My love affair with whole bean coffee continues unabated…read more I stumbled across this locally-based coffee roaster by happenstance. As luck would have it, I was hanging out at a local cafe and the owner had just gotten a new brand of whole bean coffee in- that from the Flint Coffee Company. Curious, I asked him what it was like and he seemed pretty enthusiastic about it. He said it was a new line that he was introducing for retail, likening to the rich Sumatra Starbucks blend, but with a twist. Well, I love the earthiness of Starbucks Sumatra, so my interest was piqued. What was the twist? What was that extra something that supposedly made it worth it? Apparently, it's organically-grown under special shade trees or something. These coffee beans are marketed as "direct trade, shade grown with no pesticides involved." Whatever it is, it does the trick. At any rate, I know I liked it a whole lot. Flint Coffee Company bills itself as a family owned business interested in producing sustainable coffee beans from their family-run farm (the family apparently owns a coffee plantation in Peru and owns the local company where it's roasted here in Flint). The beans are hand-harvested, washed and then dried in the sun on a drying bed. Later, the beans are depulped, with any pulp remnants used as a fertilizer for the soil while the beans ferment overnight and are rewashed. I guess it's more of a natural way to process coffee beans. All I know is that I was impressed with the smoothness of such a rich coffee flavor. There was very little to no acidity in it and no strange aftertaste that is the hallmark of cheap can coffee. In other words, if you like Folgers or Maxwell House, this probably isn't the coffee for you. However, I like my coffee rich and earthy, so it was a hit with me. It tasted just as good in its last drop as it did from the first sip from my coffee cup. They have a few different blends, from milder beans to the darker, more intense variety that I prefer. I picked up a 12 oz bag for $11. That wasn't a bad price. It wasn't the cheapest (it's true that I could have probably gotten a whole lot of average canned coffee at the grocery store for the same price or less), but for me, it's about quality, not quantity when it comes to coffee. I really can't stand that acidic aftertaste of cheap coffee, so I was down with the price.

Love this cafe! I haven't tried them in years since moving away, but had to stop in during a recent…read morevisit home. They have since changed owners since I last visited, and had the opportunity to meet the new owners daughter who was working on bar that day. She is so friendly and makes a great macchiato! I used to be a barista for a few years and have since become an at home espresso enthusiast. This cafe produces delicious, quality espresso made with care. Quiet, clean, and cozy. Great study spot or catch up with friends. Can't wait to return next time I'm in town!

Do not get beans here. Do not let them grind them. I like to support local shops when I am…read moretraveling and I have my own espresso maker. I asked for espresso grind. When I opened the bag I could tell right away it was too fine. I attempted to pull a shot, but got nothing. It was most definitely Turkish grind. Since I could do nothing with the bag, I went back to explain this was ground too fine. The same individual was there and reacted with condensation, saying this is indeed espresso grind, which is basically Turkish, and he doesn't know what kind of maker I have so he cannot dial it in. I said I have never had this problem in the years I have done this at other shops. He acted like he could do nothing for me, so when I pressed that I can do nothing with these beans I spent money on, he got on the phone. At one point I heard him say, "Yes, I tried to explain that to her." As if I didn't know what I was talking about. I was finally given the option to get a bag of beans without having them ground, which is all I really wanted. I can grind the beans in my own grinder at home. I went down the street and bought a bag of beans there. I asked for espresso grind and mentioned that the last place gave me Turkish. She had to look up the appropriate setting, but she got it perfect. When I got home and opened the bag of beans from Black Iron, the beans were oily and smelled burnt. My coffee tasted that way, too. I was rather shocked because the latter I had ordered with my purchase was not bad. I had to use them up slowly by masking the bad taste with my go-to beans.

Back in town, and they're still making incredible coffee…read more This cortado is exactly how it's supposed to be. What separates a great coffee shop from an average one isn't fancy latte art, it's understanding how to perfectly marry espresso and milk. A true cortado is all about balance: a 1:1 ratio, silky microfoam, and espresso that still shines through instead of being hidden. That gentle, velvety foam softens the espresso without masking its flavor, letting every tasting note come through. The result is a bold, creamy, perfectly balanced sip that's an absolute party in your mouth. Anyone can pour a pretty design, but great coffee isn't about being Picasso with latte art. The real artists are the baristas who can consistently bring espresso and milk together in perfect harmony. That's what keeps me coming back.

