Ordering Asked Questions

Are your coffee bags recyclable or compostable?

Coffee packaging has long been problematic, with the majority of bags made from plastic. Traditional petroleum-based plastics used in coffee bags can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. Our new bags, certified with EN 13432, are compostable. They are made from Kraft Paper and PLA, designed to break down completely into non-toxic components within 90 days when processed in an industrial compost facility.

Are your packing materials recyclable?

No, our bags are not recyclable. Our coffee bags are made of PLA and Kraft paper, which will break down into non-toxic components completely if they are processed correctly in an industrial compost facility within 90 days.

Can I dispose of my coffee bags in the green bin in Calgary?

We are truly sorry to share that, at this time, our certified compostable bags cannot be accommodated in Calgary's green bins. It's disheartening, especially considering our deep commitment to sustainability. We opted for these compostable bags despite their higher cost, firmly believing they represent the best environmental choice yet. Even if they aren't processed immediately, the resources invested in their production and their long-term benefits reflect our dedication to minimizing our environmental footprint. Traditional petroleum-based plastics coffee bags can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. We're eagerly anticipating improvements in composting infrastructure, hoping for more supportive bylaws and expanded facilities in our city. Additionally, for our customers outside Calgary, please note that while our compostable bags may not be suitable for local facilities, they can often be processed in other areas where composting infrastructure is more advanced. This underscores why choosing compostable bags remains a superior option, offering lasting benefits for our environment, even if immediate processing isn't available. Together, let's remain hopeful for a greener future for Calgary and beyond.

Opening Hours

Currently, our team is at the roastery on Tuesdays from 9:00am until 4:00pm.  Feel free to stop by and say hi.

Can I contact you?

Yes, you can contact us via phone at (403) 931-4074 or via email at alejandro@cricklecreekcoffee.com.  Furthermore, you can utilize the contact form on our website.

We are always here to help, so feel free to reach out at any time.  We would love to chat with you!

Coffee storage / Recommended use by date

We recommend brewing your coffee within 4 weeks for best results. Nonetheless, you can expect for coffee to still be optimized for taste for around 6 weeks but should expect it to go stale over time as coffee beans are a natural product that obviously degrades.  Coffee will continue to be safe for consumption even after that time but it won’t taste as good as it should, so aim to use it within twelve months from the roast date.

We recommend that you store your beans in an airtight container (our resealable bags would be just fine) and away from sunlight, heat or moisture.  Also try to keep away from strong odours

Customer Service Guidelines

Need to talk to us about something? We're more than happy to help! Whether you need advice about our products, help with your order, or just want to talk about coffee in general, we'll do our very best to answer your questions as best we can.

If you contact us via email or phone, we’ll try to respond as quickly as possible.  Response times may vary depending on how much we have going on, but rest assured that we will get back to you.

Order Processing & Delivery

We roast to order all of our coffees on Tuesday.  We’ll process all orders we receive up to Monday at 5:00pm.  We do try to process any late orders and will try to roast and process any orders that come in up to Tuesday noon, but no guarantees.  If your order was received after the Monday cutoff, we’ll provide an email update on Wednesday whether we managed to fulfill the order.  If you do not receive an email related to fulfillment of your order, it means that we scheduled it for processing the following week. 

We ship orders outside of Calgary and post all parcels on Wednesday end of day.

How long will it take you to fulfill my order?

The time it takes to fulfill your order will depend on when the order was placed.  Irrespective of when the order is placed, all coffee is roasted on Tuesday and delivered on Wednesday, if outside of Calgary or Thursday, within Calgary city limits. 

How long will you take to respond to my email?

If you contact us via email or phone, we’ll try to respond as quickly as possible.  Response times may vary depending on how much we have going on, but rest assured that we will get back to you.  If it is an urgent matter, we try to respond within a few hours.

What brew ratio do you recommend for your coffees?

We encourage you to make your coffee your own.  We all have different personal tastes and preferences and coffee is deeply subjective.  Below are some guidelines as a starting point as you adapt your brew to your preference and ultimately, capture the best flavours in your cup.  

For starters, try a coffee to water ratio between 1:15 to 1:18.  Coffee brewed within that ratio should provide an ideal cup with adequate strength and extraction.  For example, If you use a 1:17 ratio, you would brew 15 grms of coffee to 250ml of water (15*17= 255ml) but feel free to adjust depending on your taste.

Espresso

A basic approach would be to use a dose of 18grms and obtain yield between 30 to 34 grms over 30 seconds.  Feel free to adjust the variables if your coffee is tasting to strong or too weak.

We are always available to guide you and provide recommendations.  Feel free to reach out to us, we’d love to have a chat!

When do you roast your coffees?

Our coffees are roasted fresh to order every week on Tuesdays.  Thus, your coffee is always fresh and should provide you with the best tasting experience.

Ordering Asked Questions

Which grind should I buy?

We Provide a range of grind options for you to choose the best one that suits your needs.  Grind size will depend on the method you use to brew your coffee.  See our guideline below:
Coarse: recommended for French Press or a percolator/cafetiere

Medium Coarse: recommended for a Chemex Brewer or a Clever Dripper

Medium: recommended for flat bottom pour overs like the Kalita Wave or drip coffee makers

Medium Fine: recommended for cone pour overs like the V60 and the aeropress.  Some also prefer a finer grind for their Chemex .  

Fine: recommended for moka pots or espresso machines.

We encourage you to try which grind provides you with your best desired outcome.

My favourite coffee is gone, what else should I buy?

Coffee is a seasonal product and we strive to have the best-tasting and freshest coffee for our customers.  However, certain farms that we like produce limited amounts and for a variety of options, we may run out.  But do not stress, we try to find coffees from the same origin that will provide similar flavour notes and be a good representation of the particular origin as a whole.  

Feel free to reach out for personalized recommendations tailored to your taste preferences! Explore our offerings for other coffees that might suit your interest. You're likely to discover something else perfectly to your liking!

Help! I made a mistake on my order

Mistakes happen, we even commit mistakes once in a while.  But don’t worry. Please either send us an email as soon as you notice the error and we’ll work with you to find an adequate solution.

My order has arrived and something is wrong

Oh no!  We are sorry to hear that.  Sometimes we slip up and may have committed a snafu.  Please reach out to us as soon as you notice the mistake and we’ll remediate it as soon as possible.

Can I order a gift card?

Yes, you can!  We offer digital gift cards that are delivered via email. 

Delivery Asked Questions

Where is my delivery?

If your delivery has not arrived by the end of the day, feel free to call or email.  It may have been an error on our part or an unforeseen situation with one of our team members.

When will my coffee be delivered?

If your delivery is within Calgary city limits, your order will be delivered by one of our team members on Thursdays.  Orders outside Calgary city limits will be delivered by our team or shipped through our partner on Wednesdays.

Can I collect my coffee in person?

Yes you can.  Feel free to drop by our roastery if you would like to pick up your coffee.  We are only there on Tuesdays, so make sure to contact us via email ahead of time to coordinate pick-up and to provide you with instructions to the roastery.

Do you offer free delivery?

Free delivery is available if the minimum order requirements are met, otherwise a shipping fee will be applied. We deliver for free, with a $30 order minimum per delivery, in Calgary, Okotoks, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chesteremere, Priddis, Okotoks, Diamond Valley, Millarville and High River.  We ship for free, with a $60 order minimum per delivery, to any other location within Canada. We ship for free, with a $95 order minimum per delivery, to USA.