Calgary is a city known for its harsh climate, but inside the cozy Analog Coffee shops, warmth prevails. This is a true business empire that began with roasting beans at Fratello Coffee Roasters. More about how the network became a symbol of quality and began to combine a craft approach with large-scale business as reported by Calgary1.one.
Analog Coffee is not just a chain of coffee shops in Calgary, but the benchmark for Specialty Coffee in Canada. In this article, we’ll break down the success story of Fratello Coffee Roasters, learn why Slayer coffee machines changed the industry, and where to find the best coffee in Alberta.
Family Legacy in Coffee
Cam Prefontaine introduced his sons, Chris, Jason, and Russell, to coffee culture through the family business, Fontaine Beverages. In 1991, they took the next entrepreneurial step by co-founding Espuccino Imports. The company quickly gained popularity and became the third-largest distributor of Nuova Simonelli espresso machines in North America.
In 1997, the Prefontaine sons acquired Custom Gourmet Coffee from their parents and merged it with Espuccino Imports. In this way, they created Fratello Coffee Roasters – a one-stop shop for coffee lovers. The co-founders’ mission was to redefine the coffee experience in Calgary and Western Canada. And in 2007, the famous Slayer Espresso machine was created, which set new world standards for coffee preparation.
Russ Prefontaine noted:
“When people ordered coffee at Analog, I wanted them to get a real experience in every sense of the word. I wanted them to taste the coffee, not just drink it”
Business Foundation
Thus, the vision of what Analog Coffee should be was formed by the co-founders back in 1997. In March 2011, this vision took its first tangible form at the Calgary Farmers’ Market. At the end of 2012, the founders opened the first location at 740 17th Ave SW. This incredibly successful event led to the appearance of a series of uniquely designed coffee shops: from Southcentre to Bow Valley and Westman Village.
A special training centre was even created in the Fratello roasting room.
Evolution of the Analog Coffee Brand and the Prefontaine Family
The journey from equipment distribution to the creation of a global coffee standard is traced in the table below.
| Year / Period | Event / Stage | Business Significance |
| 1991 | Founding of Espuccino Imports | Start of coffee equipment distribution; entry into the North American market. |
| 1997 | Creation of Fratello Coffee Roasters | Merging of assets and transition to in-house Specialty segment coffee roasting. |
| 2007 | Invention of Slayer Espresso | Technological breakthrough: creation of their own espresso machine, which became a world benchmark. |
| 2011 | First point at Calgary Farmers’ Market | Testing the Analog Coffee retail concept in “field” conditions. |
| 2012 | Flagship at 17th Ave SW | Opening of the legendary location that became a cultural centre of Calgary. |
| 2013–2019 | Network Scaling | Expansion to Bow Valley, Westman Village and launch of Corbeaux bakery. |
| 2020 | Strategic Sale of the Brand | Exit from the retail business to focus on roasting and innovation. |
| Since 2025 | Building a Legacy | Transition to the role of global industry mentors; focus on ethical leadership. |
In 2025, the Prefontaine family marked their success not through profits, but through commitment to values. Their philosophy is based on three pillars: the highest quality, honest leadership, and industry development. This is a story about creating a lasting legacy where the brand and the family become one, inviting every customer to become part of this journey.
Key Success Factors of Analog Coffee
- The use of Slayer espresso machines, which allow baristas to manually control the water flow (profiling) to maximize the flavour of the bean.
- Combining the coffee brand with its own Corbeaux Bakery. This allowed for controlling the quality of their food offerings at the same high level as the drinks.
- Turning an ordinary coffee purchase into a “sensory journey” and educating guests on the culture of consumption.
- The ability of the owners to sell the retail business in a timely manner in 2020 to focus on scaling the wholesale direction and consulting.
- The status of one of the best coffee shops in the world according to BuzzFeed in 2014 brought the local brand to the global map. Thus, the Analog Coffee chain was included in the list of 25 coffee shops in the world worth visiting worth visiting in your lifetime. The BuzzFeed blog noted that Calgary has one of the best coffee shops in the world:
“Analog Coffee offers a variety of delicious drinks, such as Japanese-style drip coffee and lattes. Locals enjoy sliding their stools up to the brew bar to chat with baristas who are very knowledgeable about roasting and brewing methods. After all, coffee is just science, right?”
What is Known About the Prefontaine Brothers?
Chris Prefontaine began his career in the coffee industry during his school years, working in his father’s company. Later, with his brother Jason, Chris co-founded Espuccino Imports in 1991. And in 1997, Chris and Jason joined forces with their younger brother Russ.
Russ Prefontaine was also immersed in the coffee business from an early age. After joining his brothers, he specialized in equipment, installation, and maintenance of Nuova Simonelli. Currently, he holds the position of Director of Coffee at Fratello. It is known that he travels a lot around the world and communicates with farmers.
Authenticity of Analog Coffee
The success of the chain is based on high product quality and a focus on people, so this experience is instructive for small and medium-sized businesses. Analog Coffee is an example of a successful case, namely how a local brand can outcompete global giants global brands (such as Starbucks) thanks to authenticity.
Therefore, when visiting Calgary, we recommend stopping by one of the cozy coffee shops of Analog Coffee to feel the special atmosphere and assess the quality for yourself. The chain’s staff perfectly understands the Fratello philosophy, which is why they bring a a perfect cup of exceptional coffee every time.
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