Stories

Oh how I miss you, long for you. You're so mellow, so soothing, so round. Calling me to awaken. Calling me to start another day. I have started days without you, but they lack the sweet satisfaction of a Muskoka Roastery morn. Yes, I have started bitter days, unsatisfying days, hard days, disappointing days, hot steamy days, unfulfilling days. All until I found your Muskoka Loon Call. Calling me back, to awaken and start a new day with the sw... Continue Reading

This was my seventh shooting trip to China. Typically I shoot in extremely remote locations and stay in rooms or farmer's homes where there are no amenities or even toilets! None!  Packing light means sacrificing the basics. One pair of footwear for three weeks. One pair of pants. But, there is a luxury I simply cannot do without - my Northern Lights coffee! I always leave enough room for a pound of Muskoka Roastery coffee when I vi... Continue Reading

Last week we were delivering an order to the French River Trading Post, a lovely spot near the northeast corner of Georgian Bay. They have been a customer since 2004 and we're always welcomed when we arrive with a fresh delivery...except this time. Knocking on the receiving door elicited no response. More knocking...nothing. Finally, the door opened a crack and a relieved woman said, "we thought you were the bear who was just here, coming back... Continue Reading

The trip up to Attawapiskat was amazing. The winter up here is really winter! The ice road is broad and smooth, better than a lot of the roads in Toronto!  I’m sorry to report that the living conditions here are worse than what I have seen in China. Managing to get some good one-on-one interviews and video footage, as well as this amazing shot of the Northern Lights. There were five MPPs up here yesterday. They were all rea... Continue Reading

Our regular routine is to measure out a pot of Muskoka Maple ground coffee in our coffee machine, ready to brew first thing in the morning. Imagine being woken from a sound sleep at 6 am by a loud bang as the screen covering the kitchen window smashed to the ground. When we ran to investigate, we saw the face of a large black bear, ready to climb in for his first cup of the day! We slid the window closed in his face, but he wasn't giving up t... Continue Reading

When green (unroasted) coffee arrives at the Muskoka Roastery, it comes in jute bags containing 60-70kg of beans. But, that is far from the beginning, or even the end of the journey for the jute. Jute is a natural vegetable fibre grown primarily in the warm, wet monsoon climates of Bangladesh and parts of India. It has the advantage of being eco-friendly versus non-biodegradable polybags made from petroleum, or paperbags which require large q... Continue Reading

They say, when you lose one of your senses, the remaining become more acute. Truer words have never been uttered as I sit here with large Tibetan prayer wheels spinning lazily behind me and an almost medieval scene playing out before me - complete with wandering chickens, stray wild dogs, lumbering yaks and women in long, dresses & aprons and wearing colourful head coverings. In fact, the only luxury in this remote Western Sichuan village... Continue Reading