The beginnings
The story begins in 1995, when company founders Nikolina and Predrag Okuka decided to flee the war raging in the former Yugoslavia and settle in Quebec City. They brought with them boundless determination and a shared passion: coffee.
Where does this passion come from? Coffee was already part of the family, but it was during the war that coffee became a real vocation. The founder-roaster started roasting and selling coffee to survive during this period, and it was then that he realized the real positive impact of good coffee on people. Even during the worst tragedies, coffee is a unifying moment that does a lot of good individually, but above all collectively. Immigrating to Quebec in 1995, they discovered that espresso didn't really exist here, and the young couple's dream, then their project, took shape: to offer the unique and comforting experience of a real good coffee, to share know-how and passion, but above all to create a large family of enthusiasts.
Resilience
They worked out their business plan while learning French, and finally Café Castelo opened its doors in 1996, on 1st Avenue in Limoilou. It was an instant success with coffee lovers, who discovered not only the Castelo "Château" of coffee and the richness of its aromas, but also a family that unites people through a shared passion. By following a rigorous procedure from contact with the grower to the packaging of the coffee, Predrag, the roaster, achieves consistency and a product of superior quality. He treats each type differently to bring out the best aromas, and creates surprising blends whose recipes are known only to the family.
Specialty stores, enchanted by the quality of the Castelo family's coffee, start selling their coffees, then hotels, grocery stores and businesses, who in turn want to offer their customers and employees this unparalleled know-how. Over the years, Café Castelo has continued to stand out for its innovation and competitiveness in the face of the multinationals penetrating the Quebec market, with their consistent quality and more than reasonable prices. In 2015, this relentless expansion led to the construction of a custom-designed factory to optimize the production of their various coffees as well as the development of new products. It's a place where every stage of production has been thought through and respected. Café Castelo also has its own laboratory to meticulously ensure the quality of each coffee. Roasting is carried out on a daily basis, and they have surrounded themselves with a qualified team specialized in each department. To find out more about our techniques and practices, please visit the Know-How section of our website.
A passion that's passed on
Café Castelo is a family business, and its future is assured by the founders' two children, Anja and Nicolas, who have already been working alongside their parents for some years; they share the same passion for coffee that runs through their veins. It's a family business linked by blood, but also by choice, and it's much bigger than four people. Café Castelo is the result of many passionate people united around the same coffee mission. The Okuka family would like to thank all those who choose to be part of this adventure every day.
The story began in 1995 with a simple passion and has been written every day since, thanks to our partners, employees and customers.
Tangible proof that anything is possible when you believe!
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