Kootenay coffee roasters help you get your buzz on for National Coffee Day

Kootenay coffee roasters and producers are passionate about the perfect cup of coffee

by Julie Matchett — September 22, 2023

A recent addition to Kimberley's Northstar Roasting Company is a mobile coffee concession trailer. Look out for it at local events. — Photo courtesy Northstar Roasting Company

Coffee lovers rejoice! September 29 marks National Coffee Day in Canada, so it’s a perfect time to hit up your favourite java spot (like we needed a reason to do that, right?). In honour of this buzz-worthy day, here’s some fun facts about coffee:

Coffee is the second-most traded commodity in the world, second only to oil.
Coffee beans are actually the pit of a berry, which makes them a fruit.
Scientists have successfully turned ground coffee into biodiesel, so one day coffee may be fuelling your car.
Bio-Bean, a UK-based company, collects coffee grounds and recycles them into compact fire logs, used as a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative heat source.

Canada has the distinction of being the only non-European country to rank on the list of Top 10 Coffee Consuming Countries. Here in our little corner of the world, there’s no shortage of places to grab a cup of our favourite beverage. There’s also no shortage of dedicated coffee roasters who strive to create the perfect cup of coffee for us to appreciate.

Check out this list of coffee roasters and producers from across the Kootenays:

East Kootenay

Coffee roasters in Cranbrook

Kootenay Roasting Company: Established in 1999, the Kootenay Roasting Company has a cute little storefront on Baker Street in downtown Cranbrook, with cozy lounge seating and a small sidewalk patio in the warmer months. Sit back and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. Coffee beans are roasted daily on the premises to ensure quality and freshness.

Where to buy: Whole and ground coffee bean blends can be bought on site at the Kootenay Roasting Company, located at 903 Baker Street in downtown Cranbrook. Their coffee blends can also be purchased online via their website.

Ilana Cameron standing at coffee roaster, holding beans in palm of her hand.

Coffee roasters in Creston

Lark Coffee Roasters: One special cup of coffee and a desire to bring that taste to her hometown led owner Ilana Cameron to open Lark Coffee Roasters in Creston. The business may be a small-batch roastery but has scooped up some big kudos, including being named the Best Home-Based Business at the 2021 Creston Valley Business Excellence Awards.

Where to buy: Lark Coffee Roasters is located at 237 - 11th Avenue North in Creston. Their current hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or open by appointment. Freshly roasted coffee can be purchased directly from the roasting studio, as well as brewing equipment and gifts. Products are also available online through the Lark Coffee Roasters website or at retailers in Creston at retailers in Creston, throughout the East and West Kootenay and beyond.

Coffee roasters in Fernie

Rooftop Coffee Roasters: Rooftop Coffee Roasters celebrated a milestone in 2023, officially marking their seventh year serving up the best buzz-worthy blends to the coffee community in Fernie. It’s the fellow coffee nerds, the roasters, the baristas and the people they meet at festivals and farmers markets who inspire them every day. KootenayBiz chatted with Keegan Street, the twenty-something-year-old co-owner of the business—read the story here.

Where to buy: Rooftop Coffee Roasters is located at 492A - 2nd Avenue in Fernie. In a rush? Order ahead of time and pick up at the cafe. You can purchase single origin, blends and limited edition releases in-person and online through their website. While you’re there, sign up for a Rooftop Subscription box filled with goodies (and coffee, of course!) or a release of their cool “Beats & Beans” box—their tribute to coffee and great Canadian independent music artists.

Close-up of bags of Fernie Roasting Company beans.

Fernie Roasting Company: From their start roasting coffee beans in a cast iron skillet on their back deck to a mobile coffee roasting facility, the Fernie Roasting Company has come a long way in a short time. Started in early 2020, the focus of this up-and-coming business continues to be growing their customer base with their sustainably-sourced and packaged coffee blends. The best way to keep in touch with the company is through their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Where to buy: Fernie Roasting Company beans can be purchased directly from their website. Also, look out for their products at retailers across the Kootenay and Elk Valley regions.

Coffee roasters in Invermere

Kicking Horse Coffee: Consistently voted year-after-year as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada, Kicking Horse Coffee is a homegrown success story. They’re all about having fun and not taking themselves too seriously. They make serious coffee though—the company is Canada’s #1 best-selling whole bean coffee brand.

Where to buy: Selling organic, fair-trade ground and whole coffee beans with quirky monikers from their Invermere-based cafe, the brand is also found in grocery stores and cafes across Canada and the U.S. They are also partners with many well-known online stores, such as Amazon, Walmart, Well.ca and London Drugs. Visit the Kicking Horse Coffee website to find a location near you.

Stolen Church Coffee Co.: By roasting premium, ethically-sourced coffee beans from around the world in micro-sized batches, the Stolen Church Coffee Co. ensures the ultimate in freshness and taste. Their focus is on unique single origin and limited blends of coffees. A locally-owned and family-run business since 2004, the cafe also specializes in homemade sorbets and gelatos, house-made soups and sandwiches.

Where to buy: Stolen Church Gelato & Coffee is located at 1045 - 7th Avenue, Invermere. Their distinctive kraft-paper bagged coffee blends can also be found at local retailers and grocery stores in the Kootenays, as well as online through their website.

Coffee roasters in Kimberley

Chaos Coffee Roasters: Locally-made, hand-crafted coffee with heart, created using single-origin beans in small batches. Chaos Coffee is roasted fresh in the mountains and strives to bring you the best flavours possible, full of aroma and taste.