Quiet, relaxing atmosphere. Ordered vanilla latte with almond milk & "dirty" Chai latte (latte with…read moreespresso) with almond milk. Coffee to go served hot with a nice milk foam. Seating options are casual. Nice place to visit, will return.

Plant vibes = relaxing…read more I really felt the peaceful vibes in here. Not being from the area I had a little trouble figuring out where it's at. You will have to park and walk. I had the pumpkin bagel with cream cheese. It was a little dense but had good flavor. Plenty of seating especially if you're going to do some work and need a table.

Stopped in for coffee during the week to check email. The coffee was good, a bit on the cooler…read moreside for my taste. I had a blueberry muffin, which which had a crisp on the top. Inside is much nicer than what it looks like it might be from the outside. High ceiling with updated style, light wood floor. Clean. The lady issuing coffee was friendly. Nice work space. They have various seating including a few larger tables for working. There are power strips about, if you need those.

I absolutely loved meeting one of the roasters at Water Street Roasters, Seth, and hearing about…read morehis trip this year to Costa Rica. It was so interesting to see the small coffee farms they visited, learn about the different ways to process the coffee, and discover more about this coffee region, as well as trying some just roasted coffee from the area. Our small group even learned how to do a coffee cupping for tasting different roasts/beans. If you ever have a chance to attend a class or presentation at the roaster, JUMP ON IT! This was one of the best things I've done in Kalamazoo. Thank you so much, Seth and Water Street Coffee Roasters, for bringing this process of bean to bag alive and personal. I fully support your efforts, coffee, and business even MORE SO now!

From the owner: Originally built sometime between 1885 and 1895 as a machine shop, the building at 610 West Willard…read moreStreet housed the Verdon Cigar Factory from 1900-1908 and then, until the mid-1970's, the Bowers Lighter Company. In 2006, Water Street Coffee Roaster moved in; the building now houses our entire roasting operation including our apple green Probat Roasting Machine, training facility, cupping lab, and the main business office. While open to the public, this is not a retail location.

I stopped by here yesterday morning with my family for our morning coffee. Whenever we go on…read morevacation, we try to hit up a new coffee shop every morning, and on this morning we ended up heading over to Fireside Coffee Roasters. Its location seems to be in a residential area behind a house, and a sign inside sums it up well by saying, "weird location, great coffee." Besides its unusual location, the coffee shop itself has a merchandise area where you order and then a couple of rooms, including one with a fake fireplace. They also have some outdoor seating with blue hanging lights, which my son enjoyed. For my coffee on this morning, since they are coffee roasters, I went with an Americano while my wife chose an orange-flavored cold brew complete with orange peel inside of it. In any case, I really enjoyed my coffee here as it was smooth, dark, and rich with a great coffee flavor throughout. My wife also enjoyed her coffee here, especially the orange flavor, which can often be tricky to get through in a coffee. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. My wife and I both enjoyed our coffee, and it looked like they also had tons of baked goods available from a local baking company.

Excellent coffee. Coffee forward, no artificial taste, and great staff. Individual serve coffee…read morepackets sold in store are great too.

Ron roasts his own beans. Gotta try it. I am confident you will enjoy the coffee. This spring he is…read moreadding a patio out front.

Love this small roastery and coffeeshop! Freshly roasted brand, super friendly staff and…read moreincredibly delicious coffee. Yahoo!!! Look for events!

I now like their cold brew with oat milk and vanilla syrup! It's yummy!…read more Their signs are always so cool looking!

This place had great reviews so we decided to stop in on our road trip! There is a parking lot and…read moreseating inside, as well as some outdoor picnic table seating. The place is very inclusive and we saw a variety of folks inside. Their menu isn't large and it seems to be more of a "serious" coffee joint, which is fine by me. That said, we both went with one of the current specials, the blueberry pie latte (one iced and one hot). It took a while for the drinks to be ready, but they were fairly busy inside. The flavor of the espresso was good, but the blueberry pie flavor was lacking. I'd go back but probably wouldn't get a flavored beverage next time. Thanks, Hyperion!

