Roasting Plant
660 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, 48226
Roasting Plant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
660 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI, 48226 - Phone (313) 782-4291
- Website https://roastingplant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Good for Working : Yes
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Mei F.
Reasonably priced, excellent coffee served by eloquent staff. Seriously..why did I ever leave my money at Germack or Starbucks? these folks win by a very long shot. I paid something like $2,50 for my medium Guatemala and it was the *real deal coffee*..soon they will need a license to sell stuff this strong and flavorful :P Pleasantly designed, industrial interior, outdoor seating, bike parking and great location right by campus matrius. Baristas finally know what they're doing, all staff encountered was seriously knowledgeable. I will drive there even if its not on my way
(5)Shelby L.
This is my favorite coffee spot in Detroit. The staff are always ready to field my questions and give really good recommendations. Everything is so crazy fresh it's the kind of coffee that actually tastes delicious black. They also have these Two Degrees bars that are really good and my bf liked the almond croissant. If you're tryna study this is a good spot,too. The place itself is small but it's inside a building with a nice lobby. I've only been here on off times but I hear it gets really busy.
(5)D M.
Excellent Espresso Roast and Americanos. Solid, strong and smooth ... No bitter bite at all ! Love the focus on the coffee... Although the tubing gimmick ain't my thang. No comment on the space yet - since it was still a bit under construction.
(5)Kara W.
As far as coffee goes, excellent. I will most certainly be back when we're downtown. It's not all show - although the tube things are really cool. The coffee was great. I'm not a huge coffee snob, dissecting every element of the roasting and teasing process. I just like my coffee strong but not bitter, and this definitely qualifies. Delicious. Very helpful staff, which is good since that menu is a tad overwhelming. Also, great location. Perfect for when you're hanging out at Campus Martius, working in a building nearby, or just in the general vicinity. Even nicer when there's food trucks around!
(5)Jess L.
Great spot for your caffeine fix. Mesmerizing tubes full of the beans you're about to drink. There are tons of bean options for the coffee connoisseurs out there. It's a little awkward waiting for drinks when there's a big enough crowd because the space is a little tight, but the buzz is worth it!
(4)Joe H.
This place is a coffee lover's Mecca! Right in downtown Detroit in Campus Martius. They roast every bean fresh in shop. You order the coffee you want to drink and the bean is vacuumed pumped through clear tubes fresh from the roaster to the brewer. Then ground according to the specific type of roast and brewed perfectly! You can buy their freshly roasted beans to take home with you too! It is an authentic coffee experience. If you don't like it, ( you must lack taste buds) there is always Starburnt coffee across the way.
(4)Amanda G.
My favorite coffee joint downtown! Love the variety, the freshly roasted and ground beans make for a perfect cup, and you never have to settle for old half and half. As an added bonus, the baristas are friendly instead of snooty as can sometimes happen in independent shops.
(5)Susan N.
Five stars for a quick coffee drop in! Nice staff, quick with a huge selection! Terrific desserts! Clean! Beautiful! Nice place!
(5)Sunny W.
This is my favorite coffee shop in Detroit! I make it a routine to come every morning at 7 and sit down for an hour and enjoy my supercharged coffee before work. PROS: + Great location in central Downtown (at Campus Martius) + Great concept. It's really cool to see the coffee beans shoot over to the blender when you order your cup. + Great hours. It's open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Perfect. + Extensive coffee menu. Lots of beans to choose from, and I especially like the *Supercharged* option (30% more coffee beans). + Fast WiFi, great clean seating. Some have power outlets. + Good prices. Slightly more expensive than a standard coffee shop but it's worth it. * Bonus tip: You get 5% off every purchase if you pay with a Gift Card (there is no minimum on how much money you need to load in order to get this). Overall a fantastic coffee shop for Downtown Detroit, and it's in my daily morning routine to go.
(5)Brittany L.
We stopped in here during the Movement Festival and got a couple of skinny vanilla lattes and a couple of the chocolate cookie dough bites. I'd recommend going here again :) Great coffee shop with lots of indoor and outdoor seating!
(4)Jesse A.
Concept of this coffee shop is interesting. Order coffee and fresh beans(based on what type you order) are transferred above your head from across a the store in a clear tube and are processed directly into a coffee maker- brewing fresh coffee. Coffee is a bit overpriced- large was $6. Ordering the correct coffee was a bit challenging. Overall I will return to this coffee shop.
(4)Sigmund V.
Great concept and even better coffee. Tried the Jamaican Blue and Tanzanian - both excellent and smooth. A former Starbucks engineer is the CEO and the pneumatic system is unique and entertaining.
(5)Carl M.
Best cup of coffee that I have ever had. Five stars for the best coffee house in Downtown Detroit. You have to taste the coffee yourself to understand what I am talking about. Sales associates courteous and friendly. Great view in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Definitely a 5 star coffee house. Carl M
(5)Debbie T.
