History


 A family venture.


In 1973 on beautiful British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, John William Oughtred Sr. put down roots in the West Coast coffee industry, founding Oughtred Coffee & Tea. From these humble beginnings emerged a resounding family business that would one day stand tall in the coffee industry.

Now in our second generation of ownership, the company stands proudly managed by John Sr.’s sons Michael and John Jr., expanding the vast global coffee network their father established.

Maintaining the company’s core principles, the sons now charge headfirst into the 21st century as global leaders and experts within their industry.

Pouring generations of passion and experience into our craft, our commitment is to great coffee from our table to yours.

Our Team


Teamwork has made Oughtred Coffee & Tea who we are today. We strive to ensure that the coffee steaming in your cup is the best it can be from start to finish – an impossible task without the help of our hardworking and committed team.

Michael Oughtred

CEO/Partner

Management Team • Coffee Team

What you really do day to day
Oversee the strategic development of our company while striving to help improve the quality and sustainability of our coffee programs year after year.

Year you started
1997

Our favourite thing about you
Still loves coming to work every day and with a quest to learn something new. After 20 plus years, good on you!

Fun fact
I am a terrible barista…and I am just fine with that.

Favourite drink
A fantastic seasonal offering brewed via pour over or immersion style, surprise me…

Sue Peters

CFO

Management Team

What you really do day to day
Sue is the backbone of our financial team at Oughtred Coffee & Tea. From financial statements to reconciling AR (and everything in between) Sue has her finger on the pulse of everything financial at OCT.

Year you started
2009

Our favourite thing about you
Sue is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. She is a dedicated and committed team member who helps keep our backend in order.

Fun fact

I can find peace and enjoyment in different types of environment. I enjoy people but also appreciate the alone time now and again. I like travelling and try different cuisines, especially spicy and authentic food.

Favourite drink
Medium/dark coffees with chocolaty notes. I enjoy OFS reserve espresso hot or cold, black or sometimes with a few drops of Oat milk. I would add Bailey’s to it for special treat

John Darch

Director of Manufacturing

Management Team • Coffee Team

What you really do day to day
Oversee the day to day operations at our Roasting Works in addition to leading our Coffee Programs at the Oughtred Roasting Works

Year you started
2021

Our favourite thing about you
His passion for learning and dedication to quality. A true coffee nerd and he is proud of it.

Fun fact
Before I started my Coffee Career back in 2002, one of my favorite drinks was a gas station coffee filled with sugar and French Vanilla creamers.

Favourite drink
For me it’s a tie… If it’s a hot drink then I would have to say my morning Chemex.  Come afternoon, there is not much better than an ice cold IPA.

Enrico Lotta

Business Development Lead – Vancouver Island

Management Team

What you really do day to day

Build and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships

Collaborate with the whole team to help deliver the best product and service. If I can help, I’m on it! 

Provide recommendations regarding products, equipment. Set up new wholesale accounts and provide 1st level barista training. Check in calibration and adjust it if needed. Yes, I drink a lot of coffee! I try to learn something new every single day. 

Year you started
2020

Our favourite thing about you
Enrico has as wealth of experience in Customer Service and is generally one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Fun fact

I’m a terrible fly fisherman, every year I try to get my fresh coho from the river, but I end up stopping by on the store on my way back home. I promise I’ll get better 😂

Favourite drink
Come on, espresso grazie!

Rishab Sharma

Operations Manager – Lower Mainland

Corporate Team

What you really do day to day
Coordinate operations and distribution out of our Lower Mainland Distribution Facility.

Year you started
2021

Our favourite thing about you
Rishab loves people and works tirelessly to ensure that our customers always receive the very best customer service possible each day.

Fun fact
Rishab loves cold brew and will drink it regardless of the weather

Favourite drink
Our Brazil Paineira Rosa roasted specifically as a cold brew concentrate. 70 % concentrate and 30% filtered water added back, sweet, bright and ohh so good.

Tim Parcher

Operations Manager – Vancouver Island

Corporate Team

What you really do day to day
Purchasing / Receiving / inventory Management / Order picking / Shipping on Vancouver Island

Year you started
2016

Our favourite thing about Tim
Tim’s obsession with keeping his warehouse organized and turning over. Such a unique skill but we love him for it 

Fun fact
I have a great sense of humour, you just have to discover it

Favourite drink
Americano with Reserve Espresso, thanks

Riya Joy

Accounts Payable

Corporate Team

What you really do day to day
I work with our vendors to ensure a smooth AP solution

Year you started
2021

Our favourite thing about you
Riya is shy on the outside but all business on the inside.

