Coffee

I’m new to Propeller and not sure what coffee I should try, do you have any recommendations? How do I choose the right coffee for me?

We recommend trying one of our Discovery Collections. There are three to
choose from and each collection includes three different coffees -
allowing you to try a range of roast & flavour profiles. Still have
questions? Send us an email at info@propellercoffee.com and we are happy
to help you choose the right coffee for you!

Do you sell your coffee as whole bean or ground?

Both! All of our coffees are kept whole beans until you specify your
preferred brewing method in the drop down menu on the product page.
Choose Whole Bean if you prefer your coffee not ground.

I ordered my coffee beans ground for espresso, but when they arrived, they didn't work with my machine - why not?

Our "espresso" grind setting assumes that customers will use the coffee with pressurized baskets. This is because there simply is no grind setting that will work for all (or even most) customers using an espresso machine otherwise. More than any other brewing method, espresso requires the ability to dial in and make adjustments to grind size depending on bean type, roast style, age, taste, and recipe. Furthermore, because ground coffee off-gasses very quickly, even the most finely ground coffee loses its ability to properly slow the flow of high-pressure water after a few days. Pressurized baskets were invented to solve this problem. We recommend that aspiring home baristas purchase a grinder suitable for espresso (such as the Breville SmartGrind Pro), or use an espresso machine with one built-in (such as the Breville Barista Touch, or Barista Pro) Both are available in our online shop.

What are your most popular coffees?

Turbo Espresso and Skyhawk Dark Roast are our most popular crowd
pleasers. With just a touch of roast and a caramel undertone, they are
sure to be a staple in your home or office as well.

Do you carry decaf coffee?

Yes, we carry a Certified Organic decaf coffee that uses the Swiss Water
process for a 99.9% caffeine-free coffee. This process uses only water
with no chemical additives, leaving the flavor of the coffee intact.
Learn more about the process in our blog post.

How long does Propeller recommend the coffee “rests” before serving?

We recommend "resting" our coffee anywhere from 3 - 7 days from the
roast date before serving - this allows the beans to off-gas and makes
it easier to work with and maintain your dial-in settings.

What is the suggested shelf life after a bag of coffee has been opened?

For optimal quality it is recommended that coffee be consumed within 30
days of the roast date - and resealing the zipper between uses. Coffee
after 30 days isn’t suddenly bad though, it just isn’t as fresh tasting
and vibrant.

How should I store my coffee?

Store your coffee in a cool and dry place, like a cupboard. Between uses
reseal the zipper on the bag to keep your beans tasting fresh longer.

What happened to my favourite coffee? Where did it go? When will it be back?

We rotate our menu seasonally to offer only the freshest coffees at all
times. Look for it again next year, it is something to look forward to!
In the meantime, check out our current fresh arrivals - we offer a
diverse range of flavours and there is surely something similar to your
favourite.

How do I brew great coffee at home?

Check out our handy brew guides. Our brew guides are a great way to
start or refine your coffee experience at home. Need new brewing
equipment? Check out our gear page for our favourite brewers and
accessories.

Why aren’t your dark roasts oily?

We source and roast the highest quality green coffee available, as such,
we do not need to roast exceptionally dark to attain many of the
qualities that our customers love about a delicious dark roast; dark
chocolate, nutty, and rich caramel notes are all present in our Turbo,
Skyhawk and Rivet offerings.

How acidic are your espresso blends?

If you’re looking for something with lower acidity and more full bodied,
we’d recommend the Turbo or Outbound Espresso blends - they are full
bodied and well balanced and low acidity. If you are, in fact, looking
for something bright and more acidic - Ace Espresso is our brightest and
fruitiest, while still a balanced espresso.

Do you have any low acid filter coffees?

Yes, our low acid options are Skyhawk, Rivet and Turbo. Turbo is a
classic espresso that also doubles as a filter option, and Skyhawk and
Rivet (our darkest roasts) are both low-acid filter options that are
caramelly, chocolaty, and nutty.

My ground coffee is showing some lighter matter. Is this normal? What is this?

This is normal for lighter roasts. The lighter bits you are seeing is
the "chaff" that is left in the crease of the coffee bean. In dark
roasts, this material is burned away, but in light roasts it sticks
around. It doesn't taste of anything, so it won't affect flavour.

What is your production/roast schedule?

We roast on demand to ensure the freshest coffee, then package and ship daily.

Why do I need to keep cold brew refrigerated?

At Propeller Coffee Co, we believe Cold Brew should be cold, and so our
process never uses heat. Instead, we use micron filtration on our cold
brew, ensuring maximum flavour, with minimal intervention.

