What are some of the best local coffee shops in the Great Lakes Bay?

Some of the best places to get coffee in the Great Lakes Bay include: Live Oak Coffeehouse in Bay City, Freeland, Midland, and Saginaw; Creation Coffee in Frankenmuth, Midland, and Saginaw; Harless & Hugh Coffee in Bay City for a cozy coffee shop that also serves beer & wine; and Beatles and Beans Coffee Emporium, a one-of-a-kind, Beatles-themed coffee shop in Bay City.

What are some of the best local cafes in the Great Lakes Bay?

Some favorite cafes in the Great Lakes Bay include: Cafe Zinc and Chef Sergey's Bakery in Midland for European-style breads & pastries; La Crepe du Jour or N'Orlins Beignets & Coffee in Frankenmuth for French-inspired flavors; and The Bread Gal in Saginaw for artisan-baked breads & pastries, made fresh daily.

Local Coffee Roasters
A fall-inspired latte and No-Nonsense Bar from Live Oak Coffeehouse
Live Oak Coffeehouse | @liveoakcoffeehouse
Bay City / Freeland / Midland / Saginaw
Live Oak Coffeehouse & Roasters

With five warm & welcoming shops, linger at Live Oak Coffeehouse — spaces "created to be your community living room." Lattes & espresso, matcha & Kombucha, indulge in flavors crafted with care. Explore house-made syrups and enjoy No-Nonsense (house-made granola) Bars locals love.

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A Maple Rum Latte on the table at Creation Coffee in Midland
Creation Coffee | @creationcoffee.co
Frankenmuth / Midland / Saginaw
Creation Coffee

Discover three unique locations and the mission of Creation Coffee: To create exceptional coffees, meaningful relationships, and a better world. Order Creation Espresso or Ten Generation coffee — and know that Creation Coffee serves sustainably grown, responsibly sourced, meticulously roasted beans.

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Harless + Hugh Coffee | @harlessandhughcoffee
Cozy + Comforting
Local
Coffee Shops
Harless + Hugh | @frommichiganwithlove

What are the best local coffee shops in Bay City, MI?

  • Harless + Hugh Coffee Cozy shop serving wine & beer alongside coffee, espresso, and tea — complete with Kombucha on tap. Order a Charcuterie Board or House Waffle to enjoy with your handcrafted drink, by the warmth of the wood-burning fireplace or outdoors on the inviting patio.
  • Espresso Express Coffee House Presents Beatles and Beans Coffee Emporium A Beatles-themed coffee shop, from ceiling to scones. Drink in “Bean-A-Mania” memorabilia, taste Fab Favorites like the Let It Bean Latte, and “Imagine” bulk beans, handcrafted coffee drinks, teas, biscotti, bagels, and more.
  • Live Oak Coffeehouse A refreshing, modern space, scattered with live plants & soft seating. Order The "Pick Me Up" for a Live Oak Latte & No-Nonsense Bar perfect pairing.
  • Legacy Coffee House Comforting coffee house with exposed brick walls, serving drip coffee, espresso, and seasonally inspired lattes, alongside their famous house-baked bagels.
  • LoLoBee’s Lounge The perfect place to wind down, noon to midnight. Savor Vietnamese-Inspired Iced Coffee, and enjoy live music, poetry & prose readings, and board games.
  • Excited Goat Coffee Company Two locations in Bay City and Essexville, serving locally roasted Creation Coffee, frappes, lattes, cappuccino, and cold brew, with sweet treats like the Buttercream Cinnamon Roll.
Creation Coffee | @exploremichiganmore

What are the best local coffee shops in Frankenmuth, MI?

  • Creation Coffee Local roaster serving drip, pour-over, and cold brew coffee — with two Frankenmuth-exclusive specialty drinks, the Bavarian Latte and German Chocolate Mocha. Snack on bagels, baked goods, or a breakfast sandwich.
  • Frankenmuth Kaffee Haus A cozy location for a Kaffeeklatsch, or a Bavarian social gathering among friends over amazing coffee! Include fresh baked goods with your espresso or tea for a delicious experience.
Live Oak Coffeehouse | @ashtube.0

What are the best local coffee shops in Midland, MI?

