Eric Binion is a coffee connoisseur.

He loves it SA国际影视传媒� and drinks a lot of it. But when Binion first relocated to Yellowknife five years ago, something was missing from his morning cup of joe.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was one thing I noticed when I moved up here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here were places you could get coffee, but not the kind of coffee I wanted to get.SA国际影视传媒�

Unsatisfied with the lack of rich and spicy blends heSA国际影视传媒檇 become accustomed to, Binion, a self-described SA国际影视传媒渇ood scientist,SA国际影视传媒� began experimenting with bean roasting before taking his hobby to the next level. On Oct. 15, Binion, along with members of his family, opened Barren Ground Coffee in Old Town. With its soft launch, the shop is currently open three days a week SA国际影视传媒� Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Overseeing operations alongside his cousin Cory Dohlen, Binion says his shopSA国际影视传媒檚 dedication to putting flavour first makes it unique.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're the only people roasting specialty coffee in town," he said.

Coffee bean gradings or SA国际影视传媒渃upping scoresSA国际影视传媒� act as international markers for the commoditySA国际影视传媒檚 quality, and according to Binion, Barren Ground Coffee currently only receives beans with a rating of 80 or higher.

While in-town shops like Birchwood Coffee offer their customers organic and fair trade coffee, Barren Ground is one of only two locations that roast their own beans. Javaroma does too SA国际影视传媒� but Yellowknifer was unable to reach owners to confirm whether or not their beans match Eric's cupping scores.

Bearing Ground Coffee's commitment to quality java isnSA国际影视传媒檛 its only standout feature. Two parts processing centre, one part coffee shop, the McDonald Drive location offers walk-in customers a selection of fair-trade or single source pour-over blends or whole beans from Ethiopia and Central America, all while an industrial sized bean roaster hums just feet away. The costly machine, which roasts freshly-shipped coffee beans en masse, was subsidized in part by the Government of the Northwest Territories SA国际影视传媒� a boost that Binion says he's eternally grateful for.

The grant, made possible by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment's flagship program for entrepreneurial and small business support (dubbed SEED), is part of the government's bid to spur economic growth at a grassroots level.

In an email to Yellowknifer, Amy Lizotte, manager of trade and investment for the North Slave Region, said SEED offers a financial boost to would-be small businesses and start-ups.

"We're happy to see that funding paying off for Barren Ground and many others like them accessing this program each year," she stated.

Emma Atkinson, owner of Yellowknife's Fat Fox Cafe, is one of Binion's new clients. She says Barren Ground Coffee's business model makes sense.

"We opened with a focus of supporting other local businesses and buying as much stuff locally as possible,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o it's just something that kind of fitted in really well with what weSA国际影视传媒檙e already doing.SA国际影视传媒�

A careful curator of tastes, Binion says heSA国际影视传媒檚 also invested in the vitality of his community, and Yellowknife as a whole SA国际影视传媒� something that led him to set up shop where he did.

SA国际影视传媒淚 strongly believe that tourism is on the rise up here and Old Town is definitely an area of Yellowknife that we should be showing off and drawing tourists ... thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of potential down here,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

As for Barren Ground CoffeeSA国际影视传媒檚 next move, Binion is dreaming big.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I started this thing I wanted to have coffee, good, fresh, specialty coffee, in every single coffee shop in the Northwest Territories ... and that NWT will somehow be the mecca of great coffee,SA国际影视传媒� he laughed. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a dream.SA国际影视传媒�

Following Barren Ground's testing of the waters this month, Binion says an official launch, complete with merchandise and prizes, will take place in late November.