Grabbing Coffee in Detroit? Here are 3 Places to Check Out

The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company stands stalwart at the corner of Woodward and W. Alexandrine in Detroit

*Post updated on Sept. 30, 2021

It’s no secret that Detroit gets a bad rap, but I don’t think it’s too farfetched to say most of those hating on the Motor City have probably never been there. Hearing about a place is a lot different than experiencing it for yourself, of course, so at this time I’m going to invite you to block out the haters and take a few notes from someone (yours truly) who lived in the city once upon a time.

Despite the negativity people love to share, I’ve always kind of romanticized Detroit. It’s Michigan’s largest city, home of leaders and innovators, Coney dogs and square-shaped pizza, quirky neighborhoods and down-to-earth dive bars. Sure, there are challenges to be faced, just like anywhere else, but we don’t always need to focus on what’s going wrong; sometimes it’s necessary to shine a light on the good stuff. And in this case, the good stuff we’re talking about is coffee — the black nectar of the gods — and the spots in Detroit that are serving it up right.

Without further ado, here are a few of my favorite coffee shops in Motown:

1. The Bottom Line Coffee House

*TBL is currently closed for renovations (check their Facebook or Insta for updates)

Tucked away in Detroit's Midtown near the campus of Wayne State University is The Bottom Line Coffee House, a below-street-level coffee shop that is the very definition of unassuming. Located at 4474 3rd Avenue on the ground floor of a four-story red brick building, the words "The Bottom Line" on the structure's street-level façade and a black, foldable sign on the sidewalk listing the shop's hours are the only indicators telling passersby, "Hey, there's a coffee shop down here." Just driving by, you'd easily miss it.

Down the three or four steps from the street and through the door you go, stepping inside a warm and cozy coffee shop environment. In one corner is a book and vinyl record collection waiting to be explored, while cool Detroit-themed merchandise such as T-shirts and mugs stand on shelves near the counter where you'll place your order. The limited space and seating add to the intimate feeling of The Bottom Line. It would be easy to spend hours here.

My coffee poses for a photo at The Bottom Line Coffee House in Midtown

2. Trinosophes

I swear I've written about this place before, but I cannot seem to remember why or what for. Ah well, even if a write-up exists elsewhere, it won't hurt to sing the praises of Trinosophes once more. Pronounced "tree-no-sofe," this cafe and performance space at 1464 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit's Eastern Market district is known locally for regular live music and other types of performances, as well as for occasional art exhibitions, its record store, and the available book collections.

"At first glance, it looks like the sort of new-Detroit cool spot that is pushing out the old, but (owner Joel) Peterson said it’s anything but," wrote Nancy Derringer in a 2014 article for Bridge Magazine. Peterson is quoted further in that article, saying, "We don’t want to identify as 'new Detroit.' We are old Detroit. (Trinosophes is) based on actual relationships, actually being part of the community. We’re not trying to think of how to bring in this or that demographic. We’re inclusive in everything we do."

Nearly a decade on from its initial opening in 2013, Trinosophes, in my opinion, is living up to the standards Peterson set. Plus, with their large space (the size of three storefronts along Gratiot, according to Urban Innovation Exchange), they've got a lot of room to show off that whole minimalistic style thing they do so well.

3. The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company

Finally, we head back to Midtown where The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company stands at the corner of Woodward Avenue and W. Alexandrine Street, close to the Majestic Theatre and Union Street Detroit. If you are an architectural fiend (that's a thing, right?) or interior design buff, I imagine you'd love this place, what with its exposed brick, reclaimed wood, and wildlife-inspired art. I would honestly be in love if the inside of my house looked similar to the way this coffee shop does.

Apart from its status as interior design eye candy, Great Lakes stays open until 11 p.m. on most nights and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, so if you've got an all-day type project, you can easily post up here. And if things start getting stressful, they have a pretty well-stocked bar, too.

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BONUS: Roasting Plant Coffee at 660 Woodward Avenue, for your Downtown Detroit coffee needs (and conveniently located adjacent to Campus Martius Park).

-LTH

And… P.S. for more Detroit goodness, check this out —> Summertime in the City: Ideas & Inspiration for Your Day Trip to Detroit