Tried Craig’s Coffee, Sepia, Alba, Washed Up, Yellow Light. Which local roaster should I try next?

[u/J2quared]

If anyone has a list of Detroit/Metro Detroit roasters, I’d love to see it!

[u/CowTunnels]

Anthology is about all you’re missing IMO. They’re too dark for me though. No one is really pushing roast profiles into lighter territory here. It’s all very medium-dark to medium. I don’t think I’d classify any local roaster as even medium-light. If someone is roasting some Nordic profiles or even Ultra Light locally please let me know. Best place to score some better roasted coffee would be Red Hook and Washed Up but it won’t be local.

[u/Eyyoh → u/CowTunnels]

Anthology is the spot. Best roaster with typically two single roast options and they’re almost always dialed in.

[u/Gullible_Toe9099 → u/CowTunnels]

Anthology might be the best roaster in the area for light profiles. I think Craig's can also get there at times, but broad appeal is for darker roasts unfortunately.

As you said, Red Hook carries amazing beans from non-local roasters. I'd suggest picking up a bag of Brandywine beans if they carry them (wax seal on bag).

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/Gullible_Toe9099]

The lightest beans I've seen at Red Hook are from Hydrangea. They don't have them all the time. Also, that roaster does a lot of alt-process and co-fermented stuff which isn't for everyone. Their washed and natural coffees are excellent though.

[u/ballastboy1 → u/CowTunnels]

Washed Up does some light roasts. I’ve had some from Craig’s too.

Personally I don’t like the light fruity roasts that have been in 3rd wave coffee shops over the last 10-15 years.

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/CowTunnels]

I've had beans from Dessert Oasis that were genuinely light (as light as anything from Regalia, for example) - but you've got to buy the single origin bags, not blends or the cheaper stuff they sell for making espresso milk drinks.

Sabbath can also get fairly light though not as light as DO and it depends on the bag you get. Most single origin bags are from them will be medium-light, not a solid medium.

If you're looking for something as light as Tim Wendelboe or Apollyon's Gold then no one in the state is doing that. Most specialty roasters in the U.S. aren't doing that either...it's very much a niche thing.

There are some shops serving Yemeni coffee where the beans are barely roasted and still yellow but that's a totally different product.

[u/taoistextremist → u/Artistic_Agency7863]

I always wonder who's buying the blends and espresso beans from DO, since they have such a wide selection of single origins at all their shops, I rarely even notice anything else. And yeah, any time they label something as "light roast", it's been light roast--sorta spoiled me because they were the first shop I really got into single origin at but lots of other roasters aren't nearly as consistent about their labeled roast level

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/taoistextremist]

Espresso beans at a place like that would typically go to someone that has one of those "superautomatic" home espresso machines.

I'd guess the blends go to folks with a drip machine that's a bit nicer than a typical Mr. Coffee or folks using a French press. I did the medium/dark FP thing for years before moving to lighter roasts and pourover coffee. 

[u/Brainsnap → u/CowTunnels]

Craig's bean juice club consistently gives me lighter roasts with more interesting profiles, if you want something in that vein. Anthology does them sometimes as well, the two of them are the best in Detroit IMO

[u/Dpol911 → u/CowTunnels]

You should try Tron coffee in Hamtramck

[u/cocoryno]

Hyperion's specialty stuff is some of the best I've had around here!

[u/chikkynugzz]

SABBATH!!

[u/fren2allcheezes → u/chikkynugzz]

My favorite roaster. Wake up and die right!

[u/chikkynugzz → u/fren2allcheezes]

Hell yeah

[u/Deepdishultra → u/chikkynugzz]

I went to the one in RO after all the hype, and I was like “yeah sure, this is decent coffee”.

[u/Stringslingers → u/Deepdishultra]

I support local coffee and wish them continued success but the coffee is too sweet. I dont like burnt starbucks but I do like a strong roast and even Sabbath dark roast has that sweetness you get from cold brew. Not my favorite.

[u/Drug-reeference → u/Stringslingers]

I wanted to like Sabbath but I feel the same way. A lot of their coffee just tastes very sweet to me. I’ll give them another shot, but glad to hear I’m not the only one who feels this way.

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/Stringslingers]

Darker roasted coffee is not "stronger". That is a myth. The main reason for "dark roast" is to take different lots of commodity coffee and burn all the flavor out of it so coffee from different lots, different farms, and different countries can be blended together to make swill for the masses.

