St. Paul Roastery

Fresh Roasted Coffee in Thunder Bay's Waterfront District

After roasting coffee beans at home and selling to friends and family as a hobby for five years, Cam and Stephan – high school friends – upgraded to a commercial level by investing in a Diedrich Coffee Roaster, which allowed them to produce a twelve-kilogram batch of coffee in one session. Now they sell top quality coffee to Thunder Bay restaurants and offer the same in their own shop, St. Paul Roastery, to delighted customers. The first to sign a lease in their newly renovated location, they have become a focal point for a new little hub of youthful activity in the North Core.

P1019987

Their green beans come from an importer in Minneapolis who buys beans from farmers all over the world. The importer takes care of the major shipping and harvesting concerns so that the beans at St. Paul are in season and fresh.

P1019997

“The shortest route in the process is from roasting to the coffee pot,” says Cam. “There’s miles of other considerations made before that process even occurs.” Cam goes on to say that all coffee sold at St. Paul Roastery is “single origin” except for the espresso, which is a mix of beans from Columbia and Burundi. The dark roast is ground and brewed to order, a “pour-over” of freshly ground coffee – brewed one cup at a time rather than in a pot.

P1019993

With advice from friends, they designed the shop’s interior, leaving existing wood floors and stone walls exposed. Much of the natural wood is reclaimed from a neighbour’s garage.

A nice touch is the little wood tray on which your coffee is served with special coffee decanters imported from Japan. There are other little touches to the space that make it unique. Cam relates how people who enter their shop feel like they have walked into a place from a more cosmopolitan city. It’s part of a trend towards quality in food, drink and lifestyle that has hit Thunder Bay.

About Duncan Weller

A writer and visual artist, Duncan Weller is a Governor General's Award winner who lives in Thunder Bay. You can visit his website at www.duncanweller.com. His latest two books are a novel, Flight of the Silk, and an expanded edition of the award-winning children's picture book, The Boy from the Sun.

Related Articles

The Best Sights to See in Thunder Bay

From the legendary Sleeping Giant to Indigenous art galleries these Thunder Bay attractions are not to be missed.

Experience Your Perfect Summer in Thunder Bay

An A to Z guide to outdoor adventure in this scenic Northern Ontario city

Conquer a Giant

This iconic Northwest Ontario landmark rises 1000 ft above the surface of Lake Superior.

12 best places to stay in Thunder Bay

A boutique courthouse, art-filled hostel, or a luxe waterfront hotel—TBay has accommodations for every taste.

Top 5 places to view the Sleeping Giant

Thunder Bay's Most Famous Landmark and the best places to see it

A Bird's-Eye View of Thunder Bay

Mount McKay Lookout - Anemki Wajiw is a must-do in this Northwestern Ontario city

Timeless Middle Falls

A Perfect Road Trip to Hike or Bike on A Summer Day

Memories of a Legend

Remembering Terry Fox at Memorial Sites near Thunder Bay

A Pancake is Just a Pancake... Or Is It?

The Top 10 Places to get Finn Pancakes in Thunder Bay

Green Mantle and Nanabijou's Wife

Discover the Legends of Thunder Bay's Natural Wonders

Learn to Speak "Thunder Bay"

5 terms you must learn before you visit

Time to change your clocks—but why?

The Thunder Bay and Northwest Ontario Connection to Daylight Savings Time.

Graffiti Art and Murals

A Self-Guided Urban Art Tour

Eating pancakes to save history

The future of Thunder Bay’s Hoito lies on your plate

Sandy Beaches & Sunshine

Six Beaches for your summer "bucket list"

How far would you drive for a buttertart?

Check out these 4 Thunder Bay day trips.

Treasure Hunting in Thunder Bay

A longtime thrifter's story—and some hot tips!

Enter a World of Creative Potential at Lockstitch Fabrics

Big City Fabric Options with a Tight-Knit Community Feel

6 great hiking trails in and around Thunder Bay

Hike the famous Sleeping Giant or the Flett railway tunnel in this Northwest Ontario city.

5 Ways to Create the Perfect Mountain Bike Vacation in Thunder Bay