Coffee & Treats in Forest Hills

Founded by a mother-daughter team, Sara's Sweets Bakery whips up quality baked goods, including cupcakes, cookies, and custom-decorated cakes. Grand Rapids-area customers can utilize the bakery's delivery service, or stop into the shop, where fresh coffee and donuts are served every day. To make sure no sweet tooth gets stymied, Sara's offers sugar- and gluten-free treats upon request.

The Michigan Brewers Guild wanted something very specific when it turned 15: it asked the state’s breweries to concoct a 15th-anniversary ale for its summer beer fest. Chef and home brewer Amy Sherman, host of Great American Brew Trail, went behind the scenes at the celebration, where she interviewed local breweries’ staff members about their celebratory brews. Reports like these are typical of her show, Great American Brew Trail, for which she travels to microbreweries across the country and unveils the creative and culinary processes behind beer.

With years of experience as a health-care specialist and bed-and-breakfast owner, Marilyn Heeringa has mastered the art of pampering and promoting wellness. Today, she specializes in ionic detox treatments, which utilize the ability of positive and negative ions to cleanse the entire body through ion footbaths.

Having traveled to Egypt and other parts of Africa, Marilyn has decorated her cozy studio with an eclectic collection of art that reflects her worldliness and her talent for looking at art. Along with detoxifying Egyptian body wraps, she offers massage therapy, facials, one-on-one-yoga, and meditation classes.

The Sparrows Coffee Tea & Newsstand is stocked with an impressive array of brewables, steepables, and munchables. The cozy beverage boutique serves up more than 30 loose-leaf teas by the classic cup ($2.50) for calming down even the most stressed-out Depression-era baseball players. Iced green and black teas ($1.90) are also available to cool customers down on hot summer days. A bevy of fair-trade bean-juice options will perk up the thirsty without causing moral jitters. Throw back a shot of espresso ($1.90) for a no-frills energy punch, or flirt with the foam atop a decadent mocha ($3.75) during a relaxed rendezvous at the café. Bottomless house coffee ($3.50) is available for the supersleepy or those who've been boycotting cup bottoms ever since they started supporting big-box retail chains. If you crave creativity, opt for a customizable bubble tea ($3.75–$4.25) and let the tapioca beads act as a delightfully textured muse.

We are a gourmet cupcakery. We only use the finest quality ingredients and high quality chocolate and flavorings.

Micro-Roaster Coffee Retailer Tasting Bar