About Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea started in downtown Ann Arbor in 1993, when Wei and Lisa Bee, both University of Michigan graduates, opened a coffeehouse near campus that paired everyday café food with coffees and teas shaped by Asian traditions. The company now has cafés in several states, but the Bees still own the Washington Street café, a block west of Main Street, and they are often there talking with longtime regulars.
The menu runs from espresso drinks and drip coffee to a long list of teas, frozen drinks, pastries, desserts and light fare. The founders' own favorites show the style: Wei's pick is the Dragon Eye, a bold and sweet drink, and Lisa's is the Napali Brew, named for Hawaii's Na Pali coast. In fall 2026 the café is also pouring a short run of seasonal drinks, including a Great Pumpkin Latte, a Pumpkin Chai Latte and a Spiced Caramel Apple.
Long hours make it easy to fit in. The café opens at 6 a.m. and stays open until 11 p.m. every day, so it works as an early stop before a day on the road or a dessert break after dinner downtown. There is Wi-Fi, a patio for warm days, curbside pickup, and a rewards program through their app. A second Sweetwaters sits in Kerrytown at 407 N. 5th Ave. if you are exploring the market district.
Plainly Elegant Lavender Farm on West Waters Road is about 20 minutes southwest of downtown. Its timed U-pick sessions run Thursday through Sunday in June and July and are booked ahead, so a coffee and pastry here make an easy start before a morning in the lavender rows.
What to do
- Try a founder favorite: the Dragon Eye or the Napali Brew
- Order a fall seasonal such as the Great Pumpkin Latte or Spiced Caramel Apple (fall 2026)
- Pick up pastries or light fare for the drive to the lavender farm
- Sit on the patio on a warm afternoon
- Stop by early: the café opens at 6 a.m. every day
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round; seasonal drink menu changes in fall
- Hours
- Daily 6 a.m.–11 p.m. (posted on their website, October 2026); hours may change for weather or events
Tips for your visit
- Hours can change for weather or downtown events, so check their website before a late visit
- You can order ahead for curbside pickup through their app
- Kerrytown has a second Sweetwaters at 407 N. 5th Ave., near the farmers market
Pair it with a lavender farm
Plainly Elegant Lavender Farm · about 20 minutes away
Plainly Elegant Lavender Farm is about 20 minutes southwest, with booked U-pick sessions Thursday through Sunday in June and July.
Getting there
Questions
What are the hours at the Washington Street Sweetwaters?
Every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., per their website in October 2026; hours can change for weather or events.
Who started Sweetwaters?
Wei and Lisa Bee, who opened the first café in downtown Ann Arbor in 1993 and still own this location.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes, the Washington Street café lists patio seating, along with Wi-Fi and curbside pickup.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Ann Arbor & Milan, Michigan
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
