ESTABLISHED IN 2009
Celebrating coffee excellence from seed to service
Our Purpose
To roast great coffee and work with people who are passionate about their craft.
The values that guide us
Staying quality-focussed
We meticulously roast, bag, pack, and ship from our roastery headquarters. But the work doesn’t start or end here. Our global network of partners uphold rigorous standards at each step in the supply chain.
Building long-standing relationships
Our relationships with coffee producers are genuine and mutually beneficial. By working collaboratively and investing back into communities, we’re able to offer coffees that improve over time. It’s a sourcing philosophy and an ethos for all relationships— from producers to cafe customers.
Fuelling our passion through innovation
We approach coffee with a sense of wonder, constantly exploring new methods, equipment, and insights with fascination. With a healthy curiosity we are led to new and exciting places.
Then & Now
Te Aro Roasted
Pilot Coffee Roasters
Rewind to May 2009: Andy Wilkin, a freshly-minted Q Grader, and Jessie Holmes open the doors to Te Aro Roasted in the heart of Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood. It began as a cafe and micro-roastery inspired by the cafes Andy admired in his hometown of Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand. Working with a passionate and tight-knit team, this former car garage quickly transformed into a hub for specialty coffee enthusiasts. And not just neighbours seeking excellent brew. They connected with cafe owners who shared their vision, supplying coffee, equipment, training, technical support, and consultation.
On the cusp of an emerging specialty coffee scene, a community was being fostered in Toronto.
By 2013, the name Pilot Coffee Roasters was introduced and roasting operations moved up the street to 50 Wagstaff Drive. More cafes opened under the Pilot Coffee Roasters banner, and relationships with new coffee producers and wholesale partners flourished, bringing new coffee experiences to more people.
Today, Pilot Coffee Roasters continues to be a community hub with locations in Toronto, Oakville, and Waterloo, wholesale and grocery partners from coast to coast, and an online shop that serves coffee lovers across North America.
A lot has changed since 2009, but our enduring passion for great coffee and working with great people has forged the path forward. With great joy and gratitude, we continue to help our community discover their coffee’s full potential.
More On Our Approach
