Every latte lover knows how hard it can be to decide on a drink at a new cafe or even a seasonal beverage flavor at their longtime favorite coffee shop. That’s where latte flights come in to save the day. These small samples of signature coffees are the “must-try” feature at Ann Arbor’s Vertex Coffee Roasters on South University at Washtenaw. Was there ever a better idea for a coffee shop? I think not. It’s high time cafes were inspired by their wine and beer brethren to serve up tastings of their offerings. When I’m at Vertex, I wonder why all cafes don’t have these mini-samplers showing off their specialty drinks for those who can’t decide which sounds best. I usually order three of the flight-sized lattes, all with different flavors to equal one of my “normal” size elsewhere. But there’s no rules, order one or order four. They’re open to craft you what you want.
Vertex is the place you want to go in Ann Arbor if you want something cozy, original and yum. I’ve never had a coffee I didn’t like in the three-plus years I’ve been going here. My favorite are the holiday-winter flavors, that hit you in the celebratory heart with tastes of cardamon, maple and rosemary. If those don’t sound like your thing, there seems to be always something new at Vertex, with syrup flavors and combos added for various seasonal treats, even special TV tie-ins (like the Valentine’s Day special: “The Moira Rose”, named after the beloved “Schitt’s Creek” matriarch, played by Catherine O’Hara, who just passed away; and the “Heated Rivalry” drinks celebrating the popular show’s release (and book it was adapted from).
One of the lattes on the permanent menu here is the French-named café miel, which you’ll see at other places, like UM’s UMMA Cafe down the street, as cafe con miel, which is just the same thing in Spanish: coffee with honey. Sometimes there’s cinnamon, other times there’s cardamon and/or nutmeg. However it is made at any given locale, this is one of my go-to’s at any coffee shop, anywhere in the world. While “the internet” is set on crediting Spain with being the originator of this caffeinated delight, there’s no hard evidence saying where or when it actually started. Note, when I went to Madrid and Barcelona in Spain this summer there was not a single drink with this name at any of the dozen-plus coffee shops I went to and I was specifically looking for this drink. I’ll update this if I find one in Mallorca, Spain’s big Balearic island, as I’m visiting there later this week! I did, however, see it and of course get it while in Portugal this summer.
No matter where it began, it seems to be on more and more menus around the globe as time goes by. And for good reason. You get the robust punch of strong espresso with its smooth crema combined with the sweetness of honey that comforts in its real-ness without overpowering that coffee flavor plus steamed milk. As Serious Eats says, “Honey is a much more delicate and floral sweetener than sugar, which allows the coffee’s flavor to shine through a bit more, and the warm honey and milk combo is essentially a nap in a mug.” I couldn’t agree more.
Vertex serves their lattes strong, which is how I like them. If you’re a fan of really sweet Starbucks chain coffees, then I wouldn’t rec the café miel here. Instead, I’d suggest a mocha plus an add-on of extra vanilla syrup, if you’re into the sweeter side.
Vertex is “a queer and woman owned business” that started in the summer of 2019 with “quality, sustainability [and] community” as their “foundational pillars.” And it shows! This place is the Ann Arbor embodiment of hygge, as the Danish call the act of “taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about – or even by yourself – to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures.” Filled with sunlight, thanks to the enormous window walls, the atmosphere drips positive vibes. All the plants decorating the place add to that for sure – they look cute and pump out fresh air. Other eco-friendliness shows in Vertex’s zero-waste philosophy & practice.
The friendly feel in here is mirrored in Vertex’s community programs. They started a “Little Free Pantry” at both locations in November 2025 and host monthly events, like a trans and queer coffee hour, holiday markets, family cookie decorating, even a grief-based book club. (Check their Instagram for latest.)
What don’t I like about Vertex? That it can be hard to find a seat here on a busy afternoon or free parking nearby on a weekday. That’s it. Everything else is why this is my top choice for coffee anywhere in Ann Arbor, even as more great places like Bun Chai come on the scene, which takes my number two spot. In my third place, the classic RoosRoast’s Rosewood: Solar Powered Cafe & Roastery HQ location across the street from A2 PTO’s thrift shop, just off Industrial Blvd. I’m not gonna lie, it’s hard to beat Roos + thrifting fun for a great sunny summer Saturday afternoon. But if it’s just about the coffee, I’m 100% all in on Vertex.
- Vertex: Where Coffee Takes Flight in Ann Arbor
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- The Welcome of Adeni Chai at Socotra Coffee House in Ann Arbor
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