Who Makes President’s Choice Coffee?

Quick answer

• President’s Choice (PC) coffee is a private label brand, meaning it’s manufactured by a third-party company for a specific retailer.
• The exact manufacturer can vary by product line, region, and over time.
• PC coffee is typically sold at Loblaw-owned stores in Canada, such as Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
• While the specific roaster isn’t always disclosed, these private label products are often produced by large, established coffee roasters.
• To find out who makes a specific PC coffee, check the packaging for manufacturer information or contact Loblaw customer service.

Who this is for

• Shoppers who regularly purchase President’s Choice coffee and are curious about its origin.
• Coffee enthusiasts who prefer to know the source and potential roaster of their beans.
• Consumers interested in understanding the private label model in the grocery industry.

What to check first

Brewer type and filter type

Before you even think about the coffee itself, ensure your brewing equipment is in good order. This means understanding what type of coffee maker you have (drip, pour-over, French press, espresso machine, etc.) and what filter it uses (paper, metal, cloth). Using the wrong filter or a brewer not suited for your coffee can lead to under-extraction or over-extraction, regardless of the coffee’s quality. For example, a fine espresso grind in a drip coffee maker with a paper filter will likely clog the filter and result in a weak, bitter brew. Always use the filter recommended for your brewer.

Water quality and temperature

Water makes up over 98% of your brewed coffee, so its quality is paramount. Tap water with strong chlorine or mineral tastes will directly impact your coffee’s flavor. Consider using filtered water, like that from a Brita pitcher or a more advanced system, to ensure a clean taste. The ideal brewing temperature for most coffee is between 195°F and 205°F. Water that’s too cool will result in a sour, underdeveloped cup, while water that’s too hot can scald the grounds and produce a bitter taste. Many modern coffee makers have built-in thermostats, but if you’re using a manual method, let your boiling water sit for about 30-60 seconds before pouring.

Grind size and coffee freshness

The freshness of your coffee beans is a critical factor. Coffee starts to lose its aromatic compounds and flavor within weeks of roasting, and even faster once ground. Ideally, buy whole beans and grind them just before brewing. The grind size should match your brewing method: coarse for French press, medium for drip, and fine for espresso. Grinding too fine for a drip machine can lead to over-extraction and bitterness, while grinding too coarse for an espresso machine will result in weak, sour shots. Look for a roast date on the packaging if possible, and aim to use beans within 2-4 weeks of that date.

Coffee-to-water ratio

The ratio of coffee grounds to water is fundamental to achieving a balanced cup. A common starting point for drip coffee is a ratio of 1:15 to 1:17 (e.g., 1 gram of coffee to 15-17 grams of water). For US measurements, this often translates to about 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of water. Too little coffee will result in a weak, watery brew, while too much coffee can make it overly strong and bitter. Using a kitchen scale for both your coffee and water will provide the most consistent results.

Cleanliness/descale status

A dirty coffee maker is one of the biggest culprits behind bad-tasting coffee. Coffee oils build up over time, becoming rancid and imparting off-flavors. Mineral deposits from water (scale) can also affect both the taste and the performance of your machine. Regularly clean your coffee maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This typically involves running a cleaning cycle with a coffee maker cleaner or a vinegar-water solution, followed by several rinse cycles with fresh water. Descaling should be done periodically, especially if you have hard water.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Gather your equipment and ingredients

• What to do: Collect your coffee maker, filter, fresh whole bean coffee, grinder, and filtered water.
• What “good” looks like: Everything is clean, readily accessible, and you have the correct filter for your brewer.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Using stale beans or tap water. Avoid this by checking your pantry and water source before starting.

2. Heat your water

• What to do: Heat your filtered water to the optimal brewing temperature, typically between 195°F and 205°F.
• What “good” looks like: Water is at the correct temperature, not boiling vigorously.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Using water that is too hot or too cold. Avoid this by using a thermometer or letting boiling water sit for 30-60 seconds.

3. Measure and grind your coffee beans

• What to do: Weigh your whole coffee beans and grind them to the appropriate size for your brewing method.
• What “good” looks like: Uniformly ground coffee, matching your brewer’s requirements (e.g., medium for drip, coarse for French press).
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Grinding too fine or too coarse, or grinding too far in advance. Avoid this by using a quality burr grinder and grinding only what you need immediately.

4. Prepare your brewer and filter

• What to do: Place the correct filter into your brewer and rinse it with hot water.
• What “good” looks like: The filter is seated properly, and rinsing removes any paper taste and preheats the brewer.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Forgetting to rinse the paper filter. This can leave a papery taste in your coffee.

5. Add coffee grounds to the filter

• What to do: Carefully add your freshly ground coffee into the prepared filter.
• What “good” looks like: The grounds are evenly distributed, creating a flat bed.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Tamping down the grounds too much or leaving large gaps. This can lead to uneven water flow.

6. Bloom the coffee (for manual methods like pour-over or French press)

• What to do: Pour just enough hot water over the grounds to saturate them evenly, then wait 30-45 seconds.
• What “good” looks like: The grounds expand and release CO2, creating a bubbly, “blooming” effect.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Pouring too much water initially or skipping the bloom. This can lead to uneven extraction and a less flavorful cup.

7. Begin brewing

• What to do: Continue pouring hot water over the grounds in a controlled manner, following your brewer’s specific technique.
• What “good” looks like: A steady, even flow of water that saturates all the grounds without overflowing.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Pouring water too quickly or unevenly. This can cause channeling, where water bypasses some grounds.