Service is impeccable. They know their coffee. Walked 10 blocks everyday to get my coffee. Look out Starbucks.
(5)Stephen M.
Gimmick or fun technology here? I vote for technology. I enjoy good coffee, but felt a little overmatched by the offerings here (which is not a negative). My companion brought me here on my visit to Detroit. It's good that way, visiting a Detroit place--a bit of pizzazz with your coffee. They have tubes running coffee from here to there and when you place your order you feel the tech of your el primo brew being made for you. Make no mistake about it--very good coffee, seemingly made with the precision of coffee science. And will Detroit become the home of coffee scientists? Some good roasters abound--my fave still Chazzano's (Ferndale).
(5)Travis P.
Talk about a neat coffeehouse. Very modern style with the coffee tubes thought it is a great concept. I must say they have a excellent idea there. With both white and black beans the variety is endless. The service was great and they make a delicious mocha it was just what my morning needed. So great I had to get a second one. I would definitely recommend and return.
(5)Vivian D.
Nice space. We left with a mug and no coffee after the barista was snippy and put off by my order--nonfat latte with one shot of espresso. As a regular I can't judge the coffee just the atmosphere and the attitude.
(2)Erik S.
I'm sorry, but the espresso drink are not good here, and I doubt the coffee is good either. It is definitely not a "third wave" coffee shop as some have described it. Their espresso process is fully automated, which always produces an inferior quality drink. No one has yet created a machine that can replace the skill of even a good barista, much less a great one. The texture was thin, the microfoam was bubbly, the espresso was over-roasted. It wasn't undrinkable, but it wasn't far off. Unfortunately, I would not go here again.
(2)gary g.
Well, this place is unique. There are hoses going all around that go from different kinds of coffee beans to the machines. If you order Ethiopian, it goes shooting through the tube and gets made into your drink, impressive . The setting is really mod. So that's why the place gets a few stars. The actual cappuccino, though was only mediocre. I think they need some skilled baristas to actually pull them.
(3)Jordan R.
Love the variety of fresh roasted and unroasted coffee beans. The air powered tubes running all around the store give this place an industrial mad-scientist vibe--exactly how I like my coffee spots. I had the Brazilian dark roast, which was about as savory and nutty as they had. The fruity acidity after notes weren't too overbearing and they added a nice dynamic compared to the beans that I usually prefer. Hopefully will make it back before leaving town to grab some souvenir coffee!
(5)Tamara K.
Had a fantastic almond milk caramel latte. Absolutely fantastic!! Nice sized medium cup of coffee. Great atmosphere to sit and sip.
(4)Steven N.
Coolest aspect of this coffee shop is the roaster in it; it's literally built into the entire shop and you can watch them roast your coffee beans for you. In addition to that, they have coffee from all over the world and you can try every bean they sell in an individual cup. It's a great way to try unique coffees. I had the famous Jamacain Blue Coffee for the first time today. Don't know if I'll be spending 50$ on a LB of coffee anytime soon but the cup was worth it! Definite worth it and glad to see a good independant coffee roaster in downtown Detroit!
(4)Jon G.
Not a coffee drinker, but I am a fan of getting out of the office sometimes for lunch. So the other day I took a walk down to the Roasting Plant to grab something to drink. Got a San Pelligrino and a cookie and while it was a whopping $4, I understand. It is probably difficult to pay for a lease in a city that closes down at 5:30 five nights a week and has limited traffic on Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, Roasting Plant has this cool industrial feel and these giant tubes of coffee beans that get filled up using this suction-like process that reminds me of the tubes at a bank drive through. The process is noisy but unique. Check this place out if you need a coffee and don't mind Starbucks prices. It is Campus Martius so you can grab something to go and sit outside in the beach sand during the summer or in front of the ice rink in the winter.
(3)Matthew S.
Pass on this place if you want good coffee. go to urbanbeanco.com for good coffee a few blocks away. Pros: -Automated system means you'll get your drink faster. Cons: -Automated system means you'll get an espresso that was over/under-extracted. They have not been able to dial in their heat/timing/dosing to produce a solid shot on this system. -They don't take the time to steam the milk correctly. Its loose and doesn't mix with the crema in a cappuccino.
(2)Andrew K.
This is the best coffee in town. Food items are yummy too. I make time to stop in every time I am Downtown Detroit. Always a good vibe in this place too.
(5)Nina M.
I like the fresh coffee that is strong even if I don't get espresso. They offer perks for using a Roasting Plant gift card with saving 5% with each purchase. It is cool to watch the beans get roasted and shot across the building. I find that it is a convenient spot if you are already downtown at Campus Martius or other venues that are in walking distance. It is a small space, but the variety of coffee makes it worth the wait.
