It has been a “ruff” pandemic year since Proud Hound Coffee moved its Loring S15 roaster into a 5,000-square-foot space just outside Cincinnati, though it’s ended with a wag-worthy treat: the grand opening of the Proud Hound roastery cafe.
The charismatic and colorful shop at the site of the Silverton roastery followed a dogged year of planning, popups and the buildout. The design itself was inspired not by canine fantasies, but by the cinematic vision of filmmaker Wes Anderson.
“We are all fans of Wes Anderson’s filmography and are inspired by his vibrant but refined atmosphere and mood,” Proud Hound Co-Owner Israel Jones told Daily Coffee News of the space decked out in murals by local artists and vintage dog-themed art pieces.
A punch-needle piece reading “Keep Chasing” by artist Jessica Ufkes of Thread Made Goods will be framed with potted plants, while a two-wall mural by Indianapolis-based Bootleg Sign Co. is likely to become a selfie-magnet.
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Guests welcome into the shop beginning Saturday, June 26, can choose from among 45 bar, banquette, table, community table or window seats.
Many of those have views of an island kitchen that will offer a southern fare/fusion themed breakfast and brunch menu under the leadership of Head Chef Kierstin Dudley. Some of the signature menu items will include: the Nashy Nati fried chicken biscuit; the Cincinnati Love Letter, featuring Cincinnati’s own culinary creation goetta sausage and cheese; and the Brekkie Bahn-Mi.
On the bar, a glass-plated, LED-illuminated and custom-colored Sanremo Cafe Racer revs up espresso service, while to the customer’s right sre two Marco SP9 brewers. A Mahlkönig EK-43 equipped with Titus single-dose sliders and SSP burrs breaks beans for both espresso and Marco batch brews.
To the left the show continues with views of the roasting and production workspace, where Jones said the goal is to provide unique, delicious, and an ever-expanding selection of coffee while keeping customers informed on the livelihood, stories, and compensation of the farmers behind every crop.
“We are learning how to build an exciting and exclusive subscription program sourcing extra unique and complex coffees,” said Jones. “At the beginning of 2021 we released our first transparency report — a project that will continue to grow.”
The Proud Hound Roastery Cafe opens Saturday, June 26, at 6717 Montgomery Rd in Cincinnati.
Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
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