Located on E. University Ave. directly under the Six11 Apartments, you’ll find Misfit Society Coffee Club. An extension of the Grand Rapids-based Social Misfits, the coffee shop shares its goal of being a haven for misfits everywhere. Misfits opened last year, with a grand opening ceremony on March 24, 2023. The coffee shop serves coffee and caffeinated beverages for every type of drinker. It also offers select breakfast options with pastries, grilled sandwiches and burritos being available.
When it comes to coffee drinkers, there are often two types: Ones that don’t stray too far from the classics and the adventurous types who love to try every creative latte and flavor in the book. In this aspect, Misfits has something for everyone, offering weird flavor combinations and sugar-filled drinks in addition to the traditional coffees.
Spencer Raymond, the founder of the breakfast and brunch eatery Social Misfits and the new Misfits Coffee Society, told The Michigan Daily last year, “We want to find people who relate to being a misfit in one way or another.”
Neon lights and decorative paintings line the shop’s walls, while graffiti art can be found on the tables. There isn’t a place in there where graffiti isn’t visible, it even extends to the bathrooms and toilets. The middle of the shop has an island where a barista will make your drink. This layout made the shop feel more inviting and homey. The menu boards were on the right-hand side of the wall near the ceiling larger than life. It was kind of this weird mash of homey features and wacky, weird-type features that made for a nice environment.
Staff Journalist Jonathan Carter tried the Banana Foster and Sugar Daddy lattes. The Banana Foster’s taste wasn’t as pronounced as expected for a banana-flavored drink. With the cinnamon that topped the drink stealing the show. On the other hand, The Sugar Daddy was just as advertised in sweetness. It wasn’t overpowering and unlike The Banana Foster, had a robust flavor.
Misfits is similar in cost to Sweetwaters, which is expensive! Especially to daily coffee drinkers looking to pick up a good yet inexpensive cup of coffee. That’s not what customers will get at Misfits and you’re likely going to be upset at the cost per size. With both drinks being about $5.95 for a small cup. They’re specialty lattes but for that price, it’s hard to justify any value. And that brings me to my final point, Misfits is more of experience and culture than anything else.
It’s like most cafes and coffee shops in the aspect of offering a great dining environment at the cost of a high price. But aside from the grievances I had about The Banana Foster latte, the coffee in and of itself was pretty good. I’m sure a regular unflavored latte or drip coffee would be just as good. Something you can’t say for a lot of coffee shops in and around Ann Arbor.
Whether you’re into traditional drinks or sugary sweet coffees, Misfits is a great choice to fill your coffee fix, While offering a unique and special seating environment to enjoy. I will almost certainly be back.
