Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters Detroit

In 2009, thirteen-year-old Nathan Hamood washed dishes while his sister Stephanie played music nightly at their family's fledgling dessert shop in Rochester. Today, that boy's obsession with coffee has spawned a four-location empire, with the Detroit outpost occupying an Albert Kahn masterpiece in Capitol Park—limestone facade, carved stone details, and soaring arched windows that once housed Depression-era commerce now framing millennial laptop culture. The transformation is both triumph and tragedy. Hamood's journey from a $600 converted rotisserie oven to a top-tier Probat roaster represents authentic passion scaling into legitimate craft. Their current Ethiopian Biru Bekele showcases serious sourcing chops, though the Mountain Water Process decaf comes with an unusually honest disclaimer: "we've found it can sometimes risk muting the coffee a bit due to the high input of water in the process." When a roaster admits their decaf might taste like soapy diluted Sanka, that's either refreshing transparency or a quality control red flag. Inside Kahn's architectural bones, exposed HVAC ducts spiral overhead like industrial DNA, creating dramatic vertical lines that photographers love and acoustics engineers probably curse. The material palette reads like a Brooklyn coffee shop starter pack: raw concrete floors bearing natural patina, exposed brick painted charcoal, Edison bulb pendants creating task lighting rather than warmth. It's the "we spent money to look like we didn't spend money" aesthetic, executed with undeniable visual coherence. But here's where form battles function. Those bar-height communal tables force performance over comfort—I witnessed one patron making wardrobe adjustments that revealed how the space demands you negotiate its aesthetic rather than welcoming you as you are. The window counter creates isolation pods perfect for laptop nomads, while the central communal table attempts community building. It succeeds brilliantly as a co-working space with historically significant backdrop, while failing as the neighborhood gathering place its Rochester sibling reportedly embodies. The demographic tells the story: tech-savvy creatives ages 25-40 who can afford to nurse a $6 latte for three hours while coding. This isn't grab-and-go coffee culture or lingering conversation culture—it's productivity theater staged in architectural grandeur. Customers consistently praise the coffee quality ("fantastic and heavenly"), but describe the Detroit location as "cold and dark, like a converted warehouse" compared to Rochester's "warm and cozy, like a huge living room." The Monday open mic nights hint at the musical DNA embedded in DOCR's foundation, when teenage Nathan fell in love with coffee while Stephanie's guitar filled the original space nightly. That family narrative—from rotisserie oven roasting to award-winning craft, from washing dishes to training baristas who become executives—provides authentic weight beneath the Instagram-ready industrial aesthetic. Ultimately, Dessert Oasis succeeds by being honest about what it is rather than pretending to be something else. It's where Detroit's creative class performs productivity in an Albert Kahn building, sipping meticulously sourced coffee while negotiating metal stools and concrete acoustics. The space photographs better than it lives, but sometimes that's exactly what the laptop generation needs: a beautiful backdrop for their digital lives, served with coffee that respects the craft even when the decaf disappoints. In a city rebuilding its identity one adaptive reuse at a time, that might be enough.

Parked nearby and need some caffeine before work. Found this location base on all the good reviews Good coffee, good service and good cake. The real bonus is you can stare out of the big glass window and look at downtown Detroit while you enjoy your hot or cold coffee.

5/5 Dessert Oasis is the best cafe I've ever been to in the entire metro Detroit area. The staff always provide helpful recommendations and have incredible energy. The quality of the coffees and teas are top notch. It's wonderful that I can count on enjoying the right combo of sweet and spicy in my beverages.

Loved this coffee shop for the aesthetic & great flavors. Quiet, spacious, and colorful, this space is great for getting work done, reconnecting with friends/the city, as well as trying some new desserts. I had an iced matcha latte w oatmilk & an everything bagel. I enjoy their drinks come with flavors already mixed in got no extra charge. Can’t wait to visit in the summer, I heard their Matcha Lemonade is amazing!!!

