The Coffee Capital of Canada - Guelph, ON
It all started on a Wednesday morning and after one amazingly strong cup of coffee—or as I like to call it rocket fuel—from Centurion Coffee. As a raving fan, and as I always do, I turned to my partner Jenna to let her know how good of a cup it was.
And then it hit me. An idea that would launch me into a morning of messages, emails, and phone calls. I was on a mission, and it was all for the love of none other than what I’m guessing is the world’s second-most consumed beverage after water. (Yep, you guessed it, Coffee! )
Guelph has some serious coffee roasters and this was a no brainer! A quick Google Search revealed that no one had staked the claim, so I set out on a mission to prove why Guelph, The Royal City, deserved to be crowned the Coffee Capital of Canada.
With that, I invite you to join me on this caffeine-fueled photography journey as I capture the many must-visit and must-try coffee shops in the city!
Our first stop on the tour:
Lost Aviator Coffee Co.
Lost Aviator took flight in 2020 when two long-time friends and career airline pilots, Adam and Steve, decided to bring a bit of their world travels back to Guelph and started navigating the world of coffee. As they say, the rest is history.
The shop has quickly established itself as a leading roaster in the city and is getting recognition from the many coffee enthusiasts you’ll see frequenting their Hayes Ave & York Rd location, as well as the many local venues that now feature their several unique blends.
In addition to the coffee, baked goods, and other great non-coffee drinks on the menu that the ultra-friendly staff is pumping out, Lost Aviator is quickly becoming the glue for the small-business community in Guelph and involves as many local vendors as possible in its operations and store front merchandise space.
(Brace yourself. This is about to get cheesy, but I have to say it).
For a couple of Lost Aviators, they sure seem to have quickly found their way into the heart of the Guelph community.
Lift-Off!
Our 2nd stop on the tour!
The Red Brick Café
If you’re new to the city and headed downtown, odds are you’ll notice the architecture of Douglas Street and want to take a stroll down the short bend. Hidden just around the corner and steps away from Wyndham Street, you’ll find the The Red Brick Café.
This unique spot is as cozy as it gets in the winter months and has a great outdoor patio for those warm summer days. You’ll also find some amazing artwork from local artists on display year-round. With friendly staff, good eats, and all the coffee you can handle, this café is a must visit!
In 2004, Bella Krieger discovered a derelict heritage building tucked away on a small side street, a little off the beaten path of downtown Guelph. She envisioned there the Red Brick Café – a place of warmth and charm that would draw in a diverse variety of people, a place where local art could hang on the walls and local musicians would shape the atmosphere with rich acoustic sounds. Bella was envisioning a place to host community events, a meeting place, a quiet work space, and a place to be inspired.
In 2006, the Red Brick Café opened its doors to the public, and Bella’s vision began to take form. Over more than a decade, the café continued to grow and change, becoming a Guelph landmark. Under Bella’s egalitarian leadership, the café has been a home to hundreds of regular customers and young workers, and a place where people could grow and change along with the café.
Thousands of customers have passed through the café’s doors, and over 100 local artists have been featured on the café’s walls. The café’s modest stage has lit up the whole building with the sound of local musicians, and the café has been home to countless community events. The Cafe has always done its part to support the Guelph community at large, regularly sponsoring events like Kazoo Fest, the Comedy Festival, Jazz Fest, Film Fest, and the Guelph Music Festival.
Our third stop on the tour!
Centurion Coffee
Welcome to Centurion Coffee. Located immediately off of the main artery of Guelph (Gordon Street) at the south end of the city, this is our third stop on the Coffee Capital of Canada Tour. This inviting shop is my personal go to for when I need a serious wake-up and offers coffee that not only tastes great but also packs a punch! With later-than-usual operating hours and plenty of options for comfortable workspaces, you’ll often find young professionals and students working away beneath the warm, ambient lighting of the space.
Along with the fantastic coffee, Centurion is a serious local contender for the usual café fair with a wide selection of top notch baked goods and specialty drinks ranging from health-conscious smoothies to milkshakes. If I’m feeling particularly lively, I’m absolutely grabbing a chocolate chip & banana muffin with my coffee.
Oh, and did I mention Centurion is an official distributor of the world-famous Cheesecakes from none other than The Cheesecake Factory! Need I say more?
If you’ve made it this far without grabbing your jacket and heading out the door to visit Centurion, thanks for stopping by. If you’re a regular at the shop, none of this will be news to you. But, if you’re a first-time visitor, I’m excited to hear what you think! As always, feel free to drop me a message or through a comment on the @wandrwise Instagram page.
Our fourth stop on the tour!
Planet Bean Coffee
Since establishing it’s roots in 1997 and bringing great coffee to the city, it’s hard to view Planet Bean in any other light than the true matriarch of Coffee Culture in Guelph. The shop has been pouring for over 25 years, has built many lasting relationships with farmers all over the world, and has even served as a starting point for roasters who’ve gone on to start shops of their own and build upon the organic, Fairtrade, and high-quality values that Planet Bean has upheld since its inception.
