The leaves have already begun to turn their magnificent shades, and the season of cozying up on the front porch with a good book, a blanket, and a nice warm cup of joe has finally arrived.
As Canadians, we are known for our coffee consumption. A 2010 survey of Canadian coffee drinkers shows that the delicious dark beverage is the morning choice for Canadian consumers, with nearly 55 percent of coffee consumed at breakfast time.
Here is some of the best-brewed coffee in the country. Has yours made the list?
Muskoka Roastery, Ontario
With a focus on sustainability, community involvement, and the environment, Muskoka Roastery is the first roaster in Canada to achieve 100% Rainforest Alliance certification. Located in Huntsville, the roastery offers its fine quality beans to retailers across Ontario, and online orders are available to the rest of the country. More info: www.muskokaroastery.com
Kicking Horse Coffee, British Columbia
Nestled at the bottom of the Rocky Mountains, Kicking Horse, an organic, fair trade coffee brewery, uses Japanese Hario Syphons with a mix of mountain water and coffee beans to churn out delicious roasts that come from the best coffee-growing mountains in the world. More info: www.kickinghorsecoffee.com
Coastal Coffee Company, Ontario
What started as a small-scale business run out of a green hippie van, Coastal Coffee, which is micro-roasted on Lake Huron, Ontario’s West Coast, is now available in farmers’ markets, local retailers, and restaurants all year round. More info: www.coastalcoffeecompany.ca
Just Us Coffee, Nova Scotia
With a mission to put “People and the Planet before Profits,” Just Us, based out of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, set out to become Canada’s first Fair Trade coffee roaster in 1995. Focusing on social justice for Latin America, they offer the coffee growers fair prices and in turn help push forward the local and international movement towards global justice. More info: http://www.justuscoffee.com
Laughing Whale, Nova Scotia
This East Coast eco-roaster uses a combination of traditional techniques and the low-emission, heat-recycling roasting technology to produce a delicious nuanced blend. Another organic, Fair Trade roaster, Laughing Whale focuses on the people and environment, rather than short-term profits. More info: www.laughingwhalecoffee.ca
Bean North Roasting, Yukon
Situated in the scenic Takhini Valley, northwest of Whitehorse, Bean North Coffee Roasting Company Ltd has been roasting certified organic fair trade coffee since 1997. The roastery offers fairly traded coffees from around the world, and their café has a special employee named Bear, a dog who serves as the shop’s greeter. More info: www.beannorth.com
Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters, Yukon
Yukoners love cycling and they love their coffee. This small, family owned and operated coffee roastery has been a Whitehorse community staple for more than 15 years. They are conveniently located inside of Icycle Sport, one of the best bicycle/ski shops in Whitehorse. Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters teamed up with Yukon Brewing to create the Midnight Sun Espresso Stout, a full, thick stout that has won several awards at the Canadian Brewing Awards and tastes delicious on ice cream. But not to worry, they take online orders for those outside of the province. More info: www.midnightsuncoffeeroasters.com
Salt Spring Coffee, British Columbia
Salt Spring Island marches to the beat of its own drum. This small island has a tight-knit community chock full of farmers’ markets, creativity, and entrepreneurs. Salt Spring Coffee is one of those innovators—a family of pioneers with a passion for roasting coffee, building partnerships with farmers, and putting people and the planet first to produce world-changing cups of coffee. More info: www.saltspringcoffee.com
Fratello Coffee Roasters, Alberta
With nearly 30 years of experience in the coffee business under their belt, Fratello Coffee Roasters, based in Calgary, are passionate about coffee culture in Western Canada. The roasters work directly with farmers in the world’s best coffee growing regions to produce ethically-sourced, quality product to their customers. More info: www.fratellocoffee.com
Jumping Bean Coffee, Newfoundland & Labrador
With a focus on sustainability and the environment, this East Coast roaster offers premium coffee that produces 85% less Co2 emissions during roasting, and they roast between 300,000 and 400,000 pounds of coffee a year. In addition to supplying local coffee shops, locally roasted coffee can be found at 118 stores coast to coast, and a number of big retailers, such as Target Canada and six Atlantic Costco stores. More info: www.jumpingbeancoffee.ca