This has become my new favorite cafe downtown! The lattes are beyond delicious and the ham and cheese croissant is so good! They have a wide variety of food options and a welcoming staff. I enjoy getting work done here as well.

Went on a Monday night for a date and there was live music that anyone can participate. Love the atmosphere as well. Try the chocolate cake and the Venetian mocha, very good. Would return again if passing through DT Detroit

For some reason The little girl decided to spit in my coffee. I didn't do anything to prompt this, I actually visit DO often when I'm working on art projects and on a normal day the baristas are usually friendly. However yesterday was one far from normal. I have no prior negative experience with this barista here. She told me her name was (Ashley) I'm not sure what she went thru that day or if in her heart is discreet prejudice, however once I noticed what she did, I calmly asked her to remake my drink, watched her while she did then let her know I was aware she spit in my drink. She began to speak nervously as if she were caught. She didn't deny or defend herself, she was surprised that I found out and I confronted her with poise letting her know I would share the pictures of what occured. Again, I'm not a regular there but I've been there often enough and have never caused problems for a barista to even want to do this to me. So I'm assuming prejudice. Use this information accordingly as well as be safe and alert in Downtown Detroit.

All the cheesecakes they have are great! I had the raspberry white chocolate—delicious. Nice and quiet space.

I tried the washed Peruvian pour-over. Very clean taste, didn't have to wait long, just the typical pour-over pour time. Also had the coffee cake 3.5/5. WiFi is fast. Plenty of seating, lots of coffee choices. Has a bathroom (need a code and to be a customer)

If you're seeking long wait times and overly pretentious coffee, then this is the place for you. If not, recommend going to another coffee shop. Dessert Oasis tries way too hard without having having a solid product to stand behind. If you're going to be snooty about your coffee than you better be the best. While the interior design was cozy and welcoming, everything else was lackluster. I come from a city that deeply cares about their coffee so I had high expectations thinking I was getting a thing then it all fell apart.

Love this place it's a coffee shop that doubles as a music venue. Employees are really friendly and the area is centered and convenient. The pistachio latte was great. Could have used another round.

Ordered caramel Latte; and red velvet cheesecake. Both were good as expected from aroma of coffee and presentation of cheesecake. Service was quick and very friendly.

Delicious mocha on my way to conference day 1. Went around 7am, looks like a great place to kick it for homework, studying or coffee date. Thank you!

I love this cafe located in Capitol Park! It's very spacious inside, lots of seating options. There is a little performance stage in the back and I hear they have an open mic night. They also have an area to purchase swag and coffee related paraphernalia. Excellent service and I loved my matcha latte. My favorite part is that they have a sign that declares that everyone is welcome there. I look forward to returning.

Staff was kind - even during the busy first day of the draft they took the time to explain their coffee options to me and were friendly. The coffee itself was tasty and high quality. I usually get cream in my iced coffee but didn't this time and still really enjoyed it. The tiramisu was phenomenal. Cute space too.

I love this coffee shop so much! It's so convenient I can walk to it and it's open late during the week for when I need to work on side projects after my 9-5. The vibe is very cool and the music is just the right volume. There's also options to sit up front by the windows if you want more light, or you can sit in the back for a more cozy feel. I love their coffee and rotating specials. The Columbia Espresso is my favorite and I usually get a bag for home too when I'm here. The Guatemala blend is also very good!

Super tasty and ready for fall. The place is really small though and seating is limited. The interior is also older and more bare. But, it still does what it needs and it has large windows for that cafe aesthetic. It is also right across from a park so you can hang out around the area once you had your coffee. Service was fast! They also delivered the coffee to my table!

Beautiful and tasty mocha with just the right amount of sweetness. Enjoyed the music, spacious urban layout, and constant stream of loyal patrons. We are from Rochester and do not enjoy our Dessert Oasis location near as much as this cafe. Pastries looked yummy though we didn't try one today. Nice area to walk around and enjoy the downtown. Friendly staff and good prices.

