ABOUT
Our Story
What We Do
Tuck Shop Coffee Society is located in Toronto, Ontario and provides specialty coffee experiences by operating a coffee school, roastery and teaching café- three expressions of the same commitment to crafting and promoting specialty coffee in Toronto.
Specialty coffee refers to coffee recognized for its distinctive attributes and higher quality standards. At Tuck Shop, we embrace these standards without pretence.
We uphold high standards, but we believe good coffee begins with fundamentals, not price tags. Getting the fundamental concepts and skills right is more important than investing in fancy equipment or expensive beans.
For coffee practitioners who are looking for professional training and qualifications in specialty coffee, we recommend our SCA certificate and Q-grader programs. For coffee lovers who wish to learn how to brew and appreciate coffee better, we recommend joining our enthusiast workshops or booking a “Brew-it-your-way” session with our teaching café to experiment with different brew methods. For anyone who wishes to connect and make friends over free-flow specialty coffee, we invite you to join our weekly Coffee Chats, where connections are built and happiness is shared over delightful coffee.
Our Story
Why We’re Called Tuck Shop
“Tuck Shop” is inspired by the tuck shop at our founder’s high school in Hong Kong- a small place of nourishment, conversation, and brotherhood.It was where his coffee journey began.
We call ourselves a “Coffee Society” because we believe learning should feel like a club- equal, curious, friendly, and serious about excellence.
Our emblem draws from traditional school crests- symbolizing learning, craft, and heritage. The elements reflect coffee, knowledge, discipline, and the Lion Rock Spirit of resilience and pragmatism.
Our Founder
Our Founder & Head Instructor, Vincent Fung, is a Evolved Q-grader &Instructor and Authorised SCA Trainer, with professional certifications and experience across Barista, Brewing, Sensory, Roasting, and Green Coffee.Before moving to Toronto in 2023, Vincent had been a lawyer in Hong Kong for 11 years.Vincent joined the specialty coffee industry in Toronto and has been continuing to pursue professional excellence through learning in workplaces/classrooms and practicing at home.
Vincent Fung
Our Philosophy
There is no “right” or “wrong” coffee.
Coffee evolves across cultures and preferences.What matters is not conformity, but whether it is brewed with care and intention.Good coffee presents its attributes clearly and honestly- regardless of price.
Professionalism is not title or qualifications.
A professional is a person who respects work and people enough to dedicate fully to their work and pursue excellence and improvement consistently even when it is expedient/profitable to cut corners.
Knowledge should grow with humility.
Coffee is an endless sea of knowledge and skills.There are always coffee species to be discovered, growing and processing methods to be improved, brewing methods to be invented, brewing techniques to be created, etc.With any serious discipline or craft, the more advanced your abilities become, the more you should realise that you still have a lot to learn.
Fundamentals is more important
Fundamentals is more important than fancy equipment or expensive beans. Quality equipment and beans matter, but your coffee knowledge and skills matter even more.
Mind first, actions second.
Before you make any decision or adopt any change, always know what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it.Be mindful, be intentional, be conscious.