(5)Nellie T.
I just wanted to say that their Super Charged coffee is no joke. Seriously. I've been working kind of crazy hours lately, and thought I needed an extra jolt this morning. This was everything I needed and more. On the plus side, I'm getting a TON of stuff done - work stuff, set up a series of tweets to go out later, looked at a budget, and I'm even writing a yelp review. The downside is, I'm pretty sure I'm sporting a wide-eyed, crazy person look right now.
(5)Steve B.
We were visiting from out of town, and we are really into coffee. Lo and behold, there was this coffee place right by a bank of tasty food trucks. Inside is a Wonka-esque paradise of coffee vacuum tubes and cookie dough shots. We ended up coming here twice in one day, and even took some beans home. EXTREMELY well recommended.
(5)David P.
I understand neither the love nor the hatred for this place. It's a coffee shop that serves a decent cup of coffee, has some tables you can hang out at, and isn't named "Starbucks".
(4)Tony M.
Roasting Plant is a third-wave coffee shop that will do well in its highly trafficked location on Campus Martius. The prices are in line with non-Starbucks microroasters in the area, usually over $3 a cup. The added value is, of course, that they roast right in the shop (freshly roasted coffee beans must rest for up to 24 hours before brewing, so nothing is roasted to order). Enthusiasts may appreciate the self-serve by-the-pound tubes of both roasted and unroasted beans ($16 to $50 per pound). Disappointingly, the roasted coffees skew toward the dark. Most roasts are full-city or better. This means that, while the labels are different, the several roasts tend to same similar. It's weird to see a shop with roasting in its very name to shy away from lighter roasts, which better highlight the flavors of the various beans. Lots of people drink very-dark-roast coffee now. I'm not sure why that is, considering how bad it tastes. One hypothesis is that Starbucks forced it on us, and since we like the idea of liking Starbucks, we agreed to like the things Starbucks sells us. Why dark roast? At a certain point in the roasting process, any two beans will look and taste exactly the same: burnt. Selling mostly dark roasts as Starbucks does has the benefit of making consistency between big batches of roasted coffee beans easy to attain. The flip-side hypothesis is that Starbucks sold dark-roast coffee because people like to drink dark-roast coffee. I sense that the answer is probably in the middle somewhere. I like Roasting Plant because it's the only place in the city where you can buy three ounces of coffee that might have been roasted yesterday. That's an asset for any city. I'm lukewarm on Roasting Plant because I hate to see it blow an opportunity to peddle a real variety of roasted coffee. I think that most coffee drinkers would like a light-to-medium roast, especially a fresh one. (Starbucks's Blonde Roast, incidentally, is light only relative to its other offerings; to the rest of the world, it's medium-dark at least.) Great Lakes and Anthology are the city's best roasters, in my opinion. But they have fewer wacky tubes.
(3)Kent M.
First off, I'm not a coffee drinker. So when I happened to wander inside while running a downtown errand, I was pleasantly surprised by their whole setup. A factory-like contraption apparently portions out the right amount of coffee beans for each order, then sends them to a grinder, then on to the brewing portion of the process to complete the order. The prices were probably in line for a downtown location. My tea was one price, and I was able to select the size I wanted. I also noticed hot chocolate on the menu, as well as a few select pastries. Various creamers and sweeteners were available - a little of everything - something for everyone. Seating is available both inside the store and directly outside their doorway, but still inside the building. They have cool coffee mugs if you're looking for a Detroit souvenir to take home.
(4)Derrick Q.
I love the idea of more coffee shops downtown. This one is not for me. The frequent whiz bang of the crazy vacuum coffee machine is overwhelming, not charming. The coffee was fine. Plenty to choose from, almost to many options.
(2)Jeff B.
Jackpot! Coming in from out of town and needing some caffeine after a late night exploring Detroit, the Roasting Plant was the perfect place. The ambiance is cool, the coffee is excellent and the delivery system for getting your beans from storage to in-the-cup is way too cool. Nice staff, even bought a mug to bring home. Great place in an excellent location.
(5)Eli K.
Great place and massive coffee selection. I enjoy coming here on the weekdays just wish they opened a bit later.
(4)Giuseppe F.
A truly unique coffee shop. I was loving the fresh coffee aroma coming from the high tech roaster in front of the shop. Free wifi and outlets with USB all over the place. I will be back here next time I'm in town!
(5)Robert W.
I'm a "just a black coffee" guy and this was hands down, the best cup of coffee I've had in this town. If 75S traffic didn't suck is bad in the morning, I would go downtown daily just for their coffee.
(5)Heather E.
