Anthology Coffee
1948 division st suite 102, detroit, mi 48207
Past Eastern Market and just over the Dequindre Cut (great old rail line turned into a bike path) lies a jewel of coffee excellence for the lover of grit and minimalism blended with a good outside/inside seating area that allows one to linger.
Coffee:
The Orange Bourbon roast coupled with the Catuai espresso was inspiring. The coffee was indeed on the mark as creamy yet with a sweetness of the orange and grapes as advertised. A phenomenal espresso overlay with the coffee brought a smile.
Barista:
We were once again early arrivers (they open at 8; more on that later). The all in one barista/guide/king of the register was not overly friendly at first. We asked some questions about the coffee and then about biking and he lit up. He wanted to share his best rides in the city and became filled with pride about his love for and knowledge of Detroit. I wonder if we were not bikers, would this have been a hollow interaction? Alas, we broke out some maps and he showed us a couple of cool rides down the Dequindre Cut and then out to Belle Isle and then returning downtown on Grand. Once we got back to the hotel, we took his advice and loved our little biking adventure in the Motor City. He did mention to me that the espresso was “ala carte” which I found to be curious. The seating is great, with some outside tables and chairs and plenty of indoor seating. Interestingly, there are very few outlets and I am not sure if they even had wifi, so the working component might be tough.
Vibe:
We walked from downtown (about 2.5 miles) and through the Eastern Market (please check that out as a must stop while in Detroit). As you approach, it is reminiscent of another favorite coffee shop of mine called Blip Coffee in the West Bottoms of KC. Very industrial, yet you can see a bit of a renaissance coming into view. The shop sits directly off a great bike path and I see this as a trailhead in this neighborhood. A nod here to some great music in the cafe as well bringing back great memories of The Smiths, Joy Division and many others.
Make You Better
Coffee shops need to open by 7:00 AM in my opinion. I am not sure how you service the working clientele when you open at 8:00. Although I respect Andrew Huberman’s (nuerologist) on not having coffee until at least 90 minutes after waking up, I like a shop that hits it early. The food portion of Anthology is or was virtually non existent. The three choices were a pop tart, a doughnut and a croissant. I believe a little more thought to their food choices would be accretive. I did not see any sign of merch and with a name like Anthology, their choices here could be great. The display of coffee and equipment was nicely arranged. I am not a big “price” guy, but the cost of the coffee was clearly more than most shops I frequent. I love the taste, presentation and vibe… but Anthology is not for the faint of wallet.
Loving the ethos of Detroit and Anthology Coffee - “Always tasty” is indeed the mantra!
Womple on, Matt