3 Reasons Cafe Haven should Win “New Small Business Award” 2010

I am compelled to to resubmit my 2009 nomination of Cafe Haven, for the 2010 Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce New Small Business Award (requirements: less than 10 employees, and fewer than 3 years in business). It still stands that Cafe Haven, owned and operated by Park residents Michael & Julie Harvey, is a worthy recipient.

Since my 2009 nomination, Cafe Haven has not only sharply improved sales volume, it has become further recognized by the Sherwood Park and Edmonton-area community, and been the subject of numerous accolades & glowing reviews.

These recognitions include but are not limited to Vue Weekly’s Golden Fork Awards, and an Edmonton Journal review declaring their cinnamon buns to be 2nd best in the Edmonton area. Reviews like this, and the numerous other informal reviews (like this one, this one, these ones, and this one) by the general public, have resulted in Cafe Haven becoming a “destination” in itself, with customers traveling to Sherwood Park specifically to frequent it.

Also notable among their accomplishments is that one of their barista’s, Alix Osinchuk, competed at this year’s Regional Prairies Barista Competition in Calgary; a challenging competition respected in the high-end coffee community.

The three reasons I have nominated Cafe Haven in the past, and do so again are:

1. Dedication to Superior Product
A cafe of this genre has two products; Food/Beverage, and Cafe Experience. There are times I have entered the Cafe to be excitedly greeted by a sleep-less Michael.  He’s been “dialing in” his coffee brewer a good chunk of the night, and can’t wait for some feedback on the new brew. He shows me his charts, where he has painstakingly adjusted the variables in tiny increments – grind, water temperature, brew time, etc. – until arriving at the taste he’s searching for.

There are many reason why Cafe Haven offers the best coffee in the Park:

1. They have chosen to source their beans from local roaster Transcend Coffee, who’s approach to roasting involves small batches carefully monitored and assessed.
2. Your coffee is not ground until you’ve ordered it, and they never hold a grind for longer than 5 minutes due to the rapid oxidization of coffee.
3. The coffee is never more than one week off the roast and is placed in vacuum one-way valve bags ensuring that your coffee has the minimum amount of contact with the air – the killer of fresh coffee.
4. The twice former South Australian Barista Champion and current Prairies Barista Champion, has trained Cafe Haven to follow a meticulous process for making espresso and adhere to strict standards that ensure every drink is of the highest quality.
5. They warm your cup.
6. They won’t allow you to add Pina Colada syrup to your latte, because they love you.

The menu does not feature items you can find anywhere else within driving distance. It has been inspired by Michael & Julie’s travels around the globe, infused with Julie’s dedication to out-of-the-box experimentation, and crafted from scratch.  Fresh, with your health in mind. Where else can you find a pumpkin, pesto and feta cheese ciabatta with arugula?

The sought after Cafe “Experience” is not something that can be purchased out of a box.  It’s an intangible combination of lighting, music, colors, temperature, smells, furniture, and tastes.  Couches to slouch on and read a book, nooks for private conversations, or tables to set up a laptop, connect to the Wi-Fi and get to work.  A hard-to-resist retail display stocked with the even harder to find coffee-geek gear essential to making high quality beverages at home. Highly-trained baristas who remember you don’t need room for cream in your Americano. Cafe Haven has this.

2. Dedication to the Local Economy
The coffees, food ingredients, beers, wines & desserts have not been purchased from the lowest cost providers.  Wherever feasible, they have made a commitment to supporting the local economy and are sourced from nearby farmers, grocers, brewers, roasters, and bakers.  Not only does this reduce the environmental footprint due to reduced shipping and transportation, but helps ensure the livelihood of the independent entrepreneurs who are contributing to the charm and character of the area.  Items, such as coffee beans which are not reputed to grow so well here, are ethically sourced with concern for our international neighbors: as fair or fairer than Fair Trade.

Further demonstrating this commitment, Cafe Have is a proud member of Original Fare, a “select group of independent restaurants committed to Promoting, Preserving and Protecting Culinary Diversity.  Original Fare restaurants are independently owned and operated and offer original, diverse, authentic dining experiences you just can not get anywhere else.”

The Cafe has also proven itself to be an ideal venue for local artists, musicians, and story-tellers to share their talents with the community on Story Slam and Music Night. The walls proudly promote incredible local painters and photographers.  In addition, their well-attended music nights have raised thousands of dollars for worthy charities and provides an intimate environment for friends and family to enjoy great live acts.

3. Dedication to Environmental Sustainability
Aside from significantly reducing their footprint by shopping local, Cafe Haven has a religious recycling system that recycles all plastics, paper, tins and glass; and composts between spring and fall. They provide incentives for customers to bring their own to-go mugs, and in the unfortunate event you have forgotten your mug they will provide you with their own compost-able ecotainers – sans judgement. Greener, safe alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals are sought out and used where possible, and they have a long-term goal of being 100% green-powered.

That is all.
My only complaint is that I have been spoilt. Forever ruined for ordinary coffee and ordinary cafe’s. These commitments I have highlighted here are likely only the tip of the iceberg – what has become visible to me as a loyal customer.  No doubt there are many other activities behind the scenes that lend further support, however these activities I bring to your attention, alone, make Cafe Haven the primary choice for the 2009  2010 Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce New Small Business Award.

