Our Story
Grounds for a Better World, formerly known as Espresso Coffee, is a coffee shop with a cause that offers a variety of drinks to please everyone’s taste buds. Owners Dave and Jill Helgerson, Midland residents for the past 20 years, purchased Espresso Coffee in 2009 with an idea to promote change by spreading awareness of the needs of children around the world, while providing customers with award-winning delectable coffee.
Since then, Grounds for a Better World has continued to make an impact in the community and abroad by donating 50 percent of after-tax profits to local and global non-profit organizations who are dedicated to helping children. Since opening in 2010, Grounds has donated more than $150,000 to non-profit organizations.
Grounds has also kept its promise to deliver award-winning coffee and was voted “Midland’s Best Cup of Coffee,” as well as “Midland’s Best Locally Owned Business” and “Most Friendly Employees” in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Grounds offers espresso-based drinks including mochas and Americanos, as well as teas, smoothies and hot chocolate. Grounds also serves homemade sweets such as muffins, scones and cookies that are baked fresh daily.
From a cup of coffee and an idea, Grounds for a Better World was created and continues to grow, striving to help fulfill the needs of children around the world.
For more information about the organizations that benefit from Grounds, click here.
Timeline Dates
September 2009- Espresso Coffee becomes Grounds for a Better World
May 2010
- Grounds for a Better World hosts a grand re-opening
- Introduced 10 new brew coffee varieties
September 2010
- Grounds celebrates one-year anniversary
- Introduced new low carb frappes
- Grounds is voted “Midland’s Best Cup of Coffee,” “Midland’s Best Locally Owned Business,” and “Most Friendly Employees”
- New Location in Dow 2020 Corporate Center
- New healthy choices introduced
- New high protein drink options introduced
June 2011
- Café Zinc exclusively sells Grounds coffee
September 2011
- Grounds is voted “Midland’s Best Cup of Coffee,” “Midland’s Best Locally Owned Business,” and “Most Friendly Employees”
