Kristin Lenoir // Photo Essay

The Bitter Process

There are many coffee shops that have spread throughout the state of Michigan, but coffee roasters are much less common. Amongst the 50 coffee roasters found in Michigan, many of them are located in the lower West portion of the state, and Magnum Coffee Roastery is one of those special places.



[February 15, 2018] Magnum Coffee Roastery is one of the 50 roasters found in the state of Michigan.



[February 15, 2018] The Roastery offers many flavors and roast variations that they prepare themselves in their facility.



[February 15, 2018] They leave the option of whole bean coffee to allow customers to grind their own beans for a more fresh taste for in-home brewing.


The coffee shop connected to the roastery offers various coffee and tea based beverages for purchase when you just need a quick pick-me-up. The menu does not carry a wide variety of beverages, but the baristas on staff put in the effort to make each of the offered beverages delicious for any customer.



[February 22, 2018] The coffee shop connected to their roastery offers various flavors of their roasts for instant cups of coffee if you are on the go and need a delicious pick-me-up.



[February 22, 2018] The process that goes into each specialty beverage is done with careful finesse.



[February 22, 2018] Two espresso shots are poured into a glass for preparation of one of the specialty beverages from the menu.



[February 22, 2018] Milk is added to the espresso to further the process of the specialty beverage being prepped.


Because the coffee shop portion is so small, there are few baristas on staff. But because of this, the baristas know each drink and the process and measurements to create each drink down to every minor detail. One of these baristas, Stacy Lamb, has only been working at the shop for 11 months but has just as much knowledge of the drink options as the other baristas.



[February 15, 2018] Barista, Stacy Lamb, wipes the counter after preparing beverages for customers.



[February 22, 2018] Barista at Magnum Coffee Roastery, Stacy Lamb, prepares the water to clean various items that need to be ready for the next drink order.



[March 1, 2018] The coffee shop has long periods of quiet down time where the baristas on staff converse and clean.



[March 1, 2018] Once everything is cleaned during the down periods, the shop feels peaceful and quiet.



[February 22, 2018] Barista, Stacy Lamb, answers a phone call with a customer asking about the current winter hours and available roasts.



[March 1, 2018] The shop also offers various bagged coffee for purchase in both whole bean and ground.



[March 1, 2018] The shop also offers some of the highest quality of beans from both Jamaica and Hawaii for a heftier price than their lower priced bagged coffee.



[February 15, 2018] The coffee shop at Magnum offers a different "coffee of the day" each day as well as a new "flavor of the week."



[Febraury 22, 2018] Magnum barista, Stacy Lamb, prepares to make espresso shots for a customer's order.



[February 22, 2018] As the espresso shots are preparing, Stacy converses happily with a customer.



[March 1, 2018] The shop has set out one of their holiday speciality roasts in preparation for St. Patrick's Day.



[March 1, 2018] Besides making delicious drinks for customers, barista, Stacy Lamb, shows off one of her other talents of painting to prepare for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day.



[March 1, 2018] Magnum Coffee Roastery promises quality and delicious roasts and blends of coffee for their customers to enjoy not only in the small Magnum coffee shop, but right in the comfort of their own homes.