BLK \ MRKT

A lovely espresso with milk, served in a glass, at BLK \ MRKT in Traverse City.Traverse City was another of the stops, towards the end of my Midwest road trip, which was determined by the presence of good coffee. There are several options, including Higher Grounds, but BLK \ MRKT was my first stop, a tip-off from friend of the Coffee Spot, The Pour Over, via a Sprudge article. BLK \ MRKT is located inside an old market building, Warehouse MRKT (hence the MRKT part of the name), in Traverse City’s Warehouse District, a block back from the beach.

It’s been open since early 2015, and started roasting in April 2017. Like my previous stop, Velodrome Coffee Co, BLK \ MRKT uses a 1kg gas-powered roaster, although this time, rather than being tucked away in a side room, this is open for all to see in the main space. This produces all of the filter coffee, available as a daily batch-brew option, while the Prospect blend from Parlor Coffee in New York City is the mainstay of the gorgeous Kees van der Westen Spirit espresso machine which takes centre stage on the counter.

If you’re hungry (and I recommend it) there’s also a small range of cakes, pastries and pies, all baked on-site in the enclosed kitchen behind the counter.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • The view west along Garland St, Traverse City, and the single-storey Warehouse MRKT.
  • If you're driving, don't do what I did and try to park in the lot: it's employees only.
  • If you do go in through the lot, then there's an entrance here, named the East Entrance.
  • Alternatively, there's an entrance on Garland Street itself: the North Entrance.
  • However, the most sensible approach (unless following my Sat Nav), is heading south...
  • ... along Hall Street, which deposits you at the West Entrance...
  • ... and also right by BLK \ MRKT, one of Warehouse MRKT's nine tenants.
  • There's a raised outdoor seating area to the right, with three tables and two benches.
  • However, you'll need to go inside to order, where you'll find the entrance to BLK \ MRKT...
  • ... immediately on your right.
  • The till is ahead and to your right...
  • ... while off to your left, in what otherwise could be an awkward space, is the retail section.
  • The seating is centred on this large, communal table in the centre of the room...
  • It has six of these really comfortable, broad-topped stools, with three on each side.
  • The table, seen from the other side, with the counter at the back.
  • The back of the store is not quite parallel to the front, so it diverges slightly from the table.
  • The counter, meanwhile, does take up the entire back of the store from the right of the till.
  • It's a clean, uncluttered affair, espresso machine in the centre...
  • ... and with four more of the broad-topped stools at the far end.
  • The right-hand wall has a sliding door in the middle of it, which leads to another shop...
  • ... but pride of place, in front of the iron door, is BLK \ MRKT's roaster.
  • This 1 kg machine is where BLK \ MRKT roasts all its filter coffee.
  • Gas-powered, it's fully plumbed in, so to speak, complete with afterburner.
  • Next to this, a window-bar runs along the front of BLK \ MRKT.
  • Again, more of the comfortable, broad-topped stools.
  • There's one more window at the front left, which is at the end of the bench...
  • ... which runs along the left-hand wall, with four square, two-person tables in front of it.
  • Various works of art, plus some interesting light-fittings, hang on the wall above the bench.
  • More lights, this time hanging above the counter.
  • Obligatory light-fitting shot.
  • More of the art adorning the wall, this time over by the counter.
  • I was, as you can tell, capitvated by these drawings/paintings by Kristine Harvey.
  • The back wall, behind the counter, is a work of art in itself, with its plants & various pots.
  • I was particularly taken by the geometric shapes of this black pot.
  • There are various pieces of pottery, plus the usual merchandising, on the retail shelves...
  • ... while there are bags of coffee for sale on shelves in front of the counter.
  • This is mostly the various single-origin filters roasted by BLK \ MRKT.
  • ... although there are retail boxes from Parlor Coffee, suppliers of the espresso blend.
  • A common theme on this trip: swapping coffee for copies of my book.
  • There's a small library next to the window, which the Philosophy of Coffee will be joining.
  • To business. There's a supply of cakes, pastries and pies, all baked on-site.
  • Meanwhile, there's a simple menu on the wall...
  • ... joined by a more complex set of menus on the clipboard.
  • Pride of place goes to the Kees van der Westen Spirit espresso machine which is...
  • ... right in the centre of the counter....
  • ... although you get a good view of the business end if you stand by the till.
  • Naturally, I had to have something espresso-based, so went for an espresso with milk.
  • I was very impressed with the latte art...
  • ... and even more impressed with its staying power...
  • ... the pattern holding all the way to the bottom of the glass.
  • I followed this with a savoury turnover, which I paired with a mug...
  • ... of that day's batch-brew, the last of a Guatemalan single-origin.
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BLK \ MRKT is one of nine businesses operating inside Warehouse MRKT, which is on the corner of Hall and Garland Streets. Each business, which are either cafés or what I’d all arts and crafts shops, occupies its own semi-open, interconnected space, linked by a central corridor. There are several entrances, including an East Entrance from the (staff) parking lot and a North Entrance on Garland Street, but the best option is the West Entrance on Hall Street, which pitches you up right next to the BLK \ MRKT.

