Comet Coffee, Ann Arbor

I HATE blog posts that apologize for long silences.  They always sound so... self-absorbed, and meta, and they're invariably followed by further one-month blogging gaps, no matter how many times the writer pledges no, I won't let that happen THIS time, no siree, not me!

Suffice it to say, therefore, that we made our temporary move to Ann Arbor a month ago, and then our hair caught on fire and we broke our thumbs and were unable to blog for a stupid long period of time.  But now we're properly splinted and back from the burn unit and ready to start sharing this great little village and its Michigan-y environs with you!

Ann Arbor is very much like Austin in a lot of ways.  It's a liberal college town, and a river runs through it, and one of the four seasons eclipses the other three with its awe-inspiring grossness.  Only here, that season is winter.  It was 32 degrees here Sunday night, Texans!  Although, Ann Arbor is different from Austin as well.  It's lots smaller, and the mantra of local and sustainable that's been gripping Austin is only just struggling to its feet here.

But one thing Ann Arbor has that Austin doesn't is Comet Coffee.

Comet is located down a covered pedestrian shopping area called Nickels Arcade.  Come to think of it, I don't believe Austin has one of those either, though I think it would be welcome in the blistering summer.

Logan had scoped this place out before my visit to A2 (yes, people actually DO call it that. They also call it the Deuce. But that's gross) back in April, before we knew I'd be moving up here in a matter of days.  

There are a couple of tables set up outside, but on that brisk April day it was too nippy to take advantage.

So I sat inside and checked in on Gowalla while Logan snapped some shots.  I should have been using the time to figure out what I wanted to order, because unlike a plain Jane coffee joint, the options are intriguing and not unintimidating.  The basics, you can see in the picture below.

Yes, you can get a plain espresso, americano, macchiato, cappuccino, latte, or mocha.  Or a bunch of different teas, hot chocolate, or a cafe dulce, which is coffee with dulce de leche added.  Fairly straightforward, though you're already talking about like twenty options.  Nope, it's with the drip coffee of all things that ordering gets more complicated.

There are fifteen (one five!) options for drip coffee, not a single one of which has anything to do with size!  A list of five different types of coffee- mostly organic, free-trade, and small lot varieties- sits by the register.  Each of them can be ordered prepared via the pour-over drip method, a French press, or a vacuum pot. And did I mention the coffee changes daily?

See where the indecision comes in?  

I wrestled with myself for a while before finally settling on the Café Mondono, an organic coffee from Bolivia, prepared pour-over drip style.  The nifty method is pictured below.

Logan got a cappuccino, and we ordered a lemon-ginger scone as well.  The scones are brought in from the Pastry Peddler, which we have GOT to visit, because omg that scone...

After all that, the coffee was swill.  Absolute crap.  I don't know where they get off thinking they can foist.... 

AUGH! It's a pack of lies! It was the best coffee I've had in years!  The cappuccino may have been better than the one on our corner in Florence!  The coffee, plain drip coffee, was a freaking revelation, and I'm having considerable difficulty drinking it anywhere else, damn them!  

We loved our drinks so much that we had to get an espresso for dessert.  It came with a side water, most civilized.

And it was perfect.

So, dammit, I may be spoiled.  Luckily, Comet sells the pour over drip hoopty things fairly inexpensively, so perhaps I can someday recreate their coffee.  Though I hear I need like a $700 burr grinder first, so maybe not.  

Comet, so far, you're a solid LOVE.  Now get a delivery system in place so you can get your amazing coffee to my sublet in five minutes or less!

Comet Coffee is in the Nickels Arcade by the U of M campus.  The address is 16 Nickels Arcade, Ann Arbor MI, 48104. (734) 222-0579.  They're also on Twitter at @cometcoffee.

Comments

[Albany Jane]

I'll have to pass this little gem along. I really like it when places are simply done, and let the product speak for itself. The walls, menu - so simple. No need for flare to pull in the crowds.

P.S. - I feel the same way about the "sorry I've been away, I promise I'll be better" blogs. It's like 1)who are you really apologizing to? and 2)Do you really think *that* many people are reading and outraged that there's a lack of posts? Bummed, sure but.. yeah.

