Rowster Coffee Wealthy

Pros: Good coffee and great customer service. Cons: the front and back door blow open with the wind making the front bar a bad spot to sit and realistically unusable in winter. The chairs by the back door are only good if you are bundled up in winter bc of the draft. Grab a seat at the middle 3 tables if you want to stay and work. Completely fine in warm weather.

Laid back & friendly staff, phenomenal coffee every time, comfortable seating, and a perfect atmosphere for focus & flow - if not a good meeting.

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 I hope they can return to their roots and restore the quality that originally made them a neighborhood favorite.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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.

Rowster Coffee is one of my favorite cafes in Grand Rapids. They have a pour over manual brew which is a sign of a great coffee spot! Their lattes are not overly sweetened and very well executed. They have a great atmosphere with a friendly helpful staff. I would highly recommend Rowster Coffee and will definitely be back.

Very nice place with lots of parking in the back. I'm a tea drinker and they have a nice assortment of teas. Music was nice and chill, not too loud or too soft. Service was great and I will be back.

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.

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

Rowster's coffee beans are one of my local favorites. If you pick up your favorite coffee beans on Friday, they are usually recently roasted. Servers are friendly, knowledgeable about their product. Love the warm feel, and is a peace place for any work, small meetings, and to relax.

I really like Rowster coffee. The staff are always friendly and the space is cozy yet airy. Perfect ambiance for the fall in my option. My most recent visits to Rowster had been with a local running group, so I appreciate the owners partnering with the community! My current drink of choice has been a pumpkin spiced latte with almond milk, and Rowster definitely does an excellent job with it. The drink was not too sweet. And the foam on top was perfect! Overall a strong 4/5 coffee spot in East Town.

I don't frequent Rowster that often, but I recently stopped in due to a specialty drink I saw featured on their Instagram, the matcha revival (matcha, lemonade, and ginger peach tea syrup). It was a unique and refreshing treat! I wanted more ginger flavor, but the matcha and lemonade worked well together and I want to try to recreate this at home. I liked the house made syrup options, which included more than your typical vanilla or mocha (pistachio, cherry, hot honey, berry tea, etc.). The vibe inside is cozy and I loved all the plants. I do think the decision to not post any prices on the menu board is a little weird, plus the writing was so tiny it was a bit hard to read. The space isn't huge but there were plenty of people working and studying there when I stopped by.

Rowsters Coffee is a fantastic spot for studying. The abundance of outlets and seating makes it convenient for work or relaxation. While the parking lot is small, there's street parking available, just watch out for resident spots. Plus, their seasonal drinks, like the delightful jasmine latte in spring, always add a refreshing touch to your visit. Highly recommended for a cozy study session! The staff and service are also super amazing and down to earth!

Great little spot for a coffee and to do some work. It's a cute cube, bright with plants. They had specials for Valentine's Day, I tried the vanilla strawberry matcha latte which was quite good. My partner had their brewed coffee which comes with refills and he enjoyed it. Barista was sweet and helpful and recommended some baked goods as well. Definitely would return!

Best coffee in Grand Rapids! Sitting by the window is so relaxing, and they even have outdoor seating. Such a good spot to sit and get work done. The entire staff is so nice and always has great recommendations... love coming here!

I ordered a cappuccino and it was amazing. This place has house made syrups too which were very good.

Great coffee and really cool vibe inside. Reasonably priced, lots of small tables and seating. Very quiet and quaint. Serving their own coffee, very kindly.

I have to say roasters is a really good place for coffee. I think it's by far the best coffee place in Grand Rapids. There are many coffee places the service excellent the ambience wonderful everything about it is just excellent. My friend introduced me to roasters and wealthy is been a blessing to actually drink coffee when I'm in Grand Rapids. I definitely say this my spot,

A very nice coffee shop. I enjoyed the style of interior decor. The kitchen area is open, clean, industrial. The staffs are friendly. Menu is very simple. We got the cappuccino, which is on the stronger side and very tasty.

Small coffee menu ...nothing more than regular stuff with some interesting homemade syrup! I had the Cuban and the sugar they put into the espresso just brought out the coffee note, and didn't overpower the coffee! It's almost as if I was eating melted super dark chocolate. I really wanted to try their jasmine syrup...next time :)

This place has such a cute vibe. Everyone is so nice and the coffees are good! Nice place to come by and get some work done. I also love the amount of plants they have everywhere.

