Hill of Beans was my first experience to a coffee shop. It was back in the day when I was a baby in the coffee world. I hadn't before that really had any snooty coffee other than what restaurants or my parents served up. I may have also had a 4 cup Mr. Coffee.

Luckily for me, I believe that Hill of Beans was the best of the coffee shops that I have ever been too. It was a small store front tucked into the side of strip mall near Great Lakes Christian College. It had a small bar where 3 or 4 people could pull up to and converse with the barista of the day. The rest of the shop was long and narrow. there was enough room down one side of the shop to put furniture. If my memory serves me correctly, there were only maybe two or three tables. Everything else was groupings of wicker chairs and love seats where you could sit and chat the day away. It also boasted an outdoor seating area, when the Michigan weather would allow.

The coffee from what I remember was spectacular. Since it was my virgin experience in drinking something more than regular, run of the mill coffee, I always opted for the mocha. And, too this day, their mocha is what everything else is measured up against. In all honesty, I don't even remember having anything other than the mocha there. I was such a rookie. . .

The best thing about Hill of Beans was the ambiance. I skipped many classes at GLCC for a tall mocha and great conversation with friends, especially the guys from Testify, the worship band I was in in the 90s.

Unfortunately, Hill of Beans closed sometime after I left for seminary in Tennessee. I wish it were still there so I could return and try all the other great things I'm sure they had.