ilse coffee

Founded in 2019 by Rebecca Grossman and Lucas Smith, Ilse Coffee is a specialty small-batch coffee roaster and café located at 35 Railroad Street in North Canaan, Connecticut — named after Lucas’s grandmother as a tribute to the strong women in their lives. The business began as a wholesale and direct-to-consumer roasting operation before opening its café in a converted mechanics garage, where it now serves single-origin coffees sourced from smallholder producers in regions including Ecuador, Honduras, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia. Known for its emphasis on ethical sourcing, flavor transparency, and coffee education, Ilse has built a loyal following in Connecticut’s specialty coffee community.