I just opened up another 5 pound bag of Ethiopian beans that we get on auto ship every 2 weeks. This has to be some of the best light roast we have had anywhere. Small hands on team roasting to perfection every time.

Not my favorite coffee shop and always super hot inside , their espresso is not my style :(

Coffee lovers, Rowsters Coffee in Eastown Grand Rapids is a must-visit! Sit at the window and watch Wealthy Street go by while sipping on their tasty mocha or any of their other great caffeinated beverages. The friendly staff and cozy atmosphere make it the perfect spot to catch up with friends or relax alone. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

You can't really go wrong with Rowster. Good coffee. Good booch. Good company. Good ambiance. I came in the other day to pick up a much needed cup of caffeine and enjoyed chatting with the barista despite my non-caffeinated brain -______- I thoroughly enjoyed my iced dirty chai made with oat milk. I should've gotten the largest cuz I killed it before even starting the car. I also had a taste of the kombucha on tap and it was a nice apple pie like flavor. Had I not needed caffeine I probably would've gotten that. Honestly, I only strolled on here because two other coffee shops I attempted visiting were both closed by 3pm on a Tuesday. Thank goodness Rowster doesn't close til 5. I needed that boost to make it through the rest of day!

Great coffee and fantastic service! Solid place to get reading done. Love this place! The barista recommended the olive oil cake and it was the worst thing I've ever had the displeasure of eating in my life but I like the place so much I pretended to like it. I just puked I hope no one ever has to suffer through that again I'll never be able to look at olive oil again I'm literally a changed man. Great tea selection here!

The best coffee in Grand Rapids! The oat milk cortado I had was perfect. Cute neighborhood as well.

Slightly small inside, but wonderful lighting, good airflow through the building, good drinks, and friendly staff. Really like their kombucha

I want to give this place a great review because it's gorgeous inside and has a great vibe and super friendly, prompt service. Unfortunately, even though I got the recommended drink/syrup, the coffee was just not that great.

Rowster gives a very distinct, but warm vibe. The wooden chairs and the coffee bar right across seem to give a comfortable yet organized interior of the cafe. I tried the Oolong tea and it came out in such a cute manner. Recommend.

What a cool little coffee shop. The vibes here were immaculate and the iced oat milk latte I had was delicious and super creamy. We hung out here and read while enjoying our coffee and in general, we just had a lovely time here.

My favorite coffee spot in Grand Rapids! Baristas are friendly and welcoming. Prices are standard for local coffee and well worth it. My go-to is an iced almond milk latte. Rowster's almond milk is a MUST-TRY. I don't even like almond milk. Cortado is smooth and strong. Coffee soda is good if you're feeling something sweet and bubbly.

Shi++y coffee in a Shi++y leaky cup for too much $$$. Wondering how this place stays in biz...

Rowster is cool, almost too cool. It's on the corner of the increasingly urban chic Wealthy Street and James Ave SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As you walk up, people born as hipsters sipping their coffees will coldly stare at you through the window. Once inside, even more hipsters, theses ones wearing designer clothes, yet unemployed, will hunt you down reminding you how uncool you are. Before you run for cover out of shame, a more friendly hipster who happens to work there will greet you. Just keep your eyes on him and order. It's worth it. Their menu is simple and you can't go wrong with a latte or their local kombucha. If you need some sugar, save your dignity and know they don't have a condiment area. Ask at the bar for sugar. Yep, it's that embarrassing. Once you have your coffee, hide at one of the wall tables. Plug in and drown yourself in your computer. You're way too uncool to be here for long. If you want good coffee, stop by. If you want to save your confidence, go to another shop that will make you feel worthy.

I like the ambience more than the coffee. This place is so hipster that even the the USPS worker delivered the mail with swagger. The Nitro cold brew was bitter and my pour over was supposed to be earthy but it had an ashy after taste.

