Brewing Business: Meet Ben Marsh
Watch Episode 33 of
The Max Loves Midland Show
Out this Wednesday 03/04/26!
Ben Marsh, In His Own Words:
“Hi, I’m Ben Marsh, and I’m one of the Owners of Creation Coffee.
Creation is almost 10 years old, and that still feels unreal to say out loud. What started as a curiosity between my business partner, Jacob Spence, and me has grown into a roastery, multiple café locations, and a company that quietly supports a whole lot of other businesses across Michigan. But the truth is, this was never a perfectly mapped out dream. It began, as many meaningful things do, with a simple moment that changed your perspective.
For me, it was my brother’s roommate making me a pour-over coffee in college. I was a Keurig guy. I drank coffee to stay awake, not because I loved it. I was trying to drink it black just to be cool, even though I didn’t really like it. Then I tasted coffee made with intention, and I remember thinking, “What is this? This doesn’t taste like what I thought coffee was supposed to.” Jacob had a similar experience around the same time, and we started doing what curious people do. We started reading, learning, and looking for fresh-roasted coffee.
At that time, there wasn’t really anyone roasting coffee here in Midland. We were buying bags from other places in Michigan, but it was expensive for a college budget. That led us to the idea of roasting coffee ourselves, which led us to the most Midland beginning imaginable. We found a specific old popcorn popper at a Goodwill on Saginaw Road for two dollars. We bought five pounds of green coffee online and started roasting in a garage. It was never a big business idea. We just wanted good coffee we could afford and wanted to share it with people.
That instinct to share has always been part of who I am. Even as a kid, I loved getting people together around something fun. I helped run a wiffle ball tournament back in the day that turned into a whole production, with sponsors, an opening ceremony, social media pages, and more. Some people might call that doing too much. To me, that’s just caring. If I’m going to do something, I want to do it well.
I’m a third-generation Midlander. My grandpa was part of one of the early graduating classes at Midland High and later became a teacher and athletic director there. My dad is from Midland, too. Our family did move away for a bit while my dad was in grad school, so I was born in Massachusetts, but we moved back when I was between kindergarten and first grade. Midland is the place that raised me.
Like a lot of Midland kids, I went through the phase where I thought this town was boring and I couldn’t wait to leave. I studied advertising and imagined myself in bigger cities and bigger industries. I spent time in places like New York City, Richmond, Virginia, and LA. Then I moved back to Midland, thinking it would be temporary. A reset. A chance to figure out what was next.
But Midland changes when you come home with new eyes, especially when you start building a life here. I’m married now, and I have a son. I see the value in things I didn’t appreciate when I was younger. I think about how safe it felt to ride bikes across town, how connected our sidewalks are, and how easy it is actually to live a whole life here. It really is what you make of it.
Creation became a business the same way it became a community staple—one relationship at a time. Our first sales were at the Midland Area Farmers' market. Our first commercial account was LaLonde’s Market, a neighborhood store I grew up with. Journeys Coffee House took a chance on us early, too. We still work with these entities, and that matters to me. Economic development isn’t always about flashy announcements. Sometimes it’s about trust, consistency, and showing up.
Today, our wholesale roastery remains the core, and we support a large network of partners. We also sell and service commercial coffee equipment and supplies, the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that helps other cafés and restaurants succeed. Then we opened café locations, almost as an afterthought at first, and now there are four. We’ve even stepped into franchising.
But the part I’m proudest of is the people. Talent development and retention are one of the coolest parts of this journey. Creating jobs is an unbelievable gift. Whether it’s a meaningful part-time job for someone in school or a whole career path in coffee, I love that we can create opportunity right here in Midland. I want people to feel proud of their work and supported in their growth.
My hope for Midland is that we keep building a community where people want to stay. I want our local food, beverage, and hospitality scene to keep growing into lasting institutions, not just new spots, but places that define the city and make life feel vibrant. I want Midland to be known as a place where you can build something real, where quality matters, and where people take care of each other. That’s the future I’m dreaming about, and I’m grateful Creation Coffee gets to be part of it.”
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?