1. Little Sister Coffee Maker 

2. Thom Bargen 

3. Parlour Coffee 

 

Little Sister Coffee Maker owes its name to its founder, who is the youngest of four sisters. 

“(That’s) my eternal position within my family,” Vanessa Stachiw says, with a laugh. 

The small coffee shop, located in an Osborne Village basement at 470 River Ave., is a great place to get a tasty cup of freshly made coffee or to just relax in a cozy, inviting atmosphere. 

Even though the coffee already comes from three different roasters, scattered around Canada, it’s not the stopping point for the owner. Bringing the process closer to home, Little Sister partnered up with the new to Winnipeg Dogwood Coffee Co., which is slated to open in The Exchange District in January. 

Owner and operator Stachiw says opening a coffee shop has always been her dream. 

She used to be quite indifferent about coffee, until one memorable trip to Montreal changed her mind. 

“It was a different (coffee) style than I’ve ever had before,” Stachiw says. 

Even though Osborne Village is full of coffee shop chains like Starbucks and Second Cup, Little Sister’s staff don’t feel intimidated. 

“Our goal is to focus on what we do and do it very well,” Stachiw says. 

While their main focus is, of course, to make great coffee, the staff also enjoy chatting with customers and having fun along the way. 

“It’s really rewarding to get to be a part of people’s lives everyday. Coffee really brings people together,” she says. 

Little Sister also hosts events from time to time, like book launches. But what’s most unique about the place is its staff, according to the owner. 

“I think people can tell when someone really, really genuine is making your coffee,” Stachiw says.

Published in Volume 70, Number 13 of The Uniter (December 3, 2015)