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.

Advertisement for Saint Ambrose Cellars has their logo at the top of a bee with a golden halo and outstretched wings. Inside the logo it says mead, beer, music. The logo is superimposed on a photo of the grounds of the meadery and winery, with a red barn on one side and the meadery on the other. A message beneath the photo says: Mead, beer, wine, food, live music, disc golf, indoor/patio seating. open 7 days a week. Beneath those words is a Q.R. code that people with smartphones or devices can use to be taken to the event schedule and daily specials of the meadery located at 841 South Pioneer Road in Beulah. Phone number is 231-Advertise in Freshwater Reporter!Advertisement for Stapleton Realty is a photo and description of a pole building on two acres with easy access to M-115. The headline reads: Outdoor Enthusiasts. The 30 foot by 40 foot pole building has a finished office area with a bathroom with sink, shower and toilet. There is a large workshop area that is 29 feet by 28 feet with exhaust fan and a new furnace. there is a washer and dryer hookup in the utility room with a utility sink. Well and septic are installed. There is a full camper hook up on the property too and its not far to snowmobile and A-T-V trails, Crystal Mountain Resort and the Betsie River. The asking price is $199,900. Call Christine Stapleton, 231-499-2698. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.

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.

HumaniTea, on Loomis Street in Ludington, offers specialty teas and ground coffee in a cozy setting. Courtesy photo.
HumaniTea, on Loomis Street in Ludington, raises awareness of, and donates its net profits to combat, human trafficking. Courtesy photo.

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.”

HumaniTea offers tea service and freshly ground coffee, a bakery case of sweets, a cozy sitting area, packaged and loose teas and fair-trade items for sale. Courtesy photo.
HumaniTea offers tea service and freshly ground coffee, a bakery case of sweets, a cozy sitting area, packaged and loose teas and fair-trade items for sale. Courtesy photo.

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.

Specialty coffee drinks and baked goods dominate the menu at Red Rooster Coffee and Community of Ludington. Courtesy photo.
The aroma of specialty coffee drinks and baked goods greet customers at Red Rooster Coffee and Community of Ludington. Courtesy photo.

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.

Red Rooster, of Ludington, uses housemade syrups in its specialty coffee and tea drinks. Courtesy photo.
Red Rooster, of Ludington, uses house made syrups in its specialty coffee and tea drinks. Courtesy photo.

“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.

Nicki, a barista and bookseller at the Book Mark of Ludington. Photo by P. Stinson.
Nicki, a barista and bookseller at the Book Mark, of Ludington, prepares a customer’s mocha. Photo by P. Stinson.

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.

Lyla at Port City Brew of Manistee. Photo by P. Stinson.
Kylie at the Port City Brew drive-thru of Manistee. Photo by P. Stinson.

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

See all the goings-on in downtown Manistee from the front window at Goody's Juice and Java. Photo by P. Stinson.
See all the goings-on in downtown Manistee from the front window at Goody’s Juice and Java. Photo by P. Stinson.

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.

Yellow Dog Café owner, baker and head barista Bonnie McPhedran is the third generation of her family involved in food service. Photo by Pat Stinson.
Yellow Dog Café owner, baker and barista Bonnie McPhedran is the third generation of her family involved in food service. Photo by P. Stinson.

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.

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