Regarding coffee, Penticton's local roasters are bringing much more than just fresh beans. They're redefining what it means to enjoy coffee, emphasizing quality, sustainability, and community. This piece explores the standout roasters in Penticton, their unique roasting processes, and where you can get their beans.
The Importance of Local Coffee Roasters
Coffee is at its best when fresh, and local roasting ensures that the beans you brew are as fresh as possible. Penticton's coffee roasters take this seriously, carefully selecting beans and roasting them in small batches to maintain peak flavour. Unlike mass-produced coffee, which can sit on store shelves for weeks or months, locally roasted coffee is often available within days of roasting.
Local roasters also play a crucial role in supporting the community. By sourcing beans directly from farmers and focusing on fair trade practices, they contribute to a more sustainable coffee industry. This commitment to ethical sourcing benefits the farmers and ensures you get high-quality beans handled carefully from farm to cup.
The Beanery Coffee Co.
The Beanery Coffee Co. is a staple in Penticton's coffee scene, known both for their excellent coffee but also for their strong ties to the community. This roaster takes a sustainable approach to coffee, emphasizing fair trade and organic beans. Their roasting process is designed to balance the natural flavours of the coffee, creating a well-rounded cup that appeals to a wide range of palates.
If you prefer a medium roast with a smooth finish or a dark roast with bold flavours, The Beanery has something to offer. Their coffee shop is a popular spot, offering freshly brewed coffee alongside bags of beans for those who want to enjoy their coffee at home. You can also find their products at local grocery stores or purchase them online for convenience.
Wayne & Freda
Wayne and Freda Coffee Shop in Penticton was born from a unique and heartwarming family connection. Owners Ryan and Jen met in 2003, and as their relationship developed, they discovered that Ryan's grandfather, Wayne, and Jen's grandmother, Freda, were living in the same care home in the Okanagan. The two grandparents quickly became friends, bonding over conversations about their grandchildren during coffee chats. Inspired by the connection between Wayne and Freda, Ryan and Jen created a coffee shop that embodies the same sense of community, connection, and warmth. Wayne and Freda Coffee Shop was established to offer great food, excellent coffee, and a welcoming space where people can come together and enjoy meaningful moments.
The coffee they serve is as carefully chosen as their created atmosphere. They use Milagro El Crucero, a distinguished coffee from Guatemala, produced by Juan Villatoro and his family in the Hoja Blanca region of Huehuetenango. This medium roast coffee, made from the Red Bourbon cultivar, is known for its exceptional quality, with tasting notes of peach, caramel, and tangerine. The beans are cultivated at elevations between 1800 and 2050 metres above sea level, benefiting from ideal conditions, including the perfect balance of sun, shade, and rainfall.
This particular coffee has been recognized multiple times in competitions, reflecting the Villatoro family's three generations of dedication to producing some of the finest coffees in Guatemala. Wayne and Freda's choice to serve this coffee underscores their commitment to offering their customers both a drink and an experience of exceptional flavour and quality.
One 14 Coffee
One14 Coffee Co. was founded by two local women, Katie and Laura, who initially started an event venture called Ellie Wylde Design Co. at the Cannery Trade Centre in midtown Penticton. Their passion for creating joyful, community-oriented spaces led them to envision a more permanent establishment where locals could gather, unwind, and enjoy high-quality coffee and food. This vision materialized with the creation of One14 Coffee Co., which quickly became a local favourite for its unique ambiance, freshly baked goods, and commitment to community support.
They are serious about delivering the perfect cup of coffee, starting with their carefully sourced beans. The café's beans come from The Local Chemist, Dan Connelly, a seasoned roaster based in Kelowna. Dan's "8 track" blend is a medium to dark roast offering rich, indulgent black forest chocolate cake notes. These beans are roasted using a 100% electric, zero-emission roaster, reflecting One14 Coffee's commitment to sustainability.
The café also provides Dan's lighter roast, "Bars," for those who prefer a more delicate flavour. One14 Coffee values direct trade, ensuring that their beans are sourced ethically and that farmers are fairly compensated. This meticulous approach to sourcing and preparing ensures that every cup served at One14 Coffee is ethically sourced and perfectly brewed.
