Hi, I find it very difficult to find a good coffee roaster in Winnipeg. Although I know of two I am always on the hunt for a very good espresso bean. I have tied TC in Edmonton and am considering 49th. Suggestions and recommendations needed.

Sincerely,

Manitoba Mike

Hey Manitoba Mike,

Sadly there are no good espresso roasters in Winnipeg. Green Bean Coffee Imports is a decent local roaster for brewed coffee, particularly his Yirg. 49th is a great roaster and Epic from them is solid, you can also try Phil and Sebastien in Calgary or Detour Roasters in Toronto.

As a note, Cornelia Bean on Academy has started carrying both 49th and Intelly, sadly they haven't figured out their sell-thru and purchasing cycle so it's tough to get fresh stuff from them. I left my number and asked to be called when fresh stuff came in and sadly that has yet to happen. Last I was there they looked like they where ready to do another 49th order, so maybe give them a call and ask when the last shipments came in.

Hope this helps.

Thanks kevlar. I tried cornelia and was not impressed with their shelf life products. I will try 49th.

what about Black Pearl Coffee. A small micro-roaster?

Black Pearl is over roasted and burnt, tried it once in a pinch and taste of burnt rubber and ash was overwhelming

Thank-you for confirming what I have been telling people for quite some time. Just because you can roast doesn't mean you CAN Roast.

Reading this thread leads me to ask: where do Winnipeggers get their beans? Do you order from 49th? Where else?

Pick one, over the last three years I have ordered or got coffee from the following roasters:

49th
Transcend
Detour
Social Coffee Company
Phil and Sebastien
Intelligentsia
Four Barrel
Ritual Roasters
Metropolis
Stumptown
Gimme Coffee
Counter Culture Coffee
Novo Coffee

I primarily order from Canadian roasters but have also on more then one occasion had stuff shipped to Pembina North Dakota and made a border run to pick stuff up.

It's an obsession.

Actually, I'm doing a Pembina run next week. Which two would you recommend?

I would strongly recommend both Metropolis and Four Barrel. I would also suggest that you check out Redbird, heard lots of really good things.