The Bower Coffee Co. Leans Into Quality in Ottawa, Ontario

At The Bower Coffee Co. in Ottawa, Ontario. DCN photo by Daria Toptygina.

A new independent coffee shop called The Bower Coffee Co. is respectfully welcoming guests in Ottawa, Ontario’s Westboro Village neighborhood, while refusing to bend on quality.

With coffees from local roasters such as September and from farther-afield Canadian roasters like Detour and Phil & Sebastian, the shop was created by coffee industry veteran and consultant Chris Petrie.

Along with an architect and contractor, Petrie led the design and renovation of the former ice cream shop space, including adding new flooring, adjusting walls, redesigning bathrooms and building out the coffee bar by hand.

DCN photo by Daria Toptygina.

“Fitting in enough refrigeration was a challenge,” Petrie recently told Daily Coffee News. “There’s not a lot of space in here and I wanted to utilize as much floor space as possible for the customers.”

Within the intimate and well-lit space, guests maintain an unrestricted view of the bar, providing a kind of interactive coffee display. The intentional lack of wi-fi and the minimalistic interior combine to promote human interaction in an approachable space.

“I wanted it to feel simple, clean, and calming,” Petrie said. “I find a lot of places now, it’s overwhelming. There’s a lot of info in your face and choices to be made and sometimes at the counter you don’t know what you want. We want it to feel easy and relaxing.”

The Bower Founder Chris Petrie (left) and Barista Danielle Vlasblom. DCN photo by Daria Toptygina.

Petrie’s own journey to coffee entrepreneurship wasn’t always easy or relaxing. Nearly two decades ago, after narrowly escaping death from a golf mower accident while working as a greenskeeper in Australia, Petrie found himself unable to work.

It was then that he began pursuing a personal passion for coffee, spending time among roasters and learning as he healed. He soon found work as a barista, then as a barista trainer. Over the past 17 years, split between Australia and Canada — where Petrie and his wife returned 11 years ago — he has held numerous roles in coffee retailing and roasting, including launching his own consultancy.

That experience now comes to bear at The Bower, which Petrie described as the kind of shop he would like to visit. The shop’s name and its linear roof-like logo reference a kind of natural protective dwelling.

DCN photo by Daria Toptygina.

Inside, guests can enjoy espresso-based drinks made with a Synesso S200 machine supported by Mahlkönig E65S grinders. The shop also offers manual brews through AeroPress or Origami drippers.

The shop maintains a simple, clean menu, avoiding syrups or other unhealthy add-ins in order to focus on the coffees. The Bower also sources other products locally, when possible, including breads and meats for sandwiches from The Piggy Market, baked goods from Adam Bakes, and gluten-free and vegan options from Strawberry Blonde.

DCN photo by Daria Toptygina.

“A business has to be a reflection of yourself,” Petrie said. “It may not please everyone, but you want to feature all the hard work the farmers, roasters and baristas here are doing.”

The Bower Coffee Co. is located at 429 Richmond Rd in Ottawa, ON. Tell DCN’s editors about your new coffee shop or roastery here. 

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