The evolution of the coffee industry has been one of steady growth since the 1960’s when brands like Sanka, Folgers and Maxwell House became a recognized household names. The first wave brought increased popularity. The second wave introduced us to the readily available big-name cup of coffee, such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons.

Today’s third wave coffee culture is flying high with an ethical and progressive movement towards better control over the process of sourcing, testing, roasting, and brewing. Untraceable coffee is no longer acceptable practice and mass-produced over-roasted beans are being cast aside in favour of high-quality, small batch specialty coffee. 

With a much-needed resurgence of quality over quantity, coffee enthusiasts can now enjoy individually crafted brews, made fresh to order. Artisanal coffee roasters are passionate, and as with any other artistry, they believe in the delicate quality of their product, and hope the true flavour of their coffee beans can be fully experienced.

Our local roasters are working to provide consumers with some truly delectable choices in coffee and cuisine.

Detour Coffee

2234 Harold Road, #2, Burlington  |  Café at 41 King Street West, Dundas

905.331.7800  |  detourcoffee.com

Detour Coffee Roasters believe in reducing their environmental footprint while simultaneously creating an enhanced community experience. They view the customer as an integral part of the creation chain, and readily admit to obsessing over the art of getting their roasting perfected, “to the point of mild insanity.”

They recently travelled to Rwanda to enable social changes by supporting procurement from women-owned coffee farms. Detour is equally as serious about their Loring Kestrel roaster, the masterpiece of the operation, and clearly the Ferrari of the roasting world. It’s self-contained and smokeless, reducing emissions by 80% compared to traditional machines. Their seasonal coffees are also complemented by a full-scale bakery and restaurant, Dear Grain, serving slow ferment artisan breads, jams, and pastries by Master Preserver Camilla Wynn.

The Detour Café in Dundas also serves a gluten-free brownie bar adorned with crunchy cocoa. Resistance is futile.

Firebat Coffee

407 Speers Road Back #7, Oakville

289.400.9551  |  firebatcoffee.com

Firebat Coffee is owned by husband and wife team Gustavo and Leena. They describe their coffee as a “unique transfer of energy and flavour from source to cup”, made possible through meticulous micro farming, clean production methods, and a focus on fostering respect for the environment.

In Mayan mythology, the bat, or Sotz, was a guardian figure of protection, spreading seeds and furthering growth.  Firebat similarly strives to guard the quality of their coffee forests. Gustavo and Leena’s dedication and fiery passion for honest craftsmanship culminates in their impressive flavor-based portfolio of coffee that originates solely from El Salvador.  Working with producers to ensure direct trade and fair prices, Firebat always pays farmers far above commercial prices for their delicate shade-grown Arabica varietals. They stand by three main principles: flavour, transparency, and sustainability. Firebat’s slow-roasting techniques extract subtle notes from their beans, and successfully deliver coffees rich in both history and flavour. Buy beans directly from their roastery on Speers road in Oakville.

Brothers Coffee Roasters

2172 Wycroft Road, #6, Oakville |  298 Kerr Street, Oakville

289.837.1535  |  @brotherscoffeeroasters

Shaun Waitzer opened Kerr St. Café with his partner Alex Flye in 2010 which was then followed by Brothers Roasters in 2014. The “small batches, good vibes” mantra has been a lucky one for them; business has blossomed into a popular full-service event company where quality coffee, clean eating, and environmentally sustainable practices are a way of life.

Shaun furthered his roasting knowledge at Vermont’s Coffee Lab and is currently planning trips of origin to increase direct trade partnerships with farmers.  

Brothers recently switched to 100% biodegradable take-out cups and compostable packaging.  You can easily find information online about their selection of specialty coffees from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica, with the added bonus of reading uniquely diverse information about altitudes, varieties, and specific producers. Word has it that they serve a delicious medium dark roast espresso, made from a complex four-origin blend, and tasty single-origin coffees that are rotated regularly. Stop by Kerr Street Cafe and try one for yourself!

