麻豆视频

In May of 2007 Michael Ellis while "failing forward," as he uniquely describes, established Michael's Coffee Shop and Bakery along with an unexpected coffee culture in Arcola.

While this shop thrived he would go on to open 8 Words Cafe in Carlyle, which he explained didn't work out, but it provided him with extra equipment that has innovatively been turned into a portable barrista catering unit.

"...through a series of events... I was left with all this equipment and what are we going to do with this?" Ellis said.

The idea to convert it into a portable unit then seemed a natural fit for the area through attending the Red Market Barn for a couple of seasons.

Ellis was then asked to help with the Creative Tables event in Arcola which was unable to acquire a liquor licence last year. Needing something more special to offer other than water, juice, and the usual coffee or tea, the idea came to ask Ellis to help.

"I helped with Creative Tables because they didn't have a liquor licence and I just thought this would be a nice time for my son [Heath] and I," Ellis explained. "I went out and bought some tuxedo shirts and vests, and we did 'er up. And out of that I got a wedding booked, so this summer I catered that wedding and we again got dressed up... within a week I had four weddings in my calendar and so I somehow stumbled into a bit of a niche."

He has since attended a number of trade shows, offering a tasty drink to have while perusing the other vendor's tables. He has now cornered a wedding market, but says any large get together requiring a non-alcoholic option such as a corporate Christmas party, family reunion, or other large gathering.

One of the new ideas that Ellis has been involved with has been an event called, "Art and Illusion."

"I have a couple of friends from back in... bible college days," Ellis explains as he first came to Arcola through the ministry. "Keith Kitchner and Derek Selinger... Keith is a musician based out of Swift Current... and Derek is a magician. He's an illusionist based out of Calgary."

"...we've been working on a project together called Art and Illusion, and just going to different venues practicing our craft. So far our show has been on in Winnipeg, and Regina, and a little town in Alberta called Didsbury and just as of [Oct. 15] we booked another date in Swift Current for the 27th, I think of November."

In addition to these new ventures, which came about with the closing of 8 Words Cafe, Ellis and his son have returned from the Canadian Coffee and Tea Show, which hosts the Barrista Championship, in Vancouver to learn more about roasting coffee.

Ellis spoke with The Observer before leaving for Vancouver and explained: "[W]e are registered for two workshops in coffee cupping, which is... a way to evaluate a crop and roast levels and how to smell coffee, how to taste coffee, and start to train our pallet just determining the best [of coffee]. Where the beans are at their finest qualities whether it's for a drip coffee or espresso or however we may be extracting the coffee."

"So, we'll be starting our journey into that and hopefully developing some relationships with companies that manufacture roasters and certainly hanging around with some of those people in that industry..."

Ellis will then determine if he will design a roaster in town to begin roasting coffee beans right in Arcola.

"[P]otentially, what would happen is I would start ordering green coffee and I would start roasting it here in Arcola," Ellis stated.

Having added a new baker to his business in Arcola has allowed Ellis to develop this aspect of his adventure.

"...I go out to an event and I don't have any food to distract us from the coffee, I kind of like that. I like when all I have to do is focus on espresso and making the best coffee drink," Ellis said.

Happy to have been so well received by the community and given the opportunity to develop in his art, Ellis has realized his small town coffee shop and barrista catering could rival any in a large centre.

"I've come to the place lately that with the quality of espresso I pull and the kind of cappuccinos, and the lattes I've been able to make, I'm at the place now where I don't have to take a back seat to anybody," Ellis explained.

"I could take my set up into downtown Vancouver and I wouldn't blush to be there."

Michael's Coffee Shop and Bakery is open Mondays to Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the exception of Monday which has extended hours of 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. to accommodate mothers who bring their children to dance lessons that day.