There’s a large, outdoor seating area which catches the afternoon sun. Raised and set back from the pavement, this runs along the front of BLK \ MRKT, with three two-person tables and a pair of benches, although you’ll have to go inside to order and collect your coffee. The door is to your left, which leads into the central corridor, with BLK \ MRKT on the right, where you’ll find what is in effect a large, glass wall with an inset door.

This deposits you at the back of BLK \ MRKT, a long, thin space stretching off to your left, occupied by the retail section, while is BLK \ MRKT itself is to the right. This is a semi-open space with a sliding doorway in middle of the right-hand wall which leads to another store. Windows line the front, which, coupled with the glass wall on the left, makes it a very bright space.

BLK \ MRKT has a simple layout. The counter is at back, with the till on the left-hand side, facing the door, while the counter itself runs along the back wall, not quite parallel to the front, sloping back from left-to-right by maybe 15⁰.  The counter is dominated by the gorgeous Kees van der Westen Spirit espresso machine and its solitary grinder, with the space to the right left open for counter seating, provided by four broad-topped stools.

The roaster is against the right-hand wall, next to the sliding door, with the remaining seating arranged along the front and left-hand wall, a central communal table rounding things off. This narrow, six-person table, again with stools, is parallel to the window, so is slightly offset from the counter. A long window, with a four-person window-bar, runs the almost the full width of BLK \ MRKT. This ends just before a large square window in the front wall, while a bench, with four two-person tables, lines the left-hand wall, starting at the window and running all the way to the door.

BLK \ MRKT has a simple menu: espresso, espresso with milk or batch-brew. I ordered espresso with milk, and was offered a cappuccino, cortado or latte, so I asked for whatever showed off the coffee the best. I think, judging by the size, that I got a small cappuccino, but it could have been a large cortado. Either way, served in a glass, it was the perfect ratio of milk to coffee, enough to let the flavour of Parlor Coffee’s Prospect blend come through, while the milk’s sweetness counteracted any bitterness.

I followed that with a Guatemalan single-origin, that day’s batch-brew option. Very smooth and drinkable, it matured towards the end of the cup. I also had a very tasty savoury turnover, plus I took a hand pie away with me. This is usually cherry, but that day was blueberry. Either way, it made for a very tasty breakfast the following day!

144 HALL STREET • TRAVERSE CITY • MI 49684 • USA
www.blkmrkt.coffee +1 231-714-5038
Monday 07:00 – 17:00 Roaster Parlor Coffee (espresso) + BLK (filter)
Tuesday 07:00 – 17:00 Seating Tables, Counter; Tables (outside)
Wednesday 07:00 – 17:00 Food Cake
Thursday 07:00 – 17:00 Service Counter
Friday 07:00 – 17:00 Cards Amex, Mastercard, Visa
Saturday 07:00 – 17:00 Wifi Free (with login)
Sunday 09:00 – 15:00 Power Yes
Chain No Visits 14th September 2018

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2 thoughts on “BLK \ MRKT

  1. This looks like a great modern space for a cafe – interconnected open cafe spaces are great and having the connected space with other businesses must be a great collaborative atmosphere for everyone!

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