If you find yourself craving a toasty beverage while in Ann Arbor, Michigan, head to one of these unique Ann Arbor coffee or tea shops.
With small, locally-owned coffee shops as well as mega-chains like Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea and Starbucks, there are dozens of places to sit and sip around this college town in Southeastern Michigan.
In fact, Ann Arbor is such a coffee-loving city that you’ll even find coffee shops in unusual places — like at farm markets and under a watch shop!
After my visits to Ann Arbor in partnership with Destination Ann Arbor and Wanderful, I’ve rounded up my favorite unique spots to get a coffee or tea in Ann Arbor. These definitely aren’t your average coffee shops!
Disclosure: This guide to unique Ann Arbor coffee and tea shops contains affiliate links. When you click on or make a purchase from one of these links, I may earn a commission.
Zingerman’s Coffee Company
While driving to Zingerman’s Coffee Company you might be wondering where your GPS is taking you. A business park? A warehouse? A foodie’s paradise? While it might look like the first two places, Zingerman’s Coffee’s locale is definitely the latter!
Within one row of warehouses, you’ll find a whole community of Zingerman’s businesses. That means you can easily pair your coffee with a fancy grilled cheese from Zingerman’s Creamery or a scrumptious pastry from Zingerman’s Bakehouse.
Inside Zingerman’s Coffee, you’ll be greeted by a knowledgable barista standing in front of a huge menu of exclusive Zingerman’s brews.
Under each of the coffees listed on the menu are descriptions of the flavors and aromas for easy decision making. Among the selections are estate-grown and micro-lot coffees from Zingerman’s partners in the world’s major coffee-growing regions, and all of Zingerman’s coffees are roasted in small batches.
Once you have selected your roast of choice, you’ll pick your brewing method, such as pour-over, Chemex, or siphon pot.
Not a coffee nerd? That’s ok! Your barista will help find the right coffee for you, but I personally don’t think you can go wrong with one of Zingerman’s Coffee’s blends. Personally, I’m a fan of the Tree Town Blend with flavors of caramel, stone fruit, and cocoa in early fall and the Holiday Blend around Christmastime.
Also, Zingerman’s Coffee Company is a wholesale roaster. That means you’ll find Zingerman’s Coffee at other restaurants, including Zingerman’s Next Door Café located next door to the original Zingerman’s Deli in Kerrytown, in Ann Arbor and beyond. For example, Zingerman’s Coffee is also served at several markets and restaurants in the terminals of Detroit Metro (DTW) airport.
Zingerman’s Coffee Company is located at 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
LAB CAFE
If you are looking for a local coffee shop in downtown Ann Arbor with unique latte flavors, head to LAB CAFE.
Among the interesting latte flavors that have been featured on LAB CAFE’s menu over the years are a butterfly pea flower latte, a turmeric agave latte, and a beetroot ginger latte.
When I popped into LAB CAFE mid-morning in May 2018, sunlight was pouring through the cafe’s windows and cases full of baked goods lined the counter. I ordered a hot lavender and honey latte, and it was the perfect mid-morning treat before exploring the University of Michigan campus.
LAB CAFE is located at 505 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Argus Farm Stop
Where can you get your coffee in Ann Arbor and shop for locally-grown produce? At Argus Farm Stop!
Specializing in all things local, this farm market’s mission is to support and grow the local agricultural economy. In addition to having a cafe where shoppers can order coffee and tea drinks, the market carries locally-made breads, cheese, produce, and artisanal goods.
During my brief visit in October 2018, I had a delicious soy chai latte. In the fall, you can opt to make that a “chaider” with fresh apple cider.
Argus Farm Stop has three locations in Ann Arbor. The location I visited is on the Old West Side at 325 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
Shinola Café
When I walked into the Shinola store in downtown Ann Arbor in March 2018, I planned to browse the Detroit-made watches and leather goods. I certainly did not expect to be invited downstairs to the secret café.
Set underneath the luxury watch shop is a dark yet posh setting. Giving cocktail lounge vibes, this underground coffee shop is a cool place to stop for a coffee while shopping at the boutique shops and independent bookstores in downtown Ann Arbor.
The Shinola Cafe is located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor’s shopping and dining at 301 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Poindexter Coffee
At Poindexter Coffee inside the Graduate Ann Arbor lobby, you can enjoy your coffee in a scholastic-themed setting. Just grab your drink at the counter, and then take a seat in an outdoorsy-print Eames, in a comfy tartan armchair, or at the long table that looks like it belongs in the University of Michigan Law Library!
Having quick access to coffee, tea, and bagels was a major perk of staying at Graduate Ann Arbor. But, you don’t have to be a hotel guest to visit this Ann Arbor coffee shop!
Poindexter Coffee is located inside Graduate Ann Arbor at 615 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI 49104.
Want to stay at Graduate Ann Arbor? Check availability for your travel dates now!
TeaHaus
More of a tea than a coffee drinker? Although you can order tea at the coffee shops on this list, I suggest true tea lovers not miss the tea room and café at TeaHaus.
With 175 varieties of tea, you can try all sorts of flavors. Varieties include black teas, green teas, oolongs, white teas, and the list goes on.
I’d certainly order a hot tea in winter, but I also like that you have the option here to order any tea iced. During my hosted May 2018 visit, I tried a sweet and refreshing strawberry and star fruit iced tea.
