O
ver the past weekend, Ann
Arbor was hit by a heavy 8.5-
inch snowfall. Right when you
thought it was over, the blizzard would
start up again right where it left off, which
makes it nearly impossible to leave the
comfort of your slip-free, warm apartment.
Netflix is too convenient and you settle
for the Keurig. You convince yourself
Swiss Miss hot chocolate will suffice. And
naturally, trudging through the tundra
to any crowded library or coffee shop
becomes less and less appealing.
This week, I’ve decided to stay close to
home, at the heart of campus.
Often overlooked for its economical
seating and sophisticated nature, Comet
Coffee is an Ann Arbor gem. Centrally
located near campus, the coffee shop
is accessible from Nickel’s Arcade. The
hanging plaque and mint-colored table
set completes the arcade’s picture — the
classic barber shop, the campus florist and
a boutique in its close vicinity. It feels like
walking into a postcard.
Since 2009, the coffee shop has served
drip coffee to order and prides itself on
its quality espresso. The menu is modest.
It’s not the place to order a customized,
non-fat, grass-fed, gluten-free, free-range,
sugar-free, vegan, zero calorie frappuccino
in a hand-woven hemp sleeve — if that’s
what you want.
But, it is the place for coffee crafted with
care. They have an extensive selection of
pour-overs if you like to enjoy coffee beans
like different wines, and they have teas if
you are on a caffeine diet. Though the food
selection may make sticking to any other
type of diet difficult — it’s hard to find a
vegan chocolate chip cookie that tastes
richer than a regular cookie with two
sticks of butter in it.
Ahead of the curve, Comet has already
mastered the art of making espresso drinks
with oat milk. They are one of the only two
places in Ann Arbor I know of that serves
oat milk, which, in my humble opinion, is
part of the next generation of plant-based
products. With oat milk, you can still be
eco-friendly and healthy, which almond
milk won’t let you do without contributing
to the California drought.
I am an avid Americano drinker,
but sometimes I crave milk. Or milk-
containing hot drinks, especially when it’s
negative-degrees Fahrenheit out and the
streets are covered in snow. My go-to is a
cappuccino. It seems to be the perfect ratio
of espresso and milk for me — a latte is too
much, a macchiato too little. If you want to
change it up, I recommend trying Comet’s
oat milk cappuccino with a pastry on the
side — your body will thank you. And so
will the environment. I don’t have any
dietary restrictions, but I genuinely think
it tastes better this way.
Besides the high-quality drink and
food, the place itself is worth spending
an afternoon. During the summer, the
outdoor seating is a good turnaround
point if you’re walking your dog or need
some shade, but the winter weather calls
for indoor warmth. I forget there’s a
blizzard and mounds of snow on every
other part of campus when I’m here. And
that’s a metaphor for Comet being a haven
from other things besides snow — the
encroaching thesis deadline, graduation,
life.
Comet keeps two of their four tables
for non-laptop use. And, not surprisingly,
the customers respect those rules. People
come to Comet to enjoy conversation
and company of a person or a good book.
They also have window seating, which is
comfortable for catching up on emails or
writing a column. I would add watching
lectures, but because the piped-in music
is too good, I wouldn’t recommend
headphones.
Today, they play all of the songs that are
mentioned in Haruki Murakami’s book
“Norwegian Wood.” The music, like the
book — like the coffee, like the baristas —
is thoughtful. Whether sitting here with a
warm ceramic cup takes you back to Tokyo
in the 1960s or just a break from today’s top
hits, it’s a pleasant getaway.
I can’t help but look at the ring collection
in the antique store across from Comet
and imagine how old the rings are, who
they belonged to, where they’ll go next.
And wonder where I’ll be in a year too.
It’s a good place for people-watching and
making eye contact if you like having
imaginary conversations with strangers
like me. The pendant globe lights that
hang in the arcade and inside Comet
are reminiscent of a Parisian city street,
though I can’t say for sure because I’ve
never been.
It’s kind of a miracle that a place like this
exists in such close proximity to campus
buildings and Skeeps, for however much
longer it remains. I distinctly remember
my first time walking into Comet as a
freshman, feeling slightly intimidated by
its intimacy. As I sit here four years later,
comfortable calling Ann Arbor my second
home, I hope others get to experience the
comfort of a place like this.
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
Cover Illustration:
Tyler Krantz
Wednesday, February 14, 2018// The Statement
Brews Through: Comet Coffee
statement
THE MICHIGAN DAILY | FEBRUARY 14, 2018
BY YOSHIKO IWAI, COLUMNIST
Courtesy of Yoshiko Iwai