We're proud to share that Fratello Coffee Roasters was recently featured in Brand Magazine, in a Spring 2026 piece by Mario Toneguzzi exploring our journey, our roots, and where we're headed next.
For us, coffee has always been a family story. It stretches back more than fifty years to Cam Prefontaine and the founding of Fontaine Beverages. In 1991, his sons — Russ, Chris, and Jason — launched Espuccino Imports, which grew into one of North America's largest distributors of premium espresso equipment. In 1997, the brothers purchased Custom Gourmet Coffee, and over the following years that business became Fratello Coffee Roasters. You can read more on our About Us page.
The feature digs into a decision that has defined who we are today: choosing quality over volume. As our president Russ Prefontaine puts it in the article, the goal was always to keep "doing things better — buying better coffee, roasting it in a more unique way that showcased the natural flavours". That meant stepping fully into the third-wave movement, building direct relationships at origin, and walking away from accounts that didn't fit a quality-first vision.
More recently, we've streamlined to focus on what we love most: roasting exceptional coffee and supporting our wholesale partners. Today our attention is on Western Canada — working closely with the local cafés, restaurants, and retailers who care about the same things we do.
There's plenty of opportunity right here at home, and our focus stays the same: great coffee, real education, and taking care of our customers.
Read the full feature on Brand Magazine.
