Doubting Thomas Coffee & Cafe, located within the Cross America Community Center, aims to be a gathering place for anyone to rest, restore, and savor the amazing aroma and taste of a good cup of coffee.
“The cafe team that works here is integral to what we do,” says Crystal Sanburn, executive director of Cross America. “We strive to deliver excellent craft coffee, food and homemade goodies. Our guests can grab their food or drink, take a seat at the bar or in the cross assembly room, and enjoy the warm atmosphere.”
“It’s hard to talk about the cafe without mentioning Cross America, a nondenominational nonprofit organization with a huge goal of spreading the Gospel to every home in America,” Sanburn adds. The Cross America Community Center was founded by Terry and Nieta Merrell in March of 2018, and Doubting Thomas was opened the same month.
Since opening, Doubting Thomas (the name comes from the story in the biblical Gospel of John) has prided itself on offering premium coffee – but not without challenges.
“It took us a while to establish a customer base that appreciates premium craft coffee,” says Mona White, cafe director. “We use premium coffee from excellent roasters right here in Indiana. Tinker Coffee and Indie Coffee Roasters are our main resources.”
Additionally, customers occasionally overlook Doubting Thomas, thinking the community center is a church because of the signage and three large crosses that adorn the building. However, Sanburn and White emphasize that the cafe also has a drive-through, and that both are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The cafe is closed on Sunday.
Customers can find more than coffee at Doubting Thomas, and may even see White making large cinnamon rolls that give off an aroma upon entering the cafe.
“We’re known for our sweet and savory waffles and our homemade cinnamon rolls – items that pair great with a cup of coffee,” White says. “We also offer sandwiches, wraps and salads, all made fresh daily, along with bagels, breakfast sandwiches and fruit smoothies.”
The cafe also offers a daily soup and a grab-and-go cooler for those in a hurry.
“Some of the soups are made from family recipes, and the pies and rolls are made locally,” White says. “We also sell breads and desserts, and our maple cinnamon rolls, slightly different from the ones we make, are from the Plevna Country Market.”
While customers wait for their coffee, wrap, soup, salad, waffle or freshly baked cinnamon roll, they can enjoy the gift shop that fronts the cafe.
“There is no longer a Christian bookstore in Kokomo, so we are filling that gap and carrying Bibles, some books, inspirational cards, jewelry and gifts,” Sanburn says. “It’s our goal to bring in unique, out-of-the-ordinary items to sell. In the end, just like the cafe, all the proceeds from anything we sell in the shop go towards the ministry and mission of Cross America. It’s turning into a really fun shop for us to provide for our community.”
Ultimately, the biggest reward in operating Doubting Thomas is the community.
“The community of people that frequent the building and cafe is so caring, and some come in every day,” White says. “We really enjoy serving them excellent craft or specialized coffee.”
Doubting Thomas is located at 840 Daniel Drive in Kokomo. You can reach the cafe at 765-780-3094. Visit them on Instagram and Facebook @doubtingthomascoffee.
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