This week, we’re launching a new series of spotlights on some of our outstanding wholesale cafes that we partner with. First up is Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar, which happens to be only 5 minutes from our office and roasterie.
Gravity opened two years ago and if you’ve had the pleasure of being served by the owner, Andy Fennell, I’m sure you remember his lovely English accent, big smile, and friendly service. Andy has created a cafe that is warm and inviting and we are so happy to have him serve our espresso and filter coffees there.
Andy is originally from England and he moved to Canada in 2001. “Ironically, I never had a cup of coffee in my life before I decided to open a cafe,” Andy tells me. He’s originally from the corporate world but while sitting in a Starbucks years ago, he started to wonder why people from all different backgrounds were there. “They had no where else to go,” he says, “so, I started thinking: I enjoy being around people, that’s my strength. Why don’t I open a cafe?”. So Andy wrote a business plan for a cafe that was all about community… before he even had a sip of coffee!
Quality is really important to Andy. “The atmosphere is what allows me to build community with people. But I didn’t want to work with just anybody, the quality is relevant too.” When Andy met Sebastian, he had just started to get into the small coffee community here in Calgary and hadn’t met anyone yet that he connected with. “I didn’t know anything about specialty coffee when I met Sebastian and Phil but Sebastian was very laid back, relaxed, and put me at ease,” Andy goes on, “I just felt that they were a good fit for me to work with.”
Gravity’s espresso menu largely mirrors a Phil & Sebastian cafe with a traditional cappuccino size, lattes, and his own version of a Dulce Latte. They also offer a regular Fetco filter and a Chemex Kone pour-over option. Andy has a big emphasis on training his baristas – we agree that this is so important! – but reminds me, “if I haven’t got a quality coffee, it doesn’t matter how much I know, I’m not going to be able to make it taste good.” We really enjoy working with someone as conscientious as Andy and look forward to seeing his cafe grow in years to come!
It’s no wonder that Gravity has quickly gone up in the ranks as one of the best in Calgary for service, atmosphere, and quality. They are open seven days a week serving coffee, wine and beer, and a full menu. They also have table service in the evenings and a full line-up of great music every month. Check their website for more details.
Here’s a few photos of their space:
