Through my eyes ... - The inspiring story of Café Castelo

My name is Anja Okuka, and as the daughter of the founders of Café Castelo, I'm proud to share with you the deeply human and inspiring story of our family and our café.

The story of Café Castelo began in 1995, when my parents, Nikolina and Predrag Okuka, made a decision that would change our destiny. Fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia, we arrived in Quebec City with few possessions, if any, but an unshakeable determination to start afresh. Their most precious baggage? A shared passion for coffee, inherited and cultivated in the most difficult moments of their lives.

During the war, my father started roasting and selling coffee to support our family. It was during these times that he realized the power of coffee to unite people, even in the face of adversity. Coffee became a symbol of normalcy and comfort in an otherwise chaotic and unpredictable world. Despite all the darkness, people needed that dose of happiness that reconnects us with our most precious asset: our humanity. 

From war refugees to builders of the future

When we arrived in Quebec, my parents were surprised to discover a caffeine landscape dominated by filter coffee rather than espresso. Seeing an opportunity to share something dear to their hearts, they conceived the Café Castelo project: to bring real coffee, a slice of their European culture, to Canada.

They spent months fine-tuning their business plan while trying to master the French language, and in 1996 Café Castelo opened its doors in the Limoilou district of Quebec City. Customers not only discovered superior coffee, but were also touched by the story of our family, a family that celebrated every cup as a way of bringing people together. I mostly remember my parents' tired faces, but they always had that smile that reassured me that the future would always be better when you have a mission bigger than yourself. Behind every business, there's so much sweat, effort and sacrifice. I sat in the front row, watching my father roast coffee through the night and open the store in the early hours of the morning, never complaining, always grateful to see more and more coffee enthusiasts come through the door of our little store, carrying such a big dream.

Calling all coffee lovers

Over the years, the exceptional quality of our coffees has attracted attention beyond our initial coffee. Specialty stores, hotels, grocery stores and corporations began selling our blends, each meticulously crafted to ensure consistency and quality. In 2015, our steady growth led us to build a custom factory. This new space was not just a factory, but a symbol of our commitment to quality and innovation, with a laboratory to test every batch and production thought out with respect for the environment and uncompromising quality in mind.

My brother Nicolas and I grew up surrounded by bags of coffee and our parents' stories. Working alongside my parents was never a matter of necessity, but a passionate choice. Café Castelo isn't just our family business; it's our life, enriched and supported by a team who share our dedication to coffee.

Every day, we are grateful to those who choose to share our passion. Whether it's a visit to our café or a cup of our espresso in their home, our customers and partners are an integral part of this story.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story that rocks all my dreams.