Kicking Horse Coffee Review. Roasted in Canada

Coffee should be “deep, dark, and delicious.” At least that’s what Kicking Horse Coffee believes. This friendly and socially conscious coffee company is a Canadian-based favorite.

With a focus on tasty and accessible coffee blends, they source their beans from around the world and roast them at their facility in British Columbia. Their slogan is “wake up and kick ass.” So, you can bet they sell nothing but Kick Ass coffee.

Even though they’re based in Canada, those of us living in the United States can still enjoy their coffee. They sell their beans online as well as in some grocery stores. Buying coffee online can feel risky though. How do you know if this coffee is right for you?

Well, we’ve done the research for you. We’ll give you all the details in this Kicking Horse Coffee review so you can decide if you need to try these beans.

Kicking Horse Coffee Decaf Coffee Beans

Kicking Horse Coffee Espresso Beans

Kicking Horse Coffee Light Roast Beans

Kicking Horse Coffee Medium Roast Beans

Kicking Horse Coffee Dark Roast Beans

Kicking Horse Coffee started out in a garage in 1996. The two founders, Elana Rosenfeld and Leo Johnson got their start by roasting small batches of coffee beans out of their garage. Their goal was simply to roast the freshest and best-tasting coffee.

Since then, they’ve grown into a much larger roasting facility and in 2008 opened an adjoining café. But they’re still based in the small Canadian tourist town of Invermere, British Columbia.

With the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, they’re dedicated to values of sustainability and environmental protection. Since 2007, all their coffee has been both organic and Fair Trade. For 13 years in a row, they’ve ranked as Canada’s #1 selling organic and Fair Trade coffee.

That’s not the only distinction they’ve won. In 2018, they ranked as the #1 best workplace in Canada. They’re a company run by values like authenticity, inclusion, community, and social responsibility.

We already know that Kicking Horse Coffee blends and roasts a great cup of coffee. But that’s not the only factor in choosing where to buy your beans.

So much goes into the process of sourcing and selling coffee, so it’s important to do some research before you buy.

Check out this list of pros and cons to help you decide if you’re going to love or pass on Kicking Horse Coffee.

Organic, Fair Trade, and shade grown

If sustainability and ethical growing practices are important to you, Kicking Horse Coffee might be your new favorite brand. Since 2007, they’ve only sold coffee that’s organic, Fair Trade, and shade-grown. If you’re unfamiliar with what these terms mean, here’s a quick breakdown.

Organic coffee beans are produced without the use of pesticides and other chemicals.

Fair Trade coffee supports better prices and working conditions for coffee bean farmers.

Shade-grown coffee beans are a more natural growing process than planting coffee in the sun. It’s more environmentally sustainable and provides natural pest control and fertilization.

Great workplace

Kicking Horse Coffee has been repeatedly recognized for supporting a great work environment. The organization Great Place to Work ranked them as the #1 best workplace in Canada in 2018.

They were also listed among the best on the 2017 ranking. They’ve received recognition as a great workplace for women, inclusion, and manufacturing.

If it’s important to you to buy from a business that treats its workers well, you’ll want to check out Kicking Horse.

Supports environmental and cultural organizations

This coffee brand leads with their ethics in all regards. Along with a commitment to sustainability and a positive workplace, they support lots of other cultural and environmental initiatives.

They have a particular connection to environmental organizations in Canada. That’s likely because of their location along the Canadian Rocky Mountains. On their website, they list several initiatives they support.

Some of these include the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival. On a smaller scale, they also offer a fundraising program for local schools and nonprofits.

No single origins

If you’re looking for single-origin coffee beans, Kicking Horse won’t be for you. While they have a great selection of coffees, they’re all blends.

Single-origin coffee beans have recently gained a lot in popularity. But that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with a coffee blend. It’s really a matter of your personal taste and preference.

Some of their blends are only available in Canada

While shopping Kicking Horse’s selection, you might be slightly disappointed if you live in the United States.

A handful of their blends are only available in Canada. In spite of that, they have a great selection for their fans in the United States. Each of their coffees that we reviewed here is available in the United States.

At the moment, the café is temporarily closed. This is due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They’re working to ensure the safety of their staff and customers before reopening.

In normal times, the café is a bustling community favorite. It’s a full-service café with all your favorite coffee beverages and snacks. They offer a variety of hot and cold coffee drinks, brewed with all their different blends.

You can drink your coffee inside the shop or on their scenic patio. You could also take it to go and explore the town of Invermere. If you need a snack to pair with your coffee, they have you covered. You can choose from plenty of locally made baked goods, sandwiches, and breakfast items.

If you’re a true Kicking Horse Coffee fan, you can also buy some merch at their adjoining retail store. They’ve got shirts, mugs, coffee equipment, and all their different coffee beans for sale.