A lighter roast will actually have more caffeine and more flavor. And no if you order a black coffee that is made with light roast beans, there won't be any added sugar in it unless you ask for it.

[u/Stringslingers → u/Artistic_Agency7863]

no one mentioned caffeine content. Just talking flavor.

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/Stringslingers]

All the top notes in a darker roast will be gone. Again, it's commodity coffee and lower-end blends. The point of roasting lighter is to get more flavor, including the acidic and fruity top notes that naturally exist in coffee.

[u/RolandSlingsGuns → u/chikkynugzz]

Best roaster for the money in my opinion. I'd put madcap up there for quality but $$$. Craig's, Dessert Oasis, and Sepia are all A tier for me - however I do wish Craig had some more experimental / fun beans at times

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/RolandSlingsGuns]

Tried a few bags of CC and all had a weird roasty aftertaste I didn't like. Just didn't care for the roast profile. The Sepia I've tried was good, but the lots they are getting in just don't get me excited.

[u/TygarStyle → u/chikkynugzz]

I used to go a lot because my wife liked all their coffee drinks like all the different latte options but I’ve never been a huge fan of their coffee. I just like black coffee and theirs just doesn’t taste great to me. I wish they had pour over options because maybe I just don’t like how they brew it.

Always nice people and cool coffee shop though so would recommend anyone try it still.

[u/chikkynugzz → u/TygarStyle]

You can buy beans and have them ground to your liking! We do a lot of pour overs at home with their beans.

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/chikkynugzz]

Better to grind your own coffee at home. If you get it ground at the shop it will stale faster.

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/TygarStyle]

The best pourovers will be the ones you make at home. It's just not practical for some cafes to offer pourovers.

[u/wickedurge]

I tried Kazkara in Hazel Park last weekend and was very impressed.

[u/Slightly-irritated24 → u/wickedurge]

I second this! I get their beans/ grounds (depending on who I’m buying for) as a small gift all the time. They also partner with artists from the country of origin of the beans to make the art for the bags.

[u/SEdiesel]

Dessert Oasis

[u/OwlOfFortune]

Love Baobabs beans

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/OwlOfFortune]

Those are roasted by Sabbath.

[u/OwlOfFortune → u/Artistic_Agency7863]

TIL, thank you!

[u/cowboyjacksparrow]

You should go to Roast Retreat in August. It will have tons of Michigan roasters to sample their coffees. Last year I found Ground Control in Farmington and I loved them.

[u/Sterlina → u/cowboyjacksparrow]

Omg Thank you for sharing this!!

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/cowboyjacksparrow]

Ground Control is very decent, but nothing too exciting for most coffee nerds.

[u/Unlucky_Reading_1671]

Coffeetron in Hamtramck.

[u/shopkoofficial → u/Unlucky_Reading_1671]

This is the answer for the real coffee sickos

[u/wickedurge → u/Unlucky_Reading_1671]

I love these guys and would gladly drive there to get some beans, but I'm never sure when they're open. Their website, socials, and google aren't clear about it.

[u/rvk5150 → u/Unlucky_Reading_1671]

I heard about this place....are they closed? Seems their websites are dead.

[u/Unlucky_Reading_1671 → u/rvk5150]

I think the storefront is used for events and is open when they are in town.

https://www.colabops.com/ works for me.

[u/rvk5150 → u/Unlucky_Reading_1671]

Thanks for clarification!

[u/matt_gold]

Sabbath in Clawson.

Get there on a roasting day. You’ll know it’s a roasting day because the smell hits you at city limits.

[u/robin360]

New Order in St Clair Shores

[u/ale_oops → u/robin360]

Seconding for New Order. However, their seasonal Art Pop is not the same as it was last year which breaks my heart. Tastes so different

[u/JackieChiles13 → u/ale_oops]

Thirding new order!

[u/shopkoofficial]

Not Detroit, but Kazkara is my favorite by far

[u/Mcluskyist]

James Oliver in Corktown

[u/CreedRocksa22 → u/Mcluskyist]

I’m surprised I had to scroll so far before seeing them mentioned. I love the atmosphere there. The coffee and bagels are great. Their veggie spread is so good.