What is the difference between your black and white-label coffees?

Our black labels signify products that are available year-round, such as
our espresso blends, filter blends, and our Swiss Water Process Decaf.
White labelled coffees are our rotating selection of single-origin beans
that change month to month, as new, fresh coffees come in from around
the world. Black labels are great for customers who enjoy brewing
something perennial, while our white label coffees are for those who
want to shake things up.

What is a “single origin” coffee?

“Single origin” means that a coffee is not blended, but rather an
offering of coffee from one traceable source, be it a particular
coffee-growing region, a smaller community of producers, or even a
single farm. Our white-labelled single origin coffees are always roasted
so as to showcase the unique characteristics of coffees grown,
harvested, and processed at these origins.

Where can I purchase your coffee?

Our online shop is available 24/7. If you are looking for retailers
close to where you live, contact us at info@propellercoffee.com and
we’ll be happy to point you to your local retailer.

Coffee Subscriptions

Why sign up for Propeller’s coffee subscription service?

With Propeller’s coffee subscription you save 10% off* coffee year round
and 10% off* filters and gear. With a subscription, you’re in control.
You choose how many bags of coffee you want, what type of coffee you
want and how often you get it. Need more coffee? Add another bag to your
next order. Because our subscriptions are fully customizable, you can
make changes on the fly to suit your current needs and be sure to never
run out of coffee again. *10% off coffee, filters and gear cannot be
combined with any other offer or discount, cannot be applied to previous
orders and can only be applied to regular priced coffees, filters and
gear.

Can I make changes to my order once I’ve signed up?

Yes! Our subscription service is completely customizable. If you find you’re getting too little or too much coffee (impossible!), or if you want to try a different bean, you can change your order any time you like. Just make your changes before you receive your next order confirmation so we can capture your updated preferences in time for your next order.

Can I change how often I get my coffee?

Did we mention that with our subscription service you're in control? You always have the power to change how often you get coffee. We’re here to keep you reliably caffeinated.

 I have a Single Origin subscription - how do you choose my single origin coffee?

Our single origins are always rotating, so if you’ve selected the single origin subscription, you’ll get an ever changing array of exciting new coffees to try. Got a favourite? Let us know and we’ll make sure you get it again while it’s in stock.

Do you pre-grind coffee?

Absolutely. You’ll have a chance to select your grind type from a drop down menu during the signup process. Need to make a change? You can do so at any time. Want whole beans? We’ve got you covered, that’s our default option.

Can I pause my subscription?

If you’re headed out of town, or something comes up, you can skip your next order from your customer portal. No need to pause anything.

Can I give a subscription as a gift?

Absolutely! Email us at info@propellercoffee.com with the details.

Is there a minimum subscription commitment?

One bag, one time, that’s it. You can change your subscription preferences or cancel your order at any time.

When is my coffee shipped?

We’ll confirm your order on the Monday of your order week, and ship it out that Wednesday to ensure that you’re getting the freshest roasted coffee, delivered right to your door.

If you've selected Fil, your order will arrive on the Wednesday of your order week

Delivery dates vary for Canada-wide orders, check your tracking for more information.

I selected Curbside Pickup - when will my order be ready?

Curbside Pick-up customers will receive a pickup notification on the Wednesday of their delivery week, notifying them that their order is ready for pickup.

We are located at 50 Wade Avenue, and are open for contactless pickup 8AM - 4PM Monday - Friday and 9AM - 3PM Saturday & Sunday.

If you require your coffee earlier in the week, email us at info@propellercoffee.com and we'll get you sorted!

Where do you ship to? Is shipping included in the cost?

Currently, we ship to Canada and the US. The cost of shipping is added to your order at checkout. If you’re ordering over $50 in coffee within Canada, shipping is free. Spend over $90 on coffee to qualify for free shipping to the US.

Is it possible to order gear, filters and other merchandise along with my coffee subscription?

We’re always happy to help equip you with the gear and accessories you need to keep brewing. To order gear, filters, or anything else alongside your subscription order, please place an order through your subscription customer portal.

How do I cancel my subscription?

No longer in need of coffee? Log in to your subscription account and click cancel. You’ll be walked through the steps needed to complete the process. Having trouble? Send us an email atinfo@propellercoffee.comand we’ll help you out.

Still have questions?

Having trouble signing up or issues with an existing subscription, we’re here to help. Reach out to us at info@propellercoffee.comand we’ll get back to you to help you along the way.

Shipping

How do you ship orders?

