Higher Grounds Trading Co.

11/03/2026

Now available: three new Honduran Apex coffees!

Bryan Bautista Natural:
Dark chocolate, resonant, dried cherry tasting notes. Medium roast with sweet, balanced acidity.

Mother/Daughter Blend:
Almond, honeysuckle, creamy, & blueberry tasting notes. Light roast with vibrant acidity.

Marcos Perdomo:
Toasted coconut, hazelnut, & blackberry tasting notes. Light-medium roast with sweet and balanced acidity.

10/30/2026

We had ourselves a spooky little staff and family soirée last night. Here’s to our wonderful, hardworking HG crew—and of course, Tim’s hat. 🎃

10/23/2026

10/12/2026

Last week, we had an opportunity to host the incredible folks from the Women’s Resource Center, who stopped by to tour our Roastery and give a presentation to our staff.

Because October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the tremendous community work this organization is doing to protect, shelter, and empower people impacted by domestic and sexual violence in Northern Michigan.

As one of our Coffees For Change partners, when you purchase a bag of WRC Blend, $5 per bag goes toward the WRC and their important ongoing community work. You can also pick up a list of current shelter donation needs in our Coffee Bar. Thank you, WRC, for all that you do! ❤️

10/07/2026

Starting today, all of our HG Star Logo beanies and tee shirts are 30% off! Get fall-ready with a classic winter beanie made of 100% recycled polyester (that’s one bottle recycled for every hat!), or grab a lightweight, soft, 100% cotton HG logo tee 🌟 All items printed locally in Traverse City.

10/01/2026

Happy International Coffee Day, friends! We have a special announcement…

We are releasing a book!

🌍 ☕️ 📖

Launching in time for the holiday season, this upcoming book features recipes for many of our classic Higher Grounds drink syrups offered in our Coffee Bar, featuring classics like our famous Caramel and Vanilla syrup, as well as seasonal delights like our Marigold and Oracle syrup recipes.

But beyond syrup recipes and coffee brewing tips, this book also tells the story of Higher Grounds and how our journey has fostered deep connections with farmers, families, and coffee community members throughout the coffee-growing world and beyond. Behind the product names and creative descriptors on labels are actual people: farmers working through the impacts of climate change, fluctuating markets, and the shadow of historical inequity. Their resilience inspires and fuels us, and their dedicated work should not be overlooked. In these pages, you’ll learn about the people and organizations who produce your daily brew, and the action steps you can take to be a thoughtful coffee drinker, so we can all continue to brew a better world.

09/29/2026

We’re celebrating National Coffee Day with lots of gratitude! Our mission doesn’t just extend beyond international borders. We work to bring that impact home, too, and that’s only possible thanks to your support—so thank you!

Our current Coffees For Change lineup features roasts that give back to local community efforts (and beyond) through our partnerships in and around Grand Traverse County, with $5 per bag (any size!) donated toward the following organizations:

☕️ WRC Blend, supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence in and around Grand Traverse County
☕️ Bold Glory Blend, supporting the work of 22 2 None to eliminate instances of veteran su***de and support transition back to civilian life
☕️ Fishtown Blend, benefitting the ongoing work to Preserve Leland’s Historic Fishtown village
☕️ Harvest Fall Blend (our current Seasonal Blend), supporting Groundwork’s Farm to School food program
☕️ Better Together (our newest CFC!), enriching the lives of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities through social connections, family support, the arts and recreational opportunities
☕️ Riff Roast, supporting Jail Door Guitar’s efforts to raise funds for their programs and to raise awareness to the need for comprehensive reform in our justice system

Thank you for supporting positive community impact! Happy National Coffee Day 🙌🎉

09/25/2026

This Sunday 9/27, we will be hosting a Community Conversations pop-up on the Higher Grounds & Left Foot Charley patio throughout the day! Community Conversations is a storytelling project of Leelanau Indivisible in collaboration with a local workgroup called the PerSisters, pictured.

“Our purpose is to collect and share stories that will help us all better understand the experiences of our many diverse neighbors in this moment of American history. In an era marked by significant divisions, the purpose of the project is to find common ground, foster trust and respect, and bridge social divides across political, cultural, religious, and social differences. Our big vision is that by sharing authentic stories, we will contribute to a more inclusive democracy where every voice matters.”

09/18/2026

The fall seasonal menu is here!

🌞 Golden Milk Latte
Turmeric, warming spices, maple

🎃 Pumpkin Pie Latte
House-made pumpkin sauce with warming spices

🍁 Maple Oat Miel
Organic maple syrup, cinnamon, and oat milk

🍃 Brown Butter Sage Caramel Latte
Our house-made caramel with fresh sage and brown butter base

09/14/2026

As of now, we officially have seven — and seven ONLY— James Hoffmann x Lucia Solis x Higher Grounds Fermentation Kits available for sale in our Coffee Bar! Because these sold out so fast on our web store, we wanted to make sure we made a few available in person for folks interested in trying this very limited special release. Once it’s gone, it will never be made again, so if you’ve been wanting to partake in one of James’ experiments or are curious about interesting tasting experiences, this one’s for you!