Whether you’re meeting friends to catch up or sneaking away for some quiet time with a warm beverage and a good book, you’ll find a cozy coffee shop or café nearby to warm your heart and soul on a chilly (pre) winter day.
Photo credit: Beani’s Coffee Lounge
Located at 120 Water Street, Beani’s Coffee Lounge has graced downtown Boyne City for three years. Here, you’ll find all the basics like drip coffee, cappuccino, espresso, and cold brew, but regulars rave about the Churro Latte (available hot or iced). Frappes, slushees, and Lotus energy drinks are also available. On the food side of things, a full breakfast and lunch menu is offered with sandwiches, bowls, burritos, and small bites. There’s even a fun kids’ menu with tasty favorites like cotton candy milkshakes.
Nichole Hall, a 2010 graduate of Harbor Springs High School, opened her Birch Tree Bakery & Café at 181 E. Main Street in February 2022 and within eight months she became the youngest business owner on Main Street to be presented with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. When it comes to beverages, you’ll find classic and upscale coffee options as well as an array of donuts, cakes, muffins, and cookies—including some gluten-free options. On the savory side, there are meat and egg breakfast burritos to curb your cold-weather appetite.
The new winter seasonal menu is out at The Burst, 7660 US-31 in downtown Alanson, and there is something for everyone like Candy Cane Frappe, Snickerdoodle Chai Latte, Jack Frost Fizz, and Bonfire Hot Chocolate, among other whimsical offerings. And if the drinks aren’t enough, decadent desserts like the “famous” Dubai pistachio chocolate bars, cake pops, yogurt parfaits, and colorful homemade macarons satisfy the sweet tooth.
Photo credit: Iron Goat Cafe East Jordan
When it came to naming her coffee shop at 101 Main Street in East Jordan, Taylor Malpass knew she wanted to incorporate some type of animal while also paying homage to East Jordan’s iron heritage—and with that, Iron Goat Coffee was born. You’ll find distinct offerings on the menu including Miel (honey and cinnamon, espresso and steamed milk, topped with foam), Golden Hour Latte (turmeric cinnamon team steeped and mixed with lavender, honey, and chai), or a Zebra Mocha Latte (a blend of Ghirardelli chocolate and white chocolate with espresso). Food options change daily but include muffins, turnovers, biscotti, bagels, and power bars. Be on the lookout for a second Iron Goat shop opening soon in downtown Walloon Lake!
The longest-operating bakery and coffee shop in the region is Johan’s Pastry Shop, which has locations on US-31 just south of downtown Petoskey and at 201 State Street in downtown Harbor Springs, which opened in May 2017. This shop’s history dates back to 1947 when Don and Kathy Kilwin opened it as Kilwins Bakery. They sold that in 1971 to John McLellan who rebranded it as Johan’s and after his retirement, Clayton Brown took over ownership of the iconic bakery operation. In addition to cups of fresh-brewed java, you’ll find dozens of donuts, cookies, scones, homemade bagels, and grab-and-go lunch items.
North Perk Coffee located in Downtown Petoskey is perfect for a little winter warm-up. Photo credit: Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau
Downtown Petoskey’s Gaslight District is known for its quaint shops and eateries, including North Perk Coffee at 308 Howard Street. Warm up with a Charcoal Latte (crafted with activated charcoal powder, espresso, and steamed milk); Petoskey Fog Latte (with Earl Gray, vanilla, and steamed milk); or Cubano Espresso. You can also concoct your own beverage—hot, cold or iced—with your favorite flavors like lavender, peppermint, hazelnut, or coconut. Locally sourced fresh baked goods are available from Crooked Tree Breadworks – scones, cookies, and croissants, My Sisters Bake Shop, and Tillie’s Tafel Cinnamon Rolls.
Great coffee begins with great beans, and Roast & Toast has been selecting the best of the best from sustainable, environmentally conscious growers (from 15 countries) since opening their doors at 309 E. Lake Street in downtown Petoskey in 1993. These fresh roasted beans are then blended into all kinds of beverages including the delicious Milky Way Mocha, Mallow Cup, Butterfinger Mocha, or Raspberry Mocha Crème. You’ll also find chai, matcha, and hot chocolate options, along with a slew of pastries, breakfast foods, sandwiches, and soups. Roast & Toast is even a featured setting in the novel, The Penny, written by local author Stewert James.
Photo credit: Dianna Stampfler
One of Walloon Lake’s most eclectic shops is the Vintage Mercantile, a 1905 repurposed cottage sitting at 04120 M-75, loaded with all kinds of antiques and quaint décor. Tucked in the back is the Rumpus Room Coffee Bar, where owner and barista Katy Ross whips up specialty coffees, mochas, and lattes—like the mouthwatering crème brûlée latte. Order a mug of something hot and creamy and settle in beside the fireplace and ward off the coldest of winter days.
Small groups find that Wildwood Coffee Co., at 3464 S. Straits Highway in Indian River, is the perfect spot to gather to talk shop, discuss books, or just chat about life. The themed drinks change with the seasons, but all your favorite mochas and lattes are also available, as are a variety of smoothies, teas, scratch-made pastries, scones, cupcakes, muffins, bagels, and avocado toast.
About the Author: Dianna Stampfler is the president of Promote Michigan and the author of the best-selling books “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” and “Death & Lighthouses on the Great Lakes.” She loves traveling around the Great Lakes state, with Hemingway country being among her favorite destinations.