The Best Coffee Shop In Michigan Is No Chain

Coffee is the elixir to survive early morning wake-ups. For many people, it’s the only way to start the day. Losing coffee would be like losing an arm or a leg. Maybe both. But, as any serious coffee connoisseur will tell you, not every cup of Joe is created equal, and not every cafe with a “World’s Best Coffee” sign has, you know, even decent coffee.

Fortunately, the Daily Meal decided to take the guesswork out of the equation and published the definitive list of best coffee shops in each state. In Michigan, the best shop is located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit: Astro Coffee.

Here’s what the authors had to say about the joint:

If you're ever visiting Detroit, head over to Corktown — Michigan's Brooklyn — to find a great coffee scene starring Astro Coffee, a small shop that's been featured in The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveller, and Bon Appetit, among others. They offer a variety of tea and coffee sourced from many different roasters and producers, as well as locally sourced baked goods and sandwiches. The flat whites here are especially notable, and their egg sandwich is amazing, made with soft-scrambled eggs, fresh herbs, and aioli on an Italian roll.

A survey by the National Coffee Association suggests more Americans than ever before are drinking coffee, and the charge is being lead by young people. The percentage of people who drink coffee every day increased to 62 percent last year from 57 percent in 2016, according to the NCA’s 2017 National Coffee Drinking Trends consumption tracking report.

The organization said one of the biggest drivers behind the increase is a growing appetite for “gourmet coffee varieties.”

“More of us are drinking coffee, and younger consumers appear to be leading the charge,” said Bill Murray, NCA president and CEO. “A steadily growing taste for gourmet varieties is also driving a wider trend toward specialty beverages.”

Although Americans typically like their coffee to-go, the Daily Meal said many of the best coffee shops are priding themselves on quality rather than mass production, a movement known as the “third wave.”

“As a result of the third wave of coffee, more and more coffee shops are emphasizing their production process, making sure to utilize or partner with roasters and farms that demonstrate responsible methods of growing, harvesting, and processing coffee beans,” the authors wrote.

These cafes are also putting an emphasis on their direct relationships with coffee growers, traders and roasters, as well as higher skilled brewing, using better beans and even coming up with unique latte art, the report said.

To come up with the list, the Daily Meal reviewed its previous rankings and stories on local coffee shops, then examined existing rankings and review websites to see which cafes and coffee-centric restaurants had the highest ratings and were most beloved by locals and tourists. Most of the shops were small businesses, rather than chains.

“Above all, we looked for shops with a nice sit-in area, a high level of barista skill and creativity, multiple food options that vary throughout the day, a variety of specialty coffee drinks, originality, and a high level of service,” the authors wrote.

Click here to see the full report.

Patch reporter Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

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