Our story began with one man, Pierre Richard. Pierre had a deep love for traditional, gourmet methods of roasting and brewing. A love that he began to share with local Ottawa residents by selling and roasting specialty coffees on-demand for a few loyal customers. With the help of our present-day owner Henry Assad, they created the Happy Goat Coffee Co. brand as we know it.
Throughout our growth, we’ve always relied on one exceptional individual: Dr. Hans Langenbahn.
A true craftsman, his fascination and scientific understanding of coffee from seed to cup is unparalleled in his field. With a background in Anthropology, field research in Sudan and Ethiopia exposed him to the complex process and qualifications required to create great coffee. Even to this day, Hans takes regular visits back to Addis Ababa to support and work with our partnered farmers and suppliers
(continue reading to learn more about Hans’ origin story).
Beyond our coffee-brewing expertise, we’ve always made a conscious effort to keep our cafes as inclusive, progressive, and respectful as possible for customers and employees alike regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Our community involvement with local charities, artists, musicians, and events with Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ associated organizations aligns with our belief in inclusivity and mutual respect for one another.
Our head roaster Hans’ roasting style is unique in its trade. It brings back the old artisan touch in order to discover and preserve the true nature of coffee. He and the other Happy Goat roasters take freshness and small-batch roasting to new creative heights. This guarantees incredible quality and originality unsurpassed anywhere else.
