Just Us! Coffee Roasters
Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a Canadian worker-owned cooperative founded in 1995 that roasts and sells fair trade organic coffee, tea, chocolate, and brewing equipment through DTC e-commerce, three Nova Scotia cafés, and wholesale partnerships with major grocery banners and universities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersKingston, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Just Us! Coffee Roasters does
Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-operative is a 100% Canadian worker-owned cooperative founded in 1995 in Nova Scotia by Jeff Moore, his wife Deb, and three partners. It produces and sells fair trade organic coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, syrups, and brewing equipment/accessories, operating as Canada's first fair trade organic coffee roaster and the first coffee roaster in the world to join the Small Producers Symbol (SPP) in 2011. The company roasts fresh-to-order using antique German-built roasters, sources exclusively from small-producer-owned co-operatives across the Global South (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia), and has consistently paid 17-40% above SPP minimum prices over the past decade while sharing 10% of co-op surplus annually with producer partners.
The business operates through four primary channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at justuscoffee.com with nationwide Canadian shipping, three physical café/roastery points of sale in the Wolfville area of Nova Scotia (Grand Pré Café, Grand Pré Roastery and Head Office, Wolfville Café), wholesale grocery distribution through national banners including Sobeys, Loblaws, and Atlantic Superstore, and foodservice partnerships with universities (Acadia, Dalhousie, Saint Mary's) and independent cafés. Coffee products range from $14.25 to $25.00, chocolate bars at $7.00, and brewing equipment from $13.99 to $60.00; free shipping is offered on DTC orders over $59. The product catalog includes 47+ coffee SKUs spanning single origins, blends, reserve blends, instant coffee, and green beans, plus a growing portfolio of cause-linked blends supporting specific community partners (Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Ecology Action Centre, VANSDA, Indigenous Education Scholarships, Annapolis Valley Regional Hospital).
The cooperative has no external equity holders or venture capital involvement, with all workers eligible to become member-owners. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company has expanded its impact footprint through a decade-plus renewable energy partnership with Bullfrog Power and through community-aligned cause marketing, but has not pursued acquisitions, additional funding rounds, or aggressive geographic retail expansion. A new catering brand (justuscatering.com) was launched as an adjacent service line.
Just Us! Coffee Roasters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Just Us! Coffee Roasters
- Legal name
- Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-operative
- Website
- https://justuscoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a Canadian worker-owned cooperative founded in 1995 that roasts and sells fair trade organic coffee, tea, chocolate, and brewing equipment through DTC e-commerce, three Nova Scotia cafés, and wholesale partnerships with major grocery banners and universities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Just Us! Coffee Roasters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Roasting
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB), Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE), Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)
Keywords
Where Just Us! Coffee Roasters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Just Us! Coffee Roasters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales of coffee, tea, sweets, and brew gear shipped directly to consumers. Free shipping on orders over $59.
- Retail/Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale supply of fair trade organic coffee, tea, sugar and chocolate to grocery stores, cafes, offices, restaurants, and universities across Canada
- Café Sales: In-person sales at 3 café locations in Wolfville area (Grand Pre Café, Grand Pre Roastery and Head Office, Wolfville Café) plus Wolfville Farmers' Market
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee products - Various sizes from 100g to 2lb |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chocolate and sweets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brew gear and accessories |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Just Us! Coffee Roasters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a worker-owned cooperative that roasts and sells 100% fair trade organic coffee, tea, sweets (organic chocolate, hot chocolate, cane sugar, and flavoured syrups), and coffee brew gear. Beans are roasted fresh-to-order on antique German-built roasters and shipped the same day. Products are sold directly to consumers via an e-commerce storefront and three café/roastery locations, and are also distributed wholesale to grocery retailers, cafés, universities, and foodservice operators across Canada.
Product overview
Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a worker-owned cooperative and fair trade organic coffee company operating as a single unified product portfolio centered on ethically sourced beverages and related accessories. The core offerings consist of coffee (47+ varieties including single origins, blends, reserve blends, instant, and green beans), tea, and sweets (organic chocolate, hot chocolate mixes, cane sugar, flavoured syrups, cocoa powder), complemented by Brew Gear accessories (brewing equipment and cleaning supplies). All products are fair trade and organic certified, sourced from small-producer-owned cooperatives globally. The company roasts fresh-to-order using antique German-built roasters and operates as a Canadian worker-owned co-op founded in 1995.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Coffee Fair trade, organic 100% arabica coffee offered in multiple roast levels (light to dark), formats (whole bean, ground, instant, green beans), and sizes from 100g to 2lb. Includes single origins, blends, reserve blends, limited releases, and impact-driven blends. Roasted fresh-to-order on antique German-built roasters. Targeted at ethically-minded consumers and wholesale foodservice buyers.
- Tea Fair trade organic tea collection sold alongside coffee through the e-commerce storefront and wholesale channels. Part of the company's beverage portfolio for consumers seeking ethically sourced hot beverages.
- Sweets Organic fair trade chocolate bars (milk, dark), hot chocolate mixes (classic, spicy, peppermint), organic cane sugar, flavoured syrups (Maison Routin 1883), and cocoa powder. All fair trade certified. Sold direct-to-consumer and wholesale.
- Brew Gear Coffee brewing equipment and cleaning supplies including a 2L cold brew coffee brewer, PURO espresso machine cleaning products, Urnex Grindz grinder cleaner, brushes, and café wipes. Sold to home consumers and small foodservice operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- Paid 17% to 40% above SPP minimum for coffee beans consistently over 10 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Just Us! Coffee Roasters
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Just Us! Coffee Roasters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
Just Us! Coffee Roasters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Small Producers Symbol (SPP)corePartnership with the Small Producers Symbol - the only fair trade certification fully owned and led by small-scale producers across Indonesia, Africa, and Latin America. Just Us! was the first coffee roaster in the world to join SPP in 2011, reflecting commitment to paying fair prices that account for social and environmental costs of production.
