Our Story · How Time Flies
Eight years ago BYB started roasting coffee in a small garden shed in our backyard. We started with a small 25 year old 5 kilo Probat roaster that we were fortunate enough to come across in Kelowna.
It is a great machine with a life of its own but years later it has come to rest beside a larger 12 kilo Probat roaster that is much more capable of keeping up to the 1/2 ton of coffee we are now roasting every month. For a roastery, this is not a great quantity (although it is a great deal more than the 50 pounds we sold in our first month of production) but for us it is a great spot to be.
Our goal at BYB is to grow but never too fast and never too big. Everything we do is by hand. Each bag is labeled and filled by hand. Each batch is roasted on a fully manual open flame Probat roaster with heart, soul and love. Our goal at BYB is to live a good life, roast coffee, drink coffee, support small coffee farms, keep our values and integrity alive and not get caught up in all the things that are not important in life.
Oh and by the way, our new roaster also has a life of its own and seems to have learned a few tricks from its little buddy.
Shannon responded on 27 Sep 2009 at 7:22 pm #
Where can I buy Backyard Beans coffee? I was getting through my Urban Harvest produce delivery, but this week I noticed there was no coffee available.
Lisa responded on 29 Mar 2010 at 12:18 am #
Hi Shannon! You’ll be glad to note that Urban Harvest still sells Backyard Beans coffee…however, we place our orders on Sundays and take coffee off our order list after the order is placed, as we order “just-in-time” to fill our orders for the week. (Liz and Richard roast Sunday/Monday, deliver to us Tues am, and we deliver to our customers Tues/Wed/Thurs…so the coffee is always fresh, fresh, fresh!) We do try to order a few extra pounds to sell at our weekly Saturday Sale as well…and customers are welcome to pre-order for pick-up at our Saturday Sale (see our website for hours/location) as long as we have your request in by the previous Sunday.
Sorry for the long post! Hope this info may be useful to fans of Backyard Beans seeking coffee in Kelowna!
Lisa/Urban Harvest
cheryl responded on 24 Jun 2010 at 2:06 pm #
Where can I buy your coffee? Do you have an outlet in Penticton? With thanks, Cheryl
Carol French responded on 08 Sep 2010 at 2:01 pm #
Hi Liz
I am looking for a Fair Trade Coffee source for Oasis United Church in Penticton. Can you please contact me with a price list. We would be using a medium roast, both regular and decaf. Love to hear back from you. Thanks, Carol
Ian responded on 06 Oct 2010 at 9:38 am #
Love your coffee. Used to purchase at Edible BC on Granville Island, but they no longer carry. Do you have anyone carrying it in North Van? Maybe West Van? Or should I ask about care packages by post?
Cheers,
Ian