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