Cafe Haven: Website , Twitter, Facebook

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Cafe Haven for the 2009 New Small Business Award

I am compelled to nominate Cafe Haven for the 2009 Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce, New Small Business Award. In fact, it would not be entirely overstatement to say that Cafe Haven, owned and operated by Park residents Michael & Julie Harvey, is one of the reasons we have chosen to make Sherwood Park home.

My family first moved to Sherwood Park in December of 2007.  It was meant to be a short, house-sitting assignment while we looked for a home to purchase in Edmonton. Until that point, our brief visits to Sherwood Park to visit family had given us the impression that it was a normal suburb comprised of big-box chains: soul-less and lacking in the personality department (nice big trees in the older neighborhoods, however).  We intended to search for a house in Edmonton, looking for a community with more colorful character.

Avid coffee drinkers, my wife and I loved the hunt for quality independent cafe’s wherever we travelled. It wasn’t until February of 2008 that we took a risk, pulled off of Broadmoor and crossed the threshold of our new favorite Cafe. The traditional strip mall exterior concealed what awaited us inside; a warm, worldly environment with eclectic furniture, exotic decorations, board games, and happily, espresso. And not the kind that comes easily and without talent.

Almost two years later we are proud residents of Sherwood Park, and we have since discovered many more independent businesses thriving under the leadership of courageous local entrepreneurs.  Among these, Cafe Haven still stands out and there are three core reasons why it deserves to hold the title of 2009’s best New Small Business. Each of these principled commitments are not easily kept; they are of the kind that are made while risking a hit to the bottom line.   Cafe Haven has made these commitments regardless, choosing to create a business governed by benevolent principles as opposed to the almighty bottom line.

1. Dedication to Superior Product
A cafe of this variety has two products; Food & Beverage, and Experience. There are times I have entered the Cafe to be excitedly greeted by Michael with bags under his eyes.  He’s been “dialing in” his coffee brewer a good chunk of the night, and can’t wait for some feedback on the new brew. He shows me his charts, where he has painstakingly adjusted the variables in tiny increments – grind, water temperature, brew time, etc. – until arriving at the taste he’s searching for.

There are many reason why Cafe Haven offers the best coffee in the Park. They have chosen to source their beans from local roaster Transcend, who’s approach to roasting involves small batches carefully monitored and assessed. Your coffee is not ground until you’ve ordered it, they never hold a grind for longer than 5 minutes due to the rapid oxidization of coffee. The coffee is never more than one week off the roast and is placed in vacuum one-way valve bags ensuring that your coffee has the minimum amount of contact with the air – the killer of fresh coffee. The twice former South Australian Barista Champion and current Prairies Barista Champion, trains the staff to follow a meticulous process for making espresso and adhere to strict standards that ensure every drink is of the highest quality. They warm your cup. They won’t allow you to add Pina Colada syrup to your latte (the organic syrups are for Italian Soda’s, not ruining your coffee with).

The menu does not feature items you can find anywhere else within driving distance. It has been inspired by Michael & Julie’s travels around the globe, infused with Julie’s dedication to out-of-the-box experimentation, and crafted from scratch.  Fresh, with your health in mind. Where else can you find a pumpkin, pesto and feta cheese ciabatta with arugula?

The sought after Cafe “Experience” is not something that can be purchased out of a box.  It’s an intangible combination of lighting, music, colors, temperature, smells, furniture, and tastes.  Couches to slouch on and read a book, nooks for private conversations, or tables to set up a laptop, connect to the Wi-Fi and get to work.  A hard-to-resist retail display stocked with the even harder to find coffee-geek gear essential to making high quality beverages at home. Quirky baristas who remember you don’t need room for cream in your Americano.  [Great staff who's personality is allowed to shine does not happen with a thick rule book and micromanagement. The positive work environment that has been created for their staff has been founded on the risky values of trust and responsibility.] Cafe Haven has it, and if they could bottle it up …

2. Dedication to the Local Economy
The coffees, food ingredients, beers, wines & desserts have not been purchased from the cheapest vendors.  Wherever feasible, they have made a commitment to supporting the local economy and are sourced from nearby farmers, grocers, brewers, roasters, and bakers.  Not only does this reduce the environmental footprint due to reduced shipping and transportation, but helps ensure the livelihood of the independent entrepreneurs who are contributing to the charm and character of the area.  Items, such as coffee beans which are not reputed to grow so well here, are ethically sourced with concern for our international neighbors: as fair or fairer than Fair Trade.

The Cafe has also proven itself to be an ideal venue for local artists and musicians to share their talents with the community; the walls proudly promoting incredible local talent.  In addition, their well-attended music nights have raised thousands of dollars for worthy charities and provides an intimate environment for friends and family to enjoy great live acts.

3. Dedication to Environmental Sustainability
Aside from significantly reducing their footprint by shopping local, Cafe Haven has a religious recycling system that recycles all plastics, paper, tins and glass; and composts between spring and fall. They provide incentives for customers to bring their own to-go mugs, and in the unfortunate event you have forgotten your mug they will provide you with their own compost-able ecotainers – sans judgement. Greener, safe alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals are sought out and used where possible, and they have a long-term goal of being 100% green-powered.

My only complaint is that I have been spoilt. Forever ruined for ordinary coffee and ordinary cafe’s. These commitments I have highlighted here are likely only the tip of the iceberg – what has become visible to me as a loyal customer.  No doubt there are many other activities behind the scenes that lend further support, however these activities I bring to your attention, alone, make Cafe Haven the primary choice for the 2009 Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce New Small Business Award.

View a photo gallery of the Cafe here, and visit their blog here.

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