A taste of home

Jogas Espresso Café is a delightful eatery and coffee bar with a twist

The Soviskovs have built Jogas into a thriving business. —

Photo courtesy Roger and Donna Soviskov

If you plan to be in Grand Forks, make a stop at Jogas Espresso Café. You will be treated to an enticing combination of mouth-watering food, specialty coffee and a hospitable atmosphere. A family-run business in every sense of the word, Jogas was taken over in 2009 by husband-and-wife team Roger and Donna Soviskov, after the closure of Roger's former workplace, Canpar, forced him to change his career path. Despite the challenge that comes with pursuing a new venture, the Soviskovs have worked hard to make their café into a local favourite.

"The biggest challenge has been keeping our prices competitive and our product unique," said Donna. "Another challenge for Roger was switching careers, when one of the biggest employers in Grand Forks shut their doors. Roger started out in the restaurant business years before as a wee lad, washing dishes and working his way up to head cook at a local restaurant."

Jogas has attracted a range of clientele with their friendly service and crowd-pleasing coffee choices, such as the turtle mocha, chai latte, espresso shake and mocha frappe. Donna keeps the food menu fresh with new recipes and daily lunch specials, as well as new bakery items on a regular basis. A complete all-day breakfast is also available, and of course Baba Lucy (Roger's mother) cooks up a beautifully prepared Russian borscht, which is justifiably famous.

Built on a solid foundation

The Soviskovs are proud of their community, and the staff that make their business run smoothly.

"Grand Forks is in a beautiful valley, with a rich heritage and friendly people," said Donna. "We have sponsored Grand Forks' local sports teams, and this last Christmas we challenged the local businesses to fill the hamper for the Grand Forks Christmas hamper program. We are (also) very proud and grateful for our staff. They are friendly, courteous and hard working."

The café is always undergoing new and exciting improvements, the latest upgrade being the addition of an m39 Cimbali espresso machine. They also plan to add a patio and start serving soft ice cream in the near future. But the biggest perk of going to Jogas is the comfort you feel when you enter its doors.

"Our customers say they love coming into Jogas," said Donna, "because they feel like they are at home."