49th Parallel has been a heavyweight in the Vancouver coffee scene since 2004, when brothers Vince and Michael Piccolo set out to bring world-class specialty coffee to the West Coast before it was trendy. They were early pioneers of the direct trade model, which sees them traveling extensively to build face-to-face relationships with farmers. Their roasting style is famous for its consistency and balance; they avoid the ultra-light, acidic "lemon juice" profiles in favor of developing sweetness and body that appeals to both coffee nerds and casual drinkers. It was voted Vancouver’s #1 roastery in 2025.