Coffee Lodge
Coffee LodgeGood food, good coffee, good people - these are the driving forces behind Sarnia-Lambton’s original coffee house and café. For over 20 years, Coffee Lodge has been brewing coffee, serving chef-inspired food and some of the best beans in the county. When first established, owner Leo Stathakis was inspired by trips he had made to small coffee houses in Seattle, Vancouver and Michigan. “I’ve always loved coffee and coffee houses. I would often venture out into Detroit to visit all the old coffee houses. I loved the coffee and the atmosphere,” Stathakis shares.
The first Coffee Lodge opened on Exmouth Street in the spring of 2000 and has grown to five locations across Lambton county. The idea of a local coffee shop quickly grew to include a chef-inspired café menu and catering. The look and feel of each Coffee Lodge location is a signature design. “I always wanted it to have a Canadian feel to it,” he explains, “I was inspired by a trip I took out west. I loved Banff and Jasper and that’s what inspired Coffee Lodge.” Today, the cafes offer an espresso bar, a cafe menu, and an extensive list of cold drinks featuring the Lodge’s signature Peanut Butter Iced Capp. A large selection of whole bean coffees are a staple at each location.
When it comes to roasting coffee, Stathakis travelled to Seattle to learn from the best about the West Coast coffee tradition. “I met a Toronto-based roaster known as one of the top in North America. I worked with them to create our first custom blend: the Lodge Dark Roast. Fast forward twenty years and Coffee Lodge now sources beans from several specialty Canadian and American micro-roasters.” One of Leo’s favourite parts of the job is tasting coffee with Coffee Lodge staff. “We often receive small batches from specialty roasters and we run them as the featured coffee of the day. Our guiding principle is to be different and unique.”
Coffee Lodge’s extensive collection of beans has fans across the county and the country thanks to their online store. Their selection boasts original blends and unique flavoured beans curated from craft roasters throughout Ontario and North America. “If you are a coffee connoisseur, we are bound to have something for you.” Beans are available in store or online at www.coffeelodge.ca for their loyal base of guests across the country.
Alongside their drinks, Coffee Lodge serves a fresh menu of soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and baked goods. “Our menu is a simple but fresh, chef-inspired selection that has made lunch the busiest time of the day at Coffee Lodge.” Catering remains a large part of their business. They cater events from small office meetings, breakfasts and lunches, to picnics and medium-sized weddings.
Coffee Lodge remains committed to offering a great experience. “People want a place to meet and connect with others. We’ve always been here to provide that space.”
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