Our Story

The Ember began with a few volunteers wanting to invite people from the bar scene during the late hours of Friday and Saturday night into a sober space for genuine connection. People could wander in and receive a free cup of coffee, and listen to a local bands that would play in the space. Months later, the Ember was open during the day and serving a variety of specialty beverages and pastries. The idea was to provide outstanding coffee, and a friendly atmosphere to engage with and support the local creative community. After a near 3 year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with a fresh new paint job, the Ember is back and still eager to offer great coffee in a comfortable gathering space. To this day, we are still a non-profit, volunteer powered coffeehouse focused on serving the heart of downtown Grand Forks, and being a spark of positive change in our community.

Our Mission

We believe our purpose is to use coffee as a catalyst to positively impact our community.

Our Priorities

  • The best coffee

    The Ember serves specialty coffees from Backstory Coffee Roasters in Saint Paul, MN.

    All of our syrups, milk options and ingredients are specifically chosen for their distinguishable quality and potential to become a delicious hand-crafted beverage, made to order.

  • The greatest servers

    Our team of volunteers are dedicated to serving coffee with a greater purpose: to foster community and genuine relationships that impact people. We love our volunteers!

  • The biggest impact

    As a non-profit, our mission is to make a difference in the community. We do this by hosting community events, supporting local businesses, and providing a place for people to be together.

Who owns us?

The Ember is owned by Freedom Church, which is located just across the street on the corner of Demers Avenue and 3rd Street. Freedom Church is focused on making a positive impact in the Greater Grand Forks Area. The Ember is an example of one of the ways Freedom Church touches our community!