the bottom of the drink it was SUPER sweet. I didn't mix the drink thinking that the barista would do it. So, it made sense all the chocolate sweet goodness was on the bottom. It was overwhelmingly sweet that it just ruined the taste for me. Overall, I think this place is a solid 4. Cafe that serves coffee with spacious seating.
(4)
Michael Z.
Don't go here. Mediocre food, and the worst service I've ever experienced in a coffee house. The green tea was awful, the Mocha frappe, while more expensive than Starbucks, wasn't any better, and my friends' bagels took 20 minutes, and then didn't even come with the cream cheese on them; they came on the side! Even worse, my Pesto Chicken sandwich took 30 minutes to make, and then didn't have the cheese on it! There are way better places to go for coffee and quick bites. Unless you enjoy merely decent coffee, mediocre food, and really really really slow service.
(1)
Sharon P.
They have a really nice staff and nice food. Unfortunately it's across from the library and near where a lot of undesirables hang out. But I guess that's part of what their mission is, to minister to the undesirables. It's better to go during the daytime.
(4)
Iris T.
Sometimes, reading through Yelp reviews for a business isn't a good thing. I'm not a very religious person and though I respect them all, I'm not all that thrilled, either. However, I do like supporting charities (especially local ones even though I'm only visiting), so I brushed it aside and decided to try out this place. I came in a little past 8 AM on Tuesday to get some work done. I was the first one in (this seems to be a trend) but a couple arrived just a minute after me. I let them go first because I wanted to study what they offered first... and to take a look around to scout out that day's Work Station. Their menu was pretty decent and so were their food choices. However, I already ate some breakfast in my room so I was looking for something more light or of snacking quality. I decided upon the Banana Spinach Smoothie, mainly because I would normally make myself a breakfast smoothie at home and I couldn't do it here. I missed my daily smoothie. It tasted pretty good - not too sweet and perfect, but in a smaller cup than I'd like. I also got a brownie on the side, since I would be staying for a while so I sort of wanted to pay my "rent". Plus, chocolate is great anytime of the day! The brownie itself was good - dense and rich, but a little sweet. I would have loved milk to go with it, so I only ate 1/3 of it before saving the rest. The entire place was pretty large with tables and chairs scattered about. There is a decent amount of spots to camp out at but if every person camped out at one table, it's not really that much. It is a pretty nice place to study/work/catch up, though. Most of the people that morning appeared to be there to do work of some sort. There were some people that came in and brought a whole lot of noise with them, though. Not very welcome, but I was too engrossed in my work to be too bothered. I think the open area also lets sound (especially from healthy lungs) travel pretty well. It's primarily self-serve; like Starbucks, they call out your order when it's finished and you pick it up at the counter. When finished, you bring your empty plates/cups to the red bin in the back. It was clean. The drinks (at least the one I got) was good. I may try an espresso drink later on the week and maybe even something savory if I can. If I didn't know that a church owned it, I would have never known. I find that I really don't care all that much, either. I loved the tables and I do love it when they have tables facing the window so I can people watch. :) You bet that's where I set up camp! Although spots by the windows had enough light, if you find a table towards the interior, it's more dim, so if that bothers you, stick to the windows. Funny enough, I only spent about 2.5 hours there today, but during that time, I enjoyed it.
(4)
Allison F.
The Pourhouse Cafe is a coffee house I can stand behind. Here's why: -100% of their tips go to helping others (their charities vary month-to-month) -their quality coffee comes from Brown County Coffee Co., which you can purchase by the cup or buy a bag of whole beans for home -the space allows plenty of room for studying, catching up with friends, reading, or working on your laptop -several food items are vegetarian or vegan-friendly -they serve quiche ALL DAY If I were you, I'd forgo your usual coffee chain and do a little good while getting your caffeine fix.
(4)
Brady A.
Good drinks, but pretty slow. They really don't handle being busy well. If you have plenty of time, good place to get drinks.
(4)
Giselle C.
This is my go-to coffee spot in Bloomington. I go here all the time because the Americanos are always on point and because there's enough room to feel comfortable enough to study with some privacy without lingering eyes looming over you. Their food is also surprisingly good! And I say surprisingly because some coffee shops falter but you can't go wrong ordering a sandwich from this place because each of them will fill you up! Wi-fi is good. They have plenty of seating in the front and back. A variation of tables. A solid room temperature set so it's not too cold or too hot. No loud overbearing music though the social atmosphere might be more social more during certain hours. This place to me is just perfect... I am always here.
