Astro Coffee

Came into Astro today with the intention of getting some work done. I’d been here maybe a year ago and received great service and wonderful coffee in a beautiful atmosphere. What could go wrong this time?
This being 2016, work requires internet access. This is a coffee shop, so they have Wi-​Fi, right? No, according to the irritated cashier, who snarkily added that maybe I could find an unsecured network. Give me a break. We all know full well that there isn’t an unsecured network. (Really, I checked, and there isn’t.)
Okay, maybe I’ll just hang out and try to use my phone. Can I have that to go, then? More huffing, but eventually I get the almond milk mocha. One sip, and… what is this? Not good. Another sip. Did they use unsweetened cocoa? This is really, really bad. I thought about asking the barista, hey, what gives, this is bitter and awful and I’ve never done this, but can we go with something else? But then remembered where I was, and that I’d likely receive a lecture on how my unrefined palate just wasn’t picking up on the subtleties of this carefully crafted masterpiece. And how all my years as a barista apparently mean nothing.
So I cut my losses (bye, 2 hrs on the parking meter and a nearly $ 6 for a drink + tip!) and headed over to Anthology, where the staff is friendly and the Wi-​Fi works beautifully.

I have only been to a few coffee shops in the Detroit area, but this is currently my favorite. Not only is the coffee outstanding, but the scones were amazing and fresh. Just give me a reason to visit the D and Astro coffee becomes part of the trip!

Hands down my favorite coffee in Detroit!
The coffee is great, the food and baked goods are almost uniformly delicious, and the staff is very warm and welcoming.
It is not necessarily going to be the quickest cup of coffee in the world, and it can get a little crowded on the weekends. Manage your expectations accordingly, and if you’re looking for a quick cup or a quieter work space, head to DIB down the street.

I’ve made a couple of visits here in the past year, and can’t shake an impression of it being overly hipster pretentious for its own good. If the space was larger and had a better sense of
crowd control, plus built-​in wifi for customers, I might think higher of it.
I have enjoyed some of their food products, including the particularly good egg sandwiches and some other baked goods, but haven’t felt inclined to stay and enjoy or linger since the crowds tend to be large. It is worth noting that the business is an anchor of the Corktown district and certainly offers appealing local flavor if you’re willing to try it.

Loved the artsy feel of this café, but I didn’t love it. The space felt a bit crowded and stale to me. However, their coffee was good, the flower wall was cute, and I loved all the plants inside.

Crappy coffee & after the treatment that Hillary received I think your coffee shop is a disgrace. I would frequent Avalon Bakery anytime over your place, any day. No class. Evidentially they don’t welcome anyone that isn’t a Bernie supporter! So unprofessional! So disrespectful! When she is POTUS you can look back on how poorly you treated her. What a bunch of losers!!!

A cute, modern, hipster-​y coffee shop we stopped in on our way to Gold Cash Gold on a recent visit to Detroit. I was dead on my feet from a long day of work and a poor nights sleep, and ordered a mocha that I desperately needed to stay awake. There’s only one size for the coffee, but that’s okay. The mocha flavor was rich and the espresso was STRONG. The clientele was a little bratty but the barista was quite nice. Overall, I would return if I was in the area.

Mocha so good… made with real chocolate and the latte art is just on point every time

Very chill vibe and really good coffee! I got a chocolate hazelnut deal salt cookie that was delicious! Very soft and moist. Total came out to 14 dollars with three cappuccinos and a cookie. Very cute place and smells wonderful!

By far the best cappuccino I’ve had yet in southeast Michigan. I watched the espresso bleed from that grouphead with the consistency oh so delicious syrup. Beautiful color and taste.
This place has pretty hard hipster vibes and the two employees I interacted with were slightly cold/​not wanting to converse despite the relaxed and not busy time of day.
Parking is free on the side street including the signs warning «break in area!»
There isn’t any free wifi here. Only xfinity which costs roughly $ 2+ per hour. Also FEW power outlets. Good luck grabbing one of the three tables with a plug.
Either way, if you’re down to have the best espresso around– this is the place

Pros:
— Artsy décor, lots of plants
— Great quality coffee
— Natural lighting in front of café by window
Cons:
— No WiFi
— No gluten-​free baked goods
— Gets very busy/​cramped on weekends
— Not much lighting near the back of the café
Verdict: Perhaps going on a weekday or outside of weekend breakfast/​brunch hours would be better, but the cramped and loud space was really not conducive to reading.

We came to Detroit for a couple of days over New Years, staying in Corktown. I mean look, if you want a hip coffee shop with all the fixins of hipness, this is your spot. Sure, you could make fun of the guy with the skinny jeans and the 90s neon bugaboo jacket and matching neon beanie for being a hipster, but isn’t it easier to just enjoy your delicious coffee and good music? Yes, yes it is.

