At 17, Nathan Hamood developed his love for coffee roasting into a full-blown coffee shop business.

“Coffee roasting is my passion in terms of all the facets: from getting new coffee from new farms, to brewing it, to talking to customers,” Hamood said.

Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters opened on the corner of Main Street in Rochester Hills about four years ago. Though the shop was more focused on dessert and music, its initial stages were where Nathan Hamood’s dedication to coffee and coffee roasting developed.

After extensive research, he convinced his dad to invest in a $600 roaster and began roasting in-house. With a steady growth in business, Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters was able to upgrade to a bigger and more time efficient roaster soon after.

The coffee shop moved to a larger location on South Main Street last January. Dessert Oasis has developed its theme into a contemporary with a slight vintage background. The building itself is more than 100 years old, with exposed brick walls and wooden floors, according to Hamood.

“The atmosphere at Dessert Oasis is definitely something that keeps me wanting to go back,” customer Olivia Lizadek said. “After that, the quality and rich flavor of their coffees.”

The brick walls are refreshed with local artwork each month, local musicians play live every night and all coffee beans are locally roasted.

Whether it’s art, music or coffee, Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters is known for cultivating beauty through local talent.

“I don’t think (I’d relocate),”  Hamood said. “I love Michigan and the Rochester area. I especially enjoy the fact that there’s a developing coffee culture in the Metro Detroit area.”

Coffees are imported from farms around the world, including Organic Columbia Valle de Cauca Finca Potosi, Kona Greenwell Farm, Tanzania Mbeya Mshikamano, El Salvador Finca Nazareth, Costa Rica Tarrazu Rio Jorco Microlot #10, Rwanda Kigeyo SACOF and Guatemala Santa Rosa Finca Santa Ana.

In addition to imported coffees and desserts, cappuccinos, mochas, lattes, frappuccinos, signature hot cocoas, fruit smoothies, sandwiches and flatbreads are also on the menu.

“What makes our coffee unique is our attention to detail,” Hamood said. “Through importers, we work with small farms that produce great quality. We roast in small batches, paying attention to how each coffee should be roasted, and how we brew it as well. Every coffee is brewed by the hand, with the pour-over technique, which allows you to be in more control of the process.”

Hours are Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. — 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. — midnight, and Sunday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

For more information about Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters, visit

www.dessertoasiscoffee.com