Also, you must get a French macaron here. Not only are these macarons generously sized, but they are also made from scratch and hand piped in-house. The hazelnut one I had was absolutely heavenly.
TeaHaus is located at 204-206 N. Fourth Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Conclusion
With plentiful coffee shops to visit, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a destination for coffee lovers and tea drinkers.
Among some of the most unique coffee shops in Ann Arbor are the Shinola Cafe, a truly hidden gem, under the Shinola watch store, and the coffee shops inside the Argus Farm Stop produce markets. You’ll also find uniquely flavored lattes at LAB CAFE, a wide selection of teas at TeaHaus, and single-origin coffees roasted in small batches at Zingerman’s Coffee Company.
Finally, if you are visiting Ann Arbor from out of town, plan your stay at Graduate Ann Arbor. Not only will you be able to head straight downstairs for your coffee fix at Poindexter Coffee in the hotel lobby, but you’ll also be a short walk from the many local coffee shops in downtown Ann Arbor.
Take This Ann Arbor Coffee Guide With You
Are you a coffee or tea lover visiting Ann Arbor? Let me help you get your caffeine buzz going! With the free GPSmyCity app, you can read my Ann Arbor coffee shop guide offline.
Plus, when you upgrade the article, GPSmyCity provides maps and GPS navigation. Then you’ll have directions to walk, drive, or bike to any or all of the coffee shops I’ve recommended.
Haven’t heard of GPSmyCity? I explain how the app works and why it’s beneficial for travelers in this post. And, don’t miss all the Ann Arbor travel articles and sightseeing walks that GPSmyCity offers!
Read Related Posts
- 15 Things You Should Know About Italian Coffee
- 7 Romantic Ann Arbor Date Ideas for Foodie Couples
- A Bookworm’s Guide to Downtown Ann Arbor Bookstores
- Ann Arbor, Michigan Weekend Getaway for Foodies And Art Lovers
- Lunch in Ann Arbor: Five Spots Where You Should Eat
- Food, Fanfare & Football: A Local’s Guide to Michigan Game Day in Ann Arbor
- Ann Arbor Art Fair: A Michigander’s Tips for the Annual Street Art Fair
- One Day in Ypsilanti: Where to Eat, Drink & Shop
Save this post to your Michigan board on Pinterest to reference later!
Wow, I visited Ann Arbor recently and missed half of these. Now I have to go back. Thanks for the recommends.
Wow, those shops all seem like places I would like to check out. It’s funny because here in Iowa we have a few nearby that I have not checked out yet but I am already thinking about hitting the road to check these out. lol
I love Zingermans! They have the best coffee and their sandwiches are amazing! I’ll have to check some more of these out!
Amber, I’m a Zingerman’s fan, too. Zingerman’s Coffee Company has such a great selection of coffees, and the Detroit Street deli has awesome sandwiches.
So many lovely spots, places like this are perfect if you work from home to just get out!
For sure! Both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are college towns, so you’ll see students studying sometimes. If I didn’t have such a packed itinerary during my Ann Arbor visit, I’d have pulled out my laptop and penned a blog post. The vibe at Cultivate and Poindexter would be great for getting work done!
This places look lovely! I wish there was something similar here
These spots are unique and fantastic for tea and coffee drinkers, but I’m sure you have fantastic coffee spots in Italy too, Mimi!
They are nice but there is nothing like “starbucks” or this kind of coffee shops where you can sit and work you know? Tbh after reading your post I’ve been googling looking for something and I found two nice spots but they are very far away from where I live which is such a shame!
Right, I have heard that from friends who traveled in Italy and were surprised by how different the ordering and drinking experience was from Starbucks and other coffee shops here in the US. I wasn’t much of a coffee drinker yet when I was in Italy, so I totally missed out on the Italian coffee culture. I will visit again and fix that, but it is a shame you don’t have the relaxed atmosphere to sit and work. The atmosphere is half the reason to go to a coffee shop!
Ooh, TeaHaus totally sounds like my kind of place! I don’t care for coffee but absolutely love tea (I’m drinking a pot of chai as I type this, ha!). Thanks for the recs!
The selection at TeaHaus is amazing! You can get tea and chai lattes at most — if not all — the other spots on this list, but if you are a tea lover, TeaHaus is a must-visit spot in Ann Arbor.
I love good coffee shops! A big coffee addict is talking lol And I really aprreciate you taking time and writing this post, so I don’t have to pay for bad coffee anymore! 🙂
I’m right there with you. I already had a cup today! When I’m out, I definitely want a good coffee. All of the coffee shops on this list have great quality drip coffee and espresso!
Really love a good and unique coffee shop over the chain coffee ones. Enjoyed both the coffee and tea from the Poindexter Coffee and relaxing in the hotel lobby. Thanks for pointing out the ones in Liberati and Shinola as I visited the main floors of both stores but didn’t realize that there was more exploring to be done on the other floor. Will probably want to stop by one of these other shops to warm up during my upcoming winter visit to AA. That macaron looks delicious, so definitely worth the visit with such a large selection of teas to choose from.
I’m so glad to share some new — and somewhat hidden — coffee spots with you! You definitely need to check out TeaHaus. The tea selection is unreal, and those macarons are to die for!