Nice/cute store that specializes in fresh roasted in house coffee and made in Michigan merchandize…read moreand food. The business is tucked away in a strip mall sitting around the corner from the main road and is not readily obvious from the main road where you almost purposely have to be looking for it to see it. The business as mentioned in other reviews defiantately has the look and vibe of the rustic little touristy stores you see up north where I assume this is exactly what they are trying to achieve and makes this business a fun place to peruse. As the desire for a good cup of coffee is what brought me here, I ended up getting a cup of their medium roast Ethiopian coffee where the beans are roasted in house. my coffee was full bodied, nicely balanced with no harsh notes and quite tasty. An excellent cup of Joe at a very fair price of $3 for a large cup. Nice! One of the gals who worked there told me that if I liked that coffee than I would really like"Grunting Buck" medium roast where I purchased a 16 Oz whole bean bag for $16, Great price for any specialty coffee but one that was just fresh roasted is an amazing deal in my mind. For a small shop that has a lot of character there is a lot to look at and see here which is part of the interesting experience of shopping here. Staff is super friendly as they greet you as you walk in and offer assistance, if required, and then gives you space to shop at your own pace. Lastly there is a hot made to order food menu for breakfast and lunch to go along with their Barista operation. All in all, a superior small business that promotes made in Michigan that needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. Five stars in my book!

A true Michigan hidden-gem! The first time I heard about his store I decided to have breakfast…read moreacross the street at Dodge Park Coney Island, then shop at Salvation army and then go across the street to check out this place and to get a cup of coffee. I came on an off day so the place was closed. It looked small but I decided to come back the next weekend and check it out but they put out a sign saying closed : Out Hunting. Determined I came back for a 3rd attempt and boy am I glad I did! Inside it is much larger than the outside would make you to believe. There is so much to look at and consider purchasing. The best part is it is all high-quality Michigan-made! Also, bonus is that for your first visit you are treated to a free cup of fresh brewed coffee; I loved mine. I got a delicious chocolate/caramel candy bar from the U.P., some craft beer for when my friends visit and some locally harvested honey for my biscuits and tea. Score! There is art work all over the walls. I was amazed at the size of the stuffed turkey - it was massive. If you are into hunting, well look no more. There are gifts galore for the hunter in your life. I saw knives, deer scent spray, apparel, jerky, you name it, they have it. You can't help but feel proud to be a Michigander after visiting this shop. Shop local, support Michigan and hurry on down to Deer Camp Coffee Roasting and Outfitters.

We stumbled across this coffee shop on a list of Best Coffee in Metro Detroit. We live about 30…read moreminutes away but were willing to make the drive in our quest to find the best cup of coffee. There is a relatively small parking lot on site, and it did get a little hectic trying to get in and out. It does look like you can also park in the neighborhood which might be worth the small walk to avoid having to make a right turn in the lot. The outside of the building is very cute and I love that the sign is painted right on the wall directing us where to go. The inside is extremely small as they were originally only intending to roast the coffee at this location. They did add in a ledge adjacent to the counter that had multiple high top chairs available, but there is no other seating inside. This would be great for a solo person having coffee. They do have ample seating right outside on their beautiful patio. They have put time and effort into creating this space, which can be seen in the lovely wood furniture and the flowers they have planted. They also have a pergola over the patio that provides shade. Attached to the pergola is the sign which is also lovely. They have a sandwich board right outside the door letting you know that they are open. The baristas took their job very seriously and were taking the time to weigh out both the beans and the milk. They have a standard menu that is easy to navigate, and for flavored lattes they offered both vanilla and honey that sounds great. I chose to go with the honey iced latte, and then we also ordered an iced vanilla latte and a flat white.y brother in law is from Australia, and we are ALWAYS trying to find him a decent flat white. Every time it is on a menu we will order it. For the first time in YEARS a flat white finally got his seal of approval. You could tell that the care the baristas put into the preparation made all of the difference. After visiting I told my neighbors (who are also big coffee snobs) about Kazkara and they visited the very next morning and also gave their stamps.of approval! Kazkara will now have multiple people from West Bloomfield making the 30 minute drive for a good cup of coffee.

First time visiting this coffee shop and I was in a pleasant surprise of how reasonable the prices…read morewere for all their drinks, including specialty drinks. They even had a seasonal menu. Was able to even purchase a bag of their beans for home. There is indoor and outdoor seating, with ample amount of parking spaces on site as well. The baristas were also super friendly and welcoming. Would definitely return the next time I'm in town!