EAST FAIRFIELD, Ohio – When an old cider mill building became available in 2022, Wynn Horst saw an opportunity.
Horst, who co-founded the neighboring Horst Sub & Deli with his father, Leon, at age 18, decided to purchase the property at 5368 state Route 7. What followed was three years of getting it ready for its next chapter as The Cider Mill Coffee & Cafe.
Horst said he has a photo from 1948 that shows workers in the building making cider from apples grown in many of the orchards that used to be in the surrounding area.
He kept remnants of the building’s past, including some of the original beams and parts of a pulley system where apples were unloaded and processed before the cider was sent downstairs to be picked up.
After the cider mill closed, the building housed Hawkins Plumbing and later an antique shop. Because of its rural location in East Fairfield, to be ready for food service the building needed an adequate water and wastewater system.
Horst admits it may have been easier and cheaper to tear the building down, but converting it into The Cider Mill Coffee & Cafe has been well worth the work.
He said he is happy with the solid building it has become, the results of three years of work to convert it into a cafe space. The old building is now bright, warm and relaxing, with high ceilings, barn beams and plants from his younger brother’s Horst Produce & Greenhouse scattered throughout. Both the plants and books throughout the cafe are for sale.
“We wanted to branch into something different and nice, something to give back to the community a little bit, a coffee shop,” Horst said. “I know I’ve always enjoyed coffee shops, just the vibe of that.”
Horst Sub & Deli, located at 5437 state Route 7, tends to be a bit more fast-paced, according to Horst.
“We wanted this to be more of a relaxing environment,” he said of the cafe. “I’ve always appreciated the community feel of those shops, just a place to hang out.”
And that is exactly what people have been doing since The Cider Mill Coffee & Cafe opened its doors for the first time Jan. 29.
“A lot of people hang out, and they might be here for an hour or two,” Horst said, adding Friday and Saturday mornings are quite busy.
As warmer temperatures arrive, patrons will have more room to spread out, with seating on a patio located behind the building.
Horst employs a team of seven to operate the cafe, including Latisha Musser, who serves as the manager.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback,” Musser said. “People enjoy coming here, and we have people who come here and stay a really long time.”
The menu includes some of the usual coffee drinks – drip coffee, cold brew, latte, cortado and espresso – which are made with organic beans obtained from a roaster in southern Ohio and roasted to order. Those same roasted espresso beans are available to take home in retail packs.
“Buy them, and we can grind them in-house for you. Or a lot of people anymore have fancy coffee machines or grinders at home too,” Horst said.
There is a case with a variety of pastries, and Horst has a local baker who provides cheesecake. Breakfast sandwiches are made from four types of bagels pressed and toasted in a panini maker.
“One of our big sellers is our yogurt parfait,” Musser said. “People really, really like them.”
The cafe recently introduced chai lattes, and Horst said they are working on a source for ceremonial grade matcha. The menu will continue to expand, with possible additions including lunch sandwiches.
The Cider Mill Coffee & Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Pictured at top: Wynn Horst, owner of The Cider Mill Coffee & Cafe.