Friendly barista, delicious coffee, cute atmosphere. The drinks are on the pricier side (as others have mentioned), but the quality is reflected in their product, so I'm happy to pay. I had a brown sugar & almond oat latte, it was so good! The barista was happy to make it less sweet, too. Oh, and they make their own syrups. Check it out if you like quality crafted coffee drinks!

Was looking forward to trying this coffee but was very disappointed. There are no prices posted so when the cashier said $18 for two coffees I questioned it. She had charged us for three coffees so we now owed $12. I paid and waited for our coffees. The quality was not that great so I again questioned the $12 price for two coffees. I was informed that my bearclawcoffee was $7 and the americano was $4.50. I dont mind paying more for good coffee but those prices are outrageous and the quality/customer service was not good as well.

Extremely hip and chill vibe. I was in town visiting friends in GR and I killed a couple hours here before meeting up with them. I ordered a glass of the jasmine kombucha which was pretty tasty. A little on the sweet side but the floral tones balanced it out. I also ordered a gunpowder green tea iced latte which was a bit on the milky side, but if you like your lattes that way I'm sure you'd love it. Overall it was a nice spot to read my book for a couple hours. Not the cozy, comfy vibe of some coffee houses, but if you like a modern aesthetic then you'll be pleased here!

I was in town for a couple of days for a work event back before this pandemic mess and spent a couple of study/work sessions at Rowster. The large, open space was perfect for working, and the drinks and snacks were just the boost I needed to power through blog post editing, graphic design, and admin tasks. The staff was friendly and attentive, and I feel like I might have even made friends with a couple of them! There was a big counter with bar stools by the window, which was great for doing some people watching while working. It almost felt like I was actually a part of the human race while I was working away. I'll definitely do some work there the next time I'm in town!

Love the vibe of this place. The employees were super friendly & helpful. Coffee was great! I absolutely love that they make their own flavored syrups for the lattes. Def would recommend :)

Pretty, delicate latte art. Amazing setting textures for Instagram photos. The cortado w/ almond milk was delicious and earthy. Staff was friendly. Good energy. Few patrons were in so it was quiet and relaxing for reading or studying at 9am.

Clean. Cool. Chill. Creative. Not Crowded. Tried the Cortados. Found them good. Parking is a little tight. So walk.

The coffee was good but expensive. We paid $17 dollars for two lattes and one croissant. Like I said, the coffee is good and doesn't seem expensive, however the pastries must be considering the bill. So come for the coffee and you won't be disappointed. The coffee and service is easily 4 stars. And the design is pretty cool also.

Easily my favorite coffee spot in Grand Rapids. Always try the Americano or the Lattes because whatever they put in them when they brew it is addicting. Great to keep warm, better for instagram, awesome boost for the day.

Ugh I cannot wait to come back. High recommend this spot for any coffee elitist, purist, or someone who just appreciates a good cup of Joe. Had their pour over with Rwanda beans. $4 Excellent. Everything i'd expect a solid pour over to be. Loved the container it came in. Free wifi. Modern space. All the things you want in a legit coffee spot.

Pricier, but one of my go-to work places, where I did a bulk of my Masters thesis research. There's a large work bench with bar stools by the window so I could fool myself into feeling like I was getting human contact when I was actually working my ass off to meet my impending deadline. Solid place to zone out into your work. They also have a long bench that extends from front to back, with small tables lined along it for folks to sit at. It's definitely got a different vibe from other coffee places: it's hip and modern but tends to empty out faster than other places. Not sure it's because their AC is blasted on all the time. Their music is decent-- also hip taste. The turnover of staff seems to be high.

Ok you win on the "I'm serious about my coffee" prize. You are not Madcap Coffee because you don't have to be. I enjoy your sitting space and I like that you serve your coffee in a leather cuff in a beaker-like carafe.... Like damn we want you to drink this but care about whether you could burn yourself or not. I like your cappuccinos because that's what I drink cappuccinos... You don't have many desserts. I wish you had more but that's ok because I know you are all about your coffee. Thanks for standing tall in this desperate world of caffeine addicts.

