The Bottom Line Coffee House

I’m a coffee lover like many. So believe me when I say this is a gem. The place is a cozy place to visit. It is great for group study, first dates and open mic. The prices are similar to Starbucks but I enjoy supporting local businesses. This place really adds to the culture of midtown.
The wifi is great and late hours. I tried the Snowflake mocha. It was amazing! Mocha, hazelnut and vanilla. Very nice crowds.

I first noticed Bottom Line driving past on 3^rd Street and I was instantly interested in checking it out because it reminded me of one of my favorite coffee shops in Boston. I recently went to study and found the atmosphere to be a mix of trendy and comfy.
I didn’t try any coffee but they do provide a pitcher of cold water for any visitors and glasses. My friend and I sat tucked away in an area of the shop where a sliding door provided some privacy pretty unique for a coffee shop. I would recommend Bottom Line as a great place to meet up with someone new and show off a little. The hours are convenient they stay open pretty late even on Sunday. Overall it’s my favorite find right now in Detroit.

great staff, location, hours, and most importantly coffee! great inclusive space!

I had not been to TBL in a very long time, since it was closed for a few month, right after I moved to Midtown. The ambiance is always great, and my best place to sit is in the little «AC room» away from everyone else. It’s perfect to get some work done, as it has not in my experience been too packed at night.
One of my favorite coffee shops

I love that I can walk here from Wayne state. Their chai latte is AMAZING! So yummy perfectly sweet and spicy. The atmosphere is cozy, it is a little tightly packed. But overall a wonderful coffee place. A great place to work on homework or read a book and relax

Well this is my 100^th Unilocal review and I wanted it to be both positive and something in Detroit. What better then a small Detroit business? I only learned of this cute and weird coffee shop because of a bike ride I participated in — Java Junket IX, the idea being we’d bike around Detroit and stop at — you guessed it — coffee shops or if you want to be fancy — Java places. Although it’s small, a couple dozen of us managed to squeeze in there and the staff handled things like champs. In addition to coffee I got an empanada to tide me over while we biked to our next stops, and it was very good. I liked the slightly underground location and the decorating that made you feel as if you were in someone’s basement checking out their weird collections. Albums were all around — for sale. They have open mic nights, author readings and small bands — everything a coffee shop should have. Check their fb page for events. I’m looking forward to spending more time there and enjoying the coffee.

Overall good place. I always liked the vibe and hope business on 3^rd Street picks up soon as I know it’s a struggle to operate there. However, as someone who has been going to Bottom Line since they first opened a few years, it’s never been as busy as it is now.

Fantastic people and great drinks. Atmosphere is great, and I like the option of standing bar space for times when I’m sick of sitting

If you are looking for a quaint, inspiring atmosphere to pound out emails and sip some quality coffee, don’t waste your time going anywhere else. Instead of giving your business to fucking Great Lakes, come to Bottom Line and avoid the banality of ‘hipsterdom’. BONUS: the baristas’ conversations are insightful and witty to lend an ear to. Stop in one time, and I guarantee that you’ll find your new favorite work/​hangout space.

Stopped by this place because every coffee shop on Wayne’s campus was closed during summer hours. I read the reviews about the hours and called ahead, they were open.
The place inside has the feel of a bachelor pad in moms basement. Brick walls and kind of a cellar feel but still warm. There’s a bit of outside seating in the alleyway which makes it feel way hipster if you’re into that.
I usually get a latte but wanted a cold drink so I asked for iced coffee. The barista recommended an americano on ice because of the extra shots of expresso. She was very nice and explained the difference between coffee drinks to the novice that I am.
But 4.50 is a bit steep for a drink filled with ice. I guess it comes with the territory. The coffee itself tasted great. I’d definitely get one of these again. I’m not a coffee expert to describe what it tastes like, but it was better than Biggby if that counts for anything.
Overall a good experience, if the hours permit I’ll definitely be back.

CALL BEFORE YOU GO. I drove down to Detroit just to check out this coffee shop at around 8pm and it was closed. In the process I also met people at the door who also thought it would be open.
On the bright side, the Bronx Bar is cool and nearby if this happens to you.

I have been here only one time but not for lack of trying. Because this place has extremely inconsistent hours. No matter what time the actual hours say. Third time I have walked the mile to the place only to find they decided not to open :(

I have yet to find a coffee shop with as much soul as The Bottom Line since coming back to Detroit. Anyone can sell coffee, very few people can make good coffee, the bottom line sets a comfortable safe artistically inspiring experience, with the whole, good coffee thing.

