Find inspiration at Rough Draft, Hillsdale’s premier spot for connection and creation. Since 2017, we’ve been brewing locally roasted coffee and crafting espresso drinks to fuel your day. Pair your coffee with our freshly made baked goods, sandwiches, and or made-to-order cheeseboards. When the sun sets, unwind on our patio with our selection of craft beers, Italian wines, and expertly mixed cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up or an evening escape, Rough Draft is your community hub.
Suzette Thompson
This is a great place with a fun, relaxing vibe, friendly service, good drinks, and tasty pastries. They have a couple homemade syrups and the bourbon vanilla is awesome. The fruit and nut roll is delicious. The alcoholic drinks are cheap and made well. The cold brew is good. A wonderful spot to enjoy a couple hours playing cards with family.
… moreAurora Lint
We were in town last Wednesday to visit family and decided to get some coffee in the morning. I looked at my maps and found this place which I definitely do not recommend at all. The place has a very unique decoration which is very nice but the lady at the register doesn’t seem to be very friendly and actually she’s impolite and rude. The drinks we had were extremely sweet, I ordered a vanilla bourbon oat latte and barely could taste the espresso in it, it tasted like pure oat milk with vanilla and lots of sugar, my daughter had an ice matcha and it was impossible to drink due the high amount of sweetener, unfortunately we had to toss both drinks in the trash. I’ve worked in coffee shops for a long time and I’m the manager at one, since my experience I can say the service and the quality for the price you pay in this coffee shop are not worthy.
… moreJennifer Brown
Rough Draft in Hillsdale, Michigan has become my go-to place to unwind. This place has it all: food, coffee, lattes, cappuccino, an extremely chill atmosphere, cocktails. The clientele is mainly Hillsdale College students and that’s ok. It even has a private banquet-type room that can be reserved/rented for parties, meetings, training sessions, etc.
… moreTim Post
This is my absolute favorite coffee joint—consistently hits the mark every time I go.
The service is excellent: friendly, knowledgeable baristas who take the time to chat and make great recommendations based on what you’re in the mood for. Their coffee and espresso drinks are spot-on—rich, balanced, and perfect whether it’s a morning pour-over or an afternoon latte.
They also have a nice selection of cocktails in the evening, which turns the place into a cozy spot for drinks without feeling pretentious. Everything feels thoughtful and well-executed.
Highly recommended—whether you’re grabbing a quick coffee or settling in for the night. I’ll keep coming back!
… moreKaitlyn
Hands down the best lavender honey latte I’ve ever had, and I’m a *picky* lavender lover! We also tried the Bourbon Vanilla, and I’m glad I took a chance on the Strawberry Brie bagel; that was surprisingly good. Although they had cute, comfy spots to enjoy our mini brunch indoors, it was quite chilly with AC running so we found a table outside in the sun.
… moreElizabeth Mae
Rough draft is one of the best coffee shops in Hillsdale. It has the most seating, tons of variety, and is almost always busy. It has a cute industrial vibe and hosts the most events. Definitely recommend!
… moreDavid Carver
Came in here early in the morning the staff was extremely helpful as were were there to visit the college in town and she was a recent graduate. Very generous with the cream cheese for our bagels and I think possibly the best latte I ever had. Made me wish I was a student there to see it in the evening for drinks.
… moreRuss Sprinkle
The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. The service and coffee are excellent. This is a great place to read, do homework, or chat. Ear pods are a good idea if you need to concentrate, study, or block out background noise. I only had coffee, but I suspect the food is also good.
… moreBrad Root
In town a few days for an event. Rough Draft was highly recommended and did not disappoint. We’ve visited once or twice a day. Great atmosphere, pleasant staff, and fantastic cocktails. The Kentucky Mule, Gin & Tonic, Double Bourbon Vanilla Latte, and (non-alcoholic) Hot Chocolate have been our go-to beverages this week.
… moreJ Short
Comfortable setting inside and outside. Very cool and hip place to have a beverage and visit with friends.
The sign for the business DOES NOT stand out or grab your attention.
… more