First Light Roasters

We built a coffee company together. We still can’t agree on where coffee began. Sam, originally from Somalia, backs neighboring Ethiopia. Amal, from Yemen, makes her case for Yemen. We call them our “cousin coffees,” and we love both. The debate is part of the family. Our story began long before First Light Roasters. Sam grew up in 1980s Mogadishu, where his grandmother roasted wild coffee from the Cal Madow mountains of Sanaag. Amal’s grandfather left Yemen young and spent his life farming coffee in the highlands of Ethiopia. His story gives both sides something to work with. When we met, we recognized something familiar in each other: the smell of green beans turning in a pan, the patience of a slow roast, and the way a cup brings people together. Today, we carry those memories into our roastery and café in Livonia, Michigan. East African coffees are at the heart of what we do, alongside premium Latin American coffees and signature blends. We roast to bring out each coffee’s character, whether you’re brewing at home or serving a room full of guests. Come have a cup with us. You’re welcome to take a side in the debate. Follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram at First Light Roasters, or read more at https://www.firstlightroasters.com/pages/about.