Factory Coffee - Frank Street — Restaurant in Kalamazoo

The kind of coffee shop that all the fake neighborhood coffee shops try to imitate. In an old house in an economically challenged neighborhood. Mostly young crowd on a Sunday afternoon. Good fraction of tattoos and long haired guys. Wonderful original hardwood floors. One wall is redone in unfinished wood, but others are beat up and show original very odd looking brick in a few places. Small coffee roaster on prem. About a half dozen tables, a two seat bar, and a couch inside. Four more tables and a bench on a patio/playground out back with umbrella and stretched out sunshade. Several outlets. Wi-fi with posted password. Some coffee and t-shirts on sale. Lots of fliers and posters from local activist and charity organizations. Small selection of decent quality bagged teas. My green tea had a bit of an oily residue that was odd. They do a house made chai latte that was quite good: spicy and just barely sweet. Small selection (mostly gone at 3PM on a summer Sunday) of high quality pastries from local bakery. Small selection of breakfast things served only in morning. This place goes on my list...

(updated visit 4/11/2024) Fantastic rainy day visit and Claire, the barista, was the kindest. We tried two different scone muffins, both excellent, as were our coffees. Can't wait to return soon!

(visited Wed 3/22/2023) Super cute & cozy feeling space. Love the outside art and inside community postings boards. Delicious coffee and enjoyed the milk alternatives, though I'd ordered an iced drip and received it hot. Service as a whole was lacking despite only two other patrons + gave a bit of attitude when we asked if she wouldn't mind wiping down the remaining large table before we sat. Overall, attention to details didn't really seem to be her thing, though maybe she was having an off day. Still, those things make an impact on first time customers.

Will likely return, but to try with a different barista and/or to sit outside once the...

I liked this cafe. The theme was cool, and the building was pretty nice. The person at the counter was helpful. My date and I got a chai latte and a cortado. Both were good, and we enjoyed them. We unfortunately have not yet tried the food items, but they sound good. As I remember, they have some breakfast sandwiches, and danishes. The mugs that we used were made by a Kalamazoo ceramics company which I believe is in the basement of this building. In the coffee shop they have store merchandise, like pins, mugs, shirts, and more. They also have things made by the ceramics place. Conclusion: if you like coffee, breakfast, and small business, why...