Angel Falls Coffee Co.

792 W. Market St., Highland Square
330-376-5282
Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Angel-Falls-Coffee-Company-100057490028026/ 

If you wander through Highland Square on a Saturday morning, you’ll probably end up at Angel Falls Coffee Co., the beating heart of this west side Akron neighborhood.

Weekend mornings are the cafe’s busiest times. Still, unlike other coffee shops that close in the early afternoon, you can find customers at Angel Falls well into the early evening on any given day, since it’s open until 9 p.m.

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Founded in 1996 by Jim King and his partner, Rafael Oletta, the coffee shop has been a second living room for Highland Square locals for nearly three decades. 

It originated as a Venezuelan coffee house inspired by Oletta’s home country.

Some customers have been coming since they were babies and now bring their own kids to sit on the same, well-worn armchairs.

The charm of the ‘90s coffee shop vibe, reminiscent of the fictional Central Perk from the television show “Friends,” sets Angel Falls apart from more modern coffee shops with their industrial design and stark white interiors.

“Nothing here has changed that much,” one barista said. “I think change scares people. We don’t change that much.”

A latte with chocolate drizzle at Angel Falls Coffee Co. in Highland Square.
A latte with chocolate drizzle at Angel Falls Coffee Co. in Highland Square. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Angel Falls has books, pastries, gifts for sale, plush seating and real mugs. Nobody’s in a rush here. 

You’ll see laptops open, chess games mid-play, and long, meandering conversations unfolding over the hum of the espresso machine or smoothie blender.

Focusing in on the coffee, the Wake Up Pumpkin latte is the current seasonal favorite. Unlike a chain version you might be thinking of, this one uses real pumpkin, not just a spice blend. 

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The shop also produces its own syrups for drinks, notably the lavender syrup, which is used to flavor curated lattes but can also be added to an iced green tea for a unique and special enhancement.

Angel Falls boasts an extensive collection of loose-leaf teas, kept in jars near the counter. You can browse, pick your blend and have it brewed fresh on the spot. 

Most of the pastries, from banana bread to giant cookies, are homemade by King.

Coffee beans for sale at Angel Falls Coffee Co. in Highland Square.
Coffee beans for sale at Angel Falls Coffee Co. in Highland Square. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

There are also sandwiches and yogurt parfaits for the grab-and-go crowd, though plenty of people opt to stay and linger.

It’s been a staple of Highland Square for nearly 30 years for good reason. For those looking for that quintessential cozy cafe to tuck into, Angel Falls is your place. For a more modern crowd that revels in latte art, oat milk and matcha — new on the menu — Angel Falls also has you covered. 

Max Adams helps a customer at Nervous Dog Coffee Bar.
Max Adams helps a customer at Nervous Dog Coffee Bar Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

2nd place:

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar

1530 W. Market St., Wallhaven 
330-864-2326
https://www.nervousdog.com/

3rd place:

Portal West Coffee

1690 Merriman Road, Merriman Valley
330-333-0690
https://portalwest.coffee

Brittany Nader has lived in the Akron area most of her life and is passionate about her city. She has covered Northeast Ohio’s music scene since the 2010s. She’s currently a producer for “Shuffle,” a public radio podcast which highlights the region’s music scene. The Kent State University graduate also works for a digital marketing agency.