A Coffee Drinkers Guide To Grand Rapids, Michigan

grand rapids, michigan is famous for many things. Depending on your age, you may know it as the childhood home of President Gerald Ford, the birthplace of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, or possibly America’s Beer City. /p>

oh yes, the beer. Grand Rapids has made a name for itself in the beer world in recent years. The city is home to breweries like Founders, Atwater, New Holland, Hopcat, and many more (nearly 40 actually), making it a must-visit destination for beer lovers everywhere.

but beer isn’t the only drink grand rapids is known for these days: the coffee scene here, already formidable for years, is constantly growing: from neighborhood cafes to world-famous roasters, there is something for all tastes and preferences. . So the next time you’re in the Grand Rapids, whether it’s taking part in the beer trail or visiting Anthony Kiedis’ childhood home, here are a few coffee shops to help you caffeinate your trip.

Reading: Best coffee in grand rapids

crazy coffee company

Any coffee tour of the great rapids has to start out crazy. With three cafes and a roastery in town, and wholesale accounts stretching across the country, possibly the city’s first true specialty roastery, madcap has earned a reputation that stretches far beyond the United States. big rapids.

his flagship cafe on the corner of monroe center and ottawa ave in downtown grand rapids is the perfect summary of everything madcap stands for. the large open space, all painted white and exposed brick exudes a simple elegance, allowing the clean branding and immaculate service to shine.

Above a long, low-profile bar, a matte black three-gang La Marzocco Strada churns out espresso drinks, aided by mahlkönig peak and nuova simonelli mythos one grinders, while pour-over coffee is ground with an ek43 and is brewed by a pair of wilbur curtis seraphim brewers (all also in the same matte black). madcap’s impressive selection of retail coffee is on display, along with a small but solid food menu (ice cream sandwich, anyone?).

Due to its central location (and reputation), madcap’s downtown monroe cafe is always busy, but it’s worth braving the crowd to see what all the fuss is about.

lantern coffee bar & lounge

Just a few blocks south of madcap’s flagship is lantern coffee bar & living room. a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere permeates the lantern, from the local art on the walls to the basement sitting area.

oh yes, the basement. The upper part of the lantern is mainly occupied by the bar, where coffee roasters are served to the Bay City’s populace coffee roasters in a Strada la Marzocco or various manual preparation methods, and a couple of armchairs. Downstairs, however, is a quiet, cozy space with brick walls, wooden beams, rustic pillars, and plenty of comfortable seating. the ambiance is provided by tall, small windows (it is a basement, after all) and dim ambient lighting.

lantern feels like your favorite local coffee shop, and its hidden basement style adds to the speakeasy charm. Combine that with quality coffee, a wide selection of pastries, and a commitment to sustainability, and you’ve got yourself a worthy stop on any coffee tour.

ferris coffee & nut

On the great river to the west is Ferris Coffee & nut, the sprawling coffee shop and retail store of this 94-year-old grand rapids institution. Part cafe, part candy store, Ferris serves up a variety of creative drinks, many of which incorporate its rotating selection of house-made nut milks — a growing trend that Ferris, a nut roaster, has been able to take on the inside track.

The recently renovated cafe itself is large and bright, with a large communal table and low, modern armchairs facing floor-to-ceiling windows. the marble-topped bar houses a three-gang synesso cyncra, along with mahlkönig peak and k30 grinders, while polished concrete floors make everything glow warm, even on a gray midwestern day.

The drink menu is extensive, with cold brew and pour-over options accompanying the usual espresso suspects, all anchored by their variety of nut milks. They also serve sandwiches and a selection of pastries, and if you venture into their retail store, you can find a plethora of nuts, candy, and chocolate for sale, along with the requisite bags of coffee.

lyon street cafe

in the heritage hill neighborhood, lyon street cafe is located on the street from which it takes its name. Nestled between a homebrew supply store and bakery, with a wine shop and pizzeria in close proximity, Lyon Street feels like the very definition of a neighborhood cafe, which is what it happens to be.