  • Live Oak Coffeehouse Two Midland locations (Midtown and Eastside), pouring locally roasted drip coffee, espresso, lattes, or cold brew to pair with quiche or a scratch-made cinnamon roll.
  • Creation Coffee A bright, airy shop offering "Life-changing coffee. Life-giving service." Relax in the calming atmosphere of Creation's flagship location and sip a Spiced Vanilla Latte or Hazelnut Mocha with your Bagel or Breakfast Sandwich.
  • Coffee Chaos A coffee shop with comfy leather couches inside, and a drive-thru for a quick coffee fix. Every brew, iced or hot, frozen or blended, pairs perfectly with muffins, scones, and bagels, baked fresh daily.
  • MI Element Grains & Grounds A neighborhood hangout for microbrews, coffee, baked goods, and live music. Pair your Michigan-roasted brew with fresh-baked breads & pastries.
  • Boomerang Coffee Lounge A lounge with coffee, cold brew, espresso — and Chai Tea, Boba Tea, or Tea Lattes — where you can balance your caffeine buzz with a full brunch menu.
  • Espresso Milano A firstwave-style coffee house that brews single-origin Arabica drip coffee. Taste mochas made with Ghirardelli and specialties like the Caramel Kiss.
  • Stranded Yarn and Coffee Shop A yarn-filled nook where you can cozy up with a cup of coffee or tea, a ball of yarn, and a notion to create something new.
Creation Coffee | @creationcoffee.co

What are the best local coffee shops in Saginaw, MI?

  • Creation Coffee Local roaster serving lattes & mochas, specialty drip & pour-over coffees, and nitro cold brew in a space flooded with natural light & flanked with soft seating. Try Creation Espresso and the Cloudie Breakfast Sandwich.
  • Live Oak Coffeehouse An airy (yet still cozy) setting for sipping locally roasted coffee, espresso, or tea. Explore their menu of house-made syrups and alternative milk options.
  • Red Eye Coffee + Tea A warm & welcoming spot loved by locals, with five drip coffees daily, more than 30 Torani syrups, and Ghirardelli chocolate whipped into specialty drinks.
  • Sips 476 Cozy location serving hot teas & steamers, frappes & freezers, and specialty espresso drinks like the dirty chai latte.
Cafe Zinc | @elementaldining_midland
Warm + Inviting
Local Cafes
+ Creperies
Cafe Zinc | @cafezincmidland

What are the best local cafes in Midland, MI?

  • Café Zinc A luxurious bistro setting inside the H Hotel, serving European-style breads & pastries — and Illy specialty coffee — by the roaring fireside.
  • Chef Sergey's Bakery Artisanal bakery crafting fresh breads, traditional European pastries, and specialty coffee beverages. From Dubai Chocolate Croissants to Cinnamon Babka, savor each indulgent delight — and your drip coffee, espresso, or seasonal latte.
  • Crepes et Amis Midland's creperie, hand-preparing made-to-order crepes & coffee drinks. Try the popular Good Morning Paris with smoked ham & melted Swiss, or Berry Cheesecrepe with Nutella® & cheesecake filling.
  • Iron Dame Baked Goods French-inspired bakery, crafting flaky, buttery croissants (including Tiramisu, stuffed with coffee pastry cream) and delicate, layered danish.
La Crepe du Jour Creperie & Cafe | @exploremichiganmore

What are the best local cafes in Frankenmuth, MI?

  • La Crepe du Jour A taste of France in Frankenmuth, with French-style crepes, French music playing, and a Parisian patio setting. Enjoy your crepes, sweet or savory, alongside coffee or espresso.
  • N’Orlins Beignets & Coffee A shop dishing up flavor from the French Quarter — beignets, or French, fritter-style donuts, served hot & fresh with plenty of powdered sugar.

What are the best local cafes in Saginaw, MI?

  • The Bread Gal Cute-as-a-button bakery shop serving scrumptious, handmade simplicity from an ever-changing menu of artisan breads & pastries. Try local favorites like the Cardamom Bun — or a seasonal danish, scone, or galette.
  • Patisserie A European-style bakery, crafting classic delights like danishes & scones. Enjoy your picks from the pastry case with a warm mug of coffee.

What are the best local cafes in Bay City, MI?

  • Water Street Nutrition Smoothie & juice bar with delicious, healthy options, including smoothies, specialty juices, protein shakes (dairy-free, too), and energizing teas. Try the Oreo Sweet Cream Post-Workout Shake or Tiki Punch Tea Bomb.
Author
Jen W. O'Deay + Go Great Lakes Bay

By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com