ASTRO COFFEE

Holiday Hours

2011-12-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

Astro will be closed for the following period over the holidays and new year:

Closed December 24 - Jan 9
Open for regular hours on: January 10, 2012

*** For those who will be around for the week of the 4th, a special coffee only pop-up will operate for five days that week**

Special Coffee Only Pop-up Hours:

Wednesday - Friday (1/04-1/6) 8am - 2pm
Saturday (1/7) 9am - 3pm
Sunday (1/8) 10am - 3pm

Thank you to everyone that has made our first five months such a treat and success!
Have a wonderful holiday season.

xx Astro

November in Corktown

2011-11-09T17:59:00.001-08:00

It has been a beautiful fall indeed. We are just about four months old and getting ready for our first holiday season in Detroit. Here are some photos from the shop if you haven't made it in yet.

Our holiday hours will be posted soon. Until then, we will be closed only on Thanksgiving Day.

Freedom of Press

2011-08-06T16:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/astroopens711.aspx

http://www.freep.com/article/20110804/COL20/108040343/Astro-Coffee-new-slow-brew-Detroit-s-Corktown-neighborhood?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

Open!

2011-07-14T05:42:00.001-07:00

Officially open as of July 12th! Our info and hours are as follows:

Astro Coffee
2124 Michigan Ave
Detroit, MI 48216
313.638.2989

Hours:

Tu-Fri 7:30a - 6:00p
Saturday 8:30a - 6:00p
Sunday 9:00a - 5:00p
Monday Closed

**Note**
We are cash only until tomorrow (friday), sorry for the inconvenience.
Support has been amazing, thank you detroit.

Saturday

2011-06-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, a massive thank you to all who came out on saturday night to make our first public appearance a truly unforgettable event. From the moment we opened the doors we experienced the level of support that is fast becoming our battle cry in the City of Detroit. Now then, in order to officially open the doors, we've got about four inspections to go. Wish us luck and hopefully we'll be serving in time to celebrate the holidays together.

an opening party of sorts..

the shop as it stands just before the party..

evening.

Detroit, USA

2011-06-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

If all goes well, the next time I post we will indeed be open. This photo captures the calm before the storm. Let's go!

Keep on keeping on..

2011-06-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

I have nothing to say. We gotta get open. Woot.

End In Sight?

2011-05-15T10:16:00.001-07:00

I think so. Once these counters are finished we will finally be able to wrap up the other fixtures. It's been a long journey for the 120 year old french oak that is our bar siding. Raised in Detroit, and more specifically on Gratiot, this wood has been salvaged after going through a fire, and numerous basement floods. It was charred, warped, moldy, and wet, but after countless hours and packs of blades for the planer, they are now breathing again! What's new? The flag, the white subway tile, the pansies, and the metal going around the bar. Big thanks to our neighbor next door at Sugar House for the metal work! Be on the look out for this classic cocktail bar as they are on a similar timeline and hoping to open this summer as well. June?

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Some photos, some friends, some progress. I'll keep my mouth shut and just keep on chugging. You will all know when the time has come. Note** These are not the real counters. We stayed up until 2am one night dreaming and arranging. It felt better to walk away feeling like it was almost a shop rather than just kind of a shop!

Astro Boy

2011-03-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Yes! It has been two years now and we finally have the finish line (or starting line, really) in sight. While I love all the many obstacles and headaches in the effort to open a business, I much prefer making coffee everyday. That day is growing nearer, and with that the time has come to start selecting coffees. That is indeed, what is up!

Windowlicker

2011-03-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

We have windows, a Ben, and a bench. One day, we will have coffee. Big ups.

Spring Approaching

2011-02-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

The ice is finally starting to break on this winter and with it comes progress! Slow and steadily through the months we've been chipping away at the interior with the next three weeks promising significant change. If by mid-April we're not talking about an opening date, then we'll be talking about something else...go time! We look forward to serving your smiling faces and also to the opening of Sugar House, our classic cocktail neighbour! Stay classy San Diego.

Quick Update

2010-10-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Well, as with all projects before us, we are indeed behind schedule. However, things are looking good again and we should have some visible signs of progress in the coming month. Hopefully we will be serving by the Christmas holiday, if not early next year! Stay warm and look for more updates in the coming months. Thanks for existing!

TALENT SHOW!!

2010-02-18T10:56:00.001-08:00

So, the first Astro Coffee fundraiser will be taking place a week from friday at the Polish Village Veterans Hall. We are still looking for those with exceptional and unique talent, so if you're interested call the number on the flyer to secure a spot in the line up! Motor City Brewing will be provided as well as prizes for the best acts!

Australia

2010-02-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

It was here that I officially fell in love with cafe culture. Most think of Italy as the epicenter and birthplace of the modern day cafe, which is not disputed, but fewer know of other cultures that have adopted the idea and taken it on as their own. Australia is one of them. I should mention that Australia's cafe culture is very strong, but doesn't quite have the flamboyance that defines the Italian ritual. Namely, the buzzing vespas whipping around corners, pulling up and parking next to several others, and dashing inside a cafe for their morning espresso. Very noticable too are the sounds of cups, saucers, spoons, steam-wands, and the bow-tied barista bursting into the streets on nearly every corner. It is this exact moment that you realize what it could and should be like. That coffee is about people, and their daily lives. How have we turned that beautiful tradition into drive-thru chains and 20 oz. caramel frappuccinos?

