Vessel Coffee Collaborative opening in Detroit Shoreway

After months of delays, an unexpected zoning change, and holiday chaos, Vessel Coffee Collaborative is finally opening in Detroit-Shoreway.

When coffee veterans Jacob Digman and Austin Fedor first stepped into the storefront at 5019 Detroit Avenue, it was “just a white box,” they said. The space had sat vacant for five years, contributing to a noticeable gap along the avenue between Ohio City and Detroit-Shoreway.

Now, less than a week from opening, the café feels anything but sterile: soft lighting, calming colors and finishes, and comfortable seating. If the operators could describe the space in one word: warm.

“We wanted a luxurious place where you can just sit and drink the best coffee you’ve ever had,” Digman said. “But you feel like you’re allowed to touch everything.”

“But not quite a maximalist feel either,” Fedor added. “It’s something in between.”

Guests are encouraged to grab a book from the library cabinet, settle into the “Living Room” seating area, and stay awhile.

Besides being a gathering place for the community, Vessel’s defining feature is a rotating roster of roasters from around the country, many of whom they discovered while traveling. Digman explains that the goal is to make those hard-to-find roasters easily accessible in Cleveland. To deepen the experience, tasting events are already in the works.

As for the shop’s maiden menu, Digman describes it as well rounded: “If you want to try something funky and crazy, you can, or something more traditional, we have that too.”

The menu’s specialty drinks include the Cassata Cake latte, which blends oat milk, strawberry, raspberry and vanilla into a creamy nod to Cleveland’s favorite dessert. Another option (and their favorite name so far), the Tahini Tickler pairs honey and sesame for a sweet-and-savory drink.

The opening comes as the growing Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood embraces a coffee boom, with Ready Set Coffee Roasters opening in 2021 and Atmos Coffee expected to debut sometime this spring.

Before the doors have even opened, Digman and Fedor are eager to expand their offerings. One roaster they’re excited about is Glitch, a specialty roaster out of Japan, a sign that this might only be the beginning for Vessel Coffee Collaborative.

Once open, Vessel will operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.