As summer nears its end, so too does this year’s installation of the Build-Outs of Coffee, but not before we get to bring you a host of new and exciting cafes opening up all around the globe. Today, we’re stopping by Ann Arbor, Michigan, home of the brand new Dozer Coffee.
The sister company of HOMES Brewery and Smooj—makers of hard seltzer smoothies—Dozer is serving up specialty coffee alongside homemade donuts and other tasty breakfast and lunch bites, all under the same roof as their sibling breweries. It’s a pan-brew emporium. So let’s pop in and check them out, and maybe stay for a hard seltzer smoothie.
As told to Sprudge by Alissa Kline.
The 2021 season of Build-Outs is presented by Fellow. The series is sponsored by La Marzocco, Pacific Barista Series, Marco Beverage Systems, Dona, and Sustainable Harvest.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
Dozer is a cafe and roaster in Ann Arbor, MI that serves specialty coffee, scratch donuts, and unique breakfast and lunch fare. We’re a sister company to HOMES Brewery and Smooj, and share a multi-structure space with both brands on the forthcoming HOMES Campus.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
Our space is a 7,000-square-foot converted automotive warehouse. We’ve got lots of garage doors that can be opened for an indoor/outdoor feel and a fluid connection to the adjacent beer garden, greenspace, can shop, and Smooj and HOMES production facilities. We’re excited to utilize all the flex space or things like pop-ups and events that bring together the creative community here in Ann Arbor.
What’s your approach to coffee?
We roast for sweetness and clarity and are focused on minimizing the supply chain by working as much as possible from the farm level. Because there’s such a wide spectrum of amazing coffees available, we’re striving for a rotating seasonal lineup of a few great coffees that appeal to a wide range of palates.
Our shop is situated on the outskirts of town in an industrial district that’s a hub of activity for various types of businesses. We want folks of all stripes to feel welcome in the shop, inviting the community to enjoy specialty coffee in a way that feels super approachable. So we won’t shy away from fun seasonal drinks and offerings that keep people excited and engaged.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
We’ll be roasting on a Loring s15 Falcon. Our espresso machine is a three-group La Marzocco Linea PB AV custom powder coated black. We have two Mazzer Kony S and a Robur S and we’ll be using a PuqPress Q2. We’re using a Mahlkönig EK43 for filter coffees. Our batch brewer is a Curtis G4 ThermoPro.
As for coffees we have lined up, we have some exciting coffees from Red Fox Coffee Merchants out of Berkley, CA, and are in the process of figuring out logistics for a coffee from Araku Valley, India, we just won at auction. We’ve also received 16 bags of coffee from our direct trade relationship in Santa Barbara, Honduras. (This is the fourth year in a row that our head roaster and green buyer, Adam Rizzo, has purchased this coffee!)
How is your project considering sustainability?
One of the goals in purchasing our Loring was to cut down on energy consumption and lower our carbon footprint. We are also focusing on establishing enduring partnerships with farmers. On the build-out front, we’ve found creative ways to repurpose materials from the site, including as sculptures in the greenspace area.
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
Late September 2021
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?
Architects: Synecdoche Design Studio
Construction: Jim and Kyle at Commercial Construction Management, LLC
Logo and Illustrations: Shawn McConnell at Skidmore Studio
Thank you!
The 2021 season of Build-Outs is presented by Fellow. The series is sponsored by La Marzocco, Pacific Barista Series, Marco Beverage Systems, Dona, and Sustainable Harvest.
