The Coffee Ethic is an award-winning specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Springfield, Missouri. Dedicated to the "Cup, People, Earth" mission, the company focuses on direct trade sourcing and in-house roasting to provide high-quality single-origin coffees and blends to its local community and online subscribers.
Ownership
The Coffee Ethic is an independent, family-owned business. It was co-founded in 2007 by Tom and Michelle Billionis alongside Jim and Tina Hamilton, and is currently owned by Michelle Billionis and co-owner Tawnie Wilson.
Founded
2007
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
The Coffee Ethic is known as a prominent downtown Springfield coffee bar and roaster that emphasizes direct trade sourcing, sustainability, and its role as a community "third place."
Sourcing countries
Brazil · Colombia · Ethiopia · Kenya
Farm-level sourcing
The brand emphasizes direct trade and works with farmers and importers to source high-quality green coffee. While they highlight specific origins and regions, they generally do not publish specific farm or producer names for their current offerings on their public website.
Notable coffees
— Ethiopia Galena Abaya
— Kenya Irati
— Ritual Blend
In the news
Recent news and media coverage about The Coffee Ethic, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.
The Coffee Ethic has expanded its local footprint by opening a new coffee shop and market on the first floor of the Heitz House residence hall at Missouri State University. This move marks a significant growth step for the Springfield-based brand within the university community.
The Coffee Ethic has opened a second location inside the Heitz House residence hall at Missouri State University. The expansion follows a February 2026 acquisition in which Jim Wilson purchased a 50% stake in the company.
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-24. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand emphasizes direct trade, I could not verify specific current farm-level partnerships or producer names on their public-facing website.
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