I love this place for a lot of reasons. One, it's great coffee. I've never had a bad cup from here. Baristas have always been friendly and helpful. The bean delivery is fascinating, I couldn't get over it at first. All in all, the only thing you really need to know about this place is that they serve great coffee and you'll never want to go to Starbucks again.
(5)Ian B.
The coffee here is really good, they have a amazing selection of beans from all over the world with many different flavors and strengths. Each cup of coffee is freshly ground and poured through the super awesome "bean shooter" im sure its not called that but i am. The same technology that sucks your money through pipes at the bank is being used here for their coffee makers. The computer system recognizes how big your order was and releases beans that are then sucked through the pipes and directed to the coffee maker that the server picks. it then grinds up the beans and brews you a fresh cup. The staff here is very nice, they always have a smile and ask you how your doing. The only downside i have found is the price, at a little higher cost than Starbucks the "speedway" coffee drinker is going to flip out at the prices. But for you that love great tasting coffee with actual flavor then its worth it. My current favorite is the motor city blend...
(4)Carly S.
Overall it's a great place to grab a cup of coffee. It's reasonably priced for the quality of coffee. The only thing I've tried that I wasn't impressed with is the chai latte. I wouldn't recommend it unless you like it on the spicy side.
(3)Jason M.
I was very surprised at my first trip to the roasting plant. When the staff begin to show us the incredibly complicated way with which they roast their beans I figured it would be a lot of show but not much to back it up. Fortunately this place blows Starbucks or Caribou and essentially every coffee shop that I can think of out of the water in terms of quality of their ingredients, taste, and drinkability of the beverages. While we're on the topic of a Starbucks comparison there really isn't a case to be made for Starbucks while you're in this joint. Not only do they have probably a dozen different types of beans to Starbucks's 2 or 3 but they let you sample any type you want. If I had to pick one word to describe their coffee it would be smooth. We also sampled a couple of the different types of croissants one plane and one spinach and ricotta. Both were quite good but perhaps a little difficult to justify the three dollar price tag for a relatively small item. If I work in the building that this is located in I probably come everyday so its a good thing for my budget steak I don't however from time to time it's a good treat and I highly recommend stopping by.
(5)Alexandra K.
I checked this place out during my lunch break today and I am a fan! It's nice to go to a local coffee shop and the inside is very interesting, modern, and clean. I liked the design with the tubes of coffee beans as well. The coffee I ordered came out quickly and was delicious. I like their logo on their cup too! Everything about this place is great, but it'd be nice if it was open a little later for a post-work coffee.
(4)Brian H.
By far the best cup of coffee that I've ever tasted. You truly get what you pay for. Staff was very helpful letting us sample any coffee before purchasing. Well worth it!
(5)Alex L.
Some of the best coffee I've ever had and I can be quite the snob. Very cool decor and friendly staff.
(5)Mary D.
The best coffee is right here. When I'm downtown, this is my coffee spot! The staff is awesome. Sometimes I prefer one over the other, only because how my coffees turn out. I don't always get it correct all the time. Also, the manager isn't very friendly but it still doesn't change the fact that I love my Americano's from here.
(4)Caleb Y.
This place is unique and does happen to make a good cup of coffee! They have many coffee beans from all over and they store them in unique containers that are then drawn to the brewing station by air pressure, much like the drive up bank teller. They say this ensures bean freshness! Also, they sell un-roasted beans...fun for the coffee aficionados. It was a great cup of coffee - reasonably priced. If I am ever in need of caffeine and am in the heart of the D...I will go back.
(3)Steve F.
The beans seem to be sourced with such care. It's a shame my barista wasted them by making a mediocre cappuccino (cortado's my usual drink; she had never heard of it). She boiled the milk, making a lofty, bubble filled and tasteless foam. Good thing she didn't have to pull the shot, which is executed by the semi automatic machines used at Roasting Plan's Detroit shop. Downtown Detroit deserves a great coffee shop. Roasting Plant disappoints.
(2)Suzanne V.
If you're a coffee lover, snob, or hipster--come to The Roasting Plant. I felt like a kid touring Willy Wonka's magical factory of coffee beans. Seriously. Once you choose your blend (and the options are overwhelming but well described) the beans come whizzing across the ceiling in clear tubes and are ground and brewed in front of you. I have never been disappointed in my coffee, and though some say the wait is long, it's about the same as Starbucks and less than Germak's. Get the cookie dough shots--a fun little treat!
(4)Kimberly B.
This needs more stars! Love this new coffee concept! Only 3 of these places exist and Detroit was chosen for this awesome fresh java! The other two are located in Manhattan. FRESH MADE TO ORDER COFFEE!!! Roasted in house and right in front of you in the wonderfully entertaining roasting tube mechanism thing! While this process is entertaining to watch, the aroma is very pleasant as well. The staff is friendly, warm and welcoming. They make your coffee quickly (after the beans are vacuumed from a coffee tube, they are ground fresh and then brewed!) and with a big smile! Skip your daily Starbucks visit and try some of the freshest coffee you will ever taste! Welcome to Detroit, Roasting Plant!