“Planet Bean Coffee began roasting coffee in downtown Guelph in 1997. Ours was the first roastery in the City for at least half a century. From the beginning our focus was on certified Fairtrade and organic gourmet arabica coffee.” - About
Farm to table, and beyond! To learn about the values of this incredible business, look no further than the packaging.
Planet Bean is proudly partnered with the Café Femenino Coffee Program:
“The Café Femenino coffee program is one-of-a-kind ethical sourcing model committed to ending the cycle of poverty affecting women coffee farmers across the world. Café Femenino provides direct compensation to women farmers, along with the opportunity and resources to enact positive change in their communities and on their own terms.” - Cafe Femenino
Amazingly, the shop commits a portion of their proceeds from Coffee sourced from amazing women-run farming operations around the world to provide the University of Guelph Athletics program with Gryphon women’s athletic scholarships.
But wait, it gets better!
Planet Bean is also a operates under a Co-operative business model that truly supports a people-centric workplace:
SUMAC COMMUNITY WORKER CO-OPERATIVE
Planet Bean Coffee is a division of the Sumac Community Worker Co-operative. People start working at Planet Bean and after a period of time are able to join the worker co-operative and become a member of Sumac. Their employment is then seconded to Planet Bean.
WHY A WORKER CO-OPERATIVE?
At Planet Bean we believe a democratic workplace based on the international principals of co-operation is the way to create a model for a people centred economy. The purpose of a worker co-operative is to create meaningful and life sustaining employment for its members. Our project is very much in development and we embrace that old adage of “we are building the road as we travel”. - Co-operative info
Well, there you have it. If there were ever an example of an unapologetically transparent company that you should feel abundantly happy to support, this would be it. The added bonus? You’ll also get one of the best cups of coffee you’ve ever tasted during your visit. Make sure to check them out!!
Our fifth stop on the tour!
Balzac’s Coffee Roasters
Located at the corner of Gordon Street & Waterloo Avenue and in the foreground of the iconic Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate hilltop church, it’s hard to miss the striking amber and brass features of Balzac’s downtown Guelph location.
The inviting café is especially vibrant in the fall when the colour palette seamlessly blends in with the surrounding foliage that blankets the intersection and adjacent Waterloo Avenue Park.
This stop on The Tour was my first introduction to the Guelph coffee community when I first moved to the city and was great way to cap off a visit to the Guelph Farmers’ Market. The Market has been a community cornerstone for nearly two centuries, so it’s only fitting that this is as inviting of a coffee shop as any with its ultra-friendly staff and homey ambience.
A gathering place.
“Inspired by the Grand Cafés of Paris, Balzac's Coffee Roasters was brought to life by a burning ambition to bring that culture to Canada. The company was founded in Stratford, Ontario in 1996, and has since grown to 16 distinct locations and can be found on the shelves of grocery stores across the country.” - https://balzacs.com/pages/our-story
The Balzac’s difference.
“What distinguishes Balzac's, aside from unrivalled roasts and formidable female leadership, is that every café is specifically designed to embody the cultural nuances and historical significance of the location it's in. In doing so, each café has carved out a unique personality as a central gathering place for locals. People come to a Balzac’s café to converse and debate, to fall in love and create.”
This shop is a must visit and a surefire place to find great coffee. The added bonus? A warm welcome into an inviting space and a great way to kickstart your day.
Our sixth stop on the tour!
My Kitty Café
BREAKING NEWS:
Happiness is a place, and it’s right here in Guelph!
Welcome to My Kitty Café! Located in the heart of downtown on Wyndham street, this location is home to the first cat café in Ontario and arguably the most unique coffee shop in the city.
How it all started.
Owner Min Kim might just be the nicest and most humble person I had the opportunity to meet during my tour. Although he prefers to be out of the spotlight, his values and personality shine brightly throughout the café.
Min first opened up shop as a convenience store in 1990 and has been greeting regular customers for over 30 years.
In 2017, he was presented with the most difficult situation he’d encountered as a small-business owner, and one that he thought would result in him closing up shop for good.
After a connected space in the back of his shop became vacant, he was given an ultimatum: either pay substantially more in rent per month and use the large, extra space OR close his store and leave.
The news was devastating.
What happened next.
Understandably, Min said the situation resulted in many sleepless nights over the next few months. But, as he always does, he began to try and find a way for his business to survive.
He trialed several uses from the space and hosted art galleries, recording space for artists, you name it. But nothing seemed to work.
The first cat in need arrives & the rest is history.
Min recounted the speed at which things took off. By nature of being a good person, he found something that seemed to work. With his newly renovated vacant space, he offered to take in several cats that needed rehoming.
From there, he says, the rest is history. With inspiration from the popular cat cafe’s in Japan and around the world, he found a solution that would be the most fulfilling project he’s undertaken. A solution that has ultimately helped his business overcome a level of adversity that would’ve sent most other small-businesses packing.
