You have got to try the Cinnamon Swirl Latte at Beaner's

I signed up with the Beaner's E-wards program last year and every week I receive a couple of coupon offers. Some of them are only valid at specific locations (annoying) in the area, but most of them can be used at any Beaner's location. Anyway, last week I received a buy-one-get-one coupon for a new drink - the Cinnamon Swirl Latte. Oh man, that was the best coffee I have had from Beaner's.

They add a shot of vanilla and a shot of cinnamon flavoring to the espresso. It is topped off with a generous dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of some sort of sweetener, and sprinkled with ground cinnamon.

Man, I wish I was sipping one right now. It was so good. It kind of helped to make a cold wintry day in April not feel so bad.

Best cup of coffee in Michigan

This story in the Detroit News got me thinking about the best place to get a cup of coffee here in Michigan. The article states that " Consumer Reports taste test found McDonald's Corp.'s coffee tastes better and costs less than brew from Starbucks Corp., Burger King Holdings Inc. and Dunkin' Donuts Inc." I like to drink my coffee black, but McDonald's coffee has seemed so strong in the past that yesterday when I had a cup of joe from McDonald's I added one cream and sugar. I have to say, it was a pretty good cup of coffee. I don't think it was the best I have ever had by any means although the price would be hard to beat.

Here is a brief (so many coffee shops, so little time) list of some of my favorite places to get my coffee fix across Michigan. The list is in no particular order - I love them all :).

• North Woods Coffee Co. - Coldwater
• The Bean Counter - New Buffalo
• L. A.'s Coffee Cafe - Three Rivers
• Java Joe's - St. Ignace
• Nicky's Coffee Bar at the Stray Dog Bookshop - Three Rivers
• Beaners Coffee (yeah it's a franchise, but it started in East Lansing and that is where I fell in love with it)

There are so many other coffee shops that I see and jot down in my memory bank as places to try out sometime. I wish I had the time to stop at them all, but alas I do not.

Feel free to add to this list in the comments for coffee shops in Michigan that you absolutely love. I will certainly add them to my list.

Have a very happy Friday!

Java Joe's Cafe, My Favorite U.P. Coffee Shop

Way up north across the Mighty Mac and located in lovely St. Ignace you will find one of the many treasures of Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Java Joe's Cafe. The name says 'Java,' but there is more to Java Joe's than coffee. The first time I stopped in there was in the evening with my wife to get a Chai Latte. The place was packed with people eating pizza. Yes, pizza. From the looks and smells of those pies, I would say that Java Joe's must serve up a mighty good pizza in addition to their yummy breakfast and excellent selection coffee.

The proprietor of the cafe, Joe Durm, is a friendly chap who loves to chat with his customers and seems genuinely interested in where they are heading or where they are from. He offers suggestions on places to stop along your way after hearing which direction you are taking from his store.

I can't vouch for the breakfast (I have always just stopped for caffeine) at Java Joe's Cafe, but judging by the sights, smells, and crowds it must be pretty good. Some of my family ate there last summer for breakfast and they were quite pleased with the quantity and quality of the food.

You can even make up your own cappuccino or latte flavor with the wide assortment of flavors in Java Joe's inventory. We had him create Caramel Apple Cappuccino when we stopped in on our way to Wisconsin. Joe said that in all of his years he had never before served up a Caramel Apple Cappuccino. It was so good. I need to find some apple flavoring and try to create my own.

When Joe isn't serving up coffee and pizzas he substitute teaches at the school on Mackinac Island. How cool is that to be a substitute teacher on Mackinac Island of all places?

Prices and Such

• Breakfast - from the Shortstack Pancakes at $2.89 up to the Hobo Omelet at $7.89
• Lunch - from the Veggie Burger at $4.59 up to the Whitefish Sandwich at $8.95
• Pizzas - average price for a 16" pizza is around $14.95 (I have to try the Smoked Whitefish sometime!)
• Coffees are anywhere from $1.29 for a small coffee to $3.75 for large specialty drinks

If you go: Java Joe's is located at 959 North State Street in St. Ignace. The cafe is located in the outskirts of the parking lots for the Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn.