Fall is in the air, making it the perfect time of year to cozy up with an espresso or pumpkin spice latte at one of our many coffee shops around Kalamazoo. While Kalamazoo is especially known as a craft beer town, it is quickly becoming known for its craft coffee as well. 

1-Something’s Brewing

The first to stand out is Kalamazoo’s first and oldest coffee shop, Something’s Brewing. Located in downtown Kalamazoo, it is perfect walking distance to the Kalamazoo Mall to walk while sipping your brew. If you choose to stay and visit, they have cozy space by the window or the back of the shop. Something’s Brewing was first opened in 1984 and is still in the original location, with a few updates on the décor.  They offer some unique craft java drinks from their WhatchaMintCall-It with chocolate, peanut butter, and mint to your traditional mocha or caramel latte. 

2-Walnut & Park Cafe

As their website states, there is a lot more to Walnut & Park than a rich batch of brew or a fresh blueberry muffin. Their story begins with the people behind the espresso machine. Most of Walnut & Park employees are residents of KPEP, an innovative community corrections provider based here in Kalamazoo. The men and women who prepare the lattes, cinnamon rolls, sandwiches and salads are students or graduates of the KPEP culinary arts program — a  vocational program developed in partnership with Canteen Services and the Michigan Career & Technical Institute. After a 10-week training program, men and women who have been incarcerated are equipped with the job skills they need to help turn their lives around, live independently and contribute to the community. How awesome is that?

3-Factory Coffee

Factory Coffee is a small, family-owned coffee roastery and café. They roast their coffee right here at home with a zero-emissions roaster, reducing the carbon footprint of every pound of coffee by 90%! With over 20 years of coffee experience, Factory Coffee strives to offer the highest quality coffee possible. You can visit their original location with still-lingering industrial vibes and a unique look. 

Factory Coffee also offers food options including waffles on

a stick, breakfast sandwiches and a lunch special using biscuit and bread baked by

The Victorian Bakery. You can also find their coffee at local farmers markets, and now at their coffee bar located inside the PFC Grocery store. For the extreme of coffee lovers, you can get a monthly subscription of three 12 oz bags delivered to your doorstep every month. To find their locations and see available subscriptions, visit their website at www.factorycoffee.com.

4-Water Street Coffee

A staple here in Kalamazoo and Portage, Water Street Coffee offers more than just great coffee. Variety is key as they prepare an amazing breakfast and lunch menu, and in the evening, cocktails. Each location offers house-roasted coffee, a full espresso bar, loose-leaf tea, shakes, smoothies and homemade food. And as fall is in the air, Water Street is now offering their fan-favorite Sweet Potato Pumpkin Turnover, as well as new additions like their Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mini Coffee Cake, Fall Harvest Salad, Salted Caramel Coconut Macaron and much more! 

5-Rose Gold Coffee Company

This is another shop you will not want to miss downtown (and it is within walking distance to the Kalamazoo Mall). The owners think coffee needs a new ‘flavor,’ if you will, in Kalamazoo. There are a lot of shops that have been here for a long time and stayed the same. Rose Gold wanted to take a step forward into modern coffee and try new things. 

Rose Gold Coffee serves pour-overs and filtered coffees, manual brews and hand-crafted espressos using freshly roasted coffee beans from Pittsburgh-based Commonplace Coffee Company and Michigan-based Littlefoot Coffee Roaster. 

For your appetite you can find vegan-friendly cookies, muffins, scones, sticky buns, cheesecake, pie and beer bread—all made with ingredients from the Natural Health Center in Westwood Plaza. Milk options are aplenty, and non-milk options to cater to those who are lactose intolerant or nut-allergic. Homemade flavorings including lavender, vanilla, pumpkin & caramel, offer sweet notes to your coffee drinks.

No matter which local coffee shop you choose to visit, each one is unique in its own way. Each of these amazing locations offers something for everyone. I encourage you to visit them all to support your local community during these tough times. Let me know what your favorite coffee shop or coffee is and tag me at @thekalamazoofoodie! I would love to hear your feedback. It’s coffee season! Really, every day is a good time for coffee.