Efficient barista. Chill vibes. Great coffee. Great spot to read, chat with a friend, or send some emails. Taking some beans back home.

One of the breakfast spots in the neighborhood without a line on a Saturday morning. Big interior for a simple cafe - seating at tables all around and stool seating at the windows, with the order counter at the center. Oped for an Iced Latte ($4ish) to go along with the Spinach and Feta Puff Pastry ($?). Latte is strong, a tad heavy on the ice, but good overall. The puff pastry is on the doughy side, probably needed to be cooked for longer. The spinach and feta inside was nice (especially warmed up). Items did take some time to come out, though not much of an issue - bathroom was also out of order. Best to take your stuff to go as there is a nice park outside.

This location is probably the 2nd biggest of the 3. Imo, the interior design is the most creative. If I lived in downtown not New Center, I'd probably visit more for a decent espresso or latte. Still would recommend to try at least once as each location has variations of things.

Excellent cortado!! Friendly atmosphere... highly skilled barista. Will definitely come here next visit to town

Great vibe. Real baristas. Great coffee. Although they forgot to add my pistachio flavor to my drink, they were willing to make it right immediately. Will definitely come back. Thumbs up.

This coffee roaster is a true gem at the heart of Detroit. It is one of the few coffee shops that you can find open at the crack of dawn (they open at 6am!) and has great beans. If you are looking to get a latte, they have a slew of flavor options. The hazelnut latte was delicious at each sip. I am not one for sweet breakfast items and always feel happy when cafés include salty pastry options. Their leek parmesan pastry was totally delicious and made me wish for a second the moment I had my last bite. They have great pour over coffee options that I am excited to try next time I am here. If you get a bag of beans, they get you a pour over for free, which is a steal. The ambiance is chill and there's ample seating for those looking to work or even to sit down and chat with a friend. They also have the most random merchandise, think from candles to shampoo. Definitely worth a visit when in Detroit!

It was a really quick bite so we didn't get to try any other pastries. I do like their matcha latte. One of the best in the area, I always hunt for quality matcha. It felt very cozy and I can see myself spending hours studying. The coffee cake was okay, i don't know if it's because it wasn't warmed properly but I have had better.

Found this cute coffee shop while we were walking around downtown Detroit and enjoyed it very much! The inside was very spacious and pretty quiet and seemed like a good place to study or do some work on your computer. The barista who helped me order was very kind and cute! I ordered the lavender latte because I am always drawn to floral drinks when I see them on the menu. The barista let me know they have Almond, Coconut, Soy, and Oat milk available as milk alternatives and I went with the Oat milk. The flavor of the lavender was honestly sooo amazing and one of the best I've ever had. Not too powerful but very much there. My boyfriend ordered the pour over and he was content because he enjoys black coffee so much. To use the bathroom you need to ask the baristas for a key because they keep it locked. Great experience and would come again if I was nearby!

I dealt with two baristas on 3/24/2024. First order 3/24/2024: Double espresso. Excellent service by barista # 1. Bravo. Second order 3/24/2024: Double espresso. The worst service I have received in over a decade. Barista # 2 had a disgusting attitude and demeanor that was unwarranted. To top it all off, when my order was ready, he threw the coffee cup down on the counter, nearly spilling it, and then proceeded to walk away like an angry child. Summary: Mediocre coffee. Wildly unpredictable levels of customer service. Proceed at your own risk.

Great coffee shop with a broad menu and delectable desserts in the heart of downtown Detroit. I'd totally be a regular here if I lived in Detroit!

The location is really central and nice within Detroit, so it's a good place to stop by when walking around the city. The coffee is really good, and they have solid pastries. The prices are reasonable and I love the aesthetic in the coffee shop, which is more industrial. The staff is super nice and it's usually a pretty short wait.

