Helm Coffee Roasters

Helm Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company located in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded as a roastery-first business, the company operates a 1,800-square-foot facility that functions as both a production site and a public-facing cafe. The space is designed with an industrial aesthetic, featuring concrete floors and exposed rafters, balanced by a colorful, plant-filled environment intended to foster community connection and curiosity.

The company is notable for being a women-owned and LGBTQ+ business. Since its inception, Helm has positioned itself as a central hub for the local Indianapolis coffee scene, emphasizing the accessibility of specialty coffee. By operating its cafe on a limited schedule—typically Thursday through Sunday—the business maintains a primary focus on its roasting operations, ensuring that the coffee served by the glass or sold by the bag meets high quality standards.

Helm’s sourcing philosophy centers on selecting coffees from producers who demonstrate a mastery of their specific growing regions. The company curates a rotating selection of single-origin beans, with documented offerings from countries such as Colombia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Their approach is rooted in the belief that coffee should express the unique characteristics of its place of origin, a philosophy that guides their roasting profiles.

Beyond its local presence, Helm has gained recognition within the broader specialty coffee industry through competitive excellence. The company’s commitment to technical precision is highlighted by the achievements of its team, including roaster and leader Justin Bull, who placed 6th at the World Brewers Cup in 2025. This achievement serves as a benchmark for the company's dedication to craft and brewing standards.

The roastery utilizes a Mill City Roasters machine to process its green coffee inventory. By maintaining an in-house roasting facility, Helm retains direct control over the development of its flavor profiles, which range from traditional profiles to more nuanced, fruit-forward selections. This production-focused model allows the company to maintain consistency while experimenting with different processing methods, including Swiss Water Decaf options.

In practice, Helm functions as a community-oriented space that integrates production with hospitality. The cafe serves as a venue for engagement, utilizing its layout to encourage both individual work and group interaction. By balancing the technical demands of high-level roasting with an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere, the company has established itself as a significant contributor to the Indianapolis specialty coffee landscape.

Today, Helm Coffee Roasters continues to operate from its Shelby Street location, maintaining its reputation for quality and community advocacy. Its story reflects a modern approach to the roasting business, where technical expertise in coffee preparation is paired with a commitment to identity-driven business practices and local neighborhood development.