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