What started as A curiosity quickly became a craft

Fernwood began in 2007 with the purchase of Parsonage Café, where a 1936 Barth roaster sat quietly in the back. What started as curiosity quickly became a craft. Roasting wasn’t just part of the business, it became the foundation of it.

From the beginning, our focus wasn’t scale, it was intention. We believed coffee could carry the same level of care and hospitality as a great meal—thoughtful, consistent, and made to improve someone’s day.

As the specialty coffee industry evolved, we took a different path. At a time when grocery coffee was seen as incompatible with quality, we chose to meet people where they were. One-pound bags. Daily quality control. No shortcuts. That commitment was validated when we won the Canadian Barista Championship, proving that accessibility and excellence don’t have to be at odds.

Our team has grown alongside the company—many who started in entry-level roles now lead key parts of the business. That continuity matters to us. The same care we put into our coffee extends to our people, our partners, and the communities we serve.

Wherever our coffee shows up—on grocery shelves, café counters, or at home—it’s there for the same reason it always has been: to be a reliable, everyday companion that helps people start their day feeling ready.

Fernwood was built by Ben and Terra, shaped by their shared background in restaurants and a deep respect for hospitality.

Before coffee, their world was fast-paced kitchens and late nights. When they started a family, they chose a different path, one that allowed them to build something meaningful while staying present at home. Buying a café wasn’t just a career move, it was a shift in how they wanted to live and work.

That experience still defines how Fernwood operates today. Hospitality isn’t treated as a department, it’s the standard across everything, from how coffee is sourced and roasted to how relationships are built with staff, suppliers, and customers.

While their roles have evolved, the business continues to be shaped by a steady commitment to care, consistency, and thoughtful hospitality. Different strengths have come together to create something that feels considered, reliable, and built to last.