Our Story

East Van's Coffee of Choice

What happens when four lifelong friends keep meeting for coffee but just can’t enjoy what they’re drinking? They start their own coffee company, of course!  A coffee company focused on smooth, earthy coffee.

It was early 2010, and we’d had enough. We were frustrated with the Vancouver coffee scene. On one end, major multi-national corporations flooded the market with over-roasted, bitter blends. On the other, local roasters pushed out fruity, acidic third-wave roasts. Neither appealed to us. We wanted something that reminded us of our roots—the smooth, earthy, inviting coffee we remembered from our time in Italy.

Our coffee should remind you of family trips to Italy. Moments spent in bustling cafes and cozy homes, where the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee seemed to wrap around you like a warm embrace. Around every cup brought connection—laughter, debates, and stories that wove bonds tighter. Those were the flavors and feelings we wanted to bring home to Vancouver.

Commercial Drive Coffee is named for the heart of Little Italy in East Vancouver. The first European immigrants, many of them Italian - brought their coffee traditions with them, creating spaces that inspired passionate conversations about life, family, politics, and sports. You could hear animated discussions through open windows and smell freshly brewed espresso wafting down the street.

We wanted to rekindle that sense of home and belonging, not just on Commercial Drive, but on any Main Street in any town across BC and Canada. We wanted to create a coffee experience where anyone could sit down—alone or with friends—and feel like they were part of a conversation that transcended time and place.

Through collaboration with local roasters and coffee lovers, we launched The Drive Coffee—our shortened name for the Commercial Drive Coffee Company (CDCC). Our goal was simple: take you back to the heart of those warm, memorable coffee moments and bring a little bit of old-school Commercial Drive back home with every cup.  We live our lives to the fullest, so we want full bodied coffee that matches our zest for life without any edge of bitterness - in our lives or our coffee.

Now, we want to hear from you. Whether you love our coffee or think we could do better, we’re always up for the conversation. After all, that’s what coffee is all about—bringing people together and inspiring connection. 

At Commercial Drive Coffee Co., we’re here to fuel the conversations that matter. Give us a try and let us know how we did!

Our selected gourmet coffee beans are locally roasted,  ethically purchased, carbon neutral and USDA Organic. Find us in your favourite retailers across the Lower Mainland and throughout BC. We are also available online, at TheDriveCoffee.com.

We are beyond proud to be able to say we are a 100% Canadian Owned and Operated Company and ALL our coffees are roasted and packaged in British Columbia.