When customers step into Illumine Coffee Company, they’re greeted by a flood of sunlight streaming through the storefront windows, casting a warm glow across the cafe’s white and teal interior.
The brightness doesn’t just illuminate the space — it’s also a reflection of the coffee shop’s mission to be a beacon of kindness in the world. Behind the counter, a vibrant yellow sign declares, “be a light,” a motto co-owner Kent Phillips lives by.
As Kent pulls shots of espresso and steams milk, he strives to make every customer feel like they’re more than a transaction. He takes the time to get to know their name and their story, so they feel seen and heard among life’s hustle and bustle.
“We recently had a review of the café that said when they come in, it’s like an exhale,” Kent says. “That warms my heart because that’s the goal.”
Tyler Mason Salon & Spa appreciates how Illumine Coffee Company fosters genuine connections and spreads a little light, one cup at a time. That’s why we proudly partner with Illumine and brew its coffee to offer to our guests.
Kent was first introduced to specialty roasted coffee while he and his wife, Anna, were living in Los Angeles. While he was enjoying high-quality coffee, his wallet wasn’t, so he started roasting his own coffee beans on a converted popcorn popper.
When he and Anna moved to Indianapolis in 2014 to be closer to her family, he continued roasting coffee at home. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the Phillips reflected on what was truly important in their lives and what they wanted to be doing. They decided to pursue their lifelong dream of starting a small business, so they drove nearly 11 hours to Oklahoma City to buy a large commercial coffee roaster.
After Kent learned how to transfer his skills from roasting small batches to a commercial roaster, the Phillips went live with Illumine Coffee Company in summer 2021, selling their specialty roasted beans at farmers markets and to wholesale partners.
Illumine Coffee Company sells both light and dark roast coffee, from its bright and sweet Kenya AA blend to its aromatic, full-bodied Costa Rica Tarrazu La Pastora blend. Tyler Mason is currently brewing Illumine Coffee Company’s Brazil Fazenda Do Salto blend, a dark roast with caramel, hazelnut and brown sugar notes.
In February 2022, the Phillips expanded their company with a brick-and-mortar location in Nora, a community on Indianapolis’ far northside. They opened their second location in the heart of downtown Indianapolis in September 2024. Even after more than a decade roasting coffee and a year owning their café, Kent feels like he’s “drinking through a fire hose and learning things every day,” he says. He’s refining how to better prioritize his responsibilities and communicate his vision to new team members.
“We can train the barista skills, and we can work on coffee knowledge — it’s harder to train those instincts of being compassionate and empathetic,” Kent says. “We love people and coffee in that order. We don’t want our focus to be so much on coffee that we alienate people when they come in.”
The Phillips are deeply committed to supporting their community through donations and partnerships, focusing particularly on issues related to homelessness and foster care. For example, they’ve supported For Others, a national nonprofit who collaborates with local organizations to help more than 7 million children in the welfare system and nearly 400,000 in foster care.
All of Illumine Coffee Company’s merchandise, from its hats to stickers, is printed at Refresh Collective, a print shop in Cincinnati who employs women and teens in recovery from addiction, trafficking and trauma.
“A big part of [our passion] is our faith,” Kent says. “We believe we are called to bring light to the world through kind and caring everyday interactions. Life is hard. A lot of people have difficult situations and instances in their life. If we can take something as simple as coffee and do that with the focus of bringing a little more light to people’s lives, I think in a small way we can make a difference.”
Illumine Coffee Company has two cafes at 11 S. Meridian St. and 8517 Westfield Road, open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about Illumine Coffee Company, visit its website or social media @illuminecoffee.
Nicole Thomas is the marketing manager for Tyler Mason Salon & Spa. She is also a passionate writer and digital marketer for several Indiana-based publications. When she isn’t at TM, she loves cozying up with a book and cup of coffee or crocheting a new cardigan for her wardrobe.