Business Details
30 Years
experience
Premium Specialty Coffee Roasters in Vancouver
Since 1996, JJ Bean Coffee Roasters has been dedicated to honoring people through the highest quality coffee, food, and community engagement. Our commitment begins with sourcing the finest specialty coffees globally, prioritizing quality over certifications and paying producers well above Fair Trade prices. Each coffee is roasted in small batches to order, ensuring peak freshness and flavor complexity. Our Vancouver-based cafes serve as community hubs, blending exceptional coffee with house-made baked goods and a focus on sustainability. Through initiatives like Over + Above, we extend our impact by supporting education, clean water access, and local culture.Our team of coffee experts combines decades of experience with a passion for innovation, from roasting techniques to brewing methods. We prioritize environmental responsibility, reducing waste through reusable programs and energy-efficient practices. Our partnerships with local suppliers and artisans reflect our dedication to the communities we serve. With every cup, we strive to uphold our founding principle: the best taste wins, but only when paired with integrity and care.
Services
Specialty Coffee
Fresh Roasting
Bakery
Wholesale
Neate Donuts
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We source the finest green coffee globally, prioritizing quality over certifications.
- Our small-batch roasting ensures peak freshness and flavor complexity.
- We pay producers above Fair Trade prices for exceptional coffee.
- Over + Above initiatives support education and clean water access worldwide.
- Sustainability-focused practices reduce environmental impact across operations.
Services
Specialty Coffee Sourcing
We source the world's finest specialty coffees, prioritizing quality and ethical relationships with producers. Our team evaluates beans based on flavor profiles and terroir, paying above Fair Trade prices to ensure fair compensation. This approach guarantees exceptional taste while supporting sustainable farming practices globally.
Small-Batch Roasting
Our roasting process balances complexity and drinkability, tailored to each coffee's unique characteristics. Using vintage equipment and modern techniques, we roast to order five days a week. This ensures maximum freshness, with roast dates printed on every bag for transparency and optimal flavor.
Fresh Bakery
All baked goods are made daily from scratch using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Our menu includes award-winning muffins, croissants, and seasonal pastries, alongside vegan and gluten-free options. This commitment to freshness extends to sandwiches, wraps, and specialty items crafted in-house.
Over + Above Initiatives
Through Over + Above, we invest in education, clean water access, and disaster relief in coffee-growing regions. Projects include building preschools in Ethiopia, funding girls' education in Kenya, and supporting Ukrainian humanitarian efforts. These initiatives reflect our belief that coffee should create positive change beyond the cup.
Sustainability Programs
We minimize environmental impact through waste reduction, energy-efficient roasting, and carbon-neutral shipping. Programs include reusable mug discounts, compostable packaging, and partnerships with recycling organizations. Our facility's emissions control system reduces thermal output by 30%, aligning profit with planetary health.
People
John Neate
CEO & Senior Leadership Team Leader
Fourth-generation Vancouver coffee roaster who founded JJ Bean Coffee Roasters in 1996. He champions ethical sourcing and community impact through initiatives like Over + Above, ensuring the company honors its four-generation legacy while innovating for the future.
Grady Buhler
Coffee Quality Leader
Oversees coffee sourcing and quality control, leveraging expertise in specialty coffee evaluation. He leads origin trips to build relationships with producers and ensure adherence to rigorous flavor and ethical standards, maintaining JJ Bean's reputation for exceptional taste.
Questions
What makes JJ Bean's coffee 'specialty'?
Specialty coffee refers to the highest quality beans, graded above 80 points by the Specialty Coffee Association. We source these based on flavor complexity, terroir, and ethical partnerships with producers who prioritize sustainable farming practices.
How does JJ Bean ensure coffee freshness?
We roast to order five days a week and print roast dates on every bag. Our small-batch approach minimizes staling, ensuring optimal flavor for 2-3 weeks post-roast, similar to freshly baked bread.
What are Over + Above initiatives?
Our global impact programs fund education, clean water access, and disaster relief in coffee-growing communities. Examples include preschool construction in Ethiopia and supporting Ukrainian humanitarian efforts through targeted partnerships.
Do you offer vegan or gluten-free options?
Yes! Our bakery provides vegan (e.g., Double Chocolate Brownie Cookie) and gluten-free friendly items (e.g., Peach Cobbler Muffin). Ingredients and allergen information are clearly listed for dietary transparency.
How can I participate in sustainability efforts?
Bring your own mug for a $0.50 discount, use our Reusables program, or support our carbon-neutral shipping. We also donate 50¢ per water bottle sold to Ethiopian well projects, enabling customer-driven impact.
Reviews (6)
Matthew T.
Feb 16, 2020
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My favourite coffe shop with amazing staff. You can feel the love the share with customers and the coffee and food!
Rachel S.
Aug 28, 2019
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Came here for the first time for a caramel latte and walked away with that plus a cheddar/chive scone and a cheddar/jalapeo muffin! The latte was amazing, as I drank it I realized I had forgotten to ask for decaf espresso and figured oh well, if I feel anxious and jittery it's not the end of the world. Whenever I get a Starbucks latte I always feel super jittery from it (hence why I started doing decaf) but I was pleasantly surprised that JJ Bean's espresso didn't do that to me. The scone and muffin were great and I'd get both again!
Elaine S.
Jun 25, 2019
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Always love going here. My favourite Americano in the city. (I get mine with chocolate...)
Great selection of pastries and sandwiches and friendly staff that remember your name. Love this spot.
Great selection of pastries and sandwiches and friendly staff that remember your name. Love this spot.
Mikael T.
Nov 29, 2018
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A great place to go people watching.
the people that make my coffee take great pride in making sure every cup counts. the first time is always the one you remember.
the people that make my coffee take great pride in making sure every cup counts. the first time is always the one you remember.
Sheane A.
Nov 24, 2018
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This girl Juliana that works there is the worst, she clearly has issues and snaps at customers. What the hell was the manager thinking?? Not friendly and seems jittery and unstable.
Wouldn't want to be served by her again.
Avoid.
Wouldn't want to be served by her again.
Avoid.
Hannah V.
Oct 29, 2018
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On October 28th I came to JJ Bean at Alberni and Thurlow to work,
there was heavy music playing which was very distracting so my Partner asked the Barista to change the music to something more mellow. I went again after nothing happened about 15 minutes later and asked for Chill music. the Barista's complained about this request in ear shot of me with her co worker. The coffee shop closed at 7 and at 6:40 they began vacuuming and sweeping under where we were sitting. When I was younger and worked these types of jobs, this would be completely unacceptable as this is highly unprofessional
there was heavy music playing which was very distracting so my Partner asked the Barista to change the music to something more mellow. I went again after nothing happened about 15 minutes later and asked for Chill music. the Barista's complained about this request in ear shot of me with her co worker. The coffee shop closed at 7 and at 6:40 they began vacuuming and sweeping under where we were sitting. When I was younger and worked these types of jobs, this would be completely unacceptable as this is highly unprofessional
