Coffee Shops in A2
It’s official: I’m a coffee lover.
Who would have thought?
I remember my first cup of tea like it was yesterday. I was at a friend’s house where we were working on a project for The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath for our AP Lit course. I have been hooked ever since. I’m currently drinking a toasted coconut and almond bark black tea, which has brought me a lot of joy this winter.
But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about coffee.
I’m not entirely new to it. I’ve enjoyed the occasional iced mocha during the summer or a fun seasonal drink. I even got a detailed and intimate look at how it is grown, harvested, and produced while traveling to Rwanda. But I’ve never taken the time to invest in local roasters, pay attention to coffee profiles, or menu design…that is until I moved to Ann Arbor.
It’s been a fun journey and I’m just getting started, but I can already feel that it will be a while before I ever visit a Starbucks again.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite roasters in the city:
Vertex Coffee
“At Vertex Coffee Roasters we strive to honor the entire coffee process and the people involved by serving high-quality coffee and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We care about sharing and committing to zero waste practices, ushering opportunities for creativity and the arts, providing space for public events, and bringing communities together alongside providing high-quality coffee.”
My favorite coffee to stock up on from Vertex is without a doubt, their Tanzania. It’s a light roast, with tasting notes of lime and dark chocolate. They have an amazing selection of macaroons as well.
My favorite drinks:
Maple Walnut Roobios
Jack O’ Latte
Maple Brûlée Latte
Ginger Bread Latte
Ann Arbor Coffee Roasting Co.
One of the newest spots to open in Ann Arbor, I haven’t been here as much as I’d like, but I can tell you they are quality. Their coconut creme latte is quite possibly the tastiest and coziest thing I’ve ever had in my life (paired with an Earl Grey and Lavender scone). I’ve heard their Whisky Latte and New Orleans Iced Coffee are also spectacular.
The ones I recommend are
Coconut Creme Latte
Africano
Comet Coffee
Comet has terrific coffees, from my safety pick (the mocha) to lattes with more flavorful syrups (such as dolce and gingerbread). But what I love most from this spot are their teas and their pastries. I’ve had the best apricot croissant in my life here, and they have perfect vegan peanut butter cookies.
My favorite teas (you can get hot or iced):
Blend 333: a delicious blend of chamomile, mint, and rosehips.
Forest Tea: coltsfoot, labrador tea, and wild herbs from the boreal forest.
Dragon Well: fair trade green tea
Hyperion Coffee
Hyperion is one of my favorites on the entire list. I buy so many of their whole bags. They have so many delicious pastries, (baked by Katie Robinson from Botanical Bakeshop) from homemade pastry tarts to rye tea cakes and cinnamon rolls. And if you aren’t in the mood for coffee, they have teas, hot caramel apple cider, and more.
To try:
Merry Berry Spritzer - an iced cranberry cocktail made with Michigan cranberries, orange, ginger & spice.
My favorites to get on drip:
Campamento Alto: A Guatemalan blend with tasting notes of pistachio biscotti, clementine, peach tart, and hot cocoa
Mount Elgon: This coffee is from a community lot from the Sironka Washing Station on the slope of Mt. Elgon (an extinct volcano on the border of Kenya and is thought to be the oldest volcano on the African continent). It has tasting notes of toasted coconut, shortbread cookie, applewood, and Butterfinger.
Lab Coffee
This place is so cute, and the coffees are so fragrant, with syrups ranging from rose to jasmine, to lavender. If you love experimenting with your coffee, you will enjoy this cute spot. And be prepared to be positively overwhelmed with all of the pastry options. They have the best matcha in the city.
Shinola (Underground)
I know what you’re thinking….Elina…Shinola….the luxury watch and leather goods store?
Yes, exactly that Shinola. Underground they have a cozy, quiet, and lesser-known coffee shop. The menu is basic, but not in a bad way. In fact, just like the products they sell, I would argue that it’s coffee that goes back to the basics. Highlighting everything that makes coffee such a foundation in our lives, by keeping it classic, simple, and to the point.
A macchiato for one, please!
York
York Food & Drink is owned and operated by Tommy York, a longtime resident of Ann Arbor. The shop specializes in food and drink produced by artisans- the people who make the wine are usually growing their own fruit. The people who make the cheese are typically making it from the milk of their own herds.
York specializes in the local and the circular. You will want more than just coffee from this spot (I’m thinking of their delicious cheese board or the brilliant comté & tomato bocata), but coffee is the best place to start (they have their own roast). I fell in love once I tried the largest-sized mocha known to mankind. It’s a treat!
all pictures by me!