5 Best Coffee Shops in Flint For a Daily Pick Me Up

Whether you’re having a sluggish morning and need a little jolt of caffeine, want to enjoy a nice cup of joe in the middle of the day, or don’t even have a reason at all, there’s something so satisfying about drinking coffee from a local joint. Sure, plenty of national chains offer coffee, but why not try a local spot that serves their own brew? You might even find your new favorite flavor. When you find yourself in the Flint, Michigan, area, make sure you check out some of these impeccable coffee shops.

Cafe Rhema

Image via Flickr by MIKI Yoshihito

432 Saginaw St.

Not only is Cafe Rhema decorated in a 1920s motif, but it continues that theme by having its staff dress the part. Some of the gentlemen even sport a handlebar mustache. Don’t let the historic decor make you believe the coffee hasn’t kept up with the times, though. This craft coffee shop in the heart of downtown Flint serves specialty coffee drinks, craft sodas, and food. Its in-house cold brew coffee and cold brew tea are favorites, and you won’t want to miss out on its hand-crafted syrups, including a Michigan bourbon-infused coffee syrup.

In summer 2020, the company launched a new coffee roasting company in partnership with its workers. Called Rhema Coffee Roasters, the collaboration came about after years of discussion amongst owner Joshua Spencer, partner Sean Murray, and several workers. Stop in to try one of the new blends, and buy a bag to bring home. You can also order coffee online and have it shipped directly to your home. This offshoot company hopes to introduce craft coffee to customers who might be unfamiliar with it.

Fireside Coffee Company

3239 Elms Road, Swartz Creek

Found beyond the heart of downtown Flint on the edges of Flint Township, Fireside Coffee Company has technically been in business since 1988 but only opened its storefront about five years ago. It began as a small family business, selling its mocha mixes at local craft fairs and handing them out at Christmastime. Now customers across the globe can purchase its roasted coffee and chai blends.

This company has partnered with a Honduran farm. The owners know the growers personally and pay them above the Fair Trade value for their coffee. Master roaster Darwin Pavon continues to visit the farm several times a year to select which beans the business should serve. In addition to the Honduran beans, the company serves barrel-aged coffees, for which green coffee beans are aged in dry whiskey barrels before roasting. It also donates a portion of sales of its Flint Strong roast to local Flint charities.

Foster Coffee Company

615 S Saginaw St.

As one of the newer coffee shops in Flint, Foster Coffee Company strives to foster a better community through coffee. The company began when longtime friends Nicholas Pidek and Jonathan Moore wanted to unite their passions for community, people, and excellent craft coffee. They began offering their coffee blends at catering events and farmers markets.

In 2015, the company opened its first shop in the quaint town of Owosso, followed by one in Flint and another in East Lansing. The Flint location sits on the first floor of the Ferris Wheel building. The owners believe that partnering with local businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations strengthens relationships. The Michigan companies they have partnered with include Madcap for its roasters and MOO-ville Farms for its dairy.

Chevrolet Equinox for Sale in Flint, MI

The Good Beans Cafe

328 N Grand Traverse St.

Having been in business in Flint for more than 18 years, The Good Beans Cafe is one of the oldest coffee shops in the area. Head to its location in Historic Carriage Town and experience a true Italian roasted espresso. Not only do all of its coffee drinks use the Lavazza brand, but owner Ken Van Wagoner, who self-educated himself on espresso and coffee, serves hand-crafted signature drinks. One such drink is a Cappuccino Creme Brulee, which is topped with sugar and heated with a blowtorch. Enjoy some light food, too, including bagels, muffins, shortbreads, and fresh fruit.

Since its location is near Kettering and the University of Michigan in Flint, the shop sees many students stopping in for some coffee and study sessions. It also supports the local art scene by featuring locally produced art for sale and hosting space for musicians to perform. Local community and national organizations also occasionally meet at this cafe, and its anteroom is the venue for Flint City Theatre performances.

Heyday Coffee Roasters

119 N Grand Traverse St.

Roasting coffee since 2015, Heyday Coffee Roasters began selling inside an old firehouse in 2017. Its owner, Rob Klaty, began roasting coffee for his other business, known as the Flint Crepe Company. He wanted to serve his customers the best coffee, so he and his family traveled to Costa Rica for six months to learn everything about the coffee process from a coffee farm. He named the company Heyday as an homage to the city of Flint’s past and future.

Head into the old firehouse, which also holds another one of Klaty’s company’s called Tenacity Brewing, from 7 until 11 a.m. daily for a delicious cup of coffee. Don’t forget to grab a few donuts from Blue Line Donuts, which is another local business. These donuts are made by men and women who live at the local homeless shelter. Through a partnership with Carriage Town Ministries and Heyday Coffee Roasters, these men and women learn business and baking skills to help them improve their lives. All sales support these outreach efforts.

Sometimes the best way to learn if you like a cup of coffee is to try it for yourself. What do you think of this list of best local coffee spots in Flint created by Applegate Chevrolet? Did we miss one of your favorite locations? If so, please let us know so we can add it to our list. We want to keep everyone informed about where they can get their caffeine fix the next time they’re in the area.

More Posts You’ll Like

Local Fishing Spots to Check Out in Flint
The Best Places to Grab Ice Cream in Flint
Fun Date Spots in Flint