25 Great Coffee Roasters in the Midwest

If you’re like millions of Americans who rely on several steaming mugs of coffee to get through the day, you probably buy your whole bean or ground coffee at your local grocery store. Those of you in the Midwest have a another choice: dozens of storefront roasters with shops in states like Illinois and Michigan.

We’ve found 25 exemplary roasters in those and other Midwest states that just may become your new favorite spot to get coffee.

Ohio

Rising Star Coffee, Cleveland

Nestled into city spots like the Hyatt Arcade and Little Italy in Cleveland is Rising Star Coffee. The roasters claim to make “relationship coffee,” which is defined as being keenly aware of where the coffee beans are sourced. You can rent The Roastery at the Hildebrant Building for events, which has seen dinners, dances and weddings.

Backroom Coffee Roasters, Galena

For a hot cup of arabica coffee, Ohioans have Backroom Coffee Roasters. The team here prepares the beans in one of two ways: the drip method and French press for an even deeper, richer flavor. Can’t get to Galena? Backroom sells its beans to ice cream shops, cafes, grocery stores and markets around Columbus.

Bent Tree Coffee Roasters, Kent

A small-batch coffee roaster in Kent, Bent Tree‘s logo is a turtle with a coffee cup for its shell. Founded in 2011, the staff here favors green arabica beans, which they roast to perfection, seeking out Fair Trade and organic coffees. They’ve even been known to prepare a peanut butter and jelly coffee, which has to be tasted to be believed.

Hemisphere Coffee Roasters, Mechanicsburg

Another roaster that cares about its partnerships with coffee harvesters from countries like Nicaragua and Indonesia is Hemisphere Coffee Roasters. That’s why this shop prefers direct-trade coffee so those coffee farmers thousands of miles away can still make money. Can’t get enough? Shop Hemisphere coffee right on their website.

Crimson Cup Coffee, Columbus

The Crimson Cup name began in 1991, and today helps independent coffee shops get started. The roaster has two coffee shops, both offering handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks: you’ll find Crimson Cup in Clintonville and Upper Arlington, both close to Ohio State.

Michigan

White Pine Coffee, Lake Orion

White Pine Coffee is a micro-roaster, meaning they make smaller batches of coffee at a time. They regularly offer call-ahead tours of their headquarters, called the lumber camp, so coffee lovers can see exactly how the beans are processed and roasted.

Uncommon Coffee Roasters, Saugatuck

Stephen Keye and Guy Darienzo founded Uncommon Coffee Roasters back in 1994. The brand has grown since then, moving its roasting facility from Saugatuck to Douglas (although the cafe is in Saugatuck). The company uses cups and drink cartons made of composted materials, all of which are recyclable.

Schuil Coffee Co., Grand Rapids

A family business with a history that dates back more than 100 years, Schuil Coffee Co. is run by Greta Schuil. Many of the company’s traditions are still in play to this day, such as their supervised small batch roasting and preference for arabica coffee beans.

Madcap Coffee Company, Grand Rapids

Ryan Knapp and Trevor Corlett, two long-term friends, had already dabbled in coffee-making with their own Illinois cafe. However, Michigan turned out to be a better home for them, and, in 2008, they opened Madcap Coffee Company. Their menu of coffees changes regularly, with up to 20 varieties offered annually.

Great Lakes Coffee, Detroit

As Great Lakes Coffee says: “coffee is no longer a commodity. It defines a community. It tells their story. Local. Global. Everywhere in between.” It’s that credo that allows this roaster to forge partnerships with both nearby farmers and coffee harvesters the world over. The team  makes coffee with their specialized drum roasters, which are altered for “precise temperature controls and measurements.”

Indiana

Tinker Coffee Co., Indianapolis

As just a roaster (and not a cafe), Tinker Coffee Co. has a strong online presence where those outside of Indianapolis can buy its blends. Do you want to make coffee like the staff here does? Enroll in ‘cupping’ classes and make sure to check the event calendar to see what other cool activities Tinker has brewing.

Needmore Coffee Roasters, Chesterton

Organic coffee that’s good for the environment and for the farmers who produced it? That’s Needmore Coffee Roasters’ main goal. The shop, founded by Katie Mysliwiec, regularly gives back to local gardening groups and with an annual donation to a children’s lunch program in Nicaragua. Fair Trade certified, Needmore has direct trade bonds with farmers from around the world.