Great strong coffee staff not to warm or willing to give much info. Menu basic not like Starbucks great quality roaster with a passion to make a good quality product. Clean and modern look def for the modern person

Great minimalist style coffee house. The decor was cool with a wood plank bar, classic tables and benches, and a small bar in the front window overlooking the city sidewalk. The pour over coffee was excellent. It was presented well and tasted delicious. Latte's were all served with a cool Milk/creamy design in every cup. It inspired my wife to take many photos. There is seating for about 30 and every seat was filled at 11am on a Saturday morning. Great vibe. I will be back.

I always get to looking for a nice local coffee shop that is not a part of a huge chain... especially on the hunt for a nice cappucino, latte that isn't pumped full of syrups to cover the overly burnt coffee they use. I was very impressed with Rowster Coffee when I was visiting Grand Rapids for a tradeshow downtown. I had an Air BnB down the road and I would stop here on my way to the show every morning, probably 3 times that week at least! Each experience was great and I will be back if I am ever in Grand Rapids!

Literally the friendly coffee shop in West Michigan, I've be going here for the past month and a half, always greeted with a smile. The workers are funny. It's always clean. But most importantly whenever I visit I never see them keeping people waiting.

Fab little coffee shop and hand roaster in the middle of a charming little neighborhood in GR. Stopped in based on the recommendation of Joshua S and a few other folks we knew and had no regrets spending a little bit of our day here. No frou-frou flavored drinks here. Just genuinely good coffee that stands perfectly on its own (although if you do like it a little creamy they have lattes, cappucinos, and macchiatos on the menu as well). It was warm out so I opted for an iced coffee while my beau ordered just a regular hot drip coffee. The iced was smooth, had a bit of a chocolatey flavor to it, and just oh-so-good! What really struck me was how friendly the baristas were. They chatted us up easily while we waited for our drinks and had great recommendations of other things to check out while in GR. I don't know if it's something in the water (or the coffee!) but G-Raps is chock full of incredibly nice folks. High five for that midwest hospitality. Pastries and other snacks here looked delish. Unfortunately I was too full from a jaunt to Brewery Vivant to partake in anything but you'd better believe I'll be picking up something when I visit again next month!

Very nice staff. Minimalistic style coffee shop in my opinion. They serve great coffee and do not Starbucks you with a bunch of fake flavored drinks. The nitro cold brew latte goes down smooth and is too easy to drink. I like it without ice which is the way it was designed I think but you can also get ice in it if you want it slightly diluted and colder. Superb coffee beans. Picked up a bag of fresh roasted beans and brewed them using pour over method. Yum!

Rowsters is one of my favorite coffee shops in West Michigan. The baristas are so skilled- especially at the Wealthy st. location. I am always greeted with a smile and feel very welcomed. I would recommend the Miel latte hot or iced. Honestly this place is so awesome.

Rowsters is a cool, hip coffee shop in the East Town area. Their coffee competes for the best in Grand Rapids. What makes them more unique is that they roast their own coffee. What I love though is that their coffee is always freshly roasted. Like that day or that week!! They have a bunch of different varieties and I've not had anything that I haven't liked. The coffee has a very fresh taste to it. It tastes different than like a Starbucks because it just tastes clean and fresh. Probably because it was freshly roasted! I usually go in just to pick up a bag of coffee beans to take home with me. If you don't have a coffee grinder they will grind them for you. I love the way the coffee smells even in the bag!! So good!! If you go there to meet up with someone or to have a cup just know that seating is limited and it can get busy. But you won't be disappointed with your drink!! Another cool point is that Rowsters partners with a lot of the local restaurants to supply their coffee. So keep an eye out when you're eating somewhere else. You just might be able to grab a cup there too!

My family loves Rowster. When we lived in the neighborhood we visited weekly for their extra smooth and delicious coffee. Now that we live in Ada we order beans for delivery. It's hands down our favorite coffee. Even decaf has delighted visitors at our house. Keep up the great work. Every time we see your product in a local restaurant we celebrate.

Friendly service and quick. Had my first cortado coffee. The artwork was cute, tasted delish, and th atmosphere was very chill. Nice little place.

Row-ster ("roaster"), now I get it! Anyway... delicious, smooth, balanced and pretty latte. The prices are reasonable (four bucks). Very welcoming and UNPRETENTIOUS service. They can't help it their customers are hipsters. We middle-aged, frumpish ones were greeted kindly and our business was appreciated.