Ground Floor Coffee is a student-run third space coffee shop at John Brown University, created for community, connection, and exceptional coffee. What began in 2017 as a basement project by student founder Nate Wertjes has grown into a campus staple. Nate built the original space by hand and opened the shop with a mission to bring quality specialty coffee to JBU.

Today, Ground Floor remains entirely student operated, from budgeting and ordering to marketing and drink creation, giving students real-world leadership experience while serving the campus and local community. In spring 2026, Ground Floor moved to a more central campus location, continuing to elevate the student coffee experience by proudly serving world-class Onyx Coffee Lab beans, widely recognized among the best coffee in the world, making top-tier specialty coffee accessible right on campus.

The shop also features products from Pink House Alchemy, Siloam Syrups, Kyya Chocolate, and Neighborhood Mill, blending global quality with local partnerships. Ground Floor is more than coffee, it's JBU's student-powered third space.