Where It All Began
2001
When the company was founded, it was essential to define a philosophy, a niche, a share of the market that no other roasting company had claimed.
We had only a few clients and limited knowledge, but that wasn’t going to stop us from taking the leap!
That’s when we decided to take our first steps into the world of espresso.
Our Specialty
Having a good coffee blend isn’t everything!
Many other elements are essential to serving a great espresso: the machine, the grind, the barista behind the machine, maintenance, the cups, and more.
That's how we took on the challenge of becoming the espresso specialists in the Quebec City area. Beyond that, we also aim to train our clients and share our knowledge with them so they, in turn, can pass on our passion for the world of coffee.
2001
The founding of Cafés Balzac Inc. We started with just 9 clients and operated out of the basement of a convenience store. At that time, we were partnered with Gérard Van Houtte, back when his company was still a small Quebec-based business.
2002
We now have over 200 clients and are moving into our own premises.
2005
Our shop, Le Café de la Poste.
The realization of a big project: the opening of Le Café de la Poste. We were often asked the same question: "Where can I buy your products if I want to enjoy that great coffee at home?" So, we poured our heart and soul into creating the warmest coffee shop in Quebec.
2007
We moved our offices to the second floor of Le Café de la Poste.
2009
The year when everything happened!
Our partnership with Café Faro began, initially with the goal of entrusting the packaging of our coffees to a roaster who shared the same passion as us. We then started distributing their own blends, creating two distinct brands. Just as we were about to begin distribution, a fire broke out at Café de la Poste on a Sunday night! The necessary repairs would take several months…
But we didn’t have time to wait. In less than 10 days, we were relocated just 300 meters down the same street!
A few months later, the Café de la Poste shines like new! We took advantage of this opportunity to install a roaster, allowing us to roast the beans on-site. This marked the beginning of a new challenge.
However, with all these new additions, we quickly ran out of space and had to rent a second location to store our Faro Roastery coffees.
July 2010
The projects keep coming! An opportunity arises: to offer a third brand already well-known to Quebecers, the coffees from Brûlerie Tatum.
This is how we moved into our warehouse located on Godin Avenue to be able to store all our coffees in one place.
2012
This is the year we became the largest independent coffee distributor in Quebec, after acquiring the distribution of La Brûlerie de Café de Québec and Brûlerie Tatum.
2014
The end of a coffee shop
It's with a heavy heart that we parted ways with our beloved store, Le Café de la Poste, while ensuring that the essence of the place remained unchanged. At that time, we wanted to fully focus on the distribution of our coffees.
2016
We are now located in Beauport!
A multifunctional building dedicated to coffee. A coffee shop where you can buy coffee for home or enjoy a great cup of coffee on-site.
A place to buy your filter coffee, espresso, or Bodum equipment. We also offer machine maintenance services and have our own roasting workshop.