when we went to lotus brew a few years ago, i was not drinking caffeine so i didn't get a drink. i'm now back on my matcha grind and they are participating in the vegan chef challenge so we had to make a stop in! the featured drink was a strawberry danish latte but he was able to use the syrups in a matcha for me. he even gave me some of the cold foam on the side because it was a bit heavy to pour on top of the matcha. it was basically just a strawberry matcha but it was one of the best i've had. i was surprised at how good the matcha was and it stood out from others i've had. my husband had nothing but good things to say about his latte version of the drink. the space is super welcoming to all and there is a food pantry for those in need. a kind business owner who truly cares about the community AND great drinks is a wonderful combo. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Stopped here for coffee and found a very welcoming space with a library and free food pantry. Our coffee was good and the service was very friendly. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Free Pantry - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

Chill vibes, with communal seating. A simple menu, with a good variety of beverage options. Patrons here are quieter (even when chatting). There's a decent amount of seating and outlets. I'd say parking is the biggest hassle (and it's not even that big of a hassle). Pretty good tea-latte,l; beautiful latte art. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Black and Clove latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

What a fun coffee shop to find in Grand Rapids! The coffee shop was busy with regulars doing their work while enjoying a coffee or tea. The coffee and tea drinks are made one at a time, no big rush, no need to hurry and get out of the way...a very cool bonus really! I didn't feel like a number. I felt like a visitor being welcomed into a home, chatting it up as I waited for my iced Chai beverage. As I waited, I explored the shop and saw there was not only an emergency food pantry with hygiene products, there was a lending library for books and games! Lotus Brew was a place that actually CARES! I recommend you stop in to order a drink or drop off some foods or hygiene products for the pantry. The Barista/Owner is friendly, kind and makes some great recommendations to local shops and restaurants as well! I plan to visit again next time I travel to Grand Rapids area. read more

See all

Places like Lotus Brew make Grand Rapids a better place to live! The (not so) new East Hills location on Diamond at Cherry is a huge plus because it is super walkable and close to the adjacent business districts of Wealthy Street, East Fulton, and Eastown. Still providing community resources like the banned book lending library, "kindness cup" beverage program, and the food and necessities pantry, there is also a new display of cool merch like buttons, stickers, and shirts. Max continues to support community services through fundraising, hosting weekly/monthly creative and social groups, and collaborating with other local businesses. Lotus Brew is unequivocally THE BEST queer "third space" in GR. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Hot cocoa with whip - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Amazing coffee, vibes, and service! The owner is considerate and always there to help recommend a drink.

Max does a wonderful job hosting and creating inclusive events that bring the LGBTQIA+ community & everyone together. Not only does he make delicious tasting coffee and alcoholic drinks, he has frequent community events like queer community potluck on Sundays 6-8 pm that are free to attend & anyone is welcome! Check out their ig page & website for updated events. There is always something going on for the community. Lotus brew is also a great place to get work done. One thing to note is that tables are communal. There's plenty of outlets & the wifi is strong, which is great. There is also a library and pantry that is free and open to the public. Max allows outside food but no outside drinks. They are neighbors with KCM and I occasionally have a meal togoed so I can eat it while sipping on my latte at lotus brew. This is an amazing small business that does a lot of good for the community. Max is very supportive & helps the community in many ways. He's very passionate about supporting small businesses & creating safe spaces for everyone that walks in. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Amazing little coffee shop in Grand Rapids! Great atmosphere and even better coffee. I especially appreciated the food pantry and library. You can tell this place really cares about the community. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Amazing cafe. The drinks are always delicious and the menu varies some with the seasons. Max is an excellent person, and there's a no questions asked pantry for anyone in need. There are weekly recurring events including games nights (game library provided), drawing groups, and a writing group. There's also a queer and banned book library. If you haven't been here you're missing out! read more

I've had my eye on this space for awhile as it looked like it was going to be a coffee shop with a yoga studio combined. It's actually much more than that! Lotus Brew Coffee is a LGBTQ coffee and tea shop and mocktail/gay dry bar and banned book library that also houses a free community pantry. The building is also home to several massage therapists, a Reiki master, and a yoga studio. The banned book library at Lotus Brew Coffee is large and full of interesting titles, many of which would be considered not safe for work (as noted on a sign on the shelves). The books are free to borrow and donations are accepted. There are also board games to play and space to relax or work. The free community pantry is great too - no questions asked, food and hygiene items that neighbors have donated. I got an iced vanilla oat latte and Nate tried one of the mocktails - I really like that there's a place to get fun non-alcoholic beverages in our area. The latte was delicious - balanced and creamy. The mocktail was so good! It was blackberry flavored and bubbly. We also tried the salted lemonade at Pride which was super refreshing. Prices at the cafe are very reasonable and less than other coffee shops in town. There are discounts for community members who work in many different fields as well as students. I'm excited to go back again soon! read more

See all

I love this place. They have excellent coffee and a great place to hangout for awhile

