Featured Story By: MediaBlitz

Amid the lush forests of the Kanesatake Mohawk Territory sits an unlikely hub of coffee innovation—Moccasin Joe Coffee Roasters. Inside the aroma-filled roastery, Julie David, one of the first Indigenous female coffee roasters in Canada, meticulously oversees every batch, carrying on her father’s passion for and deep knowledge about the craft.

“I actually hated coffee growing up. The first time I tried it, at 23, I loaded it up with so much cream and sugar just to get it down,” Julie laughs. “But I was hooked after that.”

Though her taste for coffee was acquired, Julie’s fascination with the process began early on. She recalls her father, Walter David, Moccasin Joe’s founder, patiently guiding her through the art of “reading the beans” by eye, touch and smell to coax the best flavours out.

“It’s getting harder to find people who roast that way, relying on their senses rather than just computers,” she notes. “My dad taught me the importance of adapting the roast to each origin, almost like you would a recipe.”

That personal attention is evident in every hand-roasted batch produced in the deafening yet oddly meditative confines of the roastery. The hiss of the roaster, rumble of the cooling trays and whir of the packaging machinery fade away as Julie focuses intently on her craft.

Now, as co-owner of Moccasin Joe with her brother, Julie, having grown the business while staying true to its commitment to taste, ecology and community, continues to pave the way for upcoming female entrepreneurs in the coffee industry. Her biggest piece of entrepreneurial advice? “Surround yourself with a team that believes in your vision as much as you do.”

Moccasin Joe’s team will soon achieve a long-held goal with the launch of their new Indigenous to Indigenous Coffee Alliance i2i coffee line, connecting 100 percent Indigenous-owned coffee farms around the world directly to consumers. The company will be kicking off the line by highlighting a coffee from Campesino Committee of the Highlands, a co-operative in Guatemala with a strong focus on Indigenous labour rights and fair wages.

Sustainability is woven into the very ethos of Moccasin Joe, from bean to cup. True to Julie’s eco-conscious spirit, the company constantly seeks ways to minimize waste, like recycling the quakers (discoloured and misshapen beans) into coffee scrubs. For their new i2i product line, they’ve selected compostable packaging made from renewable resources.

By honouring tradition while fearlessly innovating, Julie and Moccasin Joe Coffee Roasters are creating a more diverse, equitable future for Indigenous businesses—one exquisite cup at a time.

To immerse yourself in Julie’s inspiring journey and discover Moccasin Joe’s exquisite offerings, visit moccasinjoe.coffee.