From left: Louis Mosher and Laina Laarman greet customers at the coffee bar inside The Outpost in downtown Manistee. Photo by P. Stinson.
By Carmelitta Tiffany
You don’t need to snowshoe a mile at our state parks, carve powder at Crystal Mountain or Caberfae, or cut a figure eight on a skating rink to appreciate the soothing effect of a steaming mug of coffee or tea. Ordering a special brew from your favorite barista this time of year is an extra-special treat.
In fact, people are treating themselves more than ever.
Coffee consumption at cafés and restaurants has increased by 20% in the past year, according to the latest (September 2021) National Coffee Data Trends report by the National Coffee Association. The report states more Americans (60%) drank coffee in the past day than drank any other beverage (including tap water), continuing coffee’s decades-long reign as America’s favorite beverage.
According to the website Statista, 23% of Americans drink tea daily. The Tea Association of the USA reported artisanal tea consumption continued to rise rapidly in 2020, with growing interest among Millennials and Gen Zs about tea’s origins, terroir, flavors, harvesting methods and sustainability.
If you’re looking for a local place serving coffee and tea, you’ll find an abundance. However, the following dedicate significant time and space to the art and craft of brewing either or both.
Ludington coffee and tea options
Ludington coffee and tea drinkers have several choices, including two cozy, inviting downtown businesses on the same street.
As the name implies, HumaniTea, at 127 S. James Street, (enter on East Loomis Street), specializes in teas and has a philanthropic mission.
“We are a primarily tea service (iced & hot teas and tea lattes), though we do serve an excellent AeroPress or pour over fresh-ground coffee,” HumaniTea co-owner Carmen Biggs explained. “We are a tea shop with a mission. We began because we wanted to provide a space in our community that raises awareness and funds for anti-human-trafficking efforts. Our net profits are invested into human-trafficking prevention and victim support efforts. All of our teas are responsibly sourced and we also sell artisan gifts that are made by survivors or are from organizations that contribute to trafficking prevention.”
When asked why they decided to specialize in tea, HumaniTea co-owner Chris Turnbull commented, “What we love about tea is that the variety is nearly endless. We currently carry approximately 40 different teas that we can offer as delicious hot tea, iced tea, or tea latte. The flavor combinations are plentiful and each one is distinctly unique.”
Other menu items include kombucha (fermented tea with mild effervescence) on tap, milk steamers and specialty sodas. Most-often requested is the White Coconut Cream Latte, blending white coconut cream tea, milk and a dash of white chocolate. Tea brands available for purchase are Art of Tea, an organic tea collaborative in Los Angeles, as well as Arbor Teas, an Ann Arbor-based company offering fairly traded, organic varieties. Omage Coffee, a local roaster who provides sustainable and fairly traded coffee, supplies their beans. HumaniTea’s Drink of the Month features a unique limited-time beverage. Find locally made, mouth-watering pastries here, too.
The owners of Red Rooster Coffee & Community, at 207 South James Street, wanted to offer a place where people could gather. Ethan and Melissa Ambrose opened their “coffee shop with intention” in 2017. They partner with Traverse City roaster Higher Grounds Trading Co., which offers fair-trade organic coffee beans. They make their syrups in house and a local organic bakery supplies their pastries. Their most-requested drink? Lattes crafted with house-made syrup.
“A close contender would be Cold Brew & Nitro in the summer months, and a fan favorite for kids are our fruit smoothies,” they added.
Speaking of summer, the Ambroses said they plan to open a seasonal coffee shop at Epworth, a 128-year-old summer community north of Ludington. Follow them on Facebook @TheRoostLudington.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to find a good read and a delightful drink, seek out the Book Mark. The bookstore with a coffee bar and lounge is located at 207 South Rath Avenue, near the Harbor View Marina and park. Inside the bookstore are newspapers, gift items, reading glasses and more.
The coffee bar sources its beans from Lansing-based Paramount Coffee and serves brewed and cold brew coffee, lattes, cappuccino, mochas, Americano, and espresso. All booksellers here double as baristas. The menu includes specialty milks, extra shots of espresso and 23 flavors of Torani syrup plus 10 sugar-free options. They also serve tea, chai, hot chocolate, lemonade, Italian and French sodas, bottled water and chocolate milk. Follow them on Facebook @BookMarkLudington.
In a rush? Find a reliable cup of java with drive-through options along U.S. Highway 10, between Walmart and Lowe’s. Both the new Starbucks and established Biggby Coffee serve specialty coffees, flavored hot and cold beverages, and to-go foods.
Manistee coffee and tea choices
The city of Manistee has its share of places to get a caffeine fix, including a popular drive-through option at Port City Brew, 309 West Parkdale Avenue.
The baristas serve mochas, lattes, chai teas, hot teas, frappes, iced drinks, smoothies, steamers, Italian sodas and the occasional packaged baked goodies. For hours of operation and details about drinks of the day, follow them on Facebook @PortCityBrew. Also find their coffee at Downtown Delights, 457 River Street.
A comfortable sit-down option is Goody’s Juice and Java, at 343 River Street, in Manistee’s beautiful historic downtown. The business has an established reputation, and the current owner carries on the same tradition of offering specialty beverages plus pastries, breakfast foods and luncheon sandwiches for dining in or to go. Paramount Coffee beans provide the rich coffee fl
avor. Most requested is the Dark Chocolate Mocha. Their White Chocolate Raspberry Mocha is a winner, too. Check out the raised seating area with floor-to-ceiling views of the goings-on in downtown Manistee. Follow them on Facebook @goodysjuiceandjava.
When you’re in the mood to shop and sip, you’ll find The Outpost, at 359 River Street, offers both. The clothing store has been a part of downtown for 20-plus years, with “fashionably comfortable” attire for men and women. Owner Carrie Mosher opened the coffee bar at the front of the store about 10 years ago. The Outpost uses Traverse City-based Roaster Jack Coffee Company beans and Light of Day organic teas grown in Leelanau County. The baristas serve a range of specialty coffee and tea drinks (using vegan syrups) with popular choices such as Dirty Chai Latte, Mocha and London Fog. Follow them on Facebook @ManisteeOutpost.
Local residents and area visitors eagerly await the spring reopening of Yellow Dog Café, at 4850 Main Street (M-22) in Onekama. The
seasonal coffee shop and bakery closes each year from December to April. Owner Bonnie McPhedran sources her roasted beans from Higher Grounds Trading Co. in Traverse City. She also bakes a wide array of pastries and creates the salads and sandwiches served fresh each day. Follow the café on Facebook @YellowDogOnekama.
Why wait until Mother Nature decides to warm us up? As my grandma used to say, “There’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee (or tea) to warm your heart and soul.”
Carmelitta resides in Mason County, where she spent the last 30-some years enjoying the blessings of rural life. She is a semi-retired journalist who serves those needing “wordy” advice through her business, West MI Editorial Services.
