Rowster Coffee
632 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 780-7777
Over the years I have grown to love coffee and its culture, so during my recent trip back to my home state of Michigan, a good friend of mine recommended I stop by a local coffee shop in Grand Rapids. So, of course I had to set out to find the best coffee shop in Michigan. One of them being Rowster Coffee.
Before heading up to Grand Rapids from Lansing, I emailed the shop owner, Stephen to ask him if I could stop by to check out the shop and take some photos for this write up. To my surprise, he emailed me right away and was extremely welcoming in his email. I
And so I made my way to the Wealthy Street District of Grand Rapids where Rowster Coffee is located. Upon seeing the cafe for the first time, even from the outside, I fell in love with the natural light shining into the shop through the window. I knew I was going to have a blast taking photos. Inside, I was greeted by Stephen and his sweet employees. They were kind enough to give me a tour of the shop and let me watch how latte art was made. They made it looks so easy and flawless! I wanted to try it myself, but was too scared I would make a fool out of myself in front of the baristas!
“A barista (/bəˈristə/ buh-REE-stuh; from the Italian for “bartender”) is a person, usually a coffeehouse employee, who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks.”
I had my first coffee of the day at Rowster. It was their signature iced coffee made in a large beaker then poured over a glass cup filled with ice. The presentation of a simple iced coffee method was everything, I never expected such an elaborate show. And of course, the coffee was divine. The flavors were just right in richness and bitterness, plus the aroma enhanced each sip.
The art of coffee making boils down to a science; different coffee shops use different brewing methods. Rowster, uses a more alternative method to their coffee brewing like the automatic drip brewer. This method has a monopoly on most imaginations when it comes to a pot of morning coffee, but there are many more brew methods that bring out different sides of the both the bean and of the brewer themselves.
“Even if given the same beans, you would be no means get the same cup of coffee out of a French Press that you would from a Glass V60, or the vacpot pictured above.”
Aside from being a coffee shop owner, Stephen is also in the soda making business. He helped create these two line of sodas, Hibiscus Soda and Hop Soda. I had the privilege of trying them and they got my stamp of approval. Make sure you stop by the shop and get yourself some and try their signature coffee soda (third picture shown above). I promise you will leave satisfied and wanting to come back for more.
You can read more about their brewing method on their blog; where they give a more in depth look on its nuances and the benefits of using this method.