I have been a customer of Sozo for 17 years. Revolving around the Greek word meaning “to be made whole or new”, Sozo has been a space for just that. Wether you’re refueling for the day, ordering dinner rolls or special baked goods for a party, connecting with a friend, or working there serving your community, Sozo is a place for rejuvenation, growth and dang good coffee. The owners, Rodney and Mindy Hensley are the heartbeat of the place. If you look up “small business owners” in the dictionary, there’s a picture of these two. They are absolutely stellar. The coffee is beyond fair trade, they personally know each of their farmers and visit them often. Paying beyond market value, they are changing the coffee industry from the inside out and providing a very flavorful product, expertly roasted in their roasting facility. Their coffee is served in other coffee shops in Michigan, and they ship it all over the country via their website. As for the store itself, the atmosphere, service, and products are amazing. The atmosphere offers opportunities for everything from reunions, board game sessions, first dates, and solo work/reading sessions. They recently opened a separate roasting facility to keep up with demand, and they also redesigned and opened their big room. There is a drive thru option as well! The servers are always dedicated to offering the best experience possible. They work hard to balance the facets between friendliness, quality, and speed. It is amazing to be known by name and to be greeted with a friendly face! Every drink is made from scratch with specific guidelines, and you can customize them in countless ways for all preferences and dietary needs. (Sugar free, dairy free, ALL drinks are gluten free, nut allergies, etc.) The baked goods are made fresh from scratch daily with rotating options for every palette. Also, huge shout out to the egg frittatas for an option for protein! There is a full gluten free section in the bakery case that is completely compliant with the department of agriculture, and they cover vegan options often! I have so much more I could say, but I would consider Sozo Coffee to be Ionia’s hidden gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Squidxiii
I sought solace. A quiet corner, a warm spot, perhaps a gentle sunbeam. What I found was… less than ideal. The aroma of freshly roasted beans, a delightful symphony for my sensitive nose, promised much. The coffee itself? Meow-velous. A deep, rich brew, robust enough to wake a sleeping lion, yet smooth as a freshly groomed coat. The baristas, their hands quick and efficient, crafted each cup with an almost artistic precision. The pastries, too, looked divine—flaky croissants, glistening muffins. A true culinary triumph, a beacon of hope in this otherwise chaotic world.
But then, the humans. Specifically, the Ionia County deputies. A cacophony of loud, grating voices, shattering the morning’s peace. Their conversations, a disgusting display of… well, let’s just say unpleasantness. They spoke of "donut holes" with a sneer, mocking those who served, those with invisible wounds. "PTSD? More like P-T-S-D-onut," one bellowed, followed by guffaws. My whiskers twitched with indignation. To belittle veterans, those who sacrificed so much, was an insult to every creature with a shred of decency. My fur bristled. The air, once filled with the comforting scent of coffee, became thick with their… ignorance.
The evening, I hoped, would be different. The soft glow of the lamps, the quiet murmur of conversation, the promise of a peaceful retreat. And indeed, the coffee was still excellent. The ambiance, initially, was calming. The clinking of cups, the gentle hum of the espresso machine—it was almost meditative. I could almost forget the morning’s horrors.
But the memory lingered. Like a hairball stuck in my throat. The taste of their bigotry, their casual cruelty, tainted every sip. It was like finding a stray dog hair in my perfectly prepared tuna. Unacceptable. The deputies, thankfully, were gone. But their words, their laughter, echoed in the quiet space. It was a beautiful coffee shop, truly. A sanctuary for the senses. But the human element, the sheer awfulness of some of its patrons, ruined it. A tragedy, really. A good cup of coffee, overshadowed by the bitter taste of human prejudice. Meow.
