I can’t tell you how many times in conversations with coffee-friends, how they tell me how fortunate we are here in Canada to have SO MANY (their words) incredible specialty coffee roasters for a country our size. It’s true. With a population of just over 40 million, no matter what city or small town you find yourself in, you are destined to discover a local cafe, roasting some incredible coffee, and helping to bring the community together.
Located half-way between Toronto and Hamilton along the shores of Lake Ontario in Oakville, is none other than this month’s Coffee Roaster of the Month. I am thrilled to get the opportunity to share the story of COFFEED, whose cafe and roastery is not only roasting great coffee, but creating great community. And when I see those two things in a coffee roaster, I know it’s time to share their story. I reached out to Joseph Trichilo and ask him a few questions.
Hey Joseph, so great to get the chance to connect with you! Help our audience get to know you a bit better…
What’s your personal backstory in coffee?
Coffee has always been a part of my life. From my earliest memories, there was always a pot of coffee brewing on the stove. I started drinking coffee at a young age, as it’s deeply rooted in my culture. But it wasn’t until after I graduated from university that I became obsessively interested in the quality and craft of coffee.
How did you get started?
During university, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do. I graduated with a degree in actuarial science, and the natural expectation was to pursue that path. But working behind a desk didn’t feel like the right fit for me—I’ve always wanted to carve out my own path. When I discovered the world of specialty coffee, something clicked. I was especially drawn to roasting because of its technical and creative nature. After roasting my first batch of coffee beans on a cast iron skillet and tasting the results, I knew I had found my calling. In 2016, I started my first roasting business, Morning Roast, and just a few months later, I began planning my café- roastery concept – Coffeed.
What keeps you going in coffee?
It’s the endless pursuit of balance and excellence in every roast. There’s a quote that resonates deeply with me: “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” While I’ve come to accept that perfection isn’t always possible, it doesn’t stop me from striving for it. My goal is for everyone who drinks our coffee to have an elevated experience, and I work tirelessly to ensure that every bag we put on our shelves meets those expectations.
Before we go much further, share with our readers what you’re drinking/enjoying these days when it comes to coffee!
I am always drinking a few different coffees, trying to stay on top of my roasts. If I picked a coffee solely for my pleasure, it would probably be our Jamison Savage Carbonic Maceration Geisha, or our double washed Kenya. I have a soft spot for clean washed coffees.
So, home-base for you is Oakville, Ontario (situated half-way between Toronto & Hamilton for readers not familiar with Canadian geography). This is an area certainly known for an incredible coffee culture, so how is Coffeed helping to shape the specialty coffee culture in the region?
Absolutely! The stretch between Toronto and Hamilton is home to many fantastic specialty coffee shops with vibrant cultures. At Coffeed, I believe our contribution starts with the coffee roasting itself. We are relentless in delivering exceptional, uncompromising quality roasts to our customers.
But it’s not just about the coffee; it’s also about the experience. We’ve built a culture where people feel welcome and appreciated, whether they’re seasoned coffee enthusiasts or casual drinkers. Our goal is to create an environment where refined coffee products meet a friendly, approachable atmosphere, bridging the gap between quality and accessibility.
Can you tell us a bit about the history of your cafe?
How long has your shop been around?
Coffeed opened its doors in May 2023, but the journey started much earlier. I’ve been roasting coffee for close to a decade, so there’s a bit of experience behind every product we offer.
What can people expect when they visit?
When people visit Coffeed, they can expect more than just exceptional coffee – they will also find unique coffee-infused products. Alongside a wide selection of delicious beans and brews, we offer coffee-infused baked goods, coffee hot sauces, and even a coffee-infused breakfast sandwich, which is the core idea behind the concept “coffeed”. Every customer leaves knowing that our focus is on delivering an outstanding and memorable coffee experience.
For those wanting to get their hands on your coffee and learn more about Coffeed can you share a bit more about your philosophy of roasting coffee? Maybe share about a few producers you’re really enjoying working with at the moment. And what kind of equipment do you roast on?
For those who can’t make it to our shop, the majority of our products are available online at www.coffeed.ca When it comes to roasting, our philosophy is rooted in balance. Whether it’s espresso or filter coffee, we aim to create profiles that highlight structure and mouthfeel while complementing the coffee’s natural acidity.
As for producers, it’s tough to single out just a few because there are so many incredible farmers and co-ops we’ve had the privilege of roasting their lots. To be honest, my approach has always been to unlock all the hard work that has gone into producing the coffee at origin. We roast exclusively in small batches on our Diedrich IR5, a machine we absolutely love. It gives us the precision and control needed to bring out the best in every coffee.
After spending some time looking over your website, you speak much about Community. And I get that this can be a bit of a “buzz-word” in specialty coffee so can you share more with our readers what that truly looks like to you? And how you embody that at Coffeed?
When we first opened our coffee bar roastery, we started with a very focused menu that reflected what I believed to be the essence of specialty coffee. We only had one 8 oz cup size, with a focus on black coffee and no sugar options. However, we quickly realized that our community had different needs and preferences.
Specialty coffee, to us, isn’t about imposing our vision of what coffee should be; it’s about creating a space that reflects and serves our community. We listened to what our customers wanted and made changes to ensure they felt heard. We expanded our menu to include larger cup sizes and began producing a variety of specialty syrups in-house to enhance their experience. These changes were guided by the principle of offering not just what people crave but the very best version of it. At Coffeed, community means putting our customers first and continuously evolving to serve them better.
I feel like we all desire to bring about positive change when it comes to specialty coffee. What would you like to see change—either locally or globally—when it comes to the specialty coffee space? How is Coffeed moving the needle towards this change?
We believe that specialty coffee should be accessible and approachable for everyone, not dictated by rigid narratives about what coffee “should” be. We’ve made it a priority not to impose our personal vision of specialty coffee onto our customers but to listen to their preferences and calibrate our offerings accordingly.It’s easy to get caught up in your own ideals and try to tell people how they should enjoy their coffee. We’ve realized that specialty coffee is not defined solely by the type of bean or the roast profile. It’s about offering a refined and elevated version of what your customers already love while meeting them where they are in their coffee journey.
By focusing on this inclusive approach, we’re creating a space where everyone, from casual drinkers to coffee enthusiasts, can feel welcome and appreciated. It’s our way of redefining specialty coffee as something that celebrates diversity in preferences and experiences.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. Is there anything else left that you want to say? Here’s your chance!
The only thing left to say is thank you! Thank you to Commonly Coffee for creating this platform for roasters to share their stories and to all the readers for supporting the specialty coffee community. Your passion for learning about the people and work behind your coffee inspire us to keep striving for excellence.
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Contact Info:
web: www.coffeed.ca
instagram: @coffeedshop
Find their beans: If you’re looking to get your hands on some beans then definitely check out their web-store for what they’re currently roasting.
Visit their cafe: If you find yourself along the shores of Lake Ontario between Toronto & Hamilton, check out their cafe: 3420 Rebecca Street, Oakville, ON
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I just want to say a huge thank you to Joseph from Coffeed for helping to share their story. Check out their site, grab yourself some beans, and enjoy!
Stay Caffeinated,
Tyler
commonly coffee 