Island Brew Coffee House is a busy place — but somehow, it doesn’t feel hectic. Tropical music drifts from the speakers, sun shines through the windows and friends catch up on the patio. Leaf motifs, burlap and high ceilings all lend the cafe an airy, welcoming feeling. It feels like an local island coffee bar, exactly as owners Janelle and Matthew Williams intended.
The couple came to Edmonton from Jamaica four years ago and immediately fell in love with Edmonton’s warm and friendly spirit, despite the cold winters.
Island Brew grew from Matthew’s personal interest in coffee — he says he’s tried almost every coffee shop in the city. After introducing some friends to Caribbean coffee, he realized he had an opportunity to bring something new to Edmonton’s coffee scene.
“Growing up in Jamaica, in the Caribbean, coffee is a big thing,” Williams says. “It’s a big part of the culture. And then when we came here, it was even more of a big deal.”
Island Brew combines flavours of the Caribbean and island-sourced beans (their most popular coffee beans come from Haiti) with the kinds of drinks common to Canadian menus: lattes, americanos and flat whites.
Unlike many of the third-wave coffee shops that still proliferate around the city, Island Brew’s beans are more like what Williams was familiar with back home — low acidity coffees with notes of chocolate and warm spices.
“I try to keep it as traditional as possible, even with the sizes of the drinks,” Williams says.
While we talk, I sip on the tropical brew, an iced coffee with pine and ginger, which Williams says is popular amongst customers who tend to reach for an americano. I can see why — the pine and ginger notes are subtle and not overly sweet, so the coffee flavour shines through.
The menu features other island flavours like coconut and pineapple. Williams enjoys experimenting with flavours and finding the precise balance between ingredients.
Island Brew has built a presence in the neighbourhood since opening their doors seven months ago. They cohost vintage pop-ups with Repeat Vintage, another 124 Street business, and Williams has felt the support of the business community and residents alike. (While we’re talking, a regular taps Williams on the shoulder and makes sure I’m not interviewing him for a new job.)
I get the sense that Island Brew has become an important gathering place for many in the community. Williams beams when talking about his customers, their reception to the shop and how willing they have been to try something new. Even more than that, he’s inspired by the vibrancy returning to 124 Street, and Island Brew’s role in the community — a place to slow down and enjoy life.
Island Brew Coffee House
Westmount | 10802 124 St, Edmonton | islandbrewcoffee.ca