Julie Knowlton
Lovely place with great staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shane Waller
Im here from Virginia, my mother has been placed in home hospice care. So I'm here to be with her. I have been to Sozo a few times when I can. Each time I come in my coffee is brilliant, and the service is amazing. Lexi is a total rock star, thank you for making me smile and laugh during a horrible time for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laura Johnson
Great place to stop and work, grab the best cup of coffee ever and relax.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sethame Seed
Very cozy and nice coffee shop. Lots of seating and comforting atmosphere. Definitely worth visiting!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill
Quiet, room for working from laptop, having coffee and their delicacies.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brew
Taylor
My first visit we went through the drive thru and the customer service felt as if we were annoying her, but the coffee was so rich and creamy. The initial visit I ordered an iced honeybee.
Our second visit we went inside, holy crap this is not what I expected it to look like! There was so much room to sit down and felt like a restaurant with a super cool coffee shop. The staff were so friendly and helpful which was really refreshing after our first visit.
I ordered a sun-dried tomato bagel and got it toasted. I didn’t get any cream cheese (not by choice) but man o man it didn’t even need cream cheese, the flavors were exquisite! This visit I ordered a hot Blonde and it was good, but I enjoyed their iced coffee more. I took home one of their apple breads and shared it with everyone for breakfast, it was a hit and really good toasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sophia Oswalt
What a fantastic cafe shop. The staff were absolutely amazing and friendly. I understand why it's rated top coffee for the last 3 years. It's creamy, smooth, and flavorful. Highly recommend the bakery items. We got the earl grey lavender cookie, and the vegan muffin.
This is my most favorite coffee shop! Everyone is always so kind and helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anna Glasgow
Great coffee with lots of gluten free and dairy free options!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jamie Richards
Wow! The bagels are light, fluffy, and flavorful. The jalapeño cheddar bagel is a dough cloud of happiness. There are also cookies and laminated dough creations. The coffee is excellent. I asked for half sweetness in a mocha and it was a flavorful treat. I love the single farm sourcing of beans. They take Fair trade even further by bringing the coffee growing family for a visit to the U.S. to see where their coffee goes after it grows. Looking at the photos and reading the stories makes me feel like I’m part of this large family of coffee lovers all over the world.
Just had the best muffin of my entire 34 years!
I have been a customer of Sozo for 17 years. Revolving around the Greek word meaning “to be made whole or new”, Sozo has been a space for just that. Wether you’re refueling for the day, ordering dinner rolls or special baked goods for a party, connecting with a friend, or working there serving your community, Sozo is a place for rejuvenation, growth and dang good coffee. The owners, Rodney and Mindy Hensley are the heartbeat of the place. If you look up “small business owners” in the dictionary, there’s a picture of these two. They are absolutely stellar. The coffee is beyond fair trade, they personally know each of their farmers and visit them often. Paying beyond market value, they are changing the coffee industry from the inside out and providing a very flavorful product, expertly roasted in their roasting facility. Their coffee is served in other coffee shops in Michigan, and they ship it all over the country via their website. As for the store itself, the atmosphere, service, and products are amazing. The atmosphere offers opportunities for everything from reunions, board game sessions, first dates, and solo work/reading sessions. They recently opened a separate roasting facility to keep up with demand, and they also redesigned and opened their big room. There is a drive thru option as well! The servers are always dedicated to offering the best experience possible. They work hard to balance the facets between friendliness, quality, and speed. It is amazing to be known by name and to be greeted with a friendly face! Every drink is made from scratch with specific guidelines, and you can customize them in countless ways for all preferences and dietary needs. (Sugar free, dairy free, ALL drinks are gluten free, nut allergies, etc.) The baked goods are made fresh from scratch daily with rotating options for every palette. Also, huge shout out to the egg frittatas for an option for protein! There is a full gluten free section in the bakery case that is completely compliant with the department of agriculture, and they cover vegan options often! I have so much more I could say, but I would consider Sozo Coffee to be Ionia’s hidden gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I sought