First taste: Urban Bean Co.

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At 11 p.m., at the corner of Griswold and Grand River in Detroit’s Capitol Park, chances are you’re either waiting for a bus at the Detroit Bus center or going to the Urban Bean Company, the only coffee shop around with a clu- like atmosphere at night.                           

The Urban Bean Company has two floors, and occupies the corner building on the northeast corner of Grand River and Griswold, where the former Save the Vinyl record store was located.

Huge windows line both sides allowing those on either floor to easily watch the happenings of a busy Detroit intersection. From the exterior it looks like a two-floored sanctuary of color and energy jutting out into the bleak Detroit landscape.

The modern-styled interior was designed and decorated by owner Josh Greenwood. Almost everything is custom made like a lead-seamed copper bar and upper level crow’s nest where DJs spin records. From the second floor, dim orange lights hang overhead the main floor, keeping in flow with the yellow, orange and brown color scheme of the copper bar and oak paneled walls.

Customers can sit at tables on the first floor, along the windowed walls or go upstairs to hang out. Not a huge place, it probably holds 30 people comfortably, with 15 on each floor.

Eight weeks ago, Greenwood opened the Urban Bean Company, which he has been remodeling and redesigning for the last three years. The hours are as flexible as Greenwood’s schedule, who basically runs the place by himself from 7 a.m. until business stops.

“We’re open late which means we could be open until 10 p.m. or 2 a.m. or whenever?” Greenwood explains.

Greenwood hosts parties often in the evenings that showcase local DJ talent. When there is not a scheduled DJ, the tables are open to the public. When DJs aren’t spinning, Greenwood pumps out, “ambient hot energy all day,” as he calls it, from his stocked iPod or satellite radio. 

In true coffee shop tradition, smoking is fully permitted -- because on those late nights or early mornings a quality cup of Joe just begs for a smoke.  

All the coffee comes from Great Lakes, a boutique roaster from Bloomfield Hills. Specialty brews like the Pure Evil Latte which Greenwood says, “will have you dreaming pure evil 24-7.” It’s a blend of Amaretto syrup, espresso and steamed milk. Chai lattes are also popular among patrons.

Along with coffee there is a nice selection of juices like Martinelli’s apple juice in the glass bottle, energy drinks and sodas including Orange Crush. A standard selection of pastries and muffins are also available.

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