8. Allow the coffee to finish brewing

• What to do: Let the brewing process complete fully, ensuring all the water has passed through the grounds.
• What “good” looks like: The brewer has finished dripping, and the coffee has been fully extracted.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Stopping the brew too early or letting it drip too long after extraction is complete. This can lead to weak or bitter coffee.

9. Serve immediately

• What to do: Pour your freshly brewed coffee into your mug.
• What “good” looks like: Aromatic, hot coffee ready to be enjoyed.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Letting coffee sit on a hot plate for extended periods. This can make it taste burnt and bitter.

10. Clean your equipment

• What to do: Discard the used grounds and filter, and rinse all brewing components.
• What “good” looks like: Your coffee maker is clean and ready for its next use.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Leaving used grounds and oily components in the brewer. This leads to stale flavors in future brews.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Mistake	What it causes	Fix
Using stale coffee beans	Flat, dull, or even rancid flavors; lack of aroma.	Buy whole beans with a recent roast date and grind just before brewing. Store beans in an airtight container away from light and heat.
Using tap water with strong flavors	Off-tastes (chlorine, metallic, sulfuric) that mask coffee’s natural notes.	Use filtered water (pitcher, faucet filter, or whole house system).
Incorrect grind size	Under-extraction (sour, weak) or over-extraction (bitter, harsh).	Match grind size to brewer type: coarse for French press, medium for drip, fine for espresso. Use a burr grinder for consistency.
Incorrect water temperature	Under-extraction (sour, weak) if too cool; over-extraction (bitter) if too hot.	Aim for 195°F – 205°F. Let boiling water sit for 30-60 seconds.
Dirty brewing equipment	Rancid coffee oils and mineral buildup impart stale, bitter, or metallic flavors.	Clean your brewer regularly with appropriate cleaners or vinegar solution, followed by thorough rinsing.
Inconsistent coffee-to-water ratio	Weak, watery coffee if too little grounds; overly strong, bitter coffee if too many grounds.	Use a kitchen scale to measure both coffee and water for precise ratios (e.g., 1:15 to 1:17).
Skipping the coffee bloom	Uneven extraction, leading to a less complex and potentially sour cup.	Pour just enough water to saturate grounds and let them degas for 30-45 seconds before continuing.
Over-extraction (brewing too long)	Bitter, astringent, and harsh flavors dominate.	Monitor brew time and remove the grounds once extraction is complete. Don’t let it drip indefinitely.
Under-extraction (brewing too short)	Sour, weak, and lacking body; unpleasant acidity.	Ensure sufficient contact time between water and grounds, and that the grind size is appropriate.
Leaving coffee on a hot plate	Coffee becomes “stewed,” developing burnt, rubbery, or bitter flavors.	Serve coffee immediately or transfer to a thermal carafe. Avoid hot plates.

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your coffee tastes sour, then the water might be too cool or the grind is too coarse, because these lead to under-extraction.
• If your coffee tastes bitter, then the water might be too hot, the grind is too fine, or you brewed too long, because these lead to over-extraction.
• If your coffee tastes weak and watery, then you may be using too little coffee or too coarse a grind, because not enough solubles are being extracted.
• If your coffee tastes muddy or has a lot of sediment, then your grind is likely too fine for your filtration method, because fine particles are passing through.
• If you notice a papery taste, then you likely forgot to rinse your paper filter, because residual paper flavor was extracted.
• If your coffee has an off-flavor, then your brewing equipment is likely dirty, because stale oils and mineral deposits impart bad tastes.
• If your coffee lacks aroma and vibrancy, then the beans are likely stale, because volatile compounds degrade over time.
• If your brewed coffee is inconsistent day-to-day, then you should start using a scale to measure your coffee and water, because volume measurements are less precise.
• If your French press coffee is difficult to plunge, then your grind is likely too fine, because it’s clogging the filter.
• If your drip coffee maker is overflowing, then your grind is likely too fine or you’re using too much coffee, because the water can’t flow through efficiently.
• If your espresso shot runs too fast and is watery, then your grind is too coarse or you’re not tamping firmly enough, because the water is passing through too quickly.

FAQ

Is President’s Choice coffee good?

President’s Choice coffee is generally considered a good value for a private label brand. Its quality can vary across different product lines, but many consumers find it to be a reliable choice for everyday drinking.

Who owns President’s Choice coffee?

President’s Choice is a private label brand owned by Loblaw Companies Limited, a major Canadian grocery and pharmacy retailer. The coffee itself is manufactured by third-party suppliers.

Where can I buy President’s Choice coffee?

President’s Choice coffee is primarily available at Loblaw-owned stores across Canada. This includes banners like Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart, and others.

Can I find out the exact roaster for PC coffee?

It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact roaster as manufacturers for private label brands can change. Sometimes, this information is listed on the packaging, or you may need to contact Loblaw customer service for specific product details.

How should I store President’s Choice coffee?

Like all coffee, President’s Choice coffee should be stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. For the best flavor, store whole beans and grind them just before brewing.

Does President’s Choice offer different roasts?

Yes, President’s Choice typically offers a range of roasts, from light to dark, as well as different blends and single-origin options, to cater to various preferences.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Specific details about the third-party manufacturers for President’s Choice coffee.
• In-depth reviews of individual President’s Choice coffee products.
• Comparisons between President’s Choice coffee and other brands.
• Advanced brewing techniques like siphon or cold brew.
• Detailed information on coffee bean origins or specific varietals.