Founded in 2007, Koffi is the brainchild of Michael Manhas and Alan Pang. The childhood schoolmates transformed an aging Laundromat on Haultain Street into a vibrant neighbourhood coffee shop. The shop’s location on Haultain Corners–at the edge of Fernwood–enables it to serve the commuter traffic as well as the area’s tight-knit community.
Koffi serves 100% Arabica, fair trade, and organic coffee from Canterbury Coffee. For their wide selection of food they choose independent, local suppliers. Patisserie Daniel and Simply Sweet provide their sweet and savory baked goods, and they are the exclusive reseller of Pagliacci’s soups, which arrive fresh daily.
Partnerships with these local companies have been key in Koffi’s success, but the shop’s most important partnership is with the area’s community. When Michael and Alan were considering opening a coffee shop, they originally envisioned it in a retail area; however, after losing one bid to Starbucks, and reevaluating their goals, they chose to adopt a neighbourhood-oriented approach. Since Koffi opened, it has actively worked with the area, through block parties, fundraisers, donations, silent auctions, and musical events, to beautify and vitalize Haultain Corners.
Every month the coffee shop is home to open mic’s, knitters’ meetings, and various other clubs. Koffi has a great family atmosphere, and their kids’ corner, complete with chalkboard, is often busy. The mid-century modern decor is rounded out by a rotating selection of local artists. A destination for commuters and a community center for locals, Koffi has become a catalyst in the renewal of urban space.
