More Than a Cup of Joe

Salvation Coffee Company. (Photo by Catherine Nester)

“We’d be freezing cold with snow up to our knees, and my roommate Levine, a shoe salesman from Chicago, would have a wooden case and a battery-powered coffee grinder,” Jim Young said. This was the first time he knew coffee could taste good. It was the 80s, and he was a 17-year-old stationed in Germany. Young served in the infantry unit for the United States military.

During his service, Young had the opportunity to visit stereotypical European towns. Whenever he had the chance, he would be at the café sipping on espresso. In addition to the delicious coffee, he loved the environment where strangers were able to come together and mingle over a common treat.

When Young finished his service, he started an electronics business called Ear Candy. About 34 years later, he took to roasting his own coffee as a side hustle. One thing led to another, and he eventually decided to open his own shop in August of 2018.

Raised by his mother, a U.S. marine, he had the mindset that if he wanted something, he had to work for it. With the help of his wife Karry and two daughters, Young curated the aesthetically pleasing interior of the shop and the menu of unique drinks. The salvaging and repurposing of the interior decorations ultimately gave Salvation Coffee its name.

So far, Young said business has been good. He said he loves that he has created a place that welcomes people from all walks of life to come together and share a cup of coffee. Salvation offers any kind of coffee you can think of, made with ethically sourced, in-house roasted beans. Young typically prefers his coffee black, but he also enjoys either the Americano with oat milk or the Velvet Bliss tea.