It's been an exciting time for Eric Croft.

Along with his wife and Southgate native, Kaylie, Eric helped spearhead a new Calvary Church venture, Fresh Wind, which launched last year in Southgate. Now the Crofts are working on another project, with a much different flavor but still having community as the main focus.

“I’ve lived here now for eight years and Kaylie grew up here and we just love this community,” Croft said. “We have been talking with younger people in the area who shared some aspects of the community they would like to see improved, and one of them was a gathering place they could go to when they aren’t at work or at home. Another thing they shared with us that our city needs is a craft coffee shop where they could meet with friends and just hang out.”

So, specialty craft coffee plus nice, large and comfortable gathering space added up to Embers Coffee. And just like that the Crofts set forth an ambitious and worthwhile plan to open a coffee shop – unlike smaller, national chains – that not only featured great coffee but will benefit the community in multiple ways.

“We really wanted to bring these two things together,” Croft said. “And Embers Coffee is about community, not money. That is why we are a nonprofit company that will give back 5 percent of our net profits to our community. Our heart is to create a space that loves our community, creates jobs, welcomes everyone and provides bomb coffee. That’s it.”

Let’s talk about the “bomb” coffee.

Embers Coffee is partnering with Michigan-based Rootless Coffee Co. to roast and supply their beans. Emphasizing a great roast and ethical sourcing, Rootless is changing the game of craft coffee.

“Great coffee is a craft, not just a drink,” Croft said. “It has a story and we want to share that story with our community. We believe that coffee can be delicious and not break the bank, and are committed to fair costs without sacrificing quality.”

Embers Coffee will be located in the Southgate Shopping Center off Eureka road in a 4,500-square-foot space that includes 3,000 square feet of seating space for visitors to hang out and not feel rushed. The Crofts began construction in March and hope to be open for business this summer. They also will offer light food, including baked goods, and serve non-coffee drinks as well.

Embers will also host community-oriented events and seminars on varying topics, coffee-oriented events and classes, along with guest speakers.

“We also want feedback from our community about what we do well, what we don’t and how we can improve,” Croft said. “This is our heart. We believe Southgate deserves the best we have to offer and we are going to give it to them.

“We want to do something that is good for the city and the citizens of the community. We are not about how cheap and how fast we can make our coffee. It’s about the taste and having a place where you feel welcomed.”