(5)
Christopher K.
I decided to go with an iced Tuxedo latte after consulting with the (very friendly) barista. It is rocking my world.
(5)
Lynn J.
This little coffee house is a regular snack place close to my work. So it sort of goes unnoticed like a comfortable chair for me. I was there recently for an after hours dessert booking. What a lovely time we had. Service was very pleasant and helpful as always. The cake was delicious and the local source gelatos are wonderful. What a treat this was. Wish we could have hung out longer but it was getting late! Yes, it was part of the progressive dinner mentioned on their Facebook page. I would put them in the dessert slot any time.
(4)
Bryn K.
I just love this place! It was a little noisy and boisterous so don't try to study hear unless you have a good headset. I was here during lunchtime though - so maybe not always as crowded. Coffee has such great flavor and baked items were so fresh! I will be returning when I am in Bloomington.
(5)
Robin K.
The place is big and they have games! Sadly some pieces were missing to a game I had chosen, but there were more options. I just like that the place is so big and has an air of human rights activists.
(4)
Jamie S.
Definitely my favorite cafe to go to in Bloomington. It's very clean and has a great environment for catching up with a friend or working on some homework. I can't comment much on the coffee because I mainly drink tea, but they have really good smoothies as well. And who doesn't like buying their drinks from a local place that gives back to those in need?
(5)
John Z.
Atmosphere is nice, coffee is ok. It's a good place to come and work on something or do some reading
(3)
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Address :314 E Kirkwood Ave
Bloomington, IN, 47408
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : No Good for Working : Yes
Jessika G.
It's a front for a church group, so beware if you don't want to support religion They're very secretive about it, probably because they know people won't go if they know what it's about. I think the church ha Sherwood Oaks
(2)Sam T.
Meh. Good Americano. [Yelp wouldn't let me post this before I specified which language it was in]
(3)David F.
My goodness just got scolded by Frank for not wanting to pay the up charge for minimum credit card use. Thought it was my choice to do so or not. It's against the business credit card agreement to charge for minimum use. You can report them at visa.com . Cost of doing business.
(1)Jason H.
The coffee is solid and affordable. Profits are used to do good in the community. My wife had an italian soda and said it was very good. Staff is friendly and the location great. While some may be offended that the place is 'secretly' Christian, you'd be hard-pressed to notice anything. As a Christian myself I would have like to see more about the ministry itself. You have to really hunt around to even find out what church runs the joint (Sherwood Oaks).
(4)Brian O.
Great coffeehouse. Love the environment, the people, the coffee, the gelato and 100% of their profits and tips go to helping others. They also have real food.
(5)Bryan P.
ok coffee. fair trade is nice, but soma around the corner is a step above. or just pop over to bloomingfoods.
(3)Regina W.
I don't come here frequently, but I have been here several times before. My main reason for coming today was to avoid the Soma location on Grant and still not go to Starbucks on Kirkwood--the Pourhouse seemed to be a happy medium between the two. Today I ordered a speciality drink that I hadn't seen on the menu before--it's called Cream & Crimson. It's an espresso based drink that is pretty much a white mocha with raspberry syrup. Not bad....just average. The lighting in the Pourhouse is also really dim...especially in the back area, so something just to be aware of if you want to get some work done here. It should also be mentioned that the Pourhouse is a nonprofit that is run by a Board of Directors. I was told that while it is not run directly by a church, many people on the board are members of the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church. Come check it out and see for yourself.
(3)Dina D.
This is a great coffeehouse. The espresso reminds me of Italy, rich and delicious. Their espresso-based drinks are naturally great as well. To my taste, the flavor is a bit richer than Soma. They also have gelato and some small lunch items for those seeking something more than coffee. Seating is plentiful although frequently full. Overall, it's a great place to grab a cup and talk, read or study.
(5)Allison E.
Pourhouse is a nice place to relax and study for a bit. They have a nicer vibe than Starbucks, and they have good desserts including a delicious mango gelato (among other gelatos). They do coffee, teas, smoothies, sandwiches and some breakfast foods. It makes an effort to be sustainable and has a very relaxed feel.
(5)Lisa L.
Not impressed by their coffee. Turned off by signs to keep buying if you stay there long. I definitely understand trying to make income and their altruistic efforts, but their badgering signs are off putting.
(2)Austin J.
Best coffee shop in Bloomington. It's my favorite place to study and feed my coffee addiction. Very casual, welcoming atmosphere with an almost corporate feel. Probably because it's the kind of atmosphere Starbucks tries to create, but it actually works here. Less kitschy and quaint than Soma, but also less pretentious. The coffee here is great and every specialty espresso drink I've had has been excellent. Not overtly sweet and creamy like Starbucks, but a good, well-crafted balance like it should be. Plus this is the first place outside of Europe that I've seen gelato affogato (gelato with an espresso shot pulled over it). Lots of seating, outlets and WiFi makes this an exceptional study spot. The gelato and baked goods are great as well. They also have sandwiches and soups here. I've had neither, so can't speak about them. Pourhouse is also a non-profit venture, so go ahead and feel smug about dropping $4 on a specialty espresso drink; it's feeding kids in Somalia instead of ending up in some corporate chain's pocket. Pourhouse can get busy, but for good reason. With so many great coffeehouses in Bloomington it makes me think that the only people who actually go to Starbucks are international students and parents from out of town. It's also slightly cheaper than most places as well. Check it out next time you're on Kirkwood.
(5)MsAnthro P.
Feeling I have to step in here and say that this is growing to be my favorite coffee house in town. Keep in mind, I'm sure people on the street think I'm a "hipster" or whatever and might presume I'm one of those condescending atheist Soma-philes who automatically hates anything remotely Christian. Condescending? Yes. Atheist? Yes. Hipster? Maybe. Hateful? Nope. Truth be told I like Soma when I'm in a Soma mood, but let's face it, that place is dirty as hell. PourHouse is really clean, and I appreciate that. Pour House also has lots of CLEAN seating options (soft chairs/couches, stools, chairs at desk-like tables, etc), free Wi-Fi and plenty of available electric outlets. (I have literally stuck to Soma chairs in the past.) It's usually pretty quiet so it's a good place to read, study, get work done, etc., although the weekend decibel level is usually pretty high. Have I heard people have Christianity-related conversations there? Sure, but no more than I've heard at other business in Southern Indiana, Soma and the Spoon included. Don't want to read the religious pamphlets there? Read your Kindle or iPhone or grab a lame IDS instead. Bottom line is the quality and prices are comparable to those of any decent coffee shop, the service is friendly and they serve Gelato, for Christ's sake! (See what I did there?) So yeah, unlike most businesses owned by Christians (which is, let's face it, probably the bulk of businesses in town), these Christians are actually the nice, CHARITABLE type who have NEVER proselytized in my presence. If you have a problem with a portion of the cost and/or the tips going to help Romanian orphans or whatever, maybe YOU are the one with the problem. A non-profit full of volunteers selling coffee to help people? Sounds pretty alt to me.
(4)Randy S.
Love it! Great management and a company that cares more about others first, then profits second. I love the rooms that are available to the community.
(5)Mark W.
The coffee here is top notch and the service is great too. I love that they share their profits to help the community. If you aren't a coffee drinker, you can still find plenty of treats--try the ice cream or Italian sodas. The Pourhouse has lots of seating and a great environment to hang out or get work done. There is even seating in the back that is fairly excluded that would be great for studying or reading.
(4)Yvonne M.
Pourhouse Cafe= "pouring goodness" Perfect location and atmosphere, great place for studying, using laptop or simply hanging out and coffee-ing. Love it.
(5)Zack S.
The Pourhouse is competitively prices with Starbucks, but the money goes to a good cause and the coffee is way better. Easy decision in my book.
(5)Vanessa V.
Preferred this immensely over Soma. Very nice employees, great coffee and gelato, and comfy seating with outlets and space to spread out. It has more of a corporate feeling, Which might be a downside to some but at least it's clean...
(4)Chad B.
I am surprised this place doesn't have more reviews. It was renovated recently, so this interior is really nice. I sampled some ice cream (really good!) and then had a really good cup of coffee called something to do with Mayan. I like this place probably a little more than Soma because it is more of an open space and less hipster. The coffee is just as good.
(5)J K.
May favorite study-and-caffeinate in Bloomington!
(5)Dan S.
This place is amazing. There are several reasons this is my favorite place. 1: it's huge. There is plenty of space and a varitey of seating types for differing tastes. 2: it's a very community oriented joint. They work hard with charities all over bloomington. I feel good spending my money here and seeing do a little extra work around town. 3: they have great coffee and a good menu of foods and desserts including lunch specials. 4: the people are very welcoming. Usually I feel awkward as a new cutomer in coffehouse. I'm worried about making coffee house blunder with the clients and employees judging me. The pourhouse doesn't give off this vibe. This is my favorite coffee house in bloomington hands down.
