Savor the perfect cup of coffee at White Pine Coffee Roasters in Oxford
White Pine Coffee Roasters operates in a cozily refurbished grain elevator on the appropriately named Pleasant Street – just one block off M-24 as it passes through Oxford, Michigan. (By the way, there are many things to do in Oxford.)
It is a crisp October morning, the bright not-quite-warm sun in that purest color of brilliant cerulean that happens only this time of year. A faint breeze promises colder mornings to come and leaves rain from the trees. In other words, it’s the perfect weather for a perfectly-brewed mug of coffee with friends.
Grain elevators are a staple in most midwestern towns – a large, slightly ramshackle building with a rough coat of paint and utilitarian construction. Too often, they fall into disrepair and are nothing to write a blog post about. But this old building is very different inside!
If buildings like this are fortunate, they become local treasures, a weathered exterior protecting a local treasure. White Pine is just such a Michigan hidden gem, a local micro-roaster of carefully selected (and exceptionally tasty) small-batch roasted coffee. The tale of the coffee alone could fill books (and has), yet White Pine Coffee has more to offer within its warm, rustic, and oh-so-comfortable walls.
Where to Park?
Before we talk about the coffee and baked goods, you should know that parking at this hidden gem is easy; the ample parking lot across the street provides quick access to the stroller-friendly ramped entrance. The coffee shop is just a few feet from the Polly Ann Trail, and the many travelers on the trail stop in for a cup or baked good. There is another parking lot just south on the other side of the Polly Ann Trail.
Speaking of baked goods, today (and every day) brings a special treat. White Pine carries fresh selections from Crust, another hidden gem that hails from Fenton, Michigan. On this particular morning, a perfectly warmed blueberry muffin elevates the experience another notch. It was too appetizing to photograph the whole thing, sorry-not-sorry.
What Makes White Pine Coffee so good?
As the White Pine Coffee website explains it, they specialize in roasting small, high-quality batches of coffee. Instead of mixing in beans from a zillion different coffee farms, White Pine will roast up a batch from, for example, a single farm in Ethiopia. While a thirsty patron can buy a “regular” cup of coffee, or latte, or a variety of drinks, the true tale is told in twelve-ounce mugs using the pour-over method of brewing coffee.
The roasted beans are carefully ground and brewed a cup at a time. This is coffee at its finest. As you might expect, the options available on any given visit vary. For this trip, it turns out that one of the roasts is from Ethiopia. In this particular roast, the beans are processed along with the coffee cherry natural juices. The kind barista explains this makes for a “fruitier” coffee.
It’s true – there is a hint of sweetness and fruit among the other coffee-like flavors. Matched with the blueberry muffin, this is as fine a breakfast to be found anywhere. Having the opportunity to pair it with a lazy walk through downtown Oxford makes for a perfect Saturday morning.
White Pine Coffee is the perfect place to meet friends
Though a former grain elevator, the interior of White Pine Coffee is delightfully cozy and rustic, with all warm woods and corner booths or tables. The walls have an eclectic assortment of Michigan- and coffee-oriented objects. There’s almost always a seat open to sit and surf the free WiFi or have a conversation with a friend.
Behind the main room is a large room with all manner of tables and coffee paraphernalia. As long as White Pine doesn’t have one of their frequent events underway, it’s a great place to sit out of the way, and the large tables are great for studying or working.
More than just a retail face
White Pine Coffee is a wholesale roaster, and the other non-public part of the building is given over to their roasting operation. However, a close watch on their Facebook page might turn up periodic tours and classes – White Pine definitely supports the local community.
What are you waiting for? Stop by this hidden gem the next time you’re nearby. White Pine Coffee Roasters is just one of FOUR coffee shops in Oxford. We encourage you to try them all!
