9 Bean Rows is a coffee roaster and cafe in the Depot neighborhood that has become the go-to serious coffee destination in Traverse City. The roasting is done on-site, the sourcing is direct-trade, and the bar staff treats espresso extraction with the attention it deserves. The space is comfortable without being precious — good seating, reasonable noise levels, fast wifi — which makes it popular with remote workers and students as well as the morning coffee crowd.
The food menu is light but good: pastries from local bakers, sandwiches at lunch. It is the kind of independent coffee shop that a city needs to feel like a real place rather than a seasonal destination, and Traverse City is lucky to have it.