FAQ
What is "Microlot" Coffee?
Microlot coffees are relatively small quantities of exceptional coffees from producers dedicated to the craft of coffee.
As we often share, we had no idea coffee could taste like these coffees!
However, the motivation for us to specifically source microlot coffees is TRACEABILITY. Microlots can be traced back to the specific farms, even to specific acres, where these coffees are produced.
What this means is that farmers are able to secure premiums in exchange for the commitment and herculean efforts they invest in the exceptional coffees they produce and consumers are able to have greater access and insight into the supply chain that produces their coffee.
When we jumped into this adventure, it became clear it was vital for us to partner with a specialty coffee importer who speaks our language around people and planet. We found a partner in Café Imports, a specialty coffee importer out of the US who is committed to buying coffee better, to source microlot coffees.
What is "relationship coffee"?
Relationship coffee is a forged, long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship with a coffee cooperative. Read more on relationship coffees at The Perfect Daily Grind
We source a coffee from the Ixil region in the northern highlands of Guatemala, a connection that originated from a conversation with my rad, travelling friend and Wolfe Island neighbour, Jenn Sutherland Miller.
Mayan Mountain is a women's coffee collective that partnered with Barefoot College International - an organization that developed in the 70's to educate and to create economic independence for girls and women in marginalized communities around the world. Barefoot College creates training centres in communities to educate women around the whole ecosystem of their product and in the case of coffee, from bean to cup.
I had the privilege of travelling with my excellent friend Jenn to Guatemala in November 2021 to meet the Mayan Mountain women farmers in their community and had my world ROCKED. From that moment, Haymakers Coffee Co. committed to Mayan Mountain coffee farmers on their journey to develop their coffee production, business education and skills development and the path to a liveable wage.
Is Haymakers Coffee Co. organic and fairtrade?
Most of the coffees we roast are certified organic. Some are organic by circumstance – They aren't in a position to use pesticides and farm organically with what they have.
Regarding fairtrade recognition, the circumstances are much the same. Some coffee collectives pay for certification, while other farms are specialty coffee producers and work alongside specialty coffee importers who pay premiums above market value and invest directly into these farms and communities.
If certification is available from our partners, it will usually be included in the coffee description.
I just like coffee coffee. Does Haymakers Coffee have regular coffee?
Of course!
We hear this at market often and frankly, we started there too. Do not be turned off by the term "specialty coffee". Start with the Guatemala. The Guatemalan is a traditional tasting coffee and a good introduction.
Then visit us at market or come to Wolfe Island for a roastery visit to sample some of the other coffees and we will play. ;)
Do you have a Dark Roast?
The darkest roast we have is the Guatemala which is medium-dark.
That being said, visit us at market or at our roastery to sample our other coffee offerings. You may be surprised by the lighter roasts. Fun!!
Why don't you put the bean information on your packaging?
Good question.
We chose to package our coffee with TekPak Solutions which is a plastics alternative packaging company out of Hamilton, ON that created Omnidegradeable packaging products.
TekPak Solutions is to date the only coffee packaging company we found that provides a product that:
- Is shelf-stable and able to keep Haymakers Coffee beans fresh for many months
- Degrades in a home compost (with recyclable one-way valve and tintie removed)
- When packaging does degrade, their “secret sauce” enables microbes to consume all of the product relatively quickly and without leaving microbeads of plastic.
As a small-batch coffee roaster we do not fulfill the volume needed for rad custom printing so we stamp all our bags right now. Since our coffees change often, that would mean A LOT of stamps!
How does grind affect my coffee?
Coffee-making involves extracting flavour (and caffeine) from coffee grounds. The finer the grind of your coffee beans, the more you increase the exposed surface area of the grounds, resulting in faster extraction.
Think fine-ground coffee for espresso machines — The water from an espresso maker passes very quickly at high pressure through the grounds.
Cold brew, on the other hand, is made with coarse-ground coffee — This cold-extraction method has the coffee sit with the water for a much longer period of time.
If your coffee tastes watery and acidic, you may be grinding your beans too coarsely for the time and temperature that your coffee uses to develop its flavour profile. Try a finer grind, and see if that fixes the issue.
If your coffee tastes overly bitter, you may be grinding too finely —A coarser grind may improve your brew.
| Grind |
Particle size in millimeters |
Consistency similar to | Best for |
| Etra coarse | 1.5 | Rock Salt | Cold Brew |
| Coarse | 1 | Coarse Sea salt | French Press, Percolators |
| Medium | 0.75 | Beach Sand | Pour-over, Chemex, Drip Coffee Maker |
| Medium-fine | 0.5 | Table Salt | Moka Pot (stovetop espresso), Aeropress, Siphon |
| Fine | 0.3 | Fine Granulated Sugar | Espresso |
| Superfine | 0.1 | Flour | Turkish Coffee |
How should I store my coffee?
Haymakers Coffee Co freshly roasted beans are sealed in a bag with a one-way valve which allows the coffee to release carbon dioxide safely after roasting and keeps air out.
After opening your Haymakers Coffee, seal your beans in an airtight, non-transparent container and keep in a cupboard to keep your Haymakers Coffee Co. beans fresh longer.
This will protect your coffee from oxygen, humidity, and direct sunlight. It's also recommend that coffee be stored no more than two months to maintain the freshest results.
What can I do with my coffee grounds?
- Coffee scented candles - Video here
- Gardening - Add grounds to your compost pile to safely add nutrients to your plants. Remember, coffee grounds are acidic and can potentially damage vegetation when used directly on the soil.
As an added bonus, grounds can help attract worms to aid in decomposition. - Repel insects and pests - Certain compounds found in coffee can be highly toxic to insects. they are effective at deterring mosquitoes, fruit flies, and beetles.
Simply set out bowls of grounds, or sprinkle them around seating areas to help keep these pets away. - Find more ideas of what to do with your grounds here
SHIPPING INFORMATION
Subscriptions
For folks who know what they want and how they want it, we will hook you up with a custom draft order through our Concierge Coffee Custom Subscription that offers shipping, local delivery, or pick-up options as you desire.
Reach out to us at hello@haymakerscoffeeco.com
Delivery
For a flat rate of $5.00, we offer DOCK-TO-DOOR LOCAL DELIVERY to Wolfe Island, Kingston and surrounding area. (dependant on postal code and address).
When you order, please let us know in the delivery notes how you brew your coffee if you would like to have your coffee ground.
Where to find us:
- Haymakers Coffee Co.
37 Bill's View Lane, Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0 -
Fargo's General Store
1202 Hwy 96, Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0 -
The Memorial Centre Farmers Market
Sundays, 10am-2pm, Jan to Apr
Sundays, 9am-2pm, May to Dec
TOURS
Haymakers Coffee Co. Roasting Tours are on and we are having a blast!
Please reach out to us at hello@haymakerscoffeeco.com to book a visit and sign up to our mailing list for updates about new experiences and offers coming soon!
More resources can be found on our Links You Should Know page.