Local delivery: Local orders in the GTA are shipped via Flashbox. Order online by 11:00am Monday to Friday to have your order shipped out the next business day. Orders placed any time on Saturday or Sunday will be processed on Monday and shipped out on Tuesday (with the exception of when there is a holiday on the Monday). Orders outside of the GTA: Orders are shipped via Canada Post, UPS, Purolator, Canpar, and FedEx. Delivery times typically take approximately 1-4 business days, depending on location (shipping to either coast is generally 5-7 business days). Due to increased shipping volume during the pandemic, you may experience longer than normal delivery times. Orders in the US are shipped via FedEx and typically arrive within 2-5 days. Any orders placed close to statutory holidays, during the Christmas holiday shopping season (mid November - January), or during any sales promotions may also experience longer than normal delivery times.

Where do you ship to?

We ship to all Canadian provinces and within the Continental United States.

How much does shipping cost?

Enjoy free Canada-wide shipping for all coffee orders over $50 and free shipping in the US is available for all coffee orders over $90. Our rates for all other orders are a flat rate $10 within Canada, and $14 within the Continental United States. Contact us at orders@propellercoffee.com to inquire about International Shipping Rates.

I placed an order online, what are the next steps?

Once you place your order an email confirmation will be sent, if you haven’t received it please check your spam folder. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please reach out to us at orders@propellercoffee.com. Once we receive your order we will roast, pack and ship it to you. Please check the delivery FAQ for delivery zones and shipping times.

Can I pick up my online order from the roastery?

Yes! Please choose Local Pickup when placing your order online. You will receive a confirmation email when your order is ready to pick up at our roastery located at 50 Wade Avenue.

I am having a problem ordering online, who can I contact to place my order?

If you are experiencing issues with placing an online order, please reach out to us at orders@propellercoffee.com and we will assist you in completing your order.

Cafe

Is your cafe open for in person service/seating?

Yes! Our cafe at 50 Wade avenue is open from 8AM - 4PM Monday - Friday, and 9AM - 3PM Saturday and Sunday. Please check our Instagram page or google business listing for updates for event closures. We follow all health and safety protocols

Which espresso are the drinks made with at the cafe?

We often have two options on the espresso bar, Ace Espresso and Turbo Espresso. Ace if you prefer a profile with floral, fruity, and caramel notes and Turbo if you prefer a profile with more chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut notes. Turbo is the more popular choice for Americanos if you are having a tough time choosing - ask your barista what your options are!

Do you offer public tours of your roastery and tastings?

For the health and safety of our staff and our customers, we are not offering public tours of our roastery or tastings at this time.

Are you hiring?

We're always looking for talented, passionate individuals to join our growing team! If interested, please send your resume to info@propellercoffee.com.

Gear

What type of equipment do you recommend for a home set-up?

All of the brewing gear, filters and merchandise we sell in our online shop are recommended by our team. We thoroughly test each one to confidently know that it is a quality made product that delivers great tasting results! If you have specific requirements, drop us an email at info@propellercoffee.com and our team would be happy to assist.

I am having issues with my new piece of gear, is there someone I can speak to about this?

Yes, please send us an email at info@propellercoffee.com and we would be happy to assist.

Packaging

Are your bags recyclable/biodegradable?

Our bags are recyclable and blue-bin friendly in both Canadian and US recycling streams. These bags were made to be processed with ease by recycling facilities. The bags are manufactured in a Bullfrog powered facility by Rootree - a sustainable Canadian packaging company. The bag formats are optimized for minimum waste and maximum efficiency. Our bags are made locally in Burlington, ON. Rootree’s digital printing process means no printing plates are used, allowing for small design changes and less waste produced.

What is the valve on the back of the bag for?

The one-way valve allows the coffee to de-gas and keeps oxygen out to keep your beans fresh!

Events

What events can Propeller accommodate?

We host wedding ceremonies & receptions, food & beverage industry events, corporate meetings, fundraisers and private events. Send a detailed description of your event to events@propellercoffee.com and we would be happy to send you more information on our events space.

How do I inquire about your event space?

Please send an email detailing your event to events@propellercoffee.com and we would be happy to send you more information on our events space.

Can the cupping room be booked for an event?

Yes! If you are interested in renting our cupping room please send an email with event details to events@propellercoffee.com and we would be happy to send you more information.

Can the roasting room be booked for an event?

Due to the presence of heavy machinery and specialized equipment only trained staff are able to use the roasting facility and it is not available for events. We have windows for a sneak peak of the roasting action though, so you can safely view the space.

Still looking for answers?

If the answers you're looking for aren't in our FAQ, please send us an email by completing the form below.