(5)ElizaDan M.
Yes! Such a rad place! Roasting right before you are very eyes. The coolest part of this place that I've never experienced anywhere else is after I order my drink they asked which roast of espresso beans did I want. I have never been to a place that had options for roast of your espresso shots. So cool!
(5)Cari M.
Good coffee is a VERY important part of life. Roasting Plant delivers! The service was extra friendly and they have a great menu with helpful descriptions of the different coffee. The atmosphere here is very business like - which is expected given the location. Still the large windows provide a great view of the surrounding buildings and streets. I found it inspiring. Though the coffee was above average it still didn't beat out my favorite - ASTRO! Just the pour over method alone helps brew the perfect cup of coffee - including making it perfect temperature wise. You just can't expect the same quality in comparing pour over ... that being said I still really enjoyed the coffee here - I had the Ethiopian Harrar and it was quite frothy as if it were a latte. It was flavorful and did not need any cream or sugar. Look forward to trying out different coffee here in the future- so much to choose from - really glad this place opened up where it did .. it is a great addition to the Detroit coffee shop options.
(4)Lynn H.
Good coffee, quick service, and fantastic location. During the warmer months, nothing perks up the work day like a good cup of coffee enjoyed with coworkers at Campus Martius.
(3)Anne H.
Cool atmosphere, great pastries, coffees are not bad. HOWEVER, all of the baristas were clueless when I asked them about the Fair Trade certification. Today, the barista thought I meant "organic" - hmm, I understand if you don't have fair trade coffee available, but at least be knowledgeable about it. Coffee shops should be more aware of their coffee bean suppliers and verify their trade practices.
(2)Raphie B.
I was expecting to love the Roasting Plant. I made a special stop one Saturday morning to try them out and, while the coffee was OK, it was nothing special. The coffee bean system is visually interesting, but ultimately, added little to my coffee drinking experience. If I worked nearby I'd have no problem picking up the occasional latte, but I won't make a special trip here again. The vibe up the road at Great Lakes is more comfortable, and the coffee is better.
(3)Alexis Z.
I keep coming back here because I live in the neighborhood and keep finding it disappointing. I mean--the ambiance is nice and the location is central. The concept is cool and the pastries are good. But the coffee... It's not good. Maybe it's me? I'm a dark roast lover. I want my espresso bitter and thick like Italian mud. Isn't this normal for some? I just don't get why they have a bunch of light roasts and can't cater to customers like me. I must not be alone. Please add a dark roast to your menu?
(2)Randy P.
The Good: Love the coffee here. its not bitter and it is bold. The whole air around this place smells of coffee. The whole setup is amazing how they use pneumatics's to shoot roasted beans to the grinder to give you the freshest cup possible. The Bad: The place is small and can get pretty cramped when they are busy. The decaf for some reason takes longer to brew than any other coffee in there (Odd) The Ugly: The Hours... I know they continue to expand the hours of operation, but it still is not open late enough.
(4)David L.
Starbucks move over! If you appreciate the flavor of gourmet coffee (without all of the fluff) look no further than the Roasting Plant in Campus Martius. I am highly addicted to their made to order (like all of their blends) Hawaiian Ka'au coffee. Drink it black and thank me later! A+
(5)Lindsey S.
Stopped here when I was on a business trip. The coffee cake is delicious and so is the coffee! Great atmosphere. Outdoor patio, friendly staff. Oh, and the music they play ain't bad either!
(5)Christopher C.
Not the coolest atmosphere for hanging out compared to most third-wave coffeehouses, and the tubes of beans remind me more of jellybean stores than coffee, but you're across the street from the park/beach/fountain/stage so who cares, really. The coffee is outstanding, and being able to select from a large number of beans on-the-spot is both unusual and great. I've tried a couple...terrific. And the staff is incredibly warm, nice, friendly, and knowledgeable. My favorite Detroit espresso.
(4)A W.
I love this place. They have a wide selection of coffee that they roast on-site every day and then grind and brew on demand. No stale coffee-pot coffee here - everything is made to order. Awesome. Employees are super friendly and their recommendations are spot-on. Prices are comparable to any big city coffee shop. I go here at least 3 times a week, every week.
(5)Kaitlin Y.
Scenery of downtown Detroit goes great on a rainy day and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. And when I say fresh, I mean delightfully fresh. I got a Guatemala Antigua, which is one of my favourites as it is- but roasting it on site? Even better. The baristas are very nice, and the atmosphere as a whole is relaxing.
(4)Allen L.
Really good coffee. Not been thrilled with the espresso, but some of the cups have been quite nice. Nice space - great setting - big windows - spotlessly clean - nice staff.