Over 1200 Adoptions & Counting.
As you walk through the café and meet all of the furry temporary residents, you’ll notice thousands of names on several doorways and walls.
Those names represent each of the over 1200 cats that Min has housed and helped get adopted to their forever homes.
How it works.
From the outset, Min has ensured that all of the adoption fees go straight to the Purrfect Companions of Norfolk, (the organization / adoption agency he’s partnered with since this all started). — https://www.purrfectcompanions.ca/
His shared space has several enclosures and cat-themed areas to ensure the safe integration of the residents. This also allows him and his staff to provide individual care and monitor certain cats as necessary.
If you’re in the area, make sure to book your visit at mykittycafe.com and grab a coffee at this amazing location!
Our seventh stop on the tour!
Flow State Bike Co.
Welcome to Guelph's Boutique Bike Shop & Coffee Bar!
This unique shop is located at Arkell Rd & Watson Rd S (just south of Starkey Hill Conservation Area) and now serving as the city's newest coffee shop, bike shop, and community hub. If you’ve checked out my recent work, you might’ve seen that I recently had the opportunity to cover the Grand Opening of this shop a few short weeks ago.
And so it begins.
Word quickly spread around the city ahead of the Grand Opening at Flow State and the event turned out to be a raving success. It was packed house of community members coming together to check out the new space and show their support for what Nate and his team are all about.
It was awesome to see a business get off to such a great start, and deservingly so!
An inspiring story & what small-businesses are all about!
If you happen to meet Owner Nate at the shop, you’ll be greeted by a smile from ear-to-ear. As with most of the shop owners I’ve had the opportunity to meet on the tour, Nate couldn’t be happier to get up every day and do what he loves.
After a building a successful career in the marketing industry, Nate decided it was finally time to move on from the structured corporate world and build something for himself.
The first time we chatted, he humbly mentioned that his mission was simple: Create a coffee shop, bike shop, and a great space for people to hangout at.
Food & Drink.
The shop is as cozy as it gets as a winter retreat and features plenty of good eats, hot drinks, and beer on tap! It also promises to have a warm, cottage feel during the summer months and is set to serve as a welcome rest stop for the many cyclists that frequent the surrounding countryside roads and trails.
But wait… There’s more!
The shelves at Flow State are already stocked with some awesome custom apparel, gift baskets, and some essential accessories for the mountain biking enthusiasts out there.
THE BIKES ARE ON THE WAY.
Nate and the team are excited to share that the bikes are on the way and that the shop will be ready to roll for the spring season in a few short months!
Visit their website to stay up to date and check out their recently announced Line Up of Bike Brands!
If you’re in the area, make sure to stop by and check out this unique shop!
Our eighth stop on the tour!
Double Rainbow Cafe
Welcome to the Double Rainbow Café!
If you haven’t heard already, please join me in welcoming Guelph’s newest coffee shop! Located just off of Ontario Street in the central borough of the city known as The Ward, the former mechanic shop is now a down-to-earth and homey retreat for many in the area.
How it started.
Kim, the owner of the café, began this new chapter after leaving behind her busy Toronto restaurant and relocating to Guelph a few short years ago.
The plan was to switch gears from the incredibly busy life of a restaurateur in a big city to focus on family her passion for community-focused initiatives.
With Guelph being as welcoming of a community as it gets, Kim and her family quickly settled in and things were going great.
What happened next.
As with so many people I’ve spoken with over the last year, the uncertainty and isolation that was brought upon by the COVID-19 Pandemic has encouraged many to reflect on themselves and think about what matters most in their lives.
Prior to opening Double Rainbow Café, Kim had taken on the position of ‘Community Food Lead’ at Guelph’s 10C Shared Space and was working out of the Nourish Kitchen at that location during the height of those difficult times.
She mentioned that, although the pandemic was tough on many community members, it was amazing to be in a position where their team was able to provide meals to those who were vulnerable and in need at the height of the Pandemic.
These commendable values shine brightly in the tiny café with it’s simple mission of supporting local food while providing an inclusive and inviting space for community members.
The shop becomes available and the rest is history.
Shortly after moving to the area, Kim quickly noticed this location and began keeping tabs on it. From there, she had her creative, entrepreneurial sights set on building something new. Her vision was to turn the rugged mechanic shop into an inviting, quiet café. This turned out to be no easy feat.
The opening of the café ended up being over a year and a half in the making, with Kim handling a lot of the work to convert the space and add her own touches.
Despite a quiet, relaxed approach and a soft opening back in September, word of the shop has quickly spread across the city. Many of the coffee people I’ve met throughout the tour insisted that I add this spot to the list and head over for a visit!
The cafe features some amazing local eats from Fleetstreets, a rising local Bakery here in Guelph, and is currently pouring premium roasts from Hamilton-based Detour Coffee. You’ll also find other local features including some amazing baking mixes from Well Baked and a variety of other local items and artwork.
If you’re in the area, make sure you stop by and check this place out!
