Sepia Coffee Project opens in former Gathering Coffee Co. space

The new coffee shop is the Black-owned micro-roaster’s first sit-down cafe

Oct 1, 2024 at 12:52 pm

Sepia Coffee Project’s soft opening will start on Oct. 3. Instagram, @scpdetroit

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The space at 2831 E. Grand Blvd. in Detroit wasn’t empty for long.

Just a few weeks after Gathering Coffee Co.’s final day on Sept. 8, a new coffee shop is set to take its place. Highland Park-based Sepia Coffee Project, a roasting company founded by Martell Mason in 2021, will open its first sit-down cafe on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Originally announced in July, the cafe was expected to open on Oct. 1, but Sepia recently updated the launch date to Oct. 3 via Instagram, simultaneously revealing a fresh new look for the space’s exterior.

The new cafe marks an important step for Sepia Coffee, which currently operates as a micro-roastery in Detroit’s North End. The owner hopes the new spot will generate revenue to further fund a planned roastery and tasting room in Highland Park, slated to open in fall 2025.

With ethical sourcing at its forefront, Sepia Coffee Project specializes in single-origin and blended whole beans from Black and brown farmers from throughout the Americas, Africa, and the Indian Pacific. The company currently supplies its beans to about 30 clients across metro Detroit, New York, and Minneapolis.

The upcoming opening of the new community coffee shop will be a soft launch, with no grand opening date yet.

Updates can be found on Instagram @scpdetroit.

Location Details

Sepia Coffee Project

2831 E. Grand Blvd, Detroit

Slideshow

Our favorite metro Detroit coffee shops

Trinosophes is one of our favorite local coffee spots.

Trinosophes1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-778-9258; trinosophes.com/cafeThis cafe near Eastern Market is attached to Peoples Records, so you can sip while you shop for new music. If you’re sitting in, the cups used to serve up beverages are handmade and beautiful. Plus, Trinosophes has its own mini library, a publication, and a room to the side for live music and other events, adding to the community feel.

Cafe Sous Terre445 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-228-2880; cafesousterre.comJust opening in July 2023, Cafe Sous Terre is a hidden gem barely seen by cars driving by, located down a stairwell in the basement of a 19th-century mansion in Midtown. The European-style spot operates as a coffee shop during the day, offering espresso, lattes, and tea, with great space for remote workers and students. At night, it shifts into a bar serving French wine, cocktails, and mocktails with housemade syrup. Read more here.

The Commons7900 Mack Ave., Detroit; 313-447-5060; thecommonsdetroit.comWaiting for your laundry at a laundromat is usually boring and unappealing, but The Commons changes the game. The eastside spot is a coffee shop and laundromat, with a big open space upstairs to work and chill. Plus, the drinks and breakfast items are all super affordable.

HarazMultiple locations; harazcoffeehouse.comThis family-owned Yemeni-inspired coffee shop has locations in Detroit, Warren, Louisville, and beyond (with more coming), but it all started in Dearborn. Its beverages are perfectly flavored and the ambiance is equally as enjoyable.

Eastside Roasterz16555 Warren Ave., Detroit; instagram.com/eastside.roasterzCurrently located inside Next Chapter Books in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, this Black and queer-owned coffee company plans to open its own brick-and-mortar right next to the bookshop later this year. For now, you can grab a coffee while you peruse for new and used books. The spot offers unique drink options made with housemade syrups, plus bags of beans that you can buy to enjoy at home.

Cairo Coffee2905 Beaufait St., Detroit; instagram.com/cairo_coffeeYou may enjoy Spot Lite for a night out, but during the day, the art gallery-nightclub operates as a record store and coworking space, with beverages served up by Cairo Coffee. The coffee counter used to be located in Savvy Chic boutique in Eastern Market, but relocated in 2021. The owners pride themselves on relationships with community members and grassroots organizations.

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About The Author

Layla McMurtrie

Layla McMurtrie is the digital editor of Detroit Metro Times. She's passionate about art, music, food, and Detroit's culture and community. Her work has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Between the Lines, and Metromode, among other Michigan publications.