(3)John B.
If you are a true coffee aficionado, you will love this place. One of the coolest places in downtown Detroit. Of much higher quality and much better service than Starbucks hands-down. If only they could come up with their own version of a sexy Mexican!
(5)James H.
A bit too kitschy for my taste, but not bad. Could do without the techno and house music. The coffee is enough to get you buzzing.
(3)Engineer A.
The coolest coffee shop in Detroit, and has a great variety that you wont find anywhere else. The 4 stars, instead of 5, is for the price. A little pricy for a coffee, but still wont stop me from going there.
(4)C H.
I am addicted to the coffee here. It's become part of my daily routine. If you're looking for something other than coffee, as for one of their tea lattes or their frozen coffee drink. Both are fabulous
(5)Chase A.
I'll keep this review short and simple because, c'mon, it's a coffee shop. I like that the drip is made from freshly ground beans, and that you're able to pick from a variety of roasts. It is a genuinely good cup of coffee for a cool $2, and hey, you can even get ice cold milk instead of milk that's been sitting out on a table all day. Hooray for good, inexpensive coffee in a super convenient downtown location.
(4)Kelly S.
The Roasting Plant reminded me that I drink crap coffee every day. I decided to work from here in between meetings and order a cup of Joe. This is the most amazing cup of coffee I've ever had - it's so creamy, delectable and smooth. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly.
(5)Mars L.
I must agree with some reviewers - the coffee is nothing special, but the atmosphere is chill and the contraption used in obtaining the beans is funky and definitely adds to the experience. Unless you work or live downtown, or visit on a weekend morning (when there is nothing going on downtown), your attempt to find a parking spot may be futile. Great view of Campus Martius Park.
(4)Allyson G.
Quick walk away from financial district, Ren Cen and Cobo Center. This coffee shop allows you to make a custom mix of beans to your taste preference. You can even customize a cup! The croissants are heavenly and they have "shots" of cookie dough!
(5)Robert A.
Great coffee. Cool bean handling machine
(5)Erin L.
On my first visit, I was particularly impressed with the friendly attentive staff and helpfulness of the barista. I ended up getting a soy caramel latte with custom espresso beans that the barista recommended. The latte was incredible- complex and flavorful with the right hint of sweet.
(5)Leslie B.
In Detroit for our International Convention and decided to grab a cup of coffee- so glad we came by! It was really cool to see their set-up for freshly roasted beans and the blend we tried, the Guatemalan, was tremendously satisfying. There was just one guy working their at the time, and he was happy to explain their roasting process and helpful in making recommendations, and overall very friendly. It had a nice atmosphere and wasn't too expensive. I expected it to be overpriced with their fancy roasting display, but very reasonable for a cup o joe and certainly felt like more of a treat than Starbucks.
(5)Roab P.
The most interesting coffee shop. Each cup of coffee is brewed to order. Very pricey but I would pay $4.50 for a large cup of Jamaican blue mountain any day! Yes, they have Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee!
(5)Jenn A.
The baristas are friendly and know their stuff. Campus Martius is right there, we were able to enjoy our coffee outside watching the fountains do their thing on a beautiful June day. And FREE wi-fi is always a plus. If you LOVE coffee, please try this place.
(5)Michael H.
There are coffee shops and coffee roasters. This is a 5 star combination of both. These guys have some the highest quality coffee I've ever tasted: great beans, super blends and perfectly roasted--all day, every time. This is easily one of the 5 best cups I've ever had. Perfect in every way.
(5)Stuart D.
I was in the mood for a large cup of coffee. I walked into the newly opened Roasting Plant knowing that I first needed to find the menu so that I could translate my need for a "large" into whatever they wanted to call it. It was bewildering to say the least. For some reason, this gourmet-level coffee shop decided to name their large coffees, get this now... "large". Let that sink in for a moment. It's ok. Your brain will start normal functioning soon enough. Beyond that, the quality of the brew is divine. The beans are sucked up on demand for a freshly ground and freshly brewed cup of coffee that, at this point, is unmatched outside of my own kitchen. The experience is perhaps a little daunting at first as you start to realize that you are about to be given full reign over your choice of beans and the near infinite combination possibilities. Once you're passed that, everything is a breeze and the end result is great. If you're a cream and sugar person, do yourself a flavor favor and take a sip of the pure nectar. I think that you will be surprised by the smoothness that the naturally formed crema brings to the equation. I am looking forward to becoming a regular.
(4)Yelper Y.