Lotus Brew Coffee is a quaint, hidden gem! My sister and I finally stopped by this morning and we both loved it. I ordered a lavender earl tea while my sister ordered one of their mocktails, and they both were delicious. They offer a variety of standard espresso drinks, teas, and fun mocktails. They also offer discounts for community workers (but if you're not one, you can also throw a few dice and if they add up to twenty, you also get a discount!). Lotus also has a library of banned books that you can check out for free, which is super neat. I'll definitely have to come back for more coffee and books! P.S. Street parking can be a bit difficult to find/navigate (though I'm not the best at parking haha). read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - a view of a coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

Lotus Brew is one of the most cozy and friendly places in Grand Rapids. Their wide range of seasonal and yearly beverages give every customer a chance to discover one of the best tasting selections ever. The owner Max knows how to bring excellence to each drink served. Lotus Brew is also very community minded, with free social events every day, as well as a Food Pantry and free library available during all store hours. read more

Omg the vegan sprinkle cookies they have were fantastic. Should have gotten more than one. Vibe was chill.

Lotus Brew is tucked inside a quaint building that also offers yoga and massage. The coffee shop itself is cheerful and clean. Lots of great board games and books line the walls. It's clear you're meant to sit and relax for awhile. Menu is what you'd find from your typical local barista, and the laid back atmosphere really lets you unwind (or rewind?--I guess it depends on how many espresso shots you're slugging). Nothing is rushed, and the staff are good at what they do. I love to hang here before and/or after a massage. read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - Cafe latte & a good book - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

the vibes were incredible, the latte was even better!! I recommend this spot so so much.

Ambiance: very quaint and cozy coffee shop with tables, and couches by the bright window. Connected with a massage/reiki and yoga studio as well. I love that they are very LGBTQ+ friendly, with a library featuring LGBTQ books. Atmosphere is very open and friendly. There are also a ton of books (even for kids) and board games you can rent and read/play while you are here. Overall pretty quiet and chill vibes over the winter break. Looks like a great place to study, or catch up with friends. Overall, happy to have supported this small business with their amazing vibes! Service: Friendliest barista! Max served us and was very sweet, and even offered discounts even if I was not from Michigan (certain types of work get discounted no matter where you are from- see the board photo posted). He was very helpful, and since I mentioned I was not from MI, he offered to give any restaurant recommendations around the area. Service is 10/10! Drinks: I didn't try any food but their Cinna-Bear Cocoa is to die for!! Very cinnamon forward and just sweet enough. read more

See all

Back in my high school and young adult days I used to go to MorningStar 76, it was my favorite coffee shop in town because I felt like the weirdo that I am could feel safe there. I met my husband there. Lotus brew coffeehouse has filled that void in my life. The coffee is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy, I love the library and board games that they provide, and the merchandise that they have from local queer artists is so cool. It's a shame that uptown, easthills and Wealthy St., Association can't be bothered to acknowledge such a great coffee shop in the neighborhood, but would rather promote a billionaire owned coffee shop instead. If you really are about that support local life then actually support local including your queer neighbors! It's very disheartening to see the direction that this neighborhood is going because people would rather be filled with hate and ignorance. read more

WOW This place is SO RAD Board games, books and so much more Max, the owner was so sweet Super happy I checked it out! Coffee was perfect read more

Ahhh. My favorite find while in Grand Rapids during my last visit. Queer-owned, safe space with non-alcoholic beverages (very hard to come by for LGBTQ+ spaces, I'll add), including teas, coffees, and more. They also have pastries. Since I work in a specific industry, I also got a discount which is awesome. The owner/barista was also very upfront about it, which is great. I had an herbal tea in a huge mug on a rainy day with a queer-focused library behind me. It was amazing. read more

Welcoming and perfect cappuccino Plus you can enjoy a beautiful library of books and games.

This place is amazing. A friendly and safe place for ALL, plus they pay their staff a livable wage and do a lot to help the community (like a free pantry on site). Highly recommend! read more

incredible and cozy queer space, delicious drinks that are clearly made with care and love, community focused with lots of resources. we visited twice on our weeklong trip to grand rapids because it was that good. will absolutely be visiting again. thank you so much to the thoughtful barista!! read more

Lotus Brew Coffee - LGBTQ+ banned book lending library - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

So excited about this place. Really great atmosphere, service, and collaboration. I plan to frequent for tea, yoga, and Asiago bagels. I've also never seen a library like theirs, it makes me so happy. read more

This place is great. Awesome vibes, awesome coffee, awesome selection of books and board games. It's a super pleasant space, very welcoming to any and all. read more

Such a cute place! LGBTQ+ friendly, great coffee, friendly staff, lots of books and games! Definitely a great place to either study/work or hang out with friends. Love supporting this local business! read more

Great local coffee shop, can't recommend it enough! Quiet environment, great book selection and friendly staff. LGBTQIA+ friendly read more

See all

Quaint and cozy with tons of books to read and games to play. Coffee was good, and the playlist was chill.

Absolutely wonderful environment. Coffee is great, I haven't tried one of their mocktails yet but it's definitely on my list. The shop is very focused towards helping the community and offers a perfect place to sip some coffee, borrow a book from their free library, and just chill for a little. read more