Longtime North Burnaby residents Robert Hughes and Garnet Nelson have turned a coffee roaster hobby into the Heights Coffee Co. as a way to pursue their passion for coffee roasting while paying tribute to their beloved Burnaby Heights community.
The company officially launched in November 2020, already receiving a positive response from the marketplace with strong initial sales, engagement, and vendor interest with an increased “buy local” demand from the community. Initial roasts include a selection of five options: Gilmore (Medium / Dark); Hastings (Medium), Triple Crown (Medium / Dark); Decaf (Medium) and limited edition Holiday Blend (Medium / Dark).
“There are a lot of fantastic coffee options here in Greater Vancouver,” says Garnet Nelson, Heights Coffee Co. co-founder. “We’re not necessarily out to compete directly with ‘the big guys,’ but rather to focus on providing our specialty craft-roasted coffee to those that appreciate it, want to shop local, and support challenger brands like the Heights Coffee Co.”
Heights Coffee Co. beans are ethically sourced from reputable coffee farms worldwide and then carefully craft-roasted in small batches and packaged with a “roasted on” date.
The founders have created their initial coffee bean selection to appeal to everyday coffee drinkers who appreciate a fresh, top-quality cup of coffee and also to niche specialty coffee enthusiasts who are always on the lookout for up-and-coming coffee brands.
Launching during a pandemic is helping the company test its worst-case scenarios in real-time. COVID-19 restrictions have presented operational challenges and have forced the Heights Coffee Co. to get creative and solution-oriented right away with marketing and promotions. On the plus side, people are spending a lot more time online, browsing for new things, and are hungry for fun, positive stories.
Heights Coffee Co. can be purchased online at heightscoffee.ca with $5 shipping anywhere in Canada and free local delivery.
It is also available in-store at Glenburn Soda Fountain (4090 Hastings Street, Burnaby), Posh Pantry (4548 Hastings Street, Burnaby), Oxmore Market (4096 Oxford Street, Burnaby), and Localboom (504 E. Broadway, Vancouver).