This is a really hip place that has the goods. The service was friendly and colorful; you felt like they enjoyed being at work and liked serving you. The coffee was above average, but the dessert is what you really come for. The cake must be some of the best you can get in Detroit: moist, rich, and elegant. And its not even that expensive. A real find.

Get the Parmesan + Leak Puff Pastry. A++ I also had a pour over and it was pretty good! Staff is friendly. I sat and read for awhile too, the atmosphere was chill and pleasant. Wifi worked well!

I actually only initially went in to use a restroom, but I ended up loving Dessert Oasis while visiting Detroit, and Nate and I stopped in again the next day! The baristas were kind and polite, and the vanilla oat iced latte I ordered was delicious. It was super creamy and not overly sweet with their house made vanilla syrup. The next day, Nate came in with me and he got a specialty drink with strawberry basil and oat milk. This was so good! I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I really loved it. The strawberry syrup was such a tasty addition. I don't think I got a ton of basil but it was still delicious. It tasted like dessert to me, so it's not something I'd drink every day but I was glad we tried it. The space has a bit of a cool grungy/industrial feel. It also acts as a music venue and a bit of an art gallery with local art on the walls. They had some really fun merchandise- I particularly liked the cool t-shirts. As their name implies, they also have dessert options - I didn't try any, but they had cheesecake and some pastries that looked great. There's a bit of space inside to work. I usually prefer coffee shops to have a bit more natural light, so I'd probably gravitate towards the front of the shop if I wanted to work here. I will be back next time I'm in the area!

Stopped by Desert Oasis and ordered a caramel macchiato. My coffee was picture perfect and was probably the best caramel macchiato I've ever had. I would never go to Starbucks if we had DOCR where I live.

A great place to work from with great coffee and light pastries. This is strictly a coffee cafe (with a few pastries), so do not expect them to have a full menu with food options. What you can expect is excellent coffee and ample space (with outlets- wahoo!) to work! I have been coming here more often to work remotely and "set up shop" for the day. The mellow music and great natural light is perfect. If you don't wish to sip coffee indoors, they are located right in the heard of Capital Park, so you can sit and enjoy your coffee on a bench or on the lawn. The staff is usually very friendly- sometimes you will get a barista who seems stressed but that comes with the territory of an edgy coffee roaster anyway, right? It's all part of the experience... . They also have fun specials which are usually posted on signage near the cash register. I usually get an iced oat milk latte with vanilla (that's my go-to) and it's excellent. The few pastries that they do offer are very good and can be warmed if you wish! Additionally, they sell an array of coffee accessories and merch if you're into that. I recommend trying this spot the next time your downtown.

Love Dessert Oasis! I've gone to their original Rochester location several times and was excited to see another one of their stores in Detroit. I love ordering their coffees and cheesecakes. During my last visit, I ordered a hot chocolate with friends and sat at the park just across the street to enjoy the fall colors and sunset. Will definitely be coming here in the future again!

TRANSFORMATIVE coffee experience...if you have one of their rare, but totally affordable pour overs* What I love most about this place is that they have what is probably best termed experimental coffees, which make them sound more exotic then they really are, but they are different for sure. On my visit to their Royal Oak store--you can see that review there--I had a coffee that went through anaerobic yeast fermentation! This time, I tried a coffee (below) that said is washed controlled fermentation, something I have never heard of, and was explained as "Portions of the fermentation process are anaerobic (without the presence of oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen) in some portions." I've been to this shop a few times. Had a couple of cortados, which I can't say I have loved. However, the black coffee is outstanding. Last week I had 3 drinks, all very good to remarkable. Brazil Bom, pourover - Their tasting notes were pretty on: strawberry and merengue...well maybe not exactly merengue, but there was a kind of tart creaminess that was close enough. The creamy quality seemed very in line with Brazil coffees, but this was higher quality and much more layered. Ultimately, interesting and very drinkable. Also, at $16.95 for a 12 oz bag, unreal value. Ethiopian (washed) drip - classic coffee, but absolutely outstanding. Vibrant fruit. I think it was under $3, which seemed like a crazy value for such a good coffee. Canned flash brew iced coffee - I think it was Ethiopian. Very nice. Not like an iced pourover, but very good and quite convenient...ended up keeping it on ice until the next day, which wasn't the plan, but was a great option. While I don't live in Michigan, I have been to a good number of cafes there in recent years, and have done a lot of coffee tasting in midwest cities. St. Louis and Pittsburg have a couple great roasters too, but I can't think of anyplace doing more interesting coffee than Dessert Oasis. *-Pro tip, steal of a deal. If you buy a bag of coffee, they'll throw in a pour over for free!

