I

f I have one hope for 2018 — besides 
finishing 
school, 
graduating, 

figuring out life and finding my 

bigger purpose in this world — it’s to drink 
better coffee than I did last year.

Since I am coming to the final pages of 

this chapter of my college career, it would 
make sense for me to try “adulting” in all 
corners of my life. This includes the music 
I listen to, the things I eat, the things I 
say, the books I read, but also, the caffeine 
I drink. Which means putting away the 
Starbucks app and prioritizing quality 
over convenience.

There are many hidden gems in Ann 

Arbor. Like the fairy doors, there are 
some things you just don’t know until 
you do — and then, your life is changed 
forever because you can’t unsee or untaste 
pure greatness. RoosRoast isn’t really a 
secret, being voted the second best coffee 
shop in all of Michigan and sold in every 
nice grocery store in town, but it has an 

ambiance that is unlike any other cafe.

From the moment you walk into the 

oddly angled door, there’s something 
different. It smells like rich coffee beans, 
but so do most coffee shops. It’s something 
about the way the bright yellow wall paint 
lights up the room — who would have 
thought bright yellow paint could look 
something other than ugly? It actually 
lights up the entire interior and makes me 
smile from the inside.

I haven’t tried all of their roasts or 

teas yet, but it’s on my to-do list. The 
chai bomb is one of my favorite drinks 
so far. It’s something like a dirty chai 
without artificial sweetener. Sometimes I 
crave it so much, I’ll walk across campus 
to get one for the afternoon. Of course, 
the drip brews and espresso drinks are 
delicious. The “Bad Ass Women Blend” 
has this verticality to the flavor with fruity 
undertones; I sound like a snob, but even 
my amateur tongue can taste the depth. 

Tea drinkers, the turmeric ginger tea will 
soothe your anxiety and stress.

When you sit at their bar or at one of 

their tables, you start to forget you’re 
in Ann Arbor. It feels like Portland or 
Brooklyn or somewhere I’d like to be a 
freelance writer working on a new book 
— the romanticized part of the life of an 
artist I imagine, or take away from indie 
films. The colorful paintings, the sign 
“Welcome Badass Women,” the floating 
lobster, the hand-drawn logos. It’s buzzing 
with conversation and new ideas.

Beanies and beards and tie-dye shirts; 

it’s quirky like that. The names of the 
coffee beans and coffee bag covers are also 
creations of John Roos, the founder and 
owner. A native of Ann Arbor, Roos is an 
entrepreneur and artist. People and places 
from his life inspire his coffee roasts: Rich 
French Neighbor, A-A Cowboy, Portland in 
the 90s.

It has this personal, welcoming vibe. I 

hate the word “vibe,” it’s out of character 
for me. But honestly, it’s the only way 
I can describe it. Or by saying, “Go to 
RoosRoast” and you’ll get it.

I find myself getting annoyed at coffee 

shops on campus when all I overhear is 
the same break-up stories over and over. 
Inevitably, going to coffee chains seem to 
attract people of similar demographics, 
similar conversations and less diversity 
of thought — it becomes redundant to 
the dozens of coffee shops within a 
certain walking radius of campus. I get 
disappointed when people go to coffee 
shops without ordering a drink and 
taking tablespace. From what I can tell at 
RoosRoast, though, people are here for the 
experience. They come for the coffee, for 
the food, for the atmosphere. And stay for 
the taste, the energy, the vibe — at least, I 
know I do. It’s one of the coffee shops with 
the largest diversity of age, gender, color 
and everything in between.

Sure, the music may be too distracting 

if you are a regular library-goer or 
want to read in silence. I usually 
compartmentalize my work and choose 
where I study accordingly. I have trouble 
thinking about cell biology when I’m 
surrounded by artists and music and talk 
about renewable energies in downtown 
Detroit. But when I write or choreograph 
or compose, I like being in stimulating 
environments. It helps to be surrounded by 
other creative energies, to feel like you’re 
not pushing boundaries and imagining the 
unimaginable alone — it’s non-judgmental 
and tastes like possibility.

The baristas and staff are friendly, and 

it would make sense that they attract a 
similar crowd. I feel like it takes a certain 
type of person to say, “I want the Lobster 
Butter Love.”

If your New Year’s resolution had 

something to do with better coffee, here’s 
a good place start.

On their website, they write: “We are 

the home of Lobster Butter Love and 
highly caffeinated, freaky people who love 
coffee. You could call us drug dealers, but 
we deal in good vibes, and yes, caffeine. It’s 
not just a business, it’s a lifestyle. We roast 
coffee, we sell coffee, we make art.”

2B

Managing Statement Editor:

Brian Kuang

Deputy Editors:

Colin Beresford

Jennifer Meer

Rebecca Tarnopol

Photo Editor:

Amelia Cacchione

Editor in Chief:

Alexa St. John

Managing Editor:

Dayton Hare

Copy Editors:

Elise Laarman

Finntan Storer

Wednesday, January 31, 2018// The Statement 

Brews Through: Roos Roast

statement

THE MICHIGAN DAILY | JANUARY 31, 2018

BY YOSHIKO IWAI, COLUMNIST

Max Kuang/Daily

