Coffee, Matcha, and the Art of Flow

At Wu Wei Coffee, we believe every cup begins with something small yet powerful—a seed of connection, growth, and balance. Our journey is rooted in simplicity, quality, and the harmony of slowing down to savor life’s moments. From seed to sip, Wu Wei Coffee is about cultivating community and mindful enjoyment.

Beginnings in a Spare Room

Wu Wei Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster founded during the uncertainty of the 2019 COVID lockdowns. Out of a spare bedroom in my parents’ home, I began experimenting with roasting after nearly a decade in the coffee industry as a barista and manager. With cafés and restaurants shuttered, I reframed this “dead time” as an opportunity to grow — inspired by Robert Greene’s writings on “alive time,” Malcolm X’s transformation in prison, and the stoic philosophy of Epictetus.
What started as a personal challenge soon became an obsession. I purchased a small 1KG Huky 500T roaster — a simple, mostly manual machine that taught me to trust my senses: the evolving smells, sounds, and colors that transform green beans into coffee. I quickly discovered that roasting is both science and art — a dance between chemistry and creativity — and taste is the only true measure of success.

From Bedroom to 6x8 Market Stall: The Embodiment of Doing More with Less

Wu Wei Coffee’s journey began in the most modest of places — a spare bedroom where I roasted coffee on a tiny 1KG machine. From there, we took our first steps into the public eye with a 6x8 market stall. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
That small stall became a living expression of our philosophy: simplicity, resourcefulness, and flow. With limited space and tools, we focused on what mattered most — sharing coffee, matcha, and stories with people face to face. It was proof that you don’t need more to do more. You just need creativity, connection, and the courage to begin.

From 6x8 Market to 44 Kensington.Ave

What began in a tiny 6x8 market stall quickly grew beyond what we ever imagined. As the lineups stretched longer each week, it became clear that our little stall could no longer contain the energy and community
building around Wu Wei Coffee. We knew it was time to take the plunge — to create a full-fledged space where we could serve you better, share our vision more fully, and grow with the people who supported us from
the start. With the confidence that our customers would keep us going, we opened our standalone flagship at 44 Kensington Market, a home where the spirit of Wu Wei could truly thrive.

Our Journey of Flavour

  • John (Founder)

    John, having worked in kitchens and coffee shop management, brings the operational discipline and an eye for detail that ensures those ideas are translated into seamless service — drinks crafted quickly, consistently, and with intention.

  • Salima (Recipe Developer)

    Salima, our drink developer, draws from years of home cooking and flavour exploration — a practice rooted in care, creativity, and a deep respect for ingredients. Her background gives our matcha and coffee creations layers of warmth and balance, inspired by the way food brings people together.

  • Wu Wei Coffee

    Together, we blend imagination with execution: her intuitive flavour sense with his grounded experience. The result is Wu Wei Coffee’s unique approach — drinks that are both adventurous and reliable, created with heart, and delivered with care.

A Basement Reborn as Wu Wei Coffee

  • From bare walls to brewing dreams.
  • Every brick, every beam — building Wu Wei Coffee.
  • Transformation takes time, patience, and a lot of matcha.
  • From vision to reality, one brick at a time.

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The Rise of Matcha at Wu Wei

While coffee is our foundation, Wu Wei Coffee has also become known for our dedication to matcha. What began as a small addition to our menu grew into a defining part of our identity. Matcha’s vibrant character, ritual, and grounding energy resonated deeply with our philosophy of mindfulness, balance, and flow.
Customers quickly embraced it, and matcha evolved into more than just a drink for us — it became a way to share the same values that inspired Wu Wei: minimalism, presence, and harmony with nature. Today, Wu Wei is as recognized for our matcha as for our coffee, offering both sides of the ritual: the lift of the bean and the calm of the leaf.

Our Journey of Flavour

Salima, our drink developer, draws from years of home cooking and flavour exploration — a practice rooted in care, creativity, and a deep respect for ingredients. Her background gives our matcha and coffee creations layers of warmth and balance, inspired by the way food brings people together.
John, having worked in kitchens and coffee shop management, brings the operational discipline and an eye for detail that ensures those ideas are translated into seamless service — drinks crafted quickly, consistently, and with intention.
Together, we blend imagination with execution: her intuitive flavour sense with his grounded experience. The result is Wu Wei Coffee’s unique approach — drinks that are both adventurous and reliable, created with heart, and delivered with care.
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