Photo: Junction 3 Coffee House "Chef’s Choice" is a Castanet limited series highlighting the flavours and flair of South Okanagan eateries. Watch for it every Tuesday morning. When Sara Van der Hoeven opened Junction 3 Coffeehouse in Osoyoos four years ago, she did so with a dream of bringing people together through good coffee.
Fast forward to today and Junction 3 is a thriving, community-minded coffeehouse where locals and visitors alike come to enjoy great tasting coffees, smoothies and the best made-from scratch croissants you’ll ever taste. “I wanted a place where the community could feel welcome to get together,” said Sara. “It’s a really fun vibe here and has the best patio in Osoyoos to people watch.
” Sara just launched their late summer menu with refreshing favourites like the Matcha Coloda, the Electric Lemonade, Fruity Frappe, Banana Split Mocha and the popular salty caramel and roasted coconut Tan Cheeks latte which is delicious hot or cold. Now into busy tourist season, Sara thanks everyone for their continued love and support. “Your beautiful faces light up our little corner of paradise.
Here’s to more good times and great drinks.” Croissants are made daily by hand and then baked. The results are “incredible,” she said.
There is a Boston Cream, ham and Swiss, almond and turkey and Havarti. A must have and one of Junction 3’s most popular food items is their cinnamon buns which pair perfectly with a hot latte or other specialty coffee. Sara is looking to expand her coffeehouses to “33 strong.
” They are currently scouting out new locations. “My vision is to have 33 coffeehouses. I want to put unity back into small community because I feel we are losing a bit of that,” she said.
The number 3 and 33 holds significant meaning to Sara for a number of reasons. First, the #3 is her favourite number and 33 is the age that her brother passed away. “The goal of 33 is to celebrate my brother.
His passing is a reminder of the value of life and living in a place of doing what you love.” Sara is passionate about people and what better way to bring people together than coffee, she said. She is also passionate about community and has organized and participated in numerous fundraisers and projects to better the town she loves living in.
Formally from the Lower Mainland, Sara describes Osoyoos as “paradise.” “It’s beautiful scenery and beautiful people. We are all different walks of life that come together.
Everyone has different views but we can have conversations amicably and have respect for each other. That’s what I envision for my coffeehouses is to bring people together through good coffee.” This summer Junction 3 Coffeehouse opened another location on Sudbury Beach in Penticton, offering ‘beachy type menu items’ with the full line up of Junction 3’s coffees.
“It’s going really well at Sudbury Beach.” At the beach concession, they have French fries and easy carry out menu items like wraps. With a full coffee menu also served there, the iced coffees have been really popular this summer, she added.
Sara has another thing she is excited to introduce in the near future. They have bought a coffee roaster and will soon be roasting their own coffee. Sara bought the roaster with the hopes of bringing Junction 3 coffee into hotels and grocery stores around the world.
Junction 3 Coffeehouse is located at 3 Harbour Key Drive and Highway 3. They are open seven days a week 7 a.m.
to 5 p.m. For more information, click here .
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