Dessert Oasis in the middle of Capital Park is a great spot. This place has it figured out! It's enormous with large windows so you can peep outside but also retreat in the corner and get some much needed work done. The baristas are awesome and welcome you in with a smile, and beautiful latte art! I would stick with coffee drinks here with their in-house flavors ranging from vanilla to honey to lavender, it hits all the spots. Their matcha is good, but not what they are known for. They also roast their own beans so if you're into black coffee, you're in the right place. Their pastries are good - sweet and savory - not their standout but definitely satisfying! A great spot in the city where you'll be sure to find a seat to relax and get your Java on

As with my previous posts I am a major coffee bean connoisseur. I came here on a "why not" I'm in Detroit. When I tried the Ethiopia Guji Uraga beans at home a couple of weeks later I was very surprised of the flavor and quality. I tried on a V60, Phoenix 70, Gina and BeeHouse. All where very delicious.

Chill coffee spot right near Capitol Park in Downtown Detroit. Lots of space, cool vibe, and good coffee / espresso. I visited on a Monday early afternoon and it wasn't too busy. Hand sanitizer at the entrance and again at the counter, social distancing markers abound, and yes, masks required. Plenty of tantalizing pastry choices and alternative milks including oat, almond, and soy. The service was quick and friendly. Desert Oasis roasts their own coffee and it is tasty. Would definitely visit again if I'm nearby.

Update: still love this place & the staff is always great with the exception of one visit. Anywho, sometimes the coffee can be a little watery? I'm not sure why that happens but overall still a good go to. Open late, has vegan baked goods, and lots of seating. What's not to love?

Great spot for a good dessert and hot drink. Coffee was very fresh. Friendly prompt service. Will be back.

We stopped in this lovely space twice on our visit to Detroit. We loved the friendly welcoming vibe and the delicious hot cocoa made special by the kindness of the baristas. One day we had chocolate croissants, and the other day we had their giant chocolate chip cookies. Both had the right texture, the right taste, and were the right size for dunking. I'd hit this place up again and again if I lived nearby.

Had WAY high hopes for this place!!! Went here for my birthday.... The person who took our order could not have conveyed better that they did not want to be there and they were having the worst day ever!! they pretty much rolled their eyes while taking our order and it was super uncomfortable and killed our vibe right away.. I was Suuper excited walking in but that transaction left me super empty.. I asked my friends if it was just me and all of us agreed that the person was rude and akward.. the drinks didn't take too long but they came out slowly one at a time while the baristas socialised and didn't seem to have any pep in their step.. maybe it was a bad day or they didn't have any coffee idk but the vibes .. we were just on polar opposite wavelengths.. my coffee was good tasting but warmish not hot.. the others liked their drink.. one person said its .. ok. Probably going to skip over this place. I was super excited to discover the local coffee scene idk maybe i will be back in the spring or something maybe it was just an off day! The decor of the place over all looks pretty cool the space has potential

Great local coffee shop. Windows right on Griswold so great sight seeing. At 6:30am I get a mocha with a beautiful flower foam imprint it's gonna be a great day.

