Great coffee in Ottawa - creating a list - checking it twice. · Tuesday April 30, 2019 by colin newell
Origin Trade (111 York St.)
Origin Trade is in the Byward Market. …coffee beverages stellar, but the atmosphere and aesthetic of the cafe is awesome too. It’s a cozy setting is the perfect place to come study with a friend during the fall season.
Bridgehead (Various)
This socially responsible local chain was the first company in the nation to serve fair trade coffee. Specializing in specialty grade beans, their goal is to connect the producer with the customer in a meaningful way.
The Ministry of Coffee (279 Elgin Street)
The Ministry of Coffee is all about innovative brewing technologies. They rotate their drink menu every week, with selections coming from all over the continent. They do courses on home coffee prep.
Café Morala (734 Bank St.)
If you’re looking for some coffee with a Latin American flare, we recommend Café Morala! They offer various coffee and hot beverage options such as Americano and Mexican hot chocolate, along with delish Latin American pastries and sandwiches like empanadas, tamales and much more.
Happy Goat Coffee Co. (35 Laurel Street)
Happy Goat Coffee treats coffee like an art form and are happy to educate their customers about the different types available and their origins. Roasting only the most superior beans, the niche coffee company aims to protect their environment through sustainable small scale farming which supports diversity and local economies. They also sell three or six-month coffee subscriptions on their website.
Quitters Coffee (1523 Main Street South – Stittsville)
Casual cafe by day and bar by night, this independent coffee shop features chic décor, outdoor seating and quality service. Their coffee menu is constantly changing and they carry various local brands of craft beer and wine. They also serve a fantastic breakfast and lunch.
Equator Coffee (412 Churchill Avenue / 1 Elgin St. (NAC))
Equator coffee strives for good service and amazing brews. Everything they do is focused on their three main pillars: “Fresh Roasting, Fair Trade Purchasing and Organic Certification.” They value investment in and commitment to their local and global communities; they partner with SchoolBox to bring classrooms and school supplies to Central America. We especially recommend their newest location at the recently-renovated National Arts Centre! Relaxing with a beautiful view of Elgin street through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Grounded Kitchen, Coffee & Bar (100 Gloucester Street)
Founded in the summer of 2010 by Amir Rahim and Gabriel Pollock, Grounded is definitely down to Earth with simple, natural grub and stellar coffee. The open kitchen concept of the Centretown establishment tries to evoke the feeling of an outdoor market while indoors. Much of the interior has been recycled and or refurbished, such as the whiskey barrel bar or the pair of wood carts once owned by the Museum of Civilization, lending it an eclectic vibe.
Morning Owl Coffeehouse + Parlour (Various Locations)
Morning Owl is owner Jordan O’Leary’s way of celebrating his family’s Abruzzese roots. Using organic and direct trade Little Victories coffee, this shop offers all types of coffee concoctions, including lactose-free options. Drinks range from flat whites to undertows to lattes in a variety of original flavours, such as Nut N’ Honey, Peppermint Patty, Nutella and Snickers. They have four locations scattered throughout the city.
Francesco’s (48 Jamie Avenue)
This award-winning artisan coffee chain roasts their coffee to order, using state-of-the-art equipment to make 10 to 60 kilo batches every 17 minutes. Thick roasting drums and precise control and cooling technology make some of the best coffee around. They can even deliver your custom order to your front door in under 36 hours from the time of roasting.
Return to the now - Chapter one · Friday July 6, 2018 by colin newell
Silence – what is it and where does it come from? Like the empty coffee cup, is it actually empty or waiting?
Contrary to popular belief, the empty cup and saucer is not necessarily a bad thing. It offers optimism, hope and light at the end of that seemingly endless tunnel called life.
For me, the latter half of 2017 and the first 6 months of 2018 have been something of a challenge. Elder care and the death of a family member – always challenging things. But these are things that everyone encounters and has to process in their own way. From within the emptiness of the coffee pot comes a fresh batch of ideas. Every new day brings us alternative coping skills – or that innate ability to move forward despite feeling ankle deep wet concrete holding us back.
The loss of a parent brings unique emotional challenges. For some of us, it might be our mom or our dad – or even a special aunt or uncle. What I discovered about losing “mom” were the unexpected layers or strata of emotional responses and how when you least expected it, something would pop up and trip you up.
Like the weather: You cannot predict it with that much certainty. You do know that a rain is going to fall and the sun will shine in its glory once again. Just maybe not today or tomorrow.
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Reader's Digest Canada rant chapter two - seniors under siege · Tuesday June 27, 2017 by colin newell
Readers Digest Rant – You’re naughty, naughty, naughty!
or click here for the mp3 if you cannot see the above widget.
This is a reboot of one of my favourite blogs (and rants) from gasp 2009! Enjoy.
I spoke with a rep from Canada Post today…
and he said (from his post office in the Oak Bay village)…
“We get 10 to 15 citizens that come into this little post office every day of business that are returning materials to Reader’s Digest!”
10 to 15 folks. Every day. Most of them seniors. From one Post Office!
I have been on the phone to Reader’s Digest canada twice in the last week and I get the following scripted dialogue from their service partners…
“It is not the policy of Reader’s Digest Canada to send people unsolicited materials or products.”
Okay then. What the heck is happening when 10 to 15 citizens are appearing at each Canadian post office daily?
Here is my theory.
Canadians, by the droves, are returning “pieces of mail from Reader’s Digest Canada” that, according to Reader’s Digest, are no-obligation entry forms for their $500,000 sweepstakes.
What our Canadian seniors are failing to do is read the fine print.
Because with every “win $500,000 now” sweepstakes shills is, very likely, a piece of fine print that states – in exchange for your no obligation entry into the Reader’s Digest $500,000 contest, you agree to purchase X quantity of books at market value.
Market value huh? I am looking at a $700 invoice for my dear old aunt. She has a stack of books on her Reader’s Digest mail strewn coffee table – that she claims that she did not order. So what happened? I suspect that she did not read the fine print… over and over and over again.
Today I returned a 4-CD set of elevator music to Reader’s Digest Canada that one could, arguably, buy at Shoppers Drug Mart for $22.
Reader’s Digest cost: $79
Is Reader’s Digest breaking any Canadian laws? In short, no.
Are they doing anything unethical? That is out there for debate.
I think we are going to be hearing way more about this Reader’s Digest Canada issue.
Because the bottom line, for me, is:
Protect our seniors from scam artists… whomever they might be.
Have a listen!
Readers Digest Rant – You’re naughty, naughty, naughty! or click here for the mp3 if you cannot see the above widget.
Colin Newell gets mad when our elderly are exploited in any way. And when he gets angry, he gets blogging!
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Talking coffee health studies with Natasha Hall of NewsTalk 800 CJAD Montreal · Wednesday April 26, 2017 by colin newell
Podcast – Talking coffee with Natasha Hall of CJAD 800 NewsTalk – Montreal –
Talking coffee on CJAD Montreal!
We were talking coffee with Natasha Hall of NewsTak 800 – Montreal on the topic of those seemingly endless health studies on the dire (or wonderful) effects of caffeine and coffee (in general) on your body!
This podcast (interview) is around 14 minutes long – so strap yourself in.
I average around 20 radio, TV or newspaper interviews annually and this was one of the better ones – a lot of these radio hosts are affable, enthusiastic and well read before they undertake an interview – honored to chat on the subject of my passion. Coffee. Love it.
Podcast – If you cannot see the audio player above, click here for the mp3 download.