Bee Coffee Roasters, Indianapolis

Having received awards from local publications, Bee Coffee Roasters should be on every Indianapolis coffee lover’s radar. This small batch shop has its own cafe in the city’s downtown Pan Am Plaza as well as a roastery. Look for live events hosted at both locations.

Limelight Coffee Roasters, Indianapolis

Encouraging coffee drinkers to “let your light shine through,” Limelight Coffee Roasters started after founder Liz Laughlin moved to Oregon and got into beer brewing. She visited several states on her brewing journey, changing her drink along the way from beer to coffee. It was a smart move, as Limelight’s craft roasting attracts many supporters.

Julian Coffee Roasters, Zionsville

The secret to the rich coffees from Julian Coffee Roasters is all in the technique: “we hand-roast each bean to its peak flavor in batches as small as five pounds and no larger than 30 pounds.” When not preparing coffees, the team participates in its own charity called Java for a Cause, which supports youth groups, schools, colleges and nonprofits with each coffee sold.

Wisconsin

Big Water Coffee Roasters, Bayfield

A worker-owned cooperative on the shores of Lake Superior, Big Water Coffee Roasters is known for its creative blends. The cafe and roastery offers Red Beard Espresso (with milk chocolate and caramel), the Burro Blend (with notes of citrus) and Moon Chaser (with cocoa flavors), among others.

Ruby Coffee Roasters, Nelsonville

Preferring Nelsonville to Milwaukee because of its proximity to farmers and restaurants, Ruby Coffee Roasters is a natural fit for the tiny neighborhood. Of course, if you live outside of Wisconsin, Ruby sends its coffees to major cities like Miami, Seattle and New York City. Want more? Ruby offers subscription packages that include sample packs, 12-ounce packs or five-pound bags.

Stone Creek Coffee, Milwaukee

Since 1993, Stone Creek Coffee has promoted what it calls a philosophy of “farm to cup”. The self-branded “coffee geeks” explain that philosophy: “we work directly with farmers at origin countries in order to ensure transparency of story and quality of product is delivered to the final consumer.” Check out Stone Creek’s regular newsletters or request a tour at their headquarters.

Valentine Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee

With shops in Drexel Town Square and Oak Creek, Valentine Coffee Roasters has become a mainstay in Milwaukee. The store believes in “the premise that coffee begins as a fruit, uniquely evocative of a particular time and place.” They prefer their beans on the sweeter spectrum than some roasters, which is why their coffees like Brazil Mogiana (“like roasted nuts in a bar of dark chocolate) and Bali Blue Moon (“with a surprisingly long, dark chocolate finish”) work so well.

Colectivo Coffee, Madison

With three cafes in Madison and more than a dozen in Milwaukee, it’s hard to miss a Colectivo Coffee outlet. Founded in 1993, the store stays true to its values, which include relationships with coffee farmers around the world.

Illinois

Two Brothers Brewing Company, Naperville

With two other locations in Illinois—Aurora and Warrenville—and a store in Scottsdale, Arizona, Two Brothers Brewing Company is making quite a name for itself. Jason and Jim Ebel founded the brand in 2012, and offer both beer and coffee. The Ebels brand their drinks as “craft with a conscience.”

Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago

San Franciscans Emily Mange and Doug Zell relocated to Chicago in 1995, and opened Intelligentsia Coffee. The two make direct-trade coffee and both fly out to work with farmers all over the world in Guatemala, Rwanda and Peru. “In the broadest terms, these coffees should be understood as a true collaboration, with both sides investing a great deal of time, energy and ideas to produce something great,” they say.

Tugboat Coffee, Addison

Erik Barkley, who founded Tugboat Coffee, also brews the coffees that make this Addison shop so popular. He and his team help budding coffee roasters get started, offering barista training and selling wholesale nitro cold brew machines and other coffee equipment.

Goshen Coffee Company, Edwardsville

Ever have air-roasted coffee? Goshen Coffee Company makes its coffee this way, which requires a “small jet engine.” The Secret Stash blend, available online, includes a variety of coffees from all over the world, like Secret Stash Ethiopia with Shilcho red cherries or Secret Stash El Salvador with local honey.

Bow Truss Coffee Roasters, Chicago

Come get a drink at any of Bow Truss’ nearly dozen Chicago shops. With wholesale coffee available online (and in the store) and a subscription service where customers can select their favorite kinds of coffee, there are lots of ways to drink Bow Truss. Would-be brewers can learn more about the craft by enrolling in a coffee brewing class onsite.

images by:
Jordan Whitt, Mark Daynes, Jeremy Ricketts, Blake Richard Verdoorn, Natalie Collins

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