Strongback Blend

About the Coffee

Strongback Blend is built from South American coffees roasted to Fernwood's darkest profile. The blend is designed specifically for people who want their coffee bold and unapologetic, something that holds up through cream, sugar, and a rough morning.

Dark roasts done well require consistent sourcing and precise roasting. Fernwood uses South American beans for this blend because the origin's natural density and low acidity hold up under high heat without turning bitter or flat. Roasting to this level is a deliberate choice, not a default, and the result is a cup with weight and structure rather than char for its own sake.

This is a practical coffee. It's built for everyday use, works across brewing methods, and delivers the same cup every time. The blend format also gives Fernwood room to maintain consistency even as individual harvests shift from season to season.

About Fernwood

Fernwood was founded in 2007 by Ben and Terra, who came out of the restaurant industry before buying Parsonage Café in Victoria, BC. The café came with a 1936 Barth roaster in the back. That roaster changed the direction of the business entirely, and roasting became the core of what Fernwood does rather than a side function.

Ben and Terra brought a hospitality background to coffee at a time when the two worlds didn't always overlap. They chose to make quality coffee accessible rather than exclusive, including on grocery shelves when that was still considered a compromise. That approach earned them a Canadian Barista Championship win, which backed up the idea that everyday coffee and good coffee don't have to be different things.

"Fernwood is a roaster you'll see all over Reddit as being one of BC's best. I asked to try their coffee, and now I get what all the hype is about. I bought a few extra bags of Manos al Grano for my stash at home."

- Dean, Director of Coffee