By Jim Newell
Review Staff Writer
Searching for that perfect blend of morning … or afternoon … or evening … cup of joe to satiate the palette?
Coffee connoisseurs – or even the casual brew drinker – now have the opportunity to guarantee that perfect java sip by creating their own personal concoction at A Bean to Go.
For owner and CEO Kirk Walker, the evolution to coffeemeister began at his desk when he worked as an auto designer.
“As everyone knows, any company with 50 or more people doesn’t serve good coffee,” he said.
So Walker started coffee clubs at his desk, bringing his co-workers different gourmet coffees to try instead of the company’s regular black-pot fare.

“I have always drunk coffee and appreciated it since I was a young kid,” Walker said. “I’ve had a refined palette since I was about 14.”

Having patrons create their own personal blend guarantees they can get the flavor they want, or patrons can try one of the three daily brew selections, Walker said.
Patrons can choose up to four different flavors of beans to blend together, create their own slate tiles, colored with chalk, write the recipe on the back of the tiles and tell their friends, “Hey, go try my brew at A Bean to Go,” Walker said.
Walker recommends that patrons keep in mind that pairing coffee flavors and aromas is just like pairing foods.
“For example, everyone knows that chocolate and strawberries go together. You can do the same thing with coffee if you keep those notes paired up like that.” he said.
So far A Bean to Go has 30 different personal blends created by patrons.
“It’s going over really big. Most of our employees have their own blend, too,” Walker said.
Patrons can also have a pound of their creation ground to take home for $17.99.
“Besides trying to get people to notice we’re here, our goal is to connect with people, to get them to know our product,” he said.
A Bean to Go also has live music and open mic nights, where patrons choose from a list of five songs, sing one and then write a new song on the list.
Walker opened A Bean to Go in Lake Orion about two years ago.
The first A Bean to Go opened in Goodrich, where they still roast the coffee beans.
As part of the evolution of A Bean to Go, Walker said they will begin serving sandwiches and salads from Great Harvest Bread Co. beginning Sept. 8.
He’s still considering adding soup to the menu, and they currently serve a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, smoothies and tea, as well.
One of the most popular drinks is the Bees Knees latte, which Walker jokes is “An ancient Chinese secret recipe.”
“That’s so popular, I can’t count how many I’ve made this summer,” Barista Becky Houston said.
For more information on A Bean to Go coffee and events, visit them on Instagram at #abeantogocoffeeroasters, and A Bean to Go Lake Orion on Facebook.