Rinco Bros Coffee Roaster

Pour-over only. That's the first thing to know about Rinco Bros, and it tells you what kind of place Mark is running across the street from Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor, on a dirt road tucked into the pines. There's no espresso machine, no syrup pumps, no drive-through menu, no laminated list to point at. You walk in, Mark asks whether you lean light, medium, or dark, and then he talks you through what he's roasted from his direct single-farmer relationships. The conversation is the menu.

The space is small and cabin-style, more coffee boutique than cafe. Pines press in on all sides. The dirt road keeps the foot traffic honest. The experience is one-on-one with the owner, which is either the appeal or the friction depending on what you came for. People in a rush should skip it. People who want to slow down and learn something about the beans they're drinking should plan an hour and leave the schedule loose.

Order whatever Mark recommends from his current light, medium, or dark options. The whole point of the place is that he's tasted the lot you're about to drink and has a specific opinion about it, and a roaster's specific opinion is worth more than a written tasting note any day. The chai latte is the alternative if pour-over isn't your thing. Light roast whole bean goes home well for the drive south or for the cabin kitchen.

Hours are seasonal, which is the polite way to say check the website before driving up M-22 from Traverse City. Glen Arbor empties out in the off-season, and the shop's hours reflect that. Showing up to a closed door on a Tuesday in November is a real possibility.

The right move for travelers in the Sleeping Bear Dunes corridor who treat coffee as part of the trip, not a refueling stop, and who'd rather talk to the person who roasted the bean than tap a screen. Anyone wanting a fast espresso drink, flavored lattes, or a Starbucks-style menu should keep going to the main road.