Koffeology, a new café at 2025 Bowen Road, opened its doors on December 8, 2025, offering specialty coffees, treats, and a community space for youth.
The menu features a variety of ethically sourced hot and cold coffees, teas, matcha, paninis, pastries, and ample study and seating areas accessible to all.
The cafe is co-owned and run by Chris MacDonald and his son Dryw who wanted to offer a communal space for young adults in the community. “Our dream was always to have a local business place that could be a hub,” MacDonald said, especially individuals “between 16 and 18, coming into a workforce for the first time.”
MacDonald hoped it would eventually be a place for those re-integrating into the workforce after substance abuse, incarceration, or health issues etc. Island Crisis Care Center is based a floor above the café and the MacDonalds are in conversation to pair with the non-profit to provide opportunities to community members looking for entry-level work in the hospitality sector.
Through other outreach programs, MacDonald said the café is a place for individuals who want a gentle entry to the workforce. “We’ve got a couple of people who are on the spectrum who work for us…so they have limited hours they are able to work, but they love having purpose in here.”
Dryw said in the first week, “We’ve [had] a thousand people already coming through this place…one percent of the city.”
MacDonald and his son “started an espresso cart that provided an espresso at church. That’s how it started…We tested our coffee on them, and it went really well,” he said. The MacDonalds built their own blend of beans, experimenting for four years with the flavour profile of their espresso.
Root 86 supplies their beans, and they support ethical sourcing, organic ingredients, and local businesses. Information about their roasts and mixes, is online.
Kelley Chong, a frequent customer, said she’s found her dream decaf americano. She is also drawn to the location because “their door is open to everyone in the community.”
As father and son, the MacDonalds worked to make the space multi-generational. “We want to create collaborations,” they said.
The space is inspired by the west coast, and its logo is suggestive of conversations, with a speech bubble encased in a cup of coffee. “The -ology comes from …a study of coffee…a nerdy, science-y thing…. That’s kind of how [the name Koffeology] came to be,” MacDonald says.
Their social media page, @koffeology on Instagram has over 350 followers, and over 4,000 views on their first post. In the future, MacDonald says they want to open up Friday nights for “live music” and community time. Previous events include a Paint and Sip Event and a young adult meet-up.
