Rowster Coffee Wealthy

My favorite cafe.

Worth noting I quit coffee in early 2025 so this review is in retrospect.

Cute little seating area with bar seats and some tables. A couple tables out front and on a back patio, weather permitting. Artwork on the walls is always interesting.

Rowster roasts their own beans and tend to favor richer varietals, lots of caramel and coca and bourbon flavor in their beans, which is why I prefer them to Madcap, who tend toward brighter, fruitier varietals.

Espresso or drip coffee was my usual order with the ocassional latte. Batch brew was sometimes cold but that is the risk of batch brew in my opinion. Pour-over is also available. The house espresso is rich and nutty. Baristas always seemed to have their system dialled in pretty well compared, again, to Madcap, who has served me many an overdrawn, salty shot of espresso.

I might be done with coffee forever but this place will always hold a dear spot in my heart and be highly reccomended to any coffee enthusiasts willing to be subjected to my opinion.

One of the best Americanos I’ve had in a while, smooth, not too acidic or bitter, with just a touch of cream to round it out. The space itself is serene and filled with natural light (I sat at the bar by the window), making it a great spot for solo work or deep focus. The vibe was super quiet, with soft music playing and everyone on laptops, no distracting chatter, which I loved. That said, it’s not ideal if you need to take calls or chat, you’d definitely stand out as the only person talking. Location in Eastown is super convenient, and I’d come back anytime I need a calm space to get through a backlog of busy work.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best place to have coffee in town.

Been my go to place since 2013. I love their coffee- Umbra is my fav

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

As someone with barista training who appreciated the nuanced craft of coffee making, I’m disappointed to share that Rowster’s has fallen far from its original standards. This used to be my go-to spot when they first opened, back when they were roasting beans in-house and clearly took pride in their craft.
The drip coffee I ordered tasted distinctly burnt, suggesting their brewing equipment is overdue for maintenance or calibration. When you’ve worked behind an espresso machine, you recognize these telltale signs of neglected equipment - it’s not just about the beans, but how they’re being extracted.
Speaking of extraction, the espresso I observed being served lacked the rich, golden crema that indicates proper brewing pressure and fresh beans. Good crema should be thick enough to support sugar for a few seconds and have that beautiful tiger-stripe pattern when milk is poured. Instead, what I saw was thin and dissipated quickly - a clear indicator of either stale beans or improper brewing parameters.
The consistency has become frustratingly unreliable. Whatever changes occurred since their early days - whether new ownership, different suppliers, or staff turnover - have fundamentally altered what made this place special. For a coffee shop that once understood the craft, this decline is particularly disheartening.
I hope they can return to their roots and restore the quality that originally made them a neighborhood favorite.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 3

Rowster has been my safe space since I was a teenager in Grand Rapids. Among a more conservative town, this cafe is a spot where I feel like I can be authentic, seen, and even sometimes productive :)

Special shoutout to Sydney for her stellar service and award-winning smile. I am always welcomed by her warm presence and great skill as a barista.

My recommendation? Try a sparkling americano! It's not on the menu, but they can mix espresso with soda water for a delicious and bubbly caffeine treat.

Thank you, Rowster, for being there for me at every stage of my life. I can't wait to visit again once I come back home.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is my favorite coffee spot, between radically delicious seasonal drinks, and immaculate vibes, it's the best.

I had Wedding Photos taken here, and I'm still obsessed with how they turned out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

I always stop here for coffee when I'm in GR.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My goto coffee spot when in Grand Rapids. Every town needs a local coffee shop like this

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Enjoyed the strawberry basil matcha. Not overly sweet, great matcha flavor, liked the addition of the basil

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Best coffee in Grand Rapids!

Great atmosphere to work from, amazing pour over coffees - overall a great local business

Bought a 12 oz bag of Brazil from a grocery store in Grand Rapids and it was burnt and lacked depth

The vibes are immaculate, I always love the new art they put up seasonally from local artists. The drinks are great and I’ve never left hating anything I try.

Plants are nice, it's usually quiet, and the coffee is so good I wish they came in bigger sizes 😅