For Omar Yusuf, coffee is more than a morning ritual. It’s a family legacy three generations in the making.
Yusuf, owner of Baaloo Coffee Roasters at 2821 Bartlett Road, will celebrate the specialty coffeehouse’s official ribbon cutting on Thursday, October 22nd, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hosted by the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce, the ceremony invites the community to discover a neighborhood gathering place built around Ethiopian coffee traditions and carefully roasted beans.
Yusuf’s family farm is in Harar, a remote region of eastern Ethiopia where coffee cherries are harvested by hand and the beans are naturally sun-dried. His family eventually expanded from selling coffee to exporters to exporting their own beans through a company based in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. About 15 years ago, the family began exporting coffee to North America, and Yusuf became involved in the business.
Now, that legacy comes directly to Bartlett through Baaloo, a name drawn from a local Harar word for coffee leaf. In the region, farmers traditionally gather the vibrant leaves of coffee trees and steep them in hot water to make a tea-like drink. The leaves’ appearance is believed to offer a glimpse of the coming harvest.
The name reflects the connection between the land, its farmers, and the coffee they produce — a connection Yusuf hopes customers experience with every cup. “We provide an experience of coffee where the source is known,” Yusuf says. “When we use that term ‘farm to cup,’ we really mean that.”
Baaloo roasts its beans in-house, carefully testing small batches and adjusting roasting profiles to bring out the desired flavors. Alongside coffee from his family’s farm, Yusuf sources beans from other Ethiopian growing regions and countries including Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, and Indonesia.
Since its soft opening in August, Baaloo has received an enthusiastic response from Bartlett residents. Yusuf chose the location because he envisions the area developing into a lively town center, with restaurants, boutiques, and places for neighbors to gather.
Ultimately, he wants Baaloo to be more than a coffeehouse. Whether customers come to study, meet friends, or spend time with family, he hopes they find a welcoming community hub.
Baaloo Coffee Roasters Ribbon Cutting, Baaloo Coffee Roasters, 2821 Bartlett Road, Thursday, October 22, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
