iN PHOTOS: Indigenous owned, Mexican inspired café launches in West Kelowna

A new coffee shop and micro-roaster opened its doors earlier this month with an aim to become a hub for community connection, culture and delicious coffee.

Kapi Chido Coffee Roasters is Indigenous owned and operated with a Mexican inspired breakfast and lunch menu.

Located at 3310 Carrington Road, the venue is bright and spacious with a bakery and coffee shop downstairs and a loft with views of Okanagan Lake and Mount Boucherie upstairs.

Owner Sharon Bond-Hogg is well-known in the BC Interior as the holder of the Indigenous run Kekuli Cafes in Westbank, Merritt and Kamloops.

Kekuli cafes are designed to be welcoming, safe spaces for all walks of life and the atmosphere at Kapi Chido is no different, however its menu focusses on house roasted coffee and Mexican foods instead of Indigenous fare.

“Kapi is going to have the same community feel,” Bond-Hogg said. “We wanted something from my culture and background. It has the Indigenous component of connection and community, but with cuisine inspired from Mexico where my husband and I often travel.”

Bond-Hogg is the economic development commission chair for the Westbank First Nation and member of her Nooaitch First Nation near Merritt.

‘Kapi’ means coffee in her language and ‘chido’ means cool or awesome in Mexican slang.

Bond-Hogg learned how to roast her own coffee and made a signature brew that will also go to the Kekuli franchises and other businesses in the area.  

“We have a café that is rooted in culture and community with excellent coffee,” she said. “We’re just a proud Indigenous owned and operated cafe, built on our Indigenous values right from roasting our beans to the atmosphere created with intention, connection and sharing stories, it all goes together.

“It’s a bit of cultural experience with Mexican and Indigenous themes and we’ve already had many Mexican people stop by, excited about the venture.”

The logo for the business features a Sasquatch as a nod to its legendary place in First Nations lore.

Along with house roasted coffee, customers can expect fresh tacos, nachos and quesadillas at the cafe. The treats at the bakery are comforting, old-style goodies including cinnamon buns, scones and date squares.

“I bake all of my favourite things from growing up,” Bond-Hogg said. “The square may not all be the same size but they all taste good.”

The business is still the soft opening phase while awaiting a roaster to arrive. The goal is to have a grand opening celebration in June.

Go here to see more of what Kapi Chido Coffee Roasters had to offer.