Three coffee shops, three different enviornments

Go Java, MadCap and Mayan Buzz cafe are three different coffee shops that share the similarity of being downtown. 

Go Java is in the heart of the arena district, located on 15 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The interior is really home like with exposed brick, art hanging up and wood floors. Go Java has partnered with Nantucket, Big Apple Bagel and Van's Pastry Shoppe, to provide more than coffee and drinks.

"I like to call us the fun coffee shop," owner Tom Sommers says. "I mean we sell pb&j and Moms Grilled Cheese." 

The vibe of Go Java makes it feel like more than a coffee shop and more like a home away from home. People who work on Ionia street create a lot of business for Go Java. Most of the clientele is comprised of business people and students.

"We just celebrated three years and we did struggle the first year and a half." Sommers says. "Being a coffee shop downtown already puts us in stiff competition."

MadCap and Lantern are competitors of Go Java because they cater to different needs. Go Java has a specials board which lists the must try items and new items. 

The "Bumblebee" is the must try item, it has almond, hazelnut and caramel flavors mixed within it.

Mayan Buzz Cafe is located at 208 Grandville Ave SW Grand Rapids MI 49503. The cafe opened in September of 2013, and became a 24 hour cafe in early 2014. 

"A lot of our night time clientele is students, so in the summer we find that there is no need for the late hours," owner Mary Rose says. 

Though the cafe is usually 24 hours, they have cut back their summer hours so hey still close late, but are not 24 hours. Mayan Buzz attracts a lot of students and specializes in cold brewed coffee. 

"We brew he cold coffee for 18-24 hours and we make a lot everyday to insure we have some," Rose says. 

Mayan Buzz is a Central American coffee shop, in the sense that they make Central American coffee and drinks. The Mayan Mocha is one of their specialty and popular menu items. It has cayenne pepper and other interesting flavors blended to make it unique. 

"The Latern and Go Java are two of our competitors. Go Java caters to business people and the people of Ionia street," Rose says.

MadCap coffee is located at 98 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The interior of MAdCap is really modern and mimalist with a lo of black and white and brick walls. 

"The one comment we occasionally still hear from folks is that parking is annoying," co-founder Trevor Corlett says. 

Mad Cap does product souring, employee training and menu development to keep their coffee house distinct and original. It is located across the street from the GRAM, along with a lot of other offices and hotels. "We couldn't be more happy with our location," Corlett says. 

"When I signed on the space in 2008 half the store fronts downtown were empty. Now they're full. It was a tough few years intially while that growth was still happening," Corlett says. 

MadCap's specialty items includes Tumeric tea and Espresso Spritzer for summer.