Small storefront coffee shop with the regular stuff, in a warm environment. There’s some bar seating, a few small tables, and a communal table. The coffee is good, and the pastries are a bit hit or miss; the good thing is that the baked goods definitely don’t seem like they came out of a factory. Probably the best thing going for the place is the vibe, which is friendly and open.

The sea salt chocolate cookie was delish but everything else was gross… Especially my hot chocolate which seemed to be «extra chunky» and filled with some strange bits that I couldn’t make out. It left a bad aftertaste.

Coffee — a+
food (chocolate banana bread and vegan squash hummus sandwich) — a+
service– a+
This place looks more pretentious than it really is. The baristas are really nice and serve people even past closing time. I wanted something to eat and since they were closing & told the barista i was hungry, he gave me a free sandwich. I also noticed them giving a guy (seemed homeless, had been herer nearly all day and barely ordered anything) soup and coffee. The wifi here isnt the best, but it works. It is slightly crammed and only 2 sitting spots have outlets. Parking is side street and it is close to tons of food and drinking establishments. I was able 2 secure one of the small tables with an outlet and i was set. No one rushed me to leave. They had a great collection of sweets and vegan food. They played a mix of weird indie, arabic, world type music, a little loud though. Im glad i stepped in here and taking off one star only for how crammed it is and poor number of outlets.
I’ll def return, probably tomorrow.

Great coffee shop in Cork Town. They have a good variety of exotic coffees, with deep rich flavor that greats you at the door. The vibe was low-​key and laid back, and was a welcome respite as I endured the hour-​plus wait for Slows down the street…

If you plan on coming for a Saturday morning coffee and breakfast, get here around 930 to beat the line that will come.
That being said, good coffee selection and array of sweets and breakfast sandwiches to be had. I had a buttermilk scone with jam, the jam was delicious.
Hipstery décor and style, very cool spot. Lives up to the Unilocal hype.

I was in Detroit for a show at St. Andrew’s Hall and coffee was desperately needed the next morning. Approved by @withthelocals, we knew we going to be in good hands.
Walked in and this place is CUTE. Located in Corktown, Astro Coffee reminded be of something we’d find back home in OTR, Cincinnati.
Cool vibe, friendly baristas, delicious pastry case: Every thing I love and look for in a local coffee shop.
I had a classic latte, fantastic. Once I spotted the powered sugar covered almond croissant it was game over. Heaven sent. My friend had a mocha which she described as delicious but super rich and an egg sandwich that was devoured and enjoyed immediately.
When back in Detroit I’ll always make it a point to stop by Astro Coffee and enjoy the Corktown neighborhood.

Meh. This place DIDN’T STAND UP to they hype in my opinion. The flat white tasted like a REGULAR old latte. And the famous egg sandwich was just a GOOEY egg with some bland sauce and a piece of dill in the center. If only it had some flavor. And I cannot believe I spend over $ 5 for slices of half an avocado on sourdough. This sandwich also LACKED FLAVOR despite the description of lemony-​herby-​lip smacking goodness. I can make better at home, folks.
Here is what you can’t get at home. DELICIOUS bread. This is ONE thing Astro’s does great. Whoever supplies the pastries and bread… is OUTSTANDING. The sourdough is incredible and the almond cake with seasonal fruit (pear, peach, etc.) is real ARTISAN quality. Other things you cannot get at home: hipster vibe, LONG LINES out the door for so-​so coffee, narrow passageways, TEDIOUS back-​and-​forth to the pick up counter for your food and then your drink because the one gets cold before the other is ready, and super CRAMMED spaces.

This coffee bar was my saving grace for the entire week I was in the D, it was highly recommended by numerous friends, and I now know why. I was first off not use to the time difference so being three hours behind meant my mornings were absolute hell. I received fantastic recommendations from the baristas, as I’m not a local and needed some help selecting a roast. The pastries, which I opted out of trying looked awesome. If I had had more time I would have loved to post up near the front window, read a book and enjoy my coffee, but it was not in the cards this trip due to having a week filled with dinners and wedding madness, for a friend, not I.
I was impressed that they offered pour over coffee as this is a technique I haven’t seen since my days living in SF. Yet again I don’t find myself going out for coffee as much as I use to. Okay I know I’m getting off topic here. This would be my main coffee shop if I lived in Detroit as the atmosphere is casual and yet welcoming. I love the use of wood tones and industrial elements, it has the feel of being original to the building, as if this shop had been here forever.
I left after a week with a much needed pound of beans from ritual coffee roasters out of SF, and a renewal of love and appreciation for coffee and the art of making it. If I find myself back in the D for any reason I will make it a point to stop in to Astro, maybe next time I’ll finally get a chance to try out the pastries and awesome looking sandwiches.

Righteous, slo-​drip cup + excellent (gluten-​free) plum almond cake + excellent tunes = Detroit luv!