The greater Muskegon area has been expanding and revitalizing itself for decades, with breweries, bars, and restaurants flourishing in the region. Coffee culture is rising just as steadily, with new coffee shops sprouting like sunflowers from the downtown area to Mona Lake.
Legal Grounds, The Exchange, and The Press Muskegon are three of the many coffee shops that have opened in the Muskegon area in the last two years. All three have opened perfectly in time to grab a back-to-school latte or sip a warm cider after an autumn day.
Legal Grounds Coffee House arrived in Norton Shores in 2025, revitalizing a cozy spot within sight of Mona Lake. Traditional coffee drinks, besides rich lattes, make up Legal Grounds’ signature menu, with themed drinks like The Cross Examination, a chocolate raspberry latte, and The Perjury, a latte filled with caramel and cookie flavors.
An impressive list of smoothies, teas, and baked goods make up the extended menu. Easing coffee-lovers into fall, Legal Grounds also has a temporary menu filled with apple and pumpkin spice flavored drinks, like the Frosted Pumpkin Mocha, a white chocolate mocha with pumpkin spice flavors.
Just a few blocks from Muskegon Lake, a new addition to the city’s coffee scene opened its doors in early 2025. The Press Muskegon offers a spacious setting paired with an extensive menu of both food and drinks.
Most of The Press’ drinks are made with ethically sourced coffee beans cultivated from Aldea Coffee, also in Muskegon, and farmed in Honduras. (Read more about Aldea’s story here: The Story of Aldea Coffee in Muskegon: Brews and Community.)
Uniquely, The Press Muskegon has a few coffee items rarely found elsewhere in Muskegon. A few traditionally Vietnamese items make up the menu, like the Traditional, a double shot of Robusta Coffee shaken with condensed milk, and the Robusta Americana, a hot Vietnamese Robusta. Smoothies, iced tea, and a wide range of matcha drinks round out the drink menu at The Press.
In late 2023, The Exchange Coffee Bar opened up in a premium space downtown. In no time, the Coffee Bar made a name for itself in Muskegon with an elegant ambiance to rival all other coffee shops in the area. Guests are immediately welcomed by a fireplace and handsome geometric chandelier, while deeper inside, a collection of tables offers space for both quiet solo visits and small gatherings.
Pairing with their classic coffee menu, The Exchange Coffee Bar has light food and baked options like a breakfast sandwich and fresh avocado toast. The drink menu is also expanding for fall with the addition of a few apple cider and pumpkin-spice themed drinks, like the chaider (cider and chai tea) or a Pumpkin Cookie Coldbrew.
Expanding Muskegon’s Coffee Scene
From Norton Shores to downtown Muskegon, these new cafés show the vibrancy of the coffee scene across the lakeshore. Whether sipping a playful themed latte at Legal Grounds, cozying up by the fireplace at The Exchange, or exploring bold Vietnamese brews at The Press, Muskegon’s newest coffee spots are giving locals and visitors alike even more reasons to connect.
Brews on the Lakeshore 
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