Giving this a 5 star for the coffee! Quite tasty. We also had a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake, which I'd say was 4 stars. Still good, but not peanut-buttery. You visit a coffee shop for the coffee, though - right? Anything else is gravy. (or cheesecake)

Great atmosphere, kick ass staff, great coffee & tea, fiber optic internet, good coffee shop

Took forever to get my coffee. Def a bit of a coffee snob feel in here if that's what you're in to. Coffee was tasty. Muffin tasted old. Didn't do a one star because I grew up in a retail family.

Cool local coffee shop in Downtown Detroit. My husband got a cappuccino if I remember correctly and I had a Matcha Latte. We stopped here after someone who was staying at our hotel mentioned that he always goes here to buy coffee(ground) whenever he's in town, so with that recommendation we had to get a bag of coffee to bring back home with us as well.

We are eating at the Thai place and this was next door . I had the crimson velvet latte which was really flavorful. Then kids has the lavender and pistachio lqttes . Really loved the rugged worshopish feel of the place

There's a good, friendly voice in here, which I find important. BUT, that latte. I've been here twice and I had the lavender the first time, and pistachio just yesterday. It's easily the smoothest, most velvety latte I've ever had. They're pretty, too! I look forward to getting one whenever I'm in the area and able to.

Let me tell you about customer service and product enthusiasm at its finest: Meet Drew. This friendly face welcomed me to Dessert Oasis while I was in Detroit for a business trip. I followed their killer ratings from my hotel and was not disappointed. Drew is your dream front of house employee: he radiates hospitality, is eager to share about the product in an approachable manner and makes the entire customer experience fun and personable. I wish I could drag Drew around to coffee shops throughout the US and remind them that great coffee can still be approachable and fun. Now on to the rose latte. It ties with my other favorite rose (ginger) latte in Indianapolis at Coat Check Coffee (that's a big statement, ya'll). It's so darned good. In summary: I was sad when it was over. Great news is, I'll hightail it here for another during my next Detroit visit. I was told they make all syrups in house. I also noticed that their quiche looks delicious and is very popular. Dessert Oasis is conveniently located across the street from an adorable park with little shops and great activation. For those who work remotely, they've done a great job at offering outlets throughout the shop and a variety of seating options (outdoor, standing, bar around the baristas, traditional, etc.). Last but not least, thanks for taking the experience to the next level, Drew. Keep that spunk!

Visited Detroit for the 1st time last week and our first morning we stumbled upon this coffee shop. I tried the 8oz mocha latte added two Splenda packers because that is usually my go-to when sr w new place. I'm the type of coffee drinker that likes coffee in my cup of creamer. Haha. It was sweet for sure! But when I tell you I felt like I was drinking some high quality dark chocolate, I mean it. We only spent 2 mornings in Detroit and the next day I went back again. This time getting the 12oz and only 1 packet is Splenda and it was the perfect combo of sweet, chocolate and coffee for me. A lot of people were ordering a pistachio latte which I was intrigued by. So if I'm ever back in Detroit, I might just have to get both. Anyways, highly recommend.

You want a morning slap in the face from your coffee? Well this is the place. Their coffee and lattes never disappoint. This place is super hipster and a little pricey if you're use to Starbucks. With that being said, it's well worth it! Will return for my third cup soon!

They have great chEEsecakes. A great vibe. Chill, great music, cool clientele....I really like this place. If you're looking for a chill place for coffee and dessert, this hits the spot! I love it!

El Salvador Finca Don Jaime pour over is fantastic. Ambiance is nice and not snooty. Baristas are very knowledgeable. They have a Slayer espresso machine and Fetco for drip. -West Coast coffee snob

My favorite place to get coffee (and dessert!) near Capitol Park. I just had a cappuccino, but it was perfectly roasty and nutty. The space is very inviting and they have really cute merch! I'll be back because the desserts look divine!

Very nice staff, great location, a good place to read, study and write! Clean, nice design and full of daily light in the front, and a darker end in the back for those looking to work without any distractions. I've only tried the mocha latte and house coffee with oat milk, and it was tasty and fresh - no sugar was needed either.