Local Coffee Shops

Flying Rhino downtown has some good coffee. Or so I hear. I'm not a coffee drinker but the people in my office really like the coffee from Ralph at Flying Rhino. They also sell tea, chocolate and Toft's ice cream. You can also try Drake's Coffee in Sylvania. It's in the same building as Bikeworks on Alexis Road. John Drake, the owner of Bikeworks roasts his own beans in the back of the bike shop. He has quite a large variety of beans. You can check out Flying Rhino at http://flyingrhinocoffee.com or Drakes Coffee at www.drakescoffee.com/

Here's my source for imported beans.

http://javacabana.com/

Want a bargain? Drive out W. Central into Sylvania Twp. Look for Caribou Coffee on the left side in a strip mall in the area where Meijers and Lowe's is. A single shot espresso will run about 60 cents.

Another nice shop is The Daily Grind. It's also in a strip mall at Airport Hwy & Apple Blossom (halfway between Holloway & Albon Roads).

As for regular brewed coffee, the best I've tasted is in Blissfield, MI in a quaint old shop called The Stable. It's right behind the Hathaway House. They don't open till 11:00 AM, though. A bit pricy ($1.95) but what the heck- you get what you pay for.

This is going to sound different, but The Andersons, Maumee Store and Talmadge Rd. Store haave those coffee shops in them, Very good and priced not bad! I love them. Everytime I go there I get one, and some days I go in just to get coffee, it's right inside the doors

Flying Rhino is actually uptown. if you're looking downtown.. or even more specifically the warehouse district... check out downtown latte on st. clair really really fantastic place http://www.downtownlatte.com/

Want a real good cup of joe, Go buy your self a decent coffee maker, a coffee grinder and pick yourself up some 8 O'Clock coffee from Meijers. 8 O'Clock has been around for a long time, used to be sold in A&P's when we still had them. It has a really decent turnover rate at least at the Meijer store on Alexis, so it pretty fresh. Grinding it yourself make a very very very big difference in freshness and taste. They have a few different styles to choose from, the red bag is the original and always good. The cream colored bag is vanilla, try substituting a table spoon of beans for a change. There is a purple bag, dark Italian, its pretty good. The brown bag is 100% columbian, its stronger as well but also good. These are all whole bean stay away from preground coffee, non of that stuff is fresh. There is a hazlenut but never seen it in whole bean.

A lot of stores have some whole bean coffee on the shelves but ask your self, how long has that bag sat on the shelf. Meijer has some fancy case with flavored whole beans, but looks like nobody has ever touched the stuff, not even sealed in bags.

Oops. Sorry about the downtown/uptown thingy. Was using "downtown as a generic term.

I am a coffee fiend myself. I prefer Bigby (Beaners) Coffee over Starbucks any day. I haven't been to any of the other coffee houses because they are not close by me or on my way to work.

I don't know what Starbucks puts in their coffee but it sure makes me sick.

You would be surprised to find that Speedway gas stations actually have some pretty good java juice happening. I used to stop every morning on my way to work for a 24 oz.

I like Georgettes in Maumee and the Flying Bean at Levis Commons.

starbucks tastes like burnt piss. i don't understand how they've managed to get into every nook & cranny of america.

if you're looking for a good chain, caribou (in the mall, and on central) is really good

Upso, Tim Horton's coffee tastes burnt to me too. When i was in London Canada, I saw 2 Tim Horton's on opposite street corners, both very busy in the morning. Canadians love their Tim Hortons I guess.

I'm a coffee addict myself but can't afford to go to coffee houses with any regularity. There is one on Sterns Rd. that I've been to once. I love the ambiance there but haven't tried any of their coffee yet. I second the opinion that SBUX coffee tastes like burnt piss. It's too bitter. I do love their frapps though. Usually, I settle for some home-brewed Chock Full-O-Nuts or the cheap Kroger brand. I used to buy Anderson's flavored coffee, which is among the best I have tried but I found I was wasting it. I can't spend ten dollars a pound just to pitch half of it in the sink.

There's no dammed way I can make it to a coffee shop first thing in the AM!

I've got to have my dark roast at home and it has to be ready by the time I hit the bottom of the stairs!!!

But, I will try Drakes for my beans. Thanks for that.

Could give that 8 O'Clock Italian dark roast a try. I dont normally drink coffee but gave it a taste the other day, it was pretty good in my opinion.

'Burnt Piss' I am deeply grateful to you upso for that description. My sentiments exactly about that foul liquid starbucks tries to pass off as coffee.

im glad we can all agree on something

Although is a local restaurant chain and not a coffee shop their coffee always has that fresh brewed flavor. I'm referring to Charlie's. Who knows? You might even get to meet Charlie- a very freindly, sociable guy.

Regarding Starbucks...I avoid their shops. The coffee is so strong you could shine your shoes with it.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Panera Bread. There are several nice things about it. They have four different flavors of brew and you can get free refills. They have a lot of room and comfortable seating. You can hook up your computer and settle in for hours. No one will bother you as in, "Can I get you anything else?" aka "Can you leave now so I can make more tips?" And if you get hungry, they have pretty good food (pricey though).

Thanks for all of the replies I'll check those places out.

I've heard good things about 8 O'Clock coffee before, will get some next time I go shopping.

For those of you who like the Flying Rhino coffee ~~ the beans are available for sale both "uptown" and at The Andersons.

It IS delicious......Ralph does a great job!!

Actually, I'm surprised I didn't mention Panera myself. tjintoledo is right-Panera's is a nice spot and their coffee is decent. I just wish they were open past 9. I'd go there on a regular basis.

If you want a wonderful selection of coffees and teas, try the Java Mill Coffee & Tea Co. They are on N. Summit Street at 119th St in Point Place. The coffees are all free trade coffees and her assortment of teas is great.

You can get whole beans or ground, and enjoy a cup of the flavor of the day while you're there.

Dont go to Caribou Coffee. Its owned by Muslims who are under investigation for giving money to Al-Queda.

RE: Caribou Coffee

Fact check: from http://food.itsmyneed.com/coffee/know-about-the-caribou-coffee.html (also see Snopes and other fact checking sites)

The first Islamic Investment Bank Of Bahrain, was the leading stockholder of the company which hade a huge investment in caribou coffee, which dragged the company into much controversy. In the year 2002, Yousaf Al-Qaradawi, an Islamic Egyptian scholar became the chairman of the bank, which further heated the on going controversy. Further Qaradawi was banned from entering any state of United States based on his views. The controversy surrounding the company of caribou was cooled only after the Chairman Mr. Qaradawi steeped down from his seat later that year.

I'm not even a coffee drinker but I hate seeing comments, like the one above, that are based on fear and rumor. Please carefully check the facts about the company and make your own decision about whether or not you wish to patronize the shop.