Fun fact
I love to travel and enjoy the diversity of our planet.

Favourite drink
Morning cup of coffee, need the caffeine to fuel the day.

Sahil Gangwal

Customer Service

Corporate Team

What you really do day to day
Takes care of our customers and their exacting needs

Year you started
2023

Our favourite thing about you
Sahil has a passion for helping people and making it look easy

Fun fact
Sahil is currently furthering his education by studying business administration in his spare time to better service our customer base.

Favourite drink
Colombia Tejo in a french press please.

John Oughtred

Partner

Management Team

What you really do day to day
Oversee strategic development and sustainability while building new brands and territories

Year you started
2000

Our favourite thing about you
His willingness to take on new challenges, not afraid to mix it up.

Fun fact
Can fully perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance to this day.

Favourite drink
Wine

Louis Li

Corporate IT Manager

Management Team

What you really do day to day
Anything IT related, up or down, or sideways, never a dull moment.

Year you started
2004

Our favourite thing about you
Louis has an appreciation for the finer details in life. It is all about the little details…

Fun fact
Still riding a 1992 Diamondback road bike bought for getting through the university days.

Favourite drink
Any good IPAs from a micro-brewery

Viraj Dhananjaya

Production Planner

Corporate Team

What your really do day to day?
Prepares the Plant production plan, review and reconcile the plant inventory and co ordinate the shipments with both customers and suppliers.

Year you started
2022

Our favourite thing about you
Viraj has one of the most infectious smiles we have ever seen 😉

Fun fact
Loved to drink Milk & Tea earlier.  Now at least 3 cups of coffee per day. Don’t remember when I had my last tea haha. Serious Cricket fan

Favourite drink
Still getting into it. So far my favourite is Reserve Espresso.

John Iong

Account Manager – Lower Mainland

Coffee Team

What you really do day to day
Oversees our account management program in the lower mainland and is responsible for developing our training program.

Year you started
2022

Our favourite thing about you
John cares deeply about his customers and works hard to help them succeed.

Fun fact

John enjoys cooking and finding inspiration from new ingredients, techniques and dishes he comes across 

Favourite drink
Fresh harvest arrivals from Ethiopia brewed via pour over.

Antonio Fernandez

Head Coffee Roaster

Coffee Team

What you really do day to day
Create, monitor, manage and taste our 120+ coffee roasting profiles to make sure every roast and every cup is delicious.

Year you started
2022

Our favourite thing about you
Antonio just loves roasting coffee and trying to find new ways to express different flavours with a variety of different roasting techniques. A modern day coffee equivalent to Jacques Cousteau

Fun fact
Antonio immigrated from Mexico where his family is involved with farming specialty grade coffees.

Favourite drink
The first espresso of the day

Erik Huang

IT |  Vancouver Island

Corporate Team

What you really do day to day

Work on IT projects to improve our operating efficiency, modernize legacy workflows, and assist with production planning as needed.

Year you started
2022

Our favourite thing about you
Erik is wicked smart and tackles IT challenges in innovative and creative ways. 

Fun fact

Winter is my favourite season. I love the calm and quiet of a snowy day.

Favourite drink

A nice medium Espresso, light on acidity.

Maju Mathew

Accounts Receivable

Corporate Team

What you really do day to day
I work with our customers to ensure a smooth AR solution

Year you started
2023

Our favourite thing about you
Maju is one of the happiest, hardest working members of our team and truly loves working with our diverse group of customers.

Fun fact
Maju is new to Canada and loves exploring Vancouver Island

Favourite drink
Morning cup of coffee, need the caffeine to fuel the day.

Norm Gallano

What you really do day to day
Oversee the production and quality control of our coffees.

Year you started
2007

Our favourite thing about you
Norm has a quiet confidence about him and is not afraid to let his work ethic do the talking. A trusted employee and friend to everyone that gets to know him.

Fun fact
I love to bowl.

Favourite drink
Any coffee that is sweet and bold with a good body.

Oughtred Crest

Indulge in decadence.

Notch Coffee

Explore your tastes.

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Fostering the growth and awareness of specialty coffee through education, customer service, relationships and sustainability.