[Bruce]

Here's what you need:

Hario V60 Drip Cone: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/filtercones/hario-v60-ceramic-drip-cone.html
This is currntly the most popular drip cone in the third wave coffee scene. It looks like Comet might be using Beehouse drippers, which probably work just as well.

Drip cone filters: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/filters/v-shaped-filter-for-v60-drip-cone.html

Baratza Maestro Plus burr grinder: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/grinders/electric-grinders/maestro-plus-burr-mill.html
This is the least expensive conical burr grinder you can get. It's fine for pour-over and French press.

Hario Buono Kettle: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/filtercones/hario-buono-kettle.html
It doesn't need to be this kettle, but I'm not aware of any other readily available pour-over kettle. At any rate, you need a kettle that allows a very slow and controlled pour.

So you're looking at around $250 to get started with pour-over coffee. Or you can just come over to my place and I'll make you coffee.

[RB]

"After all that, the coffee was swill. Absolute crap. I don't know where they get off thinking they can foist.... "

Then said this..."AUGH! It's a pack of lies! It was the best coffee I've had in years!"

Huh?

[RB]

Odd thing... I love the smell of coffee but can't drink the stuff unless decaffeinated and then what's the point. Any Jamaican Blue Mountain?

Love this blog.

[Phil Dokas]

I second all of this! This week I've been loving their Esperanza. Smells like grape jelly when ground (!) but tastes like smooth chocolate lovin’. Deeeelicious!

[F.]

Bruce is right, that's pretty much all you need for a pour-over but before you spend all the money on shipping, check out the brewing supplies at Comet! They've got everything you need from filters to burr grinders (and obviously whole bean coffee) right there!

[Gastronomer]

"I HATE blog posts that apologize for long silences"

Hahaha! Me too!

[Elizabeth]

Comet love! I got an americano elsewhere this morning to save a buck or two, and totally regretted it.

[Crystal]

So, yeah, the coffee sounds great, but even better is to see a post from you two lovelies. :)

[Debby Matassa]

Are you moving there for ever? or just for a while? Sounds like fun, but nuttin's funner than Austin or New Orleans!

[Boots in the Oven]

Me too! I mean, I love fancy design and all, but not when the food/coffee/whatever they're selling is subpar. The design has to support what they're selling, I thinks.

[Boots in the Oven]

Bruce! I absolutely should have known you'd have all the specs at your fingertips! I am definitely bookmarking this... thanks!

[Boots in the Oven]

A joke. :-)

[Boots in the Oven]

Thanks! Not on that day, but I'll have to recheck...

[Boots in the Oven]

Thank you! That sounds awesome. And exactly right on a day when it's 43 outside. What's up with that, Michigan?

[Boots in the Oven]

I saw that they had a nice selection of coffee paraphernalia - we'll have to check it out more closely. Thanks for the reminder!

[Boots in the Oven]

heh. You're KILLING me with these Spain posts, lady! I might have to jet over there, Logan or no...

[Boots in the Oven]

Ha - good thing it's not just me! BTW, is Sweetwater's invariably awful, or is that just reserved for the one by our house?

[Boots in the Oven]

Thanks, pretty lady! (Did that sound creepy?) Back in the saddle - yee-haw! I am going to have to get me some actual Internet, though... jacking it from the nearby bar isn't going to cut it long-term.

[Boots in the Oven]

Hi, Debby! Just for a few months - through late August or early September. You are so right! We're looking forward to finding what's awesome about here, too.

[Krista]

Seems like coffee houses continue to pop up on every corner, so it's nice to see one carve out a niche and really shine. I love that they carry such a variety - places like this make it so easy to find new favorites!

Ahh, I dream of the day when there will be a smokin' new espresso machine on my very own kitchen counter...

[rballardini@earthlink.net]

You guys are better than Zagat.... There's an idea?

[RONW]

your preamble to this post is spot on. I only hope "those" people get to read it.

[simauma]

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[Boots in the Oven]

Ooh, it's so intimidating to think about getting started with espresso! or is that just me? I remember making espressos for my mom when I was a kid, and she seemed to like them, so maybe I just need to get over that fear.