Coffee, Food, and Friends
Contact Us
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History
Four Friends Coffeehouse was started by four college friends in 1994 — David LaGrand, Melissa LaGrand, Karl Swedberg, and Sara DeBoer. They were interested in providing a smoke-free environment downtown for world-class coffee and delicious food., as well as music, art, and community.
Through many changes to the downtown area, Four Friends Coffeehouse has remained in the same location, with many of the same regulars. Some have rarely missed a day since we opened our doors.
What's So Great About Four Friends?
- All of our breads, pastries, and cookies are baked each morning from scratch just down the street at the Wealthy Street Bakery. They are made with all-natural ingredients and are preservative free.
- Our Monin gourmet flavors contain no corn syrup, only natural flavorings.
- By switching to energy efficient bulbs, composting our greenwaste, recycling more and more each day, and encouraging less waste, we're doing our best to lessen our environmental footprint. Please ask if you would like coffee grounds for your garden or compost.
- The shot of espresso we create for your drink pours directly into your cup. This ensures that the thin layer of delicious crema that gives the espresso its rich flavors ends up in your drink and nowhere else.
- We use freshly steamed milk for each drink. Our pitchers are small so that milk isn't steamed over and over all day, but moves from chilled to steamed quickly.
- The Intelligentsia coffee we brew is Direct Trade™ certified. This assures that the grower is committed to healthy environmental practices, sustainable social practices, and the highest quality product. Direct Trade™ growers are paid 25% above Fair Trade prices. For more information on Direct Trade™ visit Intelligentsia.com.
- We partner with local companies and individuals as much as possible so that more of the dollars spent here stay in Grand Rapids, improving our community. On average, 73% of dollars spent at a locally owned business stay in the community, as opposed to only 43% of dollars spent at a non-local business. (cf. www.localfirst.com)
- We realize that there is always room for improvement. If you have ideas or suggestions, please feel free to mention them to us.
About Us
Four Friends is a coffeehouse serving drinks and products in line with the great history of European cafés. You can sip an Italian-style cappuccino, a mélange, macchiato, or glace, or just a delicious roast of coffee.
We enjoy educating customers, helping you develop a taste for fine drinks and subtle flavors. Questions are welcomed, and we are always happy to add to our long list of friends.
Hours:
Parking:
Feel free to park out front at a meter or at our back door in the lot, or check out the Grand Rapids Downtown Alliance site for free parking.
Our Products
We are proud of the products we carry, how they are prepared for you, and the people and places they support.
We serve Intelligentsia Coffee blends and single origin coffees. Located in Chicago, Intelligentsia is a leader in both quality and ethical business practices in the coffee industry. The Intelligentsia coffee we brew is Organic and Direct Trade™ certified. This assures that the grower is committed to healthy environmental practices, sustainable social practices, and the highest quality product. Direct Trade™ growers are paid 25% above Fair Trade prices. For more information on Direct Trade™ please visit their website.
Our espresso comes from one of the premier espresso roasters in the nation — Seattle-based Caffé D'Arte. Our espresso is the key ingredient in many of our hand-crafted drinks.
During warmer months, we serve Palazzolo's Artisan Gelatos and Sorbettos. A West Michigan company, Palazzolo's creates single batch, whole fruit and nut, gelatos and sorbettos. If you have never tried it, you are in for a treat.
All of our breads, pastries, and cookies are baked each morning from scratch just down the street at the Wealthy Street Bakery. They are made with all-natural ingredients and are preservative free. Our lunch is served on fresh bread each day.
Please visit our "What's So Great About Four Friends?" page for more information about why we choose to serve these products and how they are prepared for you.
Art & Music
We have free, all-ages, live music many Friday and Saturday evenings. Our art selection rotates monthly. We often display photographs, prints, paintings, and other work from our many regulars.
Want to display your artwork or perform? Contact us:
Feel like enjoying a night out? Visit our MySpace calendar of events.