Cloud 9 Coffee

81 Florence Dr, Oakville

905.510.0509   |  cloud9coffeeroaster.ca

Located in Kerr Village, Cloud 9 Coffee Roastery was born from the passion Lynn Roberts held for drinking coffee made from the freshest beans possible. Beginning as a hobby, she began roasting green beans at home and experimenting with both time and temperature, as well as different varieties. That hobby soon turned into passion, as she discovered the amazing flavours that could be obtained by roasting the same bean to a light, medium, medium-dark and dark level. She opened Cloud 9 Coffee Roastery in March of 2013, and encourages people to drop by on Saturdays or Sundays to taste the various beans she has sourced, and find their personal preference.

Vereda Central

310 Kerr Street, Oakville

905 842 0887  |  veredacentral.com

Vereda Central’s mandate it to find the best possible coffee beans from a variety of Colombian veredas, or small villages. Their coffee is personally sourced, and all processes of milling, roasting, and packing are done themselves.

Their attention to detail is evident in the close relationships they build with their farmers. Through honest connections with growers, complete traceability, and a focus on direct trade, they work to improve crops with training and feedback to achieve the best quality harvests.

Vereda believes in better control over their hand-picked beans, following the standards outlined by The Specialty Coffee Association of America. They use smaller roasters for their 5 kg batches, compared to some of the bigger 60 kg machines that roast much larger amounts. The owners Juan and Laura Sarmiento believe large batches can often result in defects.

Vereda’s coffee is 100% natural with no additives.  Juan understands the importance of indulging individual tastes, as each customer is unique, and he experiments with brewing techniques to find just the right blend for his clients. Vereda is available online, in coffee shops, and wholesale in restaurants and bakeries. Visit their cafe on Kerr Street in Oakville.

by Adrienne Roman

The first Thanksgiving began as a celebration of the harvest and seasonal bounty that is available during the autumnal season. From root vegetables, preserved summer berries, hearty greens and meats – so much can be harvested right in your own backyard.

Though, of course, times have changed since the first Thanksgiving celebrations, there are still many ways to enjoy locally grown foods during fall, from roast turkey and stuffing, to cranberry sauce, root vegetables, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie

For those in the Burlington area, there are many locations to pick up a locally-sourced meal.

Denninger’s Foods of the World can be found in both Burlington and Oakville, and can offer some delicious options for your meats, produce, and sides. With their own in-store butcher counter, they are able to assist you with anything you are looking for and with over 60 years in service, they know what they’re doing!  If you’re looking for something a little bit different for your main, their signature sausages are the way to go. They also offer a produce section which is ideal for seasonal root vegetables.

Offering fresh turkeys and ham orders during the Thanksgiving season, Ernie’s Meat Market is a favourite in Burlington due to their extensive knowledge and friendly customer service team. Carrying a wide selection of beef, pork, and chicken as well – the options for your  
Thanksgiving dinner are quite vast at this local butchery. Ernie’s is also known for their famous meat pies, which are made by hand, in-store, and baked daily. A perfect addition to your family Thanksgiving!

Another option for your main is Farmway Foods, who provide home delivery for high-quality, naturally raised Ontario meats. Usually specializing in beef, chicken, pork, and fish, they add turkey to their well-rounded selection in the fall. Farmway Foods takes the stress out of the Thanksgiving meal so you can focus on having fun with your family and friends.

The Burlington Mall Farmer’s Market is open right until the end of October, providing a wonderful opportunity to purchase locally-grown produce, baked goods, meats, cheese, and much more! From root vegetable favourites like sweet potatoes, beets, and traditional potatoes – the Burlington Mall Farmer’s Market is an easy way to get most of your Thanksgiving shopping done in one place. 

For those in the Oakville area, the options for purchasing local meats and produce are extensive.