You walk in and you feel like you're on the set of Terry Gilliam's movie Brazil. The whirring of the coffee beans being sucked through the myriad of tubes is both exciting and unnerving as if you are in some bizarre dystopian dream. Like the tubes are so pneumatic!! In this Brave New World of Java I decided to try the Sumatra Red Badger that is suppose to have a hint of Wild Truffles. It was kind of like smoking a Marlboro Red I'm definitely awake now. I think I can learn to love the Roast Plant ;) They need to have Aquarela do Brasil playing in the background to complete the motif at least to satisfy what I envision in my mind. I know this review sounds like some twisted doublespeak but when only having one cup of coffee from the place the visuals are so striking they must be written about. So come check out Brazil... I mean the Roasting Plant. It's definitely unique and something Starbucks should be afraid of.
(4)Nikki R.
Ordered the coffee shake. Tasted the Blue Mountain. Good quality coffee, delicious and creamy. The blue mountain was creamy just served black. I went during lunch hour. The place had no ambience-even the people on their laptops looked like the working dead. Service was not friendly at all (especially Brewer #6, other girl was nothing to write home about either). Maybe service will be better next time, til then I'll just go for a good coffee. Don't recall any music. Experience was not memorable. Detroit is trying to be something that it is not. You can bring the coffee and the fashion and the streetcars here, but you can't change the people.
(4)Michelle K.
The Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee tasted like it was authentically from Jamaica. Very impressed with the staff, ambiance, and the coffee! Will visit again when I'm back in Detroit.
(5)Mobe S.
Great coffee, quiet atmosphere. Major downfall --- Hours Open for Operation. They close at 5pm.. So if you live downtown this place won't be open after work. Wah Wah..
(5)Sara C.
I am so happy this place finally opened in my office building, FNB (First National). Beans roasted before your very eyes, and a huge selection of 'em. Know someone who's picky about what they like to taste in their joe? Take 'em here, and the staff will come up with a blend. It's pretty cool to see the beans shoot through the tubes and into your cup of coffee. Two thumbs up for the Sumatra they had at the shop yesterday, which was simply divine. I'm curious about the $48/lb Jamaican beans they have, so that might be my next conquest. Oh, and the half & half is on TAP. Most importantly, it's just AWESOME to have another coffee option downtown. Welcome to the D, RP!
(4)Max K.
Possibly the country's coolest coffee shop. A system of vacuum tubes sucks beans into the roaster, then into their storage containers - all in the center of the store. When you order your coffee, the beans are then sucked straight to the grinder & brewed fresh right there. I'm a coffee geek & despite these gimmicks, they still do a great job bringing the best out of their single-origin beans.
(5)Rachel M.
Finally, a place that makes the cup of coffee I deserve! The location is perfect, right next to Campus Martius. They've got an expansive choice of coffee flavors and yummy sounding lattes. They make a mean dirty chai latte. The only critique is that they close around 5, which isn't conducive if you're looking to grab a cup o' joe after work. At any rate, even if you're not a coffee lover, you should go to watch the beans fly through the overhead tubes!
(4)Stephanie C.
My coffee was a great pick-me-up. The staff was friendly and warm and yes the air pressure-generated bean containers add an element of whimsy to the experience. The Roasting Plant has a perfect location right near Campus Martius Park but I think what I love most is the resurgence of amazing coffee shops in the area, in general. From Astro Coffee to Great Lakes to this spot, there are countless wonderful options across the city - all of them new over the past couple of years. Keep it coming, Detroit.
(3)Justin C.
First time being here, nice environment, great coffee, pretty strong if you don't drink coffee often.
(5)Daniel L.
Folks, this is an understatement. The coffee served at the Roasting Plant for most of us will be the best we have ever tasted. I have tasted coffee in many different forms all over the globe and this was hands down the best. I have been to Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, South America and Europe. Folks, as you enter the door take in a coffee shop you have not seen the likes of. There are only three Roasting Plants in the world, and thus, only three coffee shops like this in the world, two on Manhattan island in New York and the other is this one in Detroit, Michigan. Fresh roasted coffee seeds made into fresh coffee. This is living coffee. The theory is after roasting the coffee seed, the seed remains living for one week. In its roasting the coffee seed goes through hundreds of chemical reactions becoming something we know little about. Some say it was actually the fuel for the Renaissance period, a leftover spoil in Vienna from the defeated Turks - the fresh roasted coffee shop. For maximum impact this living coffee needs to be drank within this one week window. Well, the theory is practiced at the Roasting Plant. Order a medium coffee. Hold the cup in your hand and first observe. Its frothiness is unlike any cup of coffee you have ever seen. Then use your nose and smell the many aromas. Take your time and appreciate what your senses present to you. And finally take a taste without any added condiments. Pause, mediate, muse, appreciate, the way coffee was meant to be presented to a person. And then if you must, ruin your cup of pure joe by putting sugar and/or cream/milk in it. If you must put the smallest amount. Then as you sip on your coffee, have a deep conversation; have a philosophical musing; read a deep book; study; invent; listen to music, brainstorm and/or go for a long walk experiencing downtown Detroit and the riverfront walk. Open your senses to experience the fullness of life, just you, Joe, some friends or whoever you might meet. :)
(5)Brian B.
