Many of us only first truly fall in love with coffee during our academic years, but few of us so intensely and, dare we say meaningfully, as Michael Potters. While writing his final MA paper in International Relations in Toronto, Potters accidentally ended up on a search for the perfect locally-roasted coffee. The hunt ended poetically in the International Relations student mastering the art of doing things locally. Potters founded Parachute Coffee, a Canadian coffee company that travels our great nation in search of the best Canadian coffee roasters. Parachute then sends its subscribers a new and exciting Canadian roast every month. We caught up with the coffee aficionado to find out more…
Give us a snippet about you. What should people know?
I took the entrepreneurial route by accident. I first moved to Toronto from London, Ontario three years ago to study for my MA in International Relations, and while I was writing my final paper I started my love affair with coffee. I couldn’t get out of the academic career lane fast enough. I met with Toronto’s awesome coffee roasters, was inspired by their craft, and started Parachute Coffee.
What inspired you to start Parachute Coffee?
Canadian coffee roasters are doing something really special, but it’s tough for the ordinary coffee drinker to discover them. And freshly-roasted coffee is a hassle to get your hands on. We wanted to find a way to connect coffee drinkers to fresh, locally roasted coffee. So we started Parachute Coffee. We roast and ship on the same day, and each coffee we send our subscribers is different from the month before. It’s a coffee road-trip across Canada – beep, beep.
Why the coffee business?
My family is Dutch, so I’ve been drinking coffee nearly my whole life. I got turned on to a French press a few years ago and I was on the hunt to find a local coffee roaster to get fresh coffee from. It turned out to be a little more difficult than I imagined. Enter Parachute Coffee.
What are you most excited about at Parachute Coffee in the coming year?
We’re planning on a Kickstarter campaign in the spring where Jake (co-founder) raises $500 or so to jump out of an airplane. We’re going to film the whole thing. He will also say your name while he’s jumping if you help out. Keep your ear on the ground, because it’s going to be hilarious.
What are the biggest challenges and best rewards about what you do?
Biggest challenge: Time. Not enough hours in the day to drink all of the awesome coffees.
Best rewards: Not having enough time in the day to drink all of the awesome coffees.
Finish this sentence. I love Toronto because…
…of the waterfront. I love the islands. I go fishing there whenever I can. I think that the lake is sometimes under-appreciated. It’s Toronto’s best asset, bar none.
What are three things you can’t live without?
Coffee, beer, and fresh country air.
What are some of your favourite restaurants in the world and why?
I’ve been lucky growing up in a family of chefs. My Uncle, Chef Michael Potters, always brings the restaurant home to our family dinners. He cooks, we clean. My favourite restaurant he ever owned was Harvest Restaurant in Picton, Ontario.
What’s your favourite drink and where do you go to get it?
A good craft beer within stumbling distance of home.
Let’s get social for a mo’. How can people stay up-to-date with all your globe-trotting?
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