When Bear Boy Espresso opened in Helensvale in January 2020, it helped fill a gap in the local market for considered cafe-style hospitality. When Bear Boy expanded to Windsor’s Colwill Place a year later, it did the exact same thing. Adding a handy go-to option for those living along the Lutwyche Road corridor that tethers Windsor, Albion and Kedron, Bear Boy’s specialty coffee and brunch menu has a readymade audience. Owners Brodie and Andrew Howard have replicated the Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic of Bear Boy Helensvale, crafting an interior awash with terracotta hues, crisp whites, warm timber and pops of gold, with rendered walls and an Italian-marble coffee helping to accentuate the palette. Many of the cafe’s most-popular dishes have been brought north, too, including OG favourites like the Big Bear Benny (crispy potato waffle, poached eggs, hollandaise and sauteed greens), the Boy Breakfast Burger (smoked bacon, fried egg, aged cheddar, rocket and relish) and the cluckin’ good Chicken + Waffles (buttermilk fried chicken, poached egg, sriracha hollandaise on a sweet waffle). Single O currently provides Bear Boy’s house espresso blend and beans for its filter and pour-over brews. Over time the team is eager to showcase a different feature roaster each month, showing love to the big players and niche favourites alike.