Lyon Street’s long and relatively narrow white-painted brick walls make it feel larger than it is. booth seats line one wall (it’s always a good idea to sit in booths) while the bar runs along the other; in the middle there are high tables with two tops that provide a nice elevated view of the cafe.

the broken lyon street coffee line (they recently exhibited cat & cloud from santa cruz, ca). A brilliant La Marzocco GB5 is paired with a Mahlkönig K30 grinder, while a white EK43 and a row of Hario V60s take care of manual brews. if you’re not in the mood for coffee, draft beer and a selection of wines are also available.

Anchoring a row of neighborhood stores is no easy feat, but judging by the number of people who visit on a Saturday afternoon in October, Lyon Street is doing a pretty good job.

row coffee

rich street, where the last three cafes on our tour reside, runs from east to west almost the entire length of the city, and the portion containing rowster definitely fits the name rich: this is an ultra-modern district, with boutiques, breweries, and bars that stretch into the distance.

Rowster Coffee sits unassumingly on the corner of Richy and James, its premier location showcasing simple, clean design and a thoughtful approach to coffee. there’s a lot to like about the interior, with its subdued color palette and minimal seating. it gives the cafe a sense of space and serenity, a feeling that is only enhanced by the eclectic and relaxed music selection.

while rowster is, as the name suggests, a coffee roaster, they have moved their roasting operation off-site, allowing the coffee shop to focus on brewing and serving coffee (retail bags are, of course, available to take home).

The bar area occupies about half the space, with a low, wood-topped counter backed partly by chalkboard paint and partly by subway tile. a modbar under counter espresso machine and pour over system mean there is no barrier between the customer and the barista preparing their drink, adding to the feeling of openness and giving the cafe the feel of a modern cocktail bar or a fancy restaurant.

Like all good cafes on lively streets, the bar seats at the rowster’s huge front window are the ideal place to while away the afternoon, sipping a cold beer or kombucha and watching the denizens of the wealthy street . continue with their lives in fashion.

squibb coffee & wine bar

a few blocks from richly st. in the east hills neighborhood is squibb coffee & wine bar, cleverly blending day and night to offer caffeinated and alcoholic beverages (as well as cheese and various small plates).

squibb (named for the owners) has a light and airy vibe, with white tables and a towering white bar, above which squats a kees van der westen mirage espresso machine and a mahlkönig pico grinder. exposed ductwork and industrial-style light fixtures combine with a giant squid mural on one wall for a fun twist.

Coffee is provided by the local population, as well as rotating guest roasters from around the country, and there’s also a wide selection of teas courtesy of Rishi Tea. cheeses and sausages complete the menu, accompanied by toast and a selection of portions and snacks.

Coffee and wine bar combination is a smart idea in this part of the world, as during Michigan’s long winters patrons can come for morning coffee and enjoy the snow, safe in the knowledge that that wine and cheese are available for later.

brown sparrows & tea & newsstand

The last stop on our Grand Rapids Coffee Tour is just a block from Squibb, but it has a charm of its own. Small, cozy and friendly, Los Sparrows is a local landmark in the East Hills neighborhood.

Located in a former independent hardware store, Sparrows have been in business for over 10 years and recently started roasting their own coffee on the west side of town.

the rich street cafe. it’s warm and inviting, with high-backed armchairs at the front window and a row of two-top tables along the wall opposite the bar. A la Marzocco GB5 produces an extensive list of creative specialties and seasonal drinks in addition to the classics.

Where sparrows really stand out, though, is in the third part of the name. Along the wall opposite the bar is a shelf stocked with magazines and newspapers, from Atlantic to Fader to Detroit Free Press, though a sign asks patrons to buy them before reading them, leading to awkward conversation in the past.

The combination of cafe and kiosk of the sparrows is both reassuring and necessary, as the role of community spaces becomes increasingly important and access to print journalism shrinks. being able to read a local newspaper or political magazine alongside your morning latte is a rare gift and should be treasured.

fionn pooler is a journalist based in ann arbor, michigan, and the editor of the pourover. read more fionn pooler on sprudge.

main photo by rachel liu.