Fraser Sneath Coffee provides perfect blend

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This article was published 10/10/2015 (3869 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I love coffee. Admittedly, I may even have a slight addiction. As such, you can likely imagine how excited I was to hear that Brandon’s newest coffee shop was open. I was eager to talk to the new owners and, of course, I couldn’t wait to taste their offerings.

Fraser Sneath Coffee, located in the heart of downtown Brandon, opened mid-September, just in time for the drop in temperatures that call for something warm and delicious to drink. After starting the project in December 2013, owners Robyn and Jason Sneath are beyond excited to finally have the doors open.

“We’re just thrilled. For us it’s so much fun and we’re so happy to be able to do something like this. We’re proud to be part of the revitalization of downtown,” Robyn Sneath said.

“It’s something different, it’s accessible to everyone and hopefully it’s something that will bring people to downtown who haven’t ventured here in a while.”

The concept of the new café at 1031 Rosser Ave. came about nearly by accident as the couple hadn’t realized when they bought the building that it was zoned ‘entertainment’ as it is part of the Downtown Hub. The original intent in purchasing the building was to house Dr. Jason Sneath’s full-service medical and cosmeticdermatology practice called SKIN Clinics.

“As a way to comply with the zoning regulations, we decided to open the café in the front of the building and have the clinic at the back. One of our goals in moving to Brandon was to bring some of the things that we missed from living in other centres to the city. Fine coffee and a lovely, little place to go were two of those things,” Sneath said.

Originally built in 1890, the quaint shop has seating for 14. A number of contributing factors played a part in the extended planning and construction phase. One aspect was the attention to detail. Much of what you see in the café is custom-made and custom-designed — everything from the tile floor to the fireplace to the furnishings.

“We worked with a design firm out of Winnipeg called Fireside Design Build. Jason and I are both into design, it’s a real interest of ours, so I would describe it as a minimalist art deco. It follows the third wave of coffee shops. It’s like a movement,” Sneath said.

“There are a few in Winnipeg and, of course, others in all major centres. It’s like a commitment to a finer experience right from the drinks to the surroundings, so typically the shops are very minimal, but we also wanted to respect the heritage space.”

In terms of the menu, Fraser Sneath Coffee serves a standard range of espresso-based drinks, such as Caffè Americano, cappuccino, latte, espresso and cortado. They also have a selection of quality tea and tea lattes, plus local, fresh baked goods.

“We’re really committed to bringing in the finest selection. It’s not just the best that you can get in Brandon, it’s the best that you can get anywhere,” Sneath said.

“The beans that we’re using are Phil & Sebastian, which means they’re roasted in Calgary. We order them on Sunday, they roast them on Tuesday and we’re serving them on Thursday, that’s how fresh the beans are.

“They work directly with the growers, so it is beyond fair trade, it’s direct trade. It’s a collaboration with the growers themselves, so there’s a real ethical commitment that underlies what we’re doing as well.”

Sneath admits they are baristas in training and they’re grateful to have Mathew Klassen on board as their manager.

Something that they’ve all been really excited about is the sophisticated coffee machine that is part of the café. It is handmade in Seattle and is likely the only one of its kind in this part of the country. Sneath said it is incredibly precise, so it is a difficult machine to use and it took a long time to tune. However, that is one of the things that attracted Klassen to the new coffee shop.

“We hired, I’m sure by far, Brandon’s best barista. He’s amazing and he’s so incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about coffee and tea. We’re very lucky to have him and he’s always wanted to work with a Synesso. For him, it’s part art, part science,” Sneath said.

Fraser Sneath Coffee is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, find them at facebook.com/ frasersneath or follow them on Twitter @FraserSneath.