Comet Coffee — Restaurant in Ann Arbor

I rated this place five stars awhile back, but, being Comet, I really felt it deserves its own review. Put simply, Comet sets the bar to which I will compare every other coffee experience I have. It's just that good. They've usually got three or four different single origin coffees available to choose from plus an espresso. Every time I come here to try coffee, it's been so good-tasting and memorable that I would have bought the bag of beans right then and there if I thought I had the right equipment or skills to make it at home. (Please, teach me your ways!) I tried once, coming in because I remembered one of the best coffees I'd had (I think it was the Aramo, from Ritual?) and the barista working managed to find a bag of it in the back for me when I asked about it, but unfortunately, I couldn't recreate the Comet magic at home. Aside from their fantastic pour overs, I had the single greatest espresso I've ever had here as well. I don't remember where it was from, but this had to be the most flavorful, least bitter or sour, most amazingly delicious little cup of coffee I've had, and trust me, I've had a lot. Not to mention the delicious pastries and really interesting teas they also carry, if that's your thing. The design of the space is really clean and cool, and they've got some really interesting custom-made furniture in there. Nickels Arcade is just such a great location for this type of shop. Do yourself a favor, and don't get your coffee to go-- just let it cool down a little, sip slowly, and enjoy the atmosphere ---but that might be hard-- it's a small space, and it's popular for a reason. I've never had to wait an unreasonable amount of time here, though. They've got wi-fi, but no outlets if your battery is running low, and I don't blame them. This isn't really a place to plunk down and study for a few hours, due to its sheer tininess, and I think they have a few laptop-free tables to discourage specifically this. Besides, how could you even focus with...

I walked into this coffee shop today with a couple family members. The three of us are immigrants, non-white, and we came in speaking to each other in our mother tongue (which is not English). I felt that the three of us were talking at a socially acceptable speaking volume, and we weren’t by any means underdressed or acting in a way that would be deemed unprofessional by western societal standards. We placed our orders (I ordered a baked good). After receiving my order, I made my way back up to the counter to the left of the registers to ask a barista if there was any way my baked good could be warmed up. Before I started speaking to the barista directly in front of me, I noticed another employee to my right (behind the register) staring directly at me, in a way that did not particularly seem friendly (wide eyed, stone faced). Almost immediately after I asked my question to the employee in front of me, the gentleman to my right very directly answered “we can’t heat it up”. This entire experience was off putting. And as someone who has worked managerial roles in the service industry, and is now a professional in the realm of human behavior, and most importantly as an immigrant who was experienced micro and macro aggressions, I believe my feelings are justified. I returned to my family members and told them that I felt the experience was awkward. They then told me that they felt that they were being looked at in an unfriendly way as soon as they were heard speaking a different language. In my opinion, the staff’s behavior towards me and my family was racially charged. Normally I wouldn’t go out of my way to post about an experience like this, but seeing that this happened on a campus as diverse as U of M (with which my family members are affiliated) I felt that sharing my experience was...

We walked in and were greeted with the stoic face of a short haired brunette woman who was clearly not having it that day. It was mid day on a weekday and the shop was quite busy. It’s a space that doesn’t really allow for the organized formation of a line because it’s small and five people in line means you’re just crowded together in a circle waiting to order. So as my husband and I walked in and found there were already about three people standing around we waited patiently to be called to the counter as we didn’t know who’s turn it was to order next or if those who arrived before us had already ordered. My husband looked at grumpy lady and asked if it was our turn to order to which she replied with a disappointing nod. I ordered a latte and my husband asked for a drip coffee. Instead of being helpful Ms. Grumps motioned to a list of drip coffee choices on the counter and said “it’s made to order”. Her colleague noticed the tension and stepped in to explain the process to us first timers.

So, order was placed. I was waiting patiently for my order. There was a foreign couple next to me sitting at a table waiting for their order as well. While waiting the male pulled out his laptop and shortly after here comes Ms. Grumps with a quickness… walks toward the table, and in her unpleasant demeanor points to the small sign on the table stating there is no laptop or tablet use at that particular table. The couple who spoke no English were able to interpret through body language and gestures what she was saying and complied with her order.

Ms. Grumps walks away and carries on doing her job like she really hates it.

On a plus side, the coffee was phenomenal. Hopefully you don’t get Ms. Grumpy taking your order when you pay the quaint...