Rooted in Nature. Roasted with Care. Shared with Love.
When a simple gut feeling turns into a beautiful reality, you can taste it.
Some stories begin with a good cup of coffee. This one starts with a road trip, a warm welcome, and the unmistakable scent of something made with care.
We recently travelled to St. Joseph Island to meet Shane, co-founder of St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters, and to visit the place where the magic happens. Tucked among the trees on a 17.5-acre property, their roasting shack is more than just a workspace—it’s a living example of what happens when values meet action.
St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters was born from a dream—one stirred by a longing for simplicity, rooted in respect for the land, and driven by a commitment to fairness and community. Shane and Heather followed that inner pull all the way from Calgary to a farmhouse on St. Joseph Island. What began as a vision in an old maple syrup shack became a mission: roast organic, Fairtrade coffee that makes people feel as good as it tastes.
I wanted to see the place, smell the coffee, and hear the story behind what could become the coffee we offer at the Baule. The moment I stepped into the roasting shack, surrounded by the scent of freshly roasted beans and the quiet beauty of the island, I knew I had found something special.
Shane and Heather’s mission is simple, bold, and deeply aligned with my own:
To offer coffee that tastes good and does good—for the farmers, for the land, and for all of us.
Since launching in June 2009, they have sourced 99% of their green coffee from Cooperative Coffees, a green coffee importing cooperative that works directly with small-scale farmer cooperatives across 13 countries. These local organizations are democratically governed by the farmers themselves and committed to building stronger communities and producing exceptional coffee through sustainable practices.
This isn’t just about beans—it’s about values.
Why This Matters to Me:
Cooperative Coffees is a certified B Corp, just like the last company I worked with in Italy as a consultant. I know first-hand what it means to legally commit to social and environmental impact, to measure success by the well-being of communities and ecosystems—not just profit margins. It means transparency, fairness, and accountability in every step of the supply chain.
Why I Chose It for the Baule:
Because it’s more than coffee. It’s a story of shared responsibility, of people and places connected through care. Because it tells a story that aligns with mine—of migration, care, community, and home. And because it simply tastes (and smells!) amazing!
St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters utilizes a modified Sivetz fluid bed roaster, which air-roasts coffee in small batches. No smoke. No bitterness. Just the bright, clean taste of ethically sourced beans, roasted fresh to order. (With a whisper of St. Joseph Island’s fresh air in every bag.)
Their entire operation is certified organic Fairtrade coffee, supporting small-scale farmers and the planet at every step. They give back to their community in meaningful ways—sponsoring events, composting by-products, reusing materials, and keeping it all beautifully local.
At the Baule, we welcome guests into a space of memory, movement, and mindful living. Choosing coffee from Shane and Heather is another way we invite you to feel at home—with a cup that carries intention from seed to sip.
Their Impact?
From donating coffee to music festivals and community races, to composting roasting by-products and reusing shipping materials, this is a business that walks its talk. Certified organic. Fairtrade licensed. Transparent. Trustworthy. Heartful.
Heather and the son contribute to the illustrations. On the label of the “Espresso Milano,” you can find Bertie, Hoffmann’s first family dog. Who has become Bertrando, the pasticceria owner, taking a cappuccino break in front of his establishment.
The coffee that I bought is the “Peace Blend.” The picture on the label was drawn by Shane’s son when he was eight. It states, “Make coffee, not war.”
But Where is St. Joseph Island?
St. Joseph Island is located in the Northern Channel of Lake Huron. It is a 40-minute drive east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, along the (17) TransCanada Highway. It is home to some of the largest Maple Syrup producers in Ontario and is known for its vibrant Arts scene. It’s also becoming a popular cycling destination because of its mostly paved or surface-treated roads, low traffic and scenic views!
St. Joseph Island is made up of four municipalities: the Township of St. Joseph, Hilton, Jocelyn, and the Village of Hilton Beach. St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters is located in Jocelyn Township. Jocelyn Township has an active recreation committee that plans many annual events, including cross-country ski races the first Saturday in February, the Mountain Maple Run every May, and the Harvest Festival in September, all taking place at the Jocelyn Centennial Grounds.
St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters supports the Township of St. Joseph’s Events Committee, sponsoring the Just Passin’ Through Concert Series held at the Old Town Hall in Richards Landing throughout the year and the Go North Music Festival held on St. Joseph Island in July with coffee and tea donations.
St. Joseph Island isn’t just beautiful—it’s alive with local passion, maple forests, and a vibrant community spirit. Shane and Heather are part of that, and now—so are we.
