There are a number of roasters I intend to try around the GTA, including:

• ⁠Pilot (tried; very nice lighter roast/specialty coffees). First impressions: they know their stuff and are serious about their craft. A true “specialty” coffee roaster.
• I.XXI - ECS coffee’s house brand using the Bellweather coffee roasting rig; these have a number of different blends and single source coffees. I’m working through their menu :)
• Detour - bought their bottle neck (currently open bag), punch buggy and dark. Looking forward to trying these.
• Demello - got gifted their Ethiopia Bensa. Waiting for it to rest… smells delicious through the one-way valve! Likely a lighter roast that will be a PITA to dial in, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
• Reunion - their Colombian Las Hermosas was the first ever coffee I tried in my Breville Touch Impress. Beautiful with milk, somewhat acidic… my gripe with them is that they don’t put the roast date on their bags. Bummer!
• Moonbean - need to try
• Burukudu - located near me at Yonge and Elgin, near Octagon in the Farmer’s Market. Nice, average roasts and blends, a tad on the darker/classical side. Resell Trebilcock coffees which are more complex in flavour.
• Trebilcock - available through Burukudu. They have a very nice Colombian (Chalo’s own) espresso. Would like to try their double fermented coffee.
• Hatch Coffee - need to try
• Angry Coffee Roasters - need to try
• Stereo Coffee Roasters - need to try. May be similar to Demello and Pilot. Lots of blends and some single origins.

So yeah, in terms of local roasters, I think I have my hands full at the moment. In terms of fanciness, I’d say Pilot, Detour and Demello are the top. I.XXI ticks all the boxes, but is largely automated (Bellweather roaster), so not sure how I feel about it. Quality seems OK. Pilot has absolutely incredible aromas. Demello as well. Don’t know enough about Detour to comment. Reunion seems like a “your dad’s specialty coffee” - both taste and the fact that they don’t put the roast date on their bags.

At the end of the day it’s the roasters I’m not aware of that I am looking forward to discovering. :)