Is this place a front for an elicit poppy cultivation operation?
Nah, this is Detroit – you could do that stuff in the middle of Woodward and no one would bat an eyelash.
The few times I have succeeded in achieving human engagement at The Bottom Line, those humans have been persistently charming and eager to serve. The problem is, half of the time – no…84.5649% of the time – they’re gone. Shearing alpacas in a farm west of Novi, or maybe hybridizing forsythias with fava beans. Or they’re processing opiates. I don’t know, but they haven’t yet discovered how to explain when they violate their own business hours through messages on their answering machine (they haven’t discovered voice mail), so the only way to learn that they had «an emergency» is by driving by to see a sign on the window. («SORRY…CLOSED!» Judging from other Unilocalers, this happens all the time.)
And I’ve tried to patronize them, many times, with a failure rate equal to the number listed above. My rare success? Decent enough coffee and pastries, a moderately clean if visually average environment, and hit-​or-​miss wifi.
Rental prices in Midtown Detroit are high. For these people at Bottom Line Coffee to afford their lease without being able to operate a remotely consistent business, it must mean they are inordinately wealthy. But how?
Must be the heroin.

yay my favorite place to study! i’m here at least once a week and it’s a little farther than i like to travel for a study spot, but has been worth it every time. i’ve had various drinks here from — rooibos iced, jasmine green, americano, and others — and i’ve yet to be disappointed. i’m not a huge coffee snob though, so maybe that doesn’t mean much.
the food is hit or miss. i’ve had an amazing peach bourbon muffin that i will always remember, a terrible pumpkin cornbread muffin that was terrible, a delicious little creamy custard tart, an ambitious but dry and crumbly pear cardamom scone, a buttery but could be flakier croissant with some of the best jam ever, and probably lots of other treats i’m forgetting. oh and i had a sandwich here once — a vegan banh mi — that was surprisingly good for what it was (still would rather have the real thing).
the tables are a little wobbly, but i don’t mind that. it’s stuffy inside, but now that it’s cold, it actually feels really nice. there’s a little nook by the window if you want some serious alone-​in-​public time. i fell asleep on one of the soft chairs once and woke up still really comfortable. the music is always soothing and i love it even though i don’t know most of it. the bathroom is super clean.
and everyone here is so so super nice. i think eliza is the girl i usually get, not really sure if that’s her name. but she is really great, always makes you feel welcome, as does everyone else i’ve come across here, but also goes out of her way to make your time there beautiful. i’m so happy to have this place!

This is a coffeehouse for people who don’t require much fuss over their coffee and are not food fanatics. They source their coffee from the best roasters, but brew in vats, like at Starbucks. If you want a pour-​over, that’s on-​demand, and the barista will turn her back to you and use a plastic cone.
The food is locally sourced and made from scratch — including all-​fresh baked breads — but everything is heated in a microwave.
In other words, if you think that Astro coffee in Corktown or Great Lakes coffee nearby on Woodward are too pretentious (I do NOT!), then here’s a place for you. For those who require their coffee brewed on-​demand by coffee fanatics, and are insufferable food snobs who regard microwave ovens beneath contempt, there are just too many other options now in Detroit.
I really do like the build out. Really nice design intelligence.

The Bottom Line had been closed for a while, but it’s now reopen — and worth stopping into. The interior is cozy but nice, with quite a few good plugs and desks to work. Coffee is sourced from Intelligentsia in Chicago, which comes close to Great Lakes (though they don’t do pourover).
The pastries and food they have on the menu looks good, but I haven’t ordered it. For coffee and a place to work though: The Bottom Line is hard to beat.

The Bottom Line, previously closed since May, is revamped and reopened.
With a new menu featuring hot and cold gourmet sandwiches and fresh made salads, I’m super stoked! Can’t decide if I should get the Cubano or the Chèvre And Roasted Veggie sandwich.
The new décor is homey and warm and they’ve opened up the side alley into a patio/​garden space suitable for dog owners looking for a coffee fix :)
So glad they’re back!

TBL is a great, cozy coffee house.
favorites: late hours, convenient location for wsu students, friendly staff, good coffee, comfortable environment, good music, conversations, inexpensive (for once!), good wi-​fi, good amount of outlets!
meh: space — sometimes i’ve had a hard time finding space (good for them!), gets a little noisy (bring headphones if you’re serious about studying)
definitely check it out!

late hours, comfy space, good brew
This is one of the only cafés in the city to keep their doors open late nights, and well into the evening on sundays… their hours are among their strong suits. The coffee is great (remember when great coffee didn’t entail it had to be poured 6 different ways from 4 different kinds of kettles into 3 different kinds of cups using 2 different kinds of water?)… and the space, smallish, is good for both work and conversation in pairs or trios. They have a record player hooked up to the stereo system which seals the deal as a go-​to place when i need some coffee with my work (esp. in the off hours)