Mothership Coffee

Mothership Coffee Roasters was established in 2012 by CEO Juanny Romero, emerging from the foundation of Sunrise Coffee, an independent Las Vegas coffee shop founded in 2008. The company’s inception was driven by a desire to bring a higher tier of specialty coffee to the Las Vegas market, a region that at the time lacked a widespread specialty coffee culture. Romero, who co-founded the venture with Josh Walters, initially focused on mastering the technical craft of roasting in a garage setting before expanding into full-service retail operations in 2015.

The company operates as a woman-led and Latina-owned business, a core aspect of its identity that influences its operational philosophy. Mothership Coffee is recognized for its emphasis on sourcing, specifically prioritizing partnerships with women-owned farms. This commitment to supply chain transparency and social impact is central to their brand, which aims to support sustainable practices and foster economic opportunities for women and minorities within the coffee industry.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, the company has expanded to include multiple cafe locations across the Las Vegas Valley and Henderson, Nevada. Each location is designed to serve as a community hub, reflecting the founders' original vision of creating welcoming, neighborhood-centric spaces. The company’s growth has been marked by both local and national recognition, including being named the 'Best Coffeehouse in Las Vegas' in 2025 and hosting high-profile discussions on small business empowerment.

In practice, Mothership Coffee manages its own roasting operations, allowing for direct control over the flavor profiles and quality of its offerings. Their product range typically features a variety of single-origin coffees and espresso blends, often highlighting diverse processing methods and regional characteristics. The company utilizes its retail footprint to educate consumers on the nuances of specialty coffee, bridging the gap between the farm-level production and the final cup served to the customer.

Beyond its retail and roasting activities, the company maintains a strong focus on community engagement. This is evidenced by their involvement in local economic development and their public advocacy for women in business. By integrating these values into their business model, they have positioned themselves as a significant player in the Nevada specialty coffee scene, moving beyond simple product sales to foster a broader conversation about equity and sustainability in the coffee trade.

Today, Mothership Coffee stands as a testament to the growth of independent specialty coffee in non-traditional markets. By maintaining a consistent focus on quality, ethical sourcing, and community connection, the company has successfully scaled its operations while retaining the ethos of its early days. Their trajectory from a small, self-taught roasting project to a multi-site, award-winning organization highlights the evolving landscape of the American specialty coffee industry.