By Dan Pujdak

Residents of Lowertown may have noticed the return of a familiar scent this past year: freshly roasted coffee beans.
Owner JP Gorley is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Opulence Coffee, which opened at 261 Dalhousie Street in the former location of Bluebird Coffee.
Mr. Gorley is a gourmand and restaurateur, having initiated and operated hospitality experiences across the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Prior to the pandemic, Mr. Gorley and his wife were preparing to open a new upscale steakhouse in the Boston area. But as the virus shut down the globe, the couple found themselves back in Mr. Gorley’s hometown wanting to start a new business that could survive lockdowns.
Mr. Gorley saw coffee roasting as his opportunity. “We decided to open during the pandemic, we told ourselves it’s the hardest time … if we survive this period we can go through anything after.”
For the time being, business is focused on take-away coffee and roasted beans. Once pandemic restrictions lift, Mr. Gorley envisions a lively environment inside his café. Building on the concept of a European espresso bar, he looks forward to customers mingling at the counter for their dose of caffeine.
“You stand up, you enjoy your coffee, you talk with the person next to you who you might not know … It’s not your library or your office, it’s a classic espresso bar.”
Opulence Coffee focuses only on coffee and, for those with a sweet tooth, a hot chocolate designed to be “the best hot chocolate [someone has] ever had.” The business is designed to be sustainable. “There’s no waste – everything you walk away with is recyclable,” explained Mr. Gorley.
To make sure his coffee is fresh, Mr. Gorley roasts it daily starting at 6 a.m. “The neighbourhood loves that I roast every single day. They all know it. They see the smoke coming out of the chimney. When I unlock the door a little smoke comes out.”
Opulence Coffee’s espresso blend is earthy with bright citrus notes. A single shot, black, brings hints of burnt sugar and grapefruit. The hot chocolate is a rich, velvety European-style drinking chocolate, a far cry from standard powdered hot cocoa. The café makes light, medium, medium-dark, and dark roasts, each with their own unique flavour profile.
Mr. Gorley sees coffee as an essential service improving the lives of Ottawans. “You wake up to drink coffee … you start your day with a bad coffee, you have a bad day.”
Opulence’s blends are sold at the store, as well as three other locations around the National Capital Region. One speciality blend – Cynical Black – is available through local metal band Cynical Sons’ website.
Visit Opulence Coffee at 261 Dalhousie Street or at https://www.opulencecoffee.com/ where you can find detailed information on the source of all the beans and roasts on offer