Our favorite metro Detroit coffee shops

By Layla McMurtrie on Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 1:04 pm

Michelle Gerard

Trinosophes is one of our favorite local coffee spots.

For many of us, caffeine is a daily essential, but sometimes broadening your coffee or tea horizons can be hard. Plus, in the era of remote work, finding fresh spaces to be productive is important. Fortunately, the Detroit area has a plethora of awesome cafes, each with their own distinctive charm and unique offerings. We’ve curated a list of some of our favorite cool, cozy, and quirky coffee shops to stop at for more than just a beverage.

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Instagram, @harazcoffeehouse

Haraz

Multiple locations; harazcoffeehouse.com

This family-owned Yemeni-inspired coffee shop has locations in Detroit, Warren, Louisville, and beyond (with more coming), but it all started in Dearborn. Its beverages are perfectly flavored and the ambiance is equally as enjoyable.

Facebook / The Congregation

The Congregation

9321 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit; 313-307-5518; thecongregationdetroit.com

With ample space and various seating options, The Congregation is great for a date or a group meeting. The spot, whose building used to be a church, serves up alcohol and coffee along with some food options. There is also a beautiful outdoor patio with plenty of seating for when the weather is warmer.

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Princess Gabbara

Trinosophes

1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-778-9258; trinosophes.com/cafe

This cafe near Eastern Market is attached to Peoples Records, so you can sip while you shop for new music. If you’re sitting in, the cups used to serve up beverages are handmade and beautiful. Plus, Trinosophes has its own mini library, a publication, and a room to the side for live music and other events, adding to the community feel.

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Randiah Camille Green

Cafe Sous Terre

445 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-228-2880; cafesousterre.com

Just opening in July 2023, Cafe Sous Terre is a hidden gem barely seen by cars driving by, located down a stairwell in the basement of a 19th-century mansion in Midtown. The European-style spot operates as a coffee shop during the day, offering espresso, lattes, and tea, with great space for remote workers and students. At night, it shifts into a bar serving French wine, cocktails, and mocktails with housemade syrup. Read more here.

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Instagram, @thecommonsdetroit

The Commons

7900 Mack Ave., Detroit; 313-447-5060; thecommonsdetroit.com

Waiting for your laundry at a laundromat is usually boring and unappealing, but The Commons changes the game. The eastside spot is a coffee shop and laundromat, with a big open space upstairs to work and chill. Plus, the drinks and breakfast items are all super affordable.

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Instagram, @eastside.roasterz

Eastside Roasterz

16555 Warren Ave., Detroit; instagram.com/eastside.roasterz

Currently located inside Next Chapter Books in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, this Black and queer-owned coffee company plans to open its own brick-and-mortar right next to the bookshop later this year. For now, you can grab a coffee while you peruse for new and used books. The spot offers unique drink options made with housemade syrups, plus bags of beans that you can buy to enjoy at home.

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Instagram, @cairo_coffee

Cairo Coffee

2905 Beaufait St., Detroit; instagram.com/cairo_coffee

You may enjoy Spot Lite for a night out, but during the day, the art gallery-nightclub operates as a record store and coworking space, with beverages served up by Cairo Coffee. The coffee counter used to be located in Savvy Chic boutique in Eastern Market, but relocated in 2021. The owners pride themselves on relationships with community members and grassroots organizations.

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Instagram, @_vamonos__

Vámonos

4444 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; instagram.com/_vamonos__

This community space in Southwest Detroit offers fresh juices, tea, and coffee. Plus, it hosts weekly fitness classes, art events, and more, so you can make new friends or nourish your body while enjoying a good beverage.

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Instagram, @morningsidecafe

Morningside Cafe

16369 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; 313-499-8054; coffeexvibes.com

Located in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, this small spot is great. There is beautiful Detroit-themed art painted on the walls, community information on the counter, and a big table for work meetings in the back.

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Photos via Roasting Plant Coffee and Red Viking Media

Roasting Plant

660 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-782-4291; roastingplant.com

If you’re downtown or hanging out at Campus Martius and need a boost, this is a great spot to get a fresh cup of joe. While standing in line, you can see fresh coffee beans being roasted. The chain, which has 13 locations in the U.S. and London, says it’s the only one that roasts in-house at every site.

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Randiah Camille Green

Cred Cafe

6340 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; instagram.com/cred.cafe

This family-run shop in East Rivertown just opened in 2023, and is more than meets the eye. On the surface, it appears as just a coffee shop, but is also a speakeasy, lounge, event space, and coworking space. Read more here.

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Instagram, @alba_detroit

Alba

2124 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-462-4797; alba-coffee.com

Located in Corktown’s former Astro Coffee, Alba, which means “sunrise,” or “dawn” in Spanish and Italian, is a fusion of its owners’ Mexican and Italian heritages. The coffee and the interior design are both inspired by cultures around the world, as well as the city of Detroit. Read more here.

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Facebook, Lucky Detroit

Lucky Detroit

Multiple Locations; luckydetroit.com

With locations in Detroit, Grosse Pointe Park, and Birmingham, Lucky Detroit provides a rustic setting for coffee drinkers. The shops are all located above or next to Detroit Barbers, under the same ownership. So, you can get a haircut, then go get a coffee, or if your partner is getting a cut, you will have a great space to chill and kill time.

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Steve Neavling

Kitab Cafe and Bookstore

2727 Holbrook St., Hamtramck | 411 W. Willis St., Detroit; kitab-cafe.com

This Hamtramck-based coffee shop recently opened a second location in Midtown’s former Avalon International Breads. The space is welcoming, and the food prices are affordable, offering baked goods and baguettes from Zingerman’s. You may find your next unique read too, as the book selection consists of culture and self-help. Read more here.

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Facebook, Be Shroomed Farmz

Be Shroomed

16555 Harper Ave., Detroit; 313-728-2157; beshroomedfarms.com

Mushrooms are on the come up, and apparently so is mushroom coffee. Well, this fairly new spot on the eastside offers its own brand of mushroom coffee including Turkey Tail, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane blends. The “premier mushroom farm” also provides edible and medicinal mushrooms, as well as other mushroom products and apparel.

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Instagram, @lilysandelise

Lilys and Elise

19037 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-657-9658; lilysandelise.com

While this tea house is not fully open to the public yet, it has already begun hosting special events. The spot, located on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion, is currently hiring for all positions and will be the first high tea spot in the city.

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Facebook, Coffee Down Under

Coffee Down Under

607 Shelby St., Unit B, Detroit; 313-444-6626; coffeedownunder.com

If you’re walking around downtown and need a pick-me-up, this hidden spot is a go-to. You’ll have to head inside of the Shelby building and down some stairs to find the little coffee counter. Right next to it is a secret bank-vault door entrance to the Shelby speakeasy.

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Facebook, Diwan Yemeni Coffee & Tea

Diwan Yemeni Coffee & Tea

5125 Schaefer Rd., Dearborn; 313-429-3166; facebook.com/romanticacafe20

There are many Yemeni coffee shops in Dearborn, but this one is a favorite. The seating is comfortable and beautiful, adding amazing ambiance to the already great service, drinks, and sweets. You can get a pot of tea or coffee to share with friends or a single-serve cup for yourself. See our full list of Dearborn coffee shops here.

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Yelp, Alex R.

Detroit Bubble Tea

22821 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-239-1131; detroitbubbletea.com

Some people would rather drink bubble tea than coffee, and this is a great spot in metro Detroit to get it. The options are endless and Ferndale is always a vibe.

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