Backyard Beans Coffee Co.
Backyard Beans Coffee is a family-run business based in Summerland, dedicated to roasting small-batch coffee since 2003. Operating out of a backyard roasting barn, the company stays true to its roots by keeping everything hands-on, using an antique, fully manual 12kg Probat roaster for each batch. Backyard Beans is committed to quality and ethical sourcing, using the highest grade of organic beans worldwide.
Most of their beans are certified organic, UTZ certified, or Rainforest Alliance certified, ensuring they are "farmer friendly." Even the few exceptions—Cuban, Brazilian, and Burundi beans—are grown organically. This approach reflects the family's mission to stay small, maintain personal attention to detail, and support sustainable, ethical coffee farming practices.
Backyard Beans Coffee in Summerland offers a variety of high-quality, small-batch roasted coffees from around the world. Their selection includes beans from regions such as Cuba, Brazil, and Burundi and certified organic options from other global sources. The coffee is roasted in their backyard barn using an antique, manual 12kg Probat roaster, ensuring each batch receives the utmost care and attention. This dedication results in flavourful and ethically sourced coffee that reflects their commitment to sustainability and quality.
The Roasting Process: From Green Bean to Brew
Roasting coffee is both an art and a science. It starts with green beans, carefully selected based on their origin, flavour profile, and quality. In Penticton, local roasters take great care in choosing beans that will shine after roasting. Once the beans are selected, they are roasted in small batches, which allows the roaster to control every aspect of the process.
The roasting process involves heating the beans to specific temperatures, which causes them to undergo a series of chemical changes. These changes develop the flavours, acidity, and body of the coffee. Light roasts are typically more acidic with brighter flavours, while darker roasts have richer profiles. Each roaster in Penticton has its approach, whether a slow roast to bring out sweetness or a fast roast for a more intense flavour.
Where to Buy Penticton-Roasted Coffee Beans
Penticton offers plenty of options if you want to purchase locally roasted beans. Many local roasters sell their beans directly through their cafés or online, making stocking up on fresh coffee easy. For those who prefer to shop in person, local grocery stores often carry beans from these roasters, ensuring you can find them close to home.
When choosing beans, consider what kind of coffee you enjoy. Light roasts are great for pour-over methods highlighting subtle flavours, while darker roasts are ideal for espresso or French press brewing. Experimenting with different roasts and origins is part of the fun, and Penticton's roasters offer plenty of variety to keep things interesting.
Brewing the Perfect Cup at Home
Once you have your beans, brewing the perfect cup at home is all about technique. Start by grinding your beans just before brewing to preserve their freshness. The grind size will depend on your brewing method—coarse for French press, medium for drip, and fine for espresso.
Water temperature is another key factor; it should be below boiling, around 90-96°C. The coffee-to-water ratio is essential, too, with a general guideline of one to two tablespoons of coffee per 180 ml of water. Adjust this based on your taste preference and the coffee you're brewing. Finally, pay attention to brewing time, as over-extraction can lead to bitterness while under-extraction can weaken the coffee taste.
Supporting the Local Coffee Culture
Buying coffee from local roasters isn't just about enjoying a great cup—it's also about supporting the community. Local roasters are often involved in community events and initiatives, from supporting local farmers to participating in fundraisers. By buying locally, you're helping these small businesses thrive, contributing to a vibrant, sustainable community.
Local coffee roasters also help build a coffee culture that values quality and sustainability. Their commitment to ethically sourced beans and environmentally friendly practices sets a standard that benefits everyone, from the farmers who grow the coffee to the consumers who enjoy it. By supporting local roasters, you're helping to ensure that this culture continues to grow and flourish.
Conclusion
Penticton's coffee roasters are doing more than just producing great coffee—they're shaping the city's coffee culture and supporting the community in meaningful ways. Visit their cafés, try their beans, and experience the difference that fresh, locally roasted coffee can make.
