When you think of Lansing, Michigan I doubt cute coffee shops come to mind. Surprisingly enough, Lansing is home to more than just Biggby and Starbucks. Lansing holds some of the coziest coffee shops I’ve been to and want to recommend to everyone!
Recently my friend and I spent the day on a coffee crawl hitting all the best coffee shops in Lansing to make sure we found the perfect ones to recommend! After we compiled a list of our favorites just for our fellow coffee addicts! We are starting with the most popular and will work our way to the most obscure. With all that said let’s jump into the best coffee shops around Lansing, Michigan!
Let’s get started!
Fosters Coffee Company
If you are familiar with the Lansing area at all and like a decent cup of coffee, then you most likely know about Fosters Coffee Company in East Lansing. They offer a wide selection of drinks from specialty lattes, loose-leaf tea, pour-overs, smoothies, shakes, and everything in between. The staff is friendly and helpful if you don’t know what to get and it’s easy to make friends here. That being said this is not the spot to go if you want to work in the corner quietly. They are always busy and full of college students.
The atmosphere is energetic and this would be the perfect place to go with friends. If you do want a quieter feel with good coffee there is seating outside and along the street where Fosters is located. Their prices are about as expected, a latte goes for $4.25USD and $5+USD for flavoring. I went with a Cortado for $3.50USD. Tea is on the pricy side at $4.75USD and smoothies are $6+USD.
Overall everyone should go here at least once to try their coffee and get the full Fosters experience. While they are a bit more on the pricy side, it is definitely worth it to make the most of your time in East Lansing!
Strange Matter Coffee
Next on the list and next in popularity, we have Strange Matter Coffee. If I had to choose between Fosters and Strange Matter my vote would be for Strange Matter. I have loved every type of coffee I’ve ordered from them plus they offer the best sweet treats! If you are going in the fall make sure to get their pumpkin cream donut! (Thanks Allie for recommending that one!)
Their prices are about the same as Fosters but they give you the option for black brewed coffee for $2.50USD whereas Fosters Brewed coffee ranges $2.75-$3.25USD. Their lattes sit at $4.50USD and $5USD flat for any flavoring. All other pricing is pretty much the same.
What you’re really getting here is the atmosphere. It is a lot calmer than Fosters and holds a cozier feel. It is easier to find seating here and easier to concentrate on work. I would say the staff is friendlier at Fosters but it is worth the trade-off to be in Strange Matters Atmosphere. Plus parking is easier here as you are not right in the heart of East Lansing like at Fosters. Overall I will pick Strange Matter over Fosters every time!
If you are in Lansing and looking for things to do, make sure to check out this list of Free Things to do around the city!
Hooked
This is one of the more unique coffee shops on the list! I had no idea this place even existed until our coffee crawl. My favorite thing about this shop is all they have to offer! Not only is Hooked a coffee shop but they are a bookstore and a wine bar! Offering drinks-a-plenty, they also have a list of snacks ranging from pastries to small charcuterie boards. Even salads and sandwiches. You can truly spend an entire afternoon here reading, working, or socializing with friends!
This is one of my new favorite places to work as the atmosphere is so calming and everyone was so friendly! They have big comfy chairs, tables against the windows, and a big family-style table perfect for getting work done. The location is nice as you are in Lansing but it feels like you are in your own small corner of the city.
Their prices are competitive with the previous shops we discussed. Brewed coffee runs for $3USD while a latte is $4.50USD. Tea is $3USD and a cold brew $4USD. If you want the full experience then you will have to try their coffee flights for $12.50USD. Split it with a friend and you have the perfect afternoon set!
If you want to spend the evening here drinking wine and reading a good book they have you covered. You can get either wine flights or by the glass. They also offer events throughout the week ranging from Wine Wednesday to Game Day Mondays. To see a full list you can look here.
Social Sloth Cafe and Bakery
Social Sloth Cafe is one of my top 2 favorite places to visit in Lansing! I found them before my first trip to Turkey some time back, the owners are incredibly friendly and make some of the best food I’ve ever tasted! They offer a wide menu where you can get a full lunch or pop in for a snack and coffee. If you are looking to explore a different culture Social Sloth has your back. They offer some of the only Turkish food in Lansing and is worth making every effort to try some!
They offer a wide range of menu items and have a wide price range. You can stop in for Turkish tea or coffee and a piece of the best baklava for about $6USD. If you are hungry for lunch they have their lunch special for $8.50USD or they have a plethra of hearty snacks from $3-$5USD.
The atmosphere here is everything! It is set up as the cutest cafe with picnic-like tables inside and outside. A big comfy couch with a coffee table and smaller tables throughout. This is defiantly a hidden gem in Lansing and one I try to tell everyone about. While I wouldn’t necessarily bring work here to do, it is the perfect place to bring a friend to catch up! It is often quiet and quite peaceful. Their mascot is a cute sloth and you are able to purchase sloth-themed items and other Turkish food to take home. If you are looking for a unique experience Social Sloth is the place to be!
Château Coffee Co.
The relatively new Château Coffee Co. quickly became my number one favorite place to visit in Lansing! Within minutes of walking in, we found ourselves already making friends with the baristas and having a great time! They immediately stood out with their fun atmosphere, plants everywhere, and tuckaway feel. It felt like a little oasis right in Lansing.
This is where I go to do all my work now. They have a comforting atmosphere that helps you focus and actually get stuff done. As I mentioned above, the staff are so friendly and helpful all adding to the welcoming feel! There are tables and comfy couches throughout allowing you to chat with friends or spread out all your work supplies.
The prices are pretty average, however, if you are trying to save money while still going out they come in clutch with their brewed coffee for $2.65USD. A latte runs for $4.35USD and a cappuccino for $3.75USD. They offer smoothies as well, but my favorite thing is their refreshers, particularly Taste of Beirut. Their bakery offers snacks like baklava for $2.75USD and macarons for $2.25USD. They also serve sandwiches and acai bowls if you get hungry while you work.
If you are looking for a new place to explore and get away from the crowds Château Coffee Co. will be your best friend! With their prices, atmosphere, and staff it’s hard to go wrong here.
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