Get buzzed at Bridgehead Roastery

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Friday, 24 August 2012 16:35

The baristas at Bridgehead Roastery are the undisputed coffee masters of Ottawa, making drinks like they’re science experiments, balancing time, temperature, grind and a slew of other variables to concoct the richest, smoothest and most flavourful cups of Joe.

Located at the corner of Preston and Anderson streets, in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, the Bridgehead Roastery opened its doors back in June and has become a hotspot for serious coffee connoisseurs who travel to Ontario in search of the perfect brew ever since. After investing about $3 million in the new complex, Ian Clark, the director of coffee, is more than relieved.

"It's kind of a big deal," Clark told the Ottawa Citizen. "We want to improve on everything we've done: selling great coffee and providing a great coffee house experience."

The new facility houses a massive roaster, ensuring that every cup of morning brew is fresh, and enough passionate baristas to guarantee the best quality. Anyone staying in Ottawa hotels looking for a fancy pick-me-up in the morning won't want to miss this new spot.

Brewing the perfect cup

A piping hot mug of coffee takes more than just water and ground beans. To bring out all of the flavours, the water has to be at the perfect temperature - not boiling - and depending on the brewing method, a very specific grind. At the Bridgehead Roastery's Brew Bar in Ottawa, baristas concoct an immaculate cup using pour-overs, French presses and the complex siphon method.

If it's done just right, each bean variety, whether from Guatemala or Ethiopia, will have particular characteristics. Beans from Latin America are typically more floral while African coffees have blueberry and chocolate notes - it's almost like wine.

The future of Bridgehead Roastery

Time will only tell how the folks at Bridgehead Roastery will fare in a market that has seemingly forgotten about the art of brewing good old fashioned coffee. While latte art and foamy cappuccinos are certainly chic, especially in a francophonic city like Ottawa, nothing compares to taking a sip of black coffee that tastes like a chocolatey bouquet of peaches and blackberries with a smooth caffeine punch.