solace. A quiet corner, a warm spot, perhaps a gentle sunbeam. What I found was… less than ideal. The aroma of freshly roasted beans, a delightful symphony for my sensitive nose, promised much. The coffee itself? Meow-velous. A deep, rich brew, robust enough to wake a sleeping lion, yet smooth as a freshly groomed coat. The baristas, their hands quick and efficient, crafted each cup with an almost artistic precision. The pastries, too, looked divine—flaky croissants, glistening muffins. A true culinary triumph, a beacon of hope in this otherwise chaotic world. But then, the humans. Specifically, the Ionia County deputies. A cacophony of loud, grating voices, shattering the morning’s peace. Their conversations, a disgusting display of… well, let’s just say unpleasantness. They spoke of "donut holes" with a sneer, mocking those who served, those with invisible wounds. "PTSD? More like P-T-S-D-onut," one bellowed, followed by guffaws. My whiskers twitched with indignation. To belittle veterans, those who sacrificed so much, was an insult to every creature with a shred of decency. My fur bristled. The air, once filled with the comforting scent of coffee, became thick with their… ignorance. The evening, I hoped, would be different. The soft glow of the lamps, the quiet murmur of conversation, the promise of a peaceful retreat. And indeed, the coffee was still excellent. The ambiance, initially, was calming. The clinking of cups, the gentle hum of the espresso machine—it was almost meditative. I could almost forget the morning’s horrors. But the memory lingered. Like a hairball stuck in my throat. The taste of their bigotry, their casual cruelty, tainted every sip. It was like finding a stray dog hair in my perfectly prepared tuna. Unacceptable. The deputies, thankfully, were gone. But their words, their laughter, echoed in the quiet space. It was a beautiful coffee shop, truly. A sanctuary for the senses. But the human element, the sheer awfulness of some of its patrons, ruined it. A tragedy, really. A good cup of coffee, overshadowed by the bitter taste of human prejudice. Meow.
Lovely place with great staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Im here from Virginia, my mother has been placed in home hospice care. So I'm here to be with her. I have been to Sozo a few times when I can. Each time I come in my coffee is brilliant, and the service is amazing. Lexi is a total rock star, thank you for making me smile and laugh during a horrible time for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place to stop and work, grab the best cup of coffee ever and relax.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very cozy and nice coffee shop. Lots of seating and comforting atmosphere. Definitely worth visiting!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Quiet, room for working from laptop, having coffee and their delicacies.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brew
My first visit we went through the drive thru and the customer service felt as if we were annoying her, but the coffee was so rich and creamy. The initial visit I ordered an iced honeybee.
Our second visit we went inside, holy crap this is not what I expected it to look like! There was so much room to sit down and felt like a restaurant with a super cool coffee shop. The staff were so friendly and helpful which was really refreshing after our first visit.
I ordered a sun-dried tomato bagel and got it toasted. I didn’t get any cream cheese (not by choice) but man o man it didn’t even need cream cheese, the flavors were exquisite! This visit I ordered a hot Blonde and it was good, but I enjoyed their iced coffee more. I took home one of their apple breads and shared it with everyone for breakfast, it was a hit and really good toasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a fantastic cafe shop. The staff were absolutely amazing and friendly. I understand why it's rated top coffee for the last 3 years. It's creamy, smooth, and flavorful. Highly recommend the bakery items. We got the earl grey lavender cookie, and the vegan muffin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This is my most favorite coffee shop! Everyone is always so kind and helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great coffee with lots of gluten free and dairy free options!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wow!
The bagels are light, fluffy, and flavorful. The jalapeño cheddar bagel is a dough cloud of happiness. There are also cookies and laminated dough creations.
The coffee is excellent. I asked for half sweetness in a mocha and it was a flavorful treat.
I love the single farm sourcing of beans. They take Fair trade even further by bringing the coffee growing family for a visit to the U.S. to see where their coffee goes after it grows. Looking at the photos and reading the stories makes me feel like I’m part of this large family of coffee lovers all over the world.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bagel with Butter
VERY good coffee
Great coffee and baked goods. Friendly staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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