Back to Oz. So what makes Australia's culture notable and unique? Well, like Italy it seems that there are more cafes around than anything else. Not just on every corner, but rather several on one block. Even occasions where nearly entire blocks were comprised of some form of cafe. At this point we are using the term a bit loosely, and may be including businesses that are not coffee-centric, but hey, I'm painting a picture okay? What struck me was how integrated good coffee was to the Australian diet. They know it, but they don't know it. I mean, even a gas station in Australia has the potential to make a decent shot and steam an acceptable jug of milk. This blew me away. In America, the emergence of coffee-centric establishments has been on the rise since the 90's, particularly in the northwest, but has not yet affected your basic cup of joe. To add insult to injury, you can also make a lot of money as a barista in Australia. It's typical, in a nice coffee shop, to make anywhere from $20-25 dollars an hour as a new hire. I enjoyed this perk myself, and was able to afford a lot more as a barista in Australia, than previous stints in England or America.

Attitude. While the Italians do it with collared shirts and vests, the Aussies do it via their ability to create unique environments. They are not afraid of mixing and matching, of designing their spaces, nor of graffiti or street art. Newtown Social Club (pictured above), is a great example of this and resides on Brunswick Street in Melbourne. This tiny little shop was a favorite haunt because of the quality of product, the warm and eclectic furniture, and its position in one of Melbourne's more artistic neighborhoods. Another noticable and enjoyable trait of many of these cafes is the youthful spirit. These are not sterile and uninspired spaces with lethargic staff, these are buzzing places abound with social spirit. They're exciting.

Quality. Here is the twist. Where America lacks in overall cafe culture, it makes up for with people who fight the good fight. People who want to change the perception that American coffee is undrinkable. These people have grown in number over the years, and because of it, some of the best coffee in the world (in my humble opinion) can be found right here in the US. Australia seems not to have this urgency in their culture to defend their coffee, frankly because they have been doing it pretty well for quite some time. Having said this, a similar sub-culture of coffee nerds is emerging in Oz, with shops like Campos defining what an elevated coffee experience should be like. While I find the shop a bit cold at first, Campos never makes a mediocre drink. I can rely on them for this, and always get a well-crafted coffee.

So where does this leave things? Well, no doubt there are many different ways and angles from which to judge coffee shops. I try to have an open mind and also to realize that at the end of the day, its a cup of coffee. Now, I'm not dumbing down the social and environmental impact, or the sustainability or ethics with which coffees are sourced, but as a customer I'd love to be able to ignore it from time to time. This becomes possible when you find the right coffee shop, who's owner truly gets it. It is our responsibility as cafe owners to ensure that your coffee has been sourced properly, roasted appropriately, and prepared diligently, so that you don't have to. For those of you who don't currently live in Australia or Italy, and who can't wait for Astro Coffee to actually open, I suggest making a stop through Nickels Arcade in Ann Arbor for the best coffee within an hours drive, Comet Coffee.

Drink up, buttercup..

The Declaration of Codependence

2010-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

We need help. But we can't get it if we don't identify exactly what it is that we need. Please take a moment to follow the link, learn about this new movement, sign the declaration, and become part of the solution. Thank you in advance.

http://declaredetroit.wordpress.com/

Also, for examples of individuals taking it into their own hands to help shape where we are going as a city, check out The Remains of the D blog... the 12 Young Versions of 2010.

The Hunt

2010-01-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

Everybody says Detroit is cheap. Is it?? I don't know, but trying to find a building that is remotely habitable, in a good location, with the possibility of neighbors may be harder than one would think. Or maybe I'm just cheap and don't like when landlords talk to me as if we're both standing in Manhattan. Either way, it was quite fun spending the spring, summer, and fall looking at various buildings around the city, dreaming of the perfect coffee shop. You learn quickly that romanticizing the process doesn't get you anywhere. Here is an example of what was a dream building to me, but also well out of consideration.. notice the name however.

I wanted to keep the building "as is", of course adding a glazing system and entrance, but leaving the old text. Reality? Expensive building and a barrel-roof restoration needed... what the @#$k was I thinking? No way, not happening. See the thing is, we all want to restore every building in the city and own a piece of this forgotten treasure, but it is afterall, the same story as anywhere else... where's the money?? So, after many months and several reality checks.. I have hopefully found the actual location, and a pair of landlords that feel the same way about the city as I do. Score! Hope to see you there soon. Hope to be there soon!

Check out some of the other considerations. Note: I like old unsalvageable buildings that are way beyond my understanding when it comes to restoration or construction.

Absolutely fell in love with this one...

And by neighbors, I did mean this...

Detroit Talent Show

2010-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned for announcements on a fundraiser to be held at the VFW in SW Detroit, with proceeds going to the Astro Coffee project. With help from Detroit's finest creative directors, a post from the "Remains of the D" blog-->

Well, last Friday while running on the treadmill & trying not to watch some terrible infomercial about a lousy broom swifter I pulled this one back out of the bag. Quickly started scheming with Dorota Bilica- one of the artists responsible for the Hygenic Dress League and day-jobber at the downtown YMCA. It's gonna be a fundraiser for Dai Hughes' Astro Coffee project, coming Summer, 2010.

So who's coming to help scout?
Daisuke Hughes (Astro Coffee)
Kristen Dean (architectural/graphic designer from M1)
Phillip Cooley (Slows Bar-B-Q, all things Detroit)
Steve Coy/Dorota Bilica (Hygenic Dress League, U of M Art Faculty)