(5)Annee T.
A great place to hang out and get work done and do a little good, all at the same time. Free wifi, solid drinks, and delicious pumpkin pie (at least last fall).
(4)Garbaggio S.
I hate when I walk into a place and suddenly realize that it is 'secretly christian'.
(1)Colleen M.
This place is pretty awesome. Good coffees, good location, and they always seem to be doing something good for charity. Staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is great. I wish I had spent more time here in college, it was right down the street from my last apartment... great place to study or even just hang out with a group of girls and get caught up. Not too many places in bloomington are like that without alcohol, once discovered that made this place a nice change of pace.
(4)Jamie J.
it is pretty on the inside, but 100% of their tips and proceeds go to charity? What about the people who work there? They dont deserve the tips they earn? Seems suspicious
(3)Timothy Y.
Food fun and helping people! What else could you ask for?
(5)Alex F.
The coffee is decent at the atmosphere is alright. It's usually pretty crowded, fairly noisy, and there's limited seating with access to electrical outlets. I really like the fact that all of their tips go to charity and that some employees (from what I understand) work on a volunteer basis. I think the coffee could be better and they could certainly use more electrical outlets! My other complaint is that they are closed on Sundays to host a Church group. While this is great for the community/limited number of people who attend this Church, the rest of us have to go elsewhere for coffee/working space.
(3)Nan M.
I don't understand why a church operating a coffee shop is such a big deal, especially in this case. I'm pretty sure some of the money goes towards charity, and unlike most coffee shops, this one allows homeless people as long as they aren't disruptive. It's not like they give you a Jesus pamphlet or read you the Bible every time you order. On the outside, it really is like any other coffee shop except for the Christian pamphlets in a far corner, basically. I don't understand the problem. It is a nice, chill place to be.
(4)Marina K.
They have the greatest GELATTO in the world, Seriously better than the one in Rome and Florence. Biscotti is my now favorite but I won't stop until I try them all
(5)Lisa F.
I like this place pretty well and were I in that part of town more often would have far more coffee in there. Yes there are some fliers with christian bands on them laying around because the shop is run by a ministry who's proceeds go to good causes like an orphanage in Africa to the local Habitat for Humanities. A different charity every month. While there is a knowledge that this place has a ministry behind it I have walked in with a Pagan and an Atheist and both have felt very comfortable in there because they don't push it. It's more about the coffee and the Gelato visually. My one problem is the Gelato is not NEARLY enough of a portion to be worth the money. The coffee is certainly worth the trip. That said unlike SOMA and other coffee shops in town we don't get the dirty looks when we bring our toddler in there. If anything we get the baristas getting excited and chatting away at our little guy. That's how you keep patrons, make them feel welcome AFTER college.
(4)Jenn L.
This is a cute cafe with spacious seating. A nice place to study or read a book while sipping coffee. Friendly staffs and a nice interior set up. I ordered the turtle mocha hoping for it to taste sweet like the turtle chocolate candy bar. For some reason, it didn't have a sweet taste to it. It had a roasted scent to it but it just tasted like a milky mocha drink. However, when I got to the bottom of the drink it was SUPER sweet. I didn't mix the drink thinking that the barista would do it. So, it made sense all the chocolate sweet goodness was on the bottom. It was overwhelmingly sweet that it just ruined the taste for me. Overall, I think this place is a solid 4. Cafe that serves coffee with spacious seating.
(4)Michael Z.
Don't go here. Mediocre food, and the worst service I've ever experienced in a coffee house. The green tea was awful, the Mocha frappe, while more expensive than Starbucks, wasn't any better, and my friends' bagels took 20 minutes, and then didn't even come with the cream cheese on them; they came on the side! Even worse, my Pesto Chicken sandwich took 30 minutes to make, and then didn't have the cheese on it! There are way better places to go for coffee and quick bites. Unless you enjoy merely decent coffee, mediocre food, and really really really slow service.
(1)Sharon P.
They have a really nice staff and nice food. Unfortunately it's across from the library and near where a lot of undesirables hang out. But I guess that's part of what their mission is, to minister to the undesirables. It's better to go during the daytime.
(4)Iris T.
Sometimes, reading through Yelp reviews for a business isn't a good thing. I'm not a very religious person and though I respect them all, I'm not all that thrilled, either. However, I do like supporting charities (especially local ones even though I'm only visiting), so I brushed it aside and decided to try out this place. I came in a little past 8 AM on Tuesday to get some work done. I was the first one in (this seems to be a trend) but a couple arrived just a minute after me. I let them go first because I wanted to study what they offered first... and to take a look around to scout out that day's Work Station. Their menu was pretty decent and so were their food choices. However, I already ate some breakfast in my room so I was looking for something more light or of snacking quality. I decided upon the Banana Spinach Smoothie, mainly because I would normally make myself a breakfast smoothie at home and I couldn't do it here. I missed my daily smoothie. It tasted pretty good - not too sweet and perfect, but in a smaller cup than I'd like. I also got a brownie on the side, since I would be staying for a while so I sort of wanted to pay my "rent". Plus, chocolate is great anytime of the day! The brownie itself was good - dense and rich, but a little sweet. I would have loved milk to go with it, so I only ate 1/3 of it before saving the rest. The entire place was pretty large with tables and chairs scattered about. There is a decent amount of spots to camp out at but if every person camped out at one table, it's not really that much. It is a pretty nice place to study/work/catch up, though. Most of the people that morning appeared to be there to do work of some sort. There were some people that came in and brought a whole lot of noise with them, though. Not very welcome, but I was too engrossed in my work to be too bothered. I think the open area also lets sound (especially from healthy lungs) travel pretty well. It's primarily self-serve; like Starbucks, they call out your order when it's finished and you pick it up at the counter. When finished, you bring your empty plates/cups to the red bin in the back. It was clean. The drinks (at least the one I got) was good. I may try an espresso drink later on the week and maybe even something savory if I can. If I didn't know that a church owned it, I would have never known. I find that I really don't care all that much, either. I loved the tables and I do love it when they have tables facing the window so I can people watch. :) You bet that's where I set up camp! Although spots by the windows had enough light, if you find a table towards the interior, it's more dim, so if that bothers you, stick to the windows. Funny enough, I only spent about 2.5 hours there today, but during that time, I enjoyed it.
(4)Allison F.
The Pourhouse Cafe is a coffee house I can stand behind. Here's why: -100% of their tips go to helping others (their charities vary month-to-month) -their quality coffee comes from Brown County Coffee Co., which you can purchase by the cup or buy a bag of whole beans for home -the space allows plenty of room for studying, catching up with friends, reading, or working on your laptop -several food items are vegetarian or vegan-friendly -they serve quiche ALL DAY If I were you, I'd forgo your usual coffee chain and do a little good while getting your caffeine fix.
(4)Brady A.
Good drinks, but pretty slow. They really don't handle being busy well. If you have plenty of time, good place to get drinks.
(4)Giselle C.
This is my go-to coffee spot in Bloomington. I go here all the time because the Americanos are always on point and because there's enough room to feel comfortable enough to study with some privacy without lingering eyes looming over you. Their food is also surprisingly good! And I say surprisingly because some coffee shops falter but you can't go wrong ordering a sandwich from this place because each of them will fill you up! Wi-fi is good. They have plenty of seating in the front and back. A variation of tables. A solid room temperature set so it's not too cold or too hot. No loud overbearing music though the social atmosphere might be more social more during certain hours. This place to me is just perfect... I am always here.
(5)Christopher K.
I decided to go with an iced Tuxedo latte after consulting with the (very friendly) barista. It is rocking my world.
(5)Lynn J.
This little coffee house is a regular snack place close to my work. So it sort of goes unnoticed like a comfortable chair for me. I was there recently for an after hours dessert booking. What a lovely time we had. Service was very pleasant and helpful as always. The cake was delicious and the local source gelatos are wonderful. What a treat this was. Wish we could have hung out longer but it was getting late! Yes, it was part of the progressive dinner mentioned on their Facebook page. I would put them in the dessert slot any time.
(4)Bryn K.
I just love this place! It was a little noisy and boisterous so don't try to study hear unless you have a good headset. I was here during lunchtime though - so maybe not always as crowded. Coffee has such great flavor and baked items were so fresh! I will be returning when I am in Bloomington.
(5)Robin K.
The place is big and they have games! Sadly some pieces were missing to a game I had chosen, but there were more options. I just like that the place is so big and has an air of human rights activists.
(4)Jamie S.
Definitely my favorite cafe to go to in Bloomington. It's very clean and has a great environment for catching up with a friend or working on some homework. I can't comment much on the coffee because I mainly drink tea, but they have really good smoothies as well. And who doesn't like buying their drinks from a local place that gives back to those in need?
(5)John Z.
Atmosphere is nice, coffee is ok. It's a good place to come and work on something or do some reading
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