- SobeyscoreMajor grocery retail partner distributing Just Us! fair trade organic coffee products in stores across Atlantic Canada and potentially wider regions
- Atlantic SuperstorecoreGrocery retail partner (Loblaw Companies) distributing Just Us! products
- LoblawscoreMajor grocery retail partner distributing Just Us! fair trade organic coffee products
- Bullfrog PowerminorRenewable energy partnership for over a decade - Bullfrog Power provides renewable energy to offset all electricity usage in Atlantic Canada's power grid
- Union de la SelvacoreCoffee co-operative in Chiapas, Mexico - source of first $70,000 shipment in 1995 and long-standing partnership
- Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA)coreCooperative of Guatemalan farmers rebuilding after civil war - one of earliest and longest partnerships for 30 years
- Acadia UniversitycoreFirst Fair Trade Campus in the Maritimes; café partnership; named Hacha Java blend in honor of fair trade advocacy
- Dalhousie UniversityminorUniversity café partner serving Just Us! coffee
- Saint Mary's UniversityminorUniversity café partner serving Just Us! coffee
- Canadian Fallen Firefighters FoundationminorFirehouse Blend supports this foundation with a portion of proceeds going to support firefighters who risk their lives
- Ecology Action Centre (EAC)minorEAC Wild Brew supports the Ecology Action Centre's 50+ years of environmental advocacy, with a portion of proceeds funding climate action and conservation efforts
- Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association (VANSDA)minorPartnership creating Legacy Series - VANSDA coffee to support Black communities in Nova Scotia through economic opportunities, education, and cultural awareness
- Annapolis Valley Regional HospitalminorRevitalize blend supports efforts to enhance facilities at Annapolis Valley Regional Hospital, with a portion of proceeds funding better healthcare
- Indigenous Education ScholarshipsminorSeven Sacred Teachings blend supports educational scholarships for Indigenous students, with proceeds fostering learning and opportunity
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Just Us! Coffee Roasters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Equal Exchange: US worker-owned cooperative that pioneered fair trade coffee in North America with a similar co-operative structure, ethical sourcing, and wholesale-to-groceries business model.
- Level Ground Trading: Canadian fair trade direct-trade coffee roaster sourcing from small-producer co-ops; highly comparable mission, supply chain, and roasting operation to Just Us!.
- Bridgehead Coffee Roasters: Ottawa-based fair trade organic coffee roaster with café and wholesale channels; directly comparable specialty ethical positioning and Canadian grocery presence.
- 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters: Canadian specialty coffee roaster with direct relationships to coffee producers; comparable premium positioning, multi-channel distribution, and café-retail hybrid model.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: US specialty coffee roaster known for direct-trade sourcing, cafés, and wholesale distribution; comparable craft-roasting heritage and direct-producer relationships, at materially larger scale.
- Counter Culture Coffee: US specialty roaster with strong sustainability and direct-trade credentials, café and wholesale channels; comparable specialty positioning and supply-chain transparency narrative.
- Kicking Horse Coffee: Canadian fair trade organic coffee roaster based in British Columbia with strong wholesale and DTC presence; the closest direct competitor to Just Us! within the Canadian specialty ethical coffee category.
- Salt Spring Coffee: Canadian fair trade organic coffee roaster on the West Coast with comparable certified-organic and fair-trade positioning, plus grocery and foodservice distribution.
- Higher Ground Coffee Roasters: Canadian specialty roaster offering fair trade and organic coffees across wholesale, retail, and e-commerce; overlapping product portfolio and grocery distribution strategy with Just Us!.
Broad incumbents
- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Keurig Dr Pepper): Mass-market specialty and fair trade coffee brand owned by Keurig Dr Pepper; broad incumbent competitor present in the same grocery channels (Sobeys, Loblaws) but competing on volume and price rather than co-op ethics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Just Us! Coffee Roasters social profiles
Digital presenceJust Us! Coffee Roasters compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Just Us! Coffee Roasters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Just Us! Coffee Roasters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Just Us! Coffee Roasters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Just Us! Coffee Roasters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Just Us! Coffee Roasters
What does Just Us! Coffee Roasters do?
Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a worker-owned cooperative that roasts and sells 100% fair trade organic coffee, tea, sweets (organic chocolate, hot chocolate, cane sugar, and flavoured syrups), and coffee brew gear. Beans are roasted fresh-to-order on antique German-built roasters and shipped the same day. Products are sold directly to consumers via an e-commerce storefront and three café/roastery locations, and are also distributed wholesale to grocery retailers, cafés, universities, and foodservice operators across Canada.
Is Just Us! Coffee Roasters a public or private company?
Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Just Us! Coffee Roasters founded?
Just Us! Coffee Roasters was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Just Us! Coffee Roasters based?
Just Us! Coffee Roasters is headquartered in Kingston, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Just Us! Coffee Roasters make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail/Wholesale Distribution and café Sales.
Who are Just Us! Coffee Roasters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Equal Exchange, Level Ground Trading, Bridgehead Coffee Roasters, 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Counter Culture Coffee, Kicking Horse Coffee, Salt Spring Coffee and Higher Ground Coffee Roasters. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Keurig Dr Pepper) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Just Us! Coffee Roasters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Just Us! Coffee Roasters.
What industry is Just Us! Coffee Roasters in?
Just Us! Coffee Roasters's product category is Specialty Coffee Roasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFADAJ, Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing, with a secondary code of AFAFADAB, Coffee Roasting & Grinding. Its NAICS code is 311920.