Northern roasted. Community powered.

We roast fresh coffee in Yellowknife for homes, offices, and cafés across the North. Our focus is simple: source responsibly, roast with care, and serve people well.

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Our story

2017 - We started on a 5 kg roaster in a Quonset hut in Old Town, pouring coffee for anyone curious enough to find us.

2019 - We moved downtown and grew into a small café with local baking partners.

2020 - We adapted service, then reopened with espresso and in-house baking.

2024 - We purchased Birchwood Coffee and brought it into the Barren Ground family.

How we roast and serve

Coffee

We buy high-quality coffees with a clean back story and publish what we can verify about origin and certifications. Ask us about farming, traceability, and our roasting choices.

Espresso

We keep espresso consistent. Dose, tamp, extraction time, and milk temperature are measured and repeatable for every drink.

Food

We keep the menu small and consistent, using quality ingredients and local suppliers whenever possible.

People and pay

We focus on people over profits. We offer higher wages, paid sick time, and real support for career and life goals. Our goal is to meet or exceed the Yellowknife living wage. Learn more about the living wage.

Investing in the North

We reinvest in northern partners, collaborate on products, and keep spending local whenever we can. Got a coffee idea in the North? Contact us.

Community

We donate coffee and support events and groups across the NWT and Nunavut, including Arctic Winter Games, Folk on the Rocks, Frostbite 50, Yellowknife Pride, Slave River Paddlefest, and school cafés. Need coffee for your northern event or fundraiser? Request support.