Where to buy: Chaos Coffee Roasters currently sells their products at local farmers markets in Kimberley, Cranbrook and Fernie.

Interior of Kickturn Coffee in Kimberley, showing roomy area painted a bright white and modern furniture.

Kickturn Coffee Roasters: Kickturn Coffee is a small-batch roastery and micro-sized espresso coffee bar that recently celebrated their first year anniversary. Their colourful, eye-catching logo pays homage to Kimberley’s ski-town roots. Stop in at their modern, new location for a freshly-baked croissant and equally-fresh cup of coffee.

Where to buy: Kickturn Coffee Roasters is located at 253 Wallinger Avenue in Kimberley. Their blends can be found in-store at their coffee bar and also at Stoke Market in Kimberley.

Northstar Roasting Company: Looking for “damn good coffee”? Look no further than Northstar Roasting Company. With names like “Chapman Camp” and “Townsite Blend” given to his signature creations, owner Brian Conn tips a hat to his community of Kimberley. Keep an eye out for the new mobile coffee concession trailer out at local community events!

Where to buy: Northstar Roasting Company’s blends are available through select retailers in Kimberley and beyond. Look for their distinctive tent and mobile concession trailer, set up at local events around the region.

West Kootenay

Coffee roasters in Kaslo

Kaslo Bean Roasting: For serious coffee lovers, it’s a natural progression to go from simply drinking coffee to roasting your own beans and developing specific flavours you enjoy. This is how family-owned and -operated Kaslo Bean Roasting came to be—a simple love of great coffee and the desire to share that enjoyment with others.

Where to buy: Whole beans are available to order online from Kaslo Bean Company’s website. You can also buy their products from select retailers in Kaslo and Nelson.

Picture of part of Oso Negro building showing sign, with tree branches in photo.

Coffee roasters in Nelson

No 6 Coffee Co.: The No 6 Coffee Co. is a modern, yet laid-back, boutique coffee-roasting company focused on an educational approach to java appreciation. This isn’t your traditional cafe experience! Everyone has their own unique flavour preferences when it comes to coffee—the tasting bar at the No 6 Coffee Co. helps you to discover what makes the perfect cup of coffee for you.

Where to buy: Limited release, single origins, blends and even sample sets are available at the No. 6 Coffee Co. storefront, located at 511 Front Street in Nelson. You can also buy unroasted beans, coffee equipment and cool swag online through their website.

Oso Negro Coffee: Lovingly crafted coffee blends created with an artistic sensibility and an artisan’s hand is at the heart of Oso Negro Coffee in Nelson. Using a vintage 1954 Probat coffee roaster, beans are roasted five days a week to the highest quality standards. A coffee aficionado’s dream, there are over 20 different blends to choose from. There’s a healthy assortment of food options, and the beautifully landscaped outdoor patio and garden is the perfect place to gather some Nelson vibes.

Where to buy: The Oso Negro Cafe is located at 604 Ward Street in Nelson. Blends can be purchased online and are available at select retailers across B.C. The company is proud to announce new environmentally-friendly coffee bags which are 60 per cent compostable and will keep coffee fresh for 10 weeks.

Line-up of Stoke Roasted Coffee Co. bags.

Coffee roasters in Revelstoke

Stoke Roasted Coffee Company: Making a positive impact is what drives the Stoke Roasted Coffee Company. From using biodegradable packaging to ensuring that their coffee beans are certified organic and fair trade, their goal is harm reduction . . . and, of course, a great cup of coffee. The company is celebrating 15 years of bringing the best coffee beans to the community of Revelstoke.

Where to buy: Stoke Roasted Coffee is sold and served at select retailers and dining establishments across B.C. and Alberta. You can also find them at the local farmers markets in Revelstoke.

Coffee roasters in Rossland

Seven Summits Coffee Company: A passion for great coffee led to the creation of the Seven Summits Coffee Company back in 2010. A hip little spot, the cafe features unique blends of small-batch, freshly-roasted coffee, Nitro Cold brew and local baked goods.

Where to buy: Seven Summits Coffee Company is located at 1807 Columbia Avenue in Rossland. Products can also be ordered online and picked up locally. Freshly roasted beans are also available from select retailers in the West Kootenay area.

Coffee roasters in Trail

Trail Coffee Co.: When the tagline for a coffee company is “Because bad coffee really does suck,” you can bet they take their coffee seriously. At the Trail Coffee Co., their 100 per cent fair trade and organic beans are roasted in small batches, hand-blended and hand-packaged. Delicious breakfast and lunch options are served on their two-tiered patio.

Where to buy: The Trail Coffee Co. is located at 1369 Cedar Avenue in Trail. Its coffee blends can also be purchased online via their website and found at retailers in Rossland, Trail, Fruitvale and Castlegar.

Coffee roasters in Ymir

Underground Coffee Company: The Underground Coffee Company is a micro-roaster of top-quality Arabica coffee beans. Beans are sourced from wild-growing coffee plants from the natural cloud forest in Oaxaca, Mexico, and are a completely sustainable source.

Where to buy: Underground Coffee Company products can be found throughout the West Kootenay region, including Save-On Foods, Kootenay Co-op and Ellison’s Market in Nelson, The Goods in Ymir and Salmo Foods.

If we missed adding your coffee roaster/producer to this list and you would like to be included, please send us a message: [email protected].