A uniquely fun and pleasant coffeehouse experience-- for all the right reasons. Seeing the silos of fresh green coffee beans being roasted in the center of the room, creating a smell you very rarely smell, is extremely satisfying. As is the opportunity to purchase a half pound of beans just moments after they are roasting-- you can brew your freshest cup ever at home, in addition to enjoying it here. I thought that their selection was impressively wide, their recommendations accurate, and their execution close to perfect (sampled four different drinks). I hope that they will experiment with staying open late (i.e. 9, 10, or midnight) as critical mass continues to grow downtown.
(5)Jaclyn S.
Coffee is good. Hot chocolate is great. I love how they serve at a temperature that you can actually drink. Location is great and the decor is very nice. Here are my dings...javabot is an awesome contraption, however, it is very loud. You would not want to conduct a meeting here. I think there are plans to expand, so that may help with the noise level. The cup sizes are small. Even their largest size is a small at some other places, which is fine if that's the size you want, but will not last you very long. I will say, it is very refreshing to have a coffee shop, other than Tim Horton's, in the downtown area.
(3)Rob B.
Very good service and a unique concept - its robotic it's literally built into the entire shop and you can watch them select your beans via pneumatic tubes and grind your beans to order and you get fresh ground coffee in your cup. Can order by bean, combinations of beans up to 4 types. Only 3 of these exist in the US 2 in NYC and this one in Detroit. On my first visit I had Guatemalan and Brazilian beans - very smooth, 2nd visit Roasting plant blend - not in the league with the previous selection - too harsh, 3rd visit Jamaican Blue Mountain - A luxury but mmmm. Prices reasonable for quality coffee. I bring all my out of town visitors here - it's such a unique concept. Check it out ! While you are in the area check out the pictures of the building in years gone bye further down the main hall and walk over to the Guardian building just west on Griswold - it's an architectural gem.
(4)Lola D.
They really do have excellent coffees. For my taste, I always prefer the Ethiopian and generally, African coffees. Try Ethiopian Harrar, it has a great flavor even when it cools down.
(5)Mr D.
Ok. I say "best coffee ever" a lot but the Ethiopian Sidamo Ardi is one of the few times that the term "fruity" coffee has been true for me
(5)Ryan P.
Still as awesome as ever. Now that they are fully established and working normal hours the offerings have gotten even better. They frequently rotate their beans and bring in special micro roasts. Roasting plant is also now featuring baked fresh daily sweets such as lemon cakes, berry swirl cakes, cookies, and more. The coffee here is consistent and always excellent.
(5)Adam M.
Surprisingly affordable for its downtown locations and shmancy setup. However, their coffee is served in glasses :( and the medium size is a pint glass :(:( Also, the coffee tastes the same as from a kuereg machine, which I don't care for and you could just have at home. The machine setup is a really cool piece I engineering, but it takes all the humanness and soul out of the coffee experience, which made me sad. Courage coffee in hamtramack, as a comparative example, had a much simpler and more straightforward setup, and results in better coffee and a more pleasant atmosphere. Ultimately, I'll say I'm glad we have this in Detroit; it's a cool thing for people spending their time downtown to have, and it's nice to have a source for buying unroasted beans and more bulk coffee in general, but I won't be adding to my list of favorite places to have coffee in Detroit and I won't be going out of my way to go here.
(2)Kaisa R.
Hands down best coffee in The D! Maybe even in Michigan... Just saying, it's THAT GOOD! While I like Great Lakes Coffee, it's waaaay over priced. And no, the coffee at the Roasting Plant does NOT taste anything like it came from a K-cup machine! You can't get crema like this from a K-cup, that's for sure. Bottom line: awesome coffee, great concept, and the almond croissant is delicious.
(5)Jason G.
they roast all their coffee varieties, in-house, in small 3lb batches and grind & brew every cup to order. you can actually have a seat at the bar and watch the entire process, as the beans are whisked overhead, through a series of clear vacuum tubes. good stuff. very interesting concept and delicious coffee.
(4)Komal A.
Great coffee. I had the Colombian (caffeinated kind). I thought the foam at the top of the cup was milk added to to coffee, so I asked and the barista said it was actually creme from the beans! I'll be coming back soon to try some more!
(5)Nancy g.
Read about it. Heard about it. Had to try it. It's OK. It has it's gimmick to set it apart from the rest. A Vanilla late. A Mocha late. OK. Not bad. The place has a great style/look. It's clean. It's in a nice location. Would I go out of my to get here? No. But if I was near by. Probably.
(3)