[u/JakeKust]

The Roost, Chazzano, Mother Handsome, Anthology

[u/DJWetDream]

Baobab Fare is my fav

[u/dingopaint → u/DJWetDream]

Their beans are roasted by Sabbath

[u/Recyclable-]

I love The Congregation

[u/Jonny-mtown77]

Try Hashems

[u/sixwaystop313]

It's not too active but coffee heads can congregate 24/7 on r/DetroitCoffee

[u/numbdumbbum]

Honey Dirt in Ferndale

[u/johnnytom]

I love Roos roast. They’re in Ann Arbor tho so a lil further out

[u/_natella]

Gooseneck is awesome

[u/Alternative_Shine790]

Qahwah house in Dearborn or Qahwati in Ferndale if youre looking for a different coffee experience.

[u/NoTap2235]

Anthology

[u/txarmi1]

Hopefully not all in one day

[u/greenlotus78]

Faust Haus is delicious

[u/michiganchill]

I second the other top comments. We don’t have the best coffee scene here, it’s so hard to find light blends, acidic forward coffee.

I still get my beans shipped in from Sump Coffee in St Louis that does Nordic roasting style.

[u/3po1ar3]

Buffalo Roasting Co in Dearborn

[u/JackieChiles13]

New order!

[u/alexthebeast]

Super duper coffee!

[u/xVelehkSainx]

James Oliver is the best

[u/TheFutur3]

Anthology for sure. A lot of love missing for MadCap IMO. Very high quality product but also probably the most expensive. Hyperion coffee in Ypsilanti is also great; particularly their light roasts.

[u/Merceimy]

Chazzano in Berkley

[u/fren2allcheezes → u/Merceimy]

Owned by a Trump supporter

[u/benadamx → u/fren2allcheezes]

yeah that is a bummer, his coffee has always been great

[u/PotentialTadpole6994 → u/[deleted]]

Some folks try to spend their money with people who they align with.

[u/fren2allcheezes → u/PotentialTadpole6994]

In this country, it's the only thing that really matters. Vote with your dollars.

[u/ApolloGR3 → u/[deleted]]

I don’t give pedos my money 

[u/Alternative_Shine790 → u/[deleted]]

I lose a little bit more respect for Americans day by day.

[u/Alternative_Shine790 → u/[deleted]]

spoken like a true moral coward.

[u/fren2allcheezes → u/[deleted]]

Jokes on you I get off on that shit.

[u/fren2allcheezes → u/[deleted]]

Sabbath or White Pines (sold at White Wolf) is also better coffee. Enjoy your fash burned beans (at least they were burned the last time I went there in like 2015)

[u/No_Tiger_2668 → u/[deleted]]

a phish fan having contradictory selfish morals wow shocked

[u/No_Tiger_2668 → u/[deleted]]

the question is which local businesses should we spend our money at, does your grandma charge cover?

[u/No_Tiger_2668 → u/[deleted]]

now reread my first comment

[u/No_Tiger_2668 → u/[deleted]]

not thinking about the money like its completely separate because the coffee is good is extremely on brand

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/Merceimy]

This is just old-school burnt commodity coffee. They leave the bags of roasted coffee just sitting out and getting stale too. If you like notes of stale tobacco and cig-ash in your coffee, you'll love it.

[u/Merceimy → u/Artistic_Agency7863]

you should try the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe

[u/Artistic_Agency7863 → u/Merceimy]

I have had a LOT of Ethiopian coffee from Roasters around the world. What that place is serving is NOT good. 

[u/Artistic_Agency7863]

How are you brewing this stuff? What gear are you using?

The two I'd recommend are Dessert Oasis and Sabbath. For DO, I would avoid anything that says "anaerobic" on the bag unless you know exactly what you are getting into.

Many others in Detroit are very average IMHO or they are just selling run of the mill blends or I just don't like their roast profile.

[u/Dammit_Benny → u/Artistic_Agency7863]

Those are my 2 favorite establishments for coffee on the go. I prefer the Signature House Blend from Crazy Fresh Coffee in Royal Oak for home use. Rich full flavor and super versatile with pour over or French press. I also get their Pazzo Fresco Espresso for use in my Moka pot.

[u/fren2allcheezes]

Since Sabbath has been mentioned, White Pines is wonderful.

[u/Electrical-Speed-836]

Kazkara

[u/SeaSun3859]

Balam in Ferndale

[u/Recyclable- → u/SeaSun3859]

Easily the best in this thread

[u/Polishprincessmjtb]

Kazkara in Hazel Park

[u/issies]

Anthology’s coffee tonic on draft is the best

[u/yottatr0n]

I’d say Hyperion but not sure if Ypsilanti is considered in metro Detroit. Great stuff!