Florence Meats has been offering top-notch quality and service to the Oakville community for over 35 years. Though they have the knowledge and know-how of the big guys, they keep their butcher shop small – focusing on the customer. Place your order for their local and fresh grain-fed turkey for this special occasion, or if you want to put an interesting spin on your Thanksgiving meal, why not try a Cornish Hen or Pheasant

If ham is more your thing, Just an Olde Fashion Butchery specializes in just that, serving up meats and seafoods in the Oakville area since 1986. Their spiral-cut glazed ham has been a favourite among Oakville families since their opening date. Looking for something in particular? Their knowledgeable staff is sure to help you find something amazing! 

The one-stop-shop for produce and sides, the Dorval Crossing Farm Market has been providing fresh, local produce to the community for over 35 years.  Located on the corner of Dorval and North Service, the market runs right until November 25th and offers those who live in Oakville an opportunity to purchase straight from the farmers
and growers. 

These are just some of the many options we have available to support local businesses and local growers.  Happy Thanksgiving!

by Heather Peter

Apples are so versatile! You can enjoy them as crunchy crudités, or cover them in caramel, or lovingly load them into pies and other baked goods. Even if we don’t always eat them prepared in the healthiest fashion, they always taste so good. With the number of different varieties grown – and available – right here in southern Ontario, it’s easy to pick some up right from the orchard and bring them home to enjoy however you wish. In fact, going apple-picking makes for a picturesque and healthy outing the whole family can enjoy.

Finding Forbidden Fruit

Apples are indeed an ancient fruit.  They’ve been growing since prehistoric times and have been cultivated for more than 3,000 years.  The ancient Greeks, Etruscans, Romans and Egyptians were some of the early cultivators – likely knowing that an apple a day was good for something.

Did you know that during the California Gold Rush apples were a hot commodity? They sometimes fetched more than $100 a bushel because they were versatile, durable and easily dried and preserved.

Home Grown

Here in Ontario, we’re lucky to have close to 20 different homegrown varieties to choose from.  Apples are grown on nearly 16,000 acres of precious land in major apple producing areas ranging from the shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.  Our Great Lakes are prime growing areas because they help moderate the temperature, so it’s true that “Good Things Grow in Ontario”.  The top five types grown here are Empire, Gala, McIntosh, Northern Spy, and Red Delicious.

Don’t forget that, in addition to including them in apple strudel, apple muffins, or apple crisp, they are delicious in salads and sandwiches too (especially grilled cheese). Two classic desserts are homemade apple pie (sometimes accompanied by a slice of old cheddar cheese), and apple pudding – served with warm brown sugar sauce – definitely the easiest to make of the two, and equally as tasty.  This fall, a Sunday dinner complete with an apple-inspired finale is definitely
in order.

Which of these globes of goodness are great for baking, and when are they available? Find out below:

Empire Apples 
(available October to July)
are slightly tart, juicy, firm and crisp.  They’re perfect for snacks and making applesauce.

Gala Apples 
(available early September to February)
are best eaten fresh, perhaps even topped with peanut butter or dipped in caramel.

McIntosh Apples 
(available mid September to May) have a white, juicy flesh, are mildly tart but sweeten as they ripen.  Use them in sauces, pies or eating fresh after a day of apple picking.

Northern Spy Apples 
(available October to May)
are large, crisp and firm.  They’re perfect for pies and old-fashioned baked apples just like Grandma used to make.

Red Delicious Apples 
(available October to July)
are firm, sweet and juicy.  Perfect for salads.  They’re not recommended for cooking.

Where to buy and pick your own apples

Andrews Scenic Acres, Milton
andrewsscenicacres.com

Myers Family Orchard, Copetown
myersapples.com

Chudleigh’s Farm, Milton
chudleighs.ca

Stonehaven Farms, Milton
stonehavenfarms.com

Willis Family Fruit Farm, Milton
willisfarm.com

Hutchinson Farm, Burlington
hutchinsonfarm.ca

Frootogo Orchards, Waterdown
frootogo.ca

Springridge Farm, Milton
springridgefarm.com

by Becky Dumais