Toronto- An ode to some of the city's best coffee shops

Toronto is one of those cities that were slow burner relationships for me. When I first visited the city a few years back, although I did like it, somehow it felt a bit bleak, grey and dirty. It probably didn’t help that the weather was rubbish. But as I returned to the city a couple of times, I saw it in a completely new light. It felt modern, warm, funky, sleek and a bit rough around the edges - just how I like it. The residential areas are pretty and the folks are friendly. The city is amazingly multicultural; just look around and you can find Koreatown, Little Italy, Portugal Village and Little Poland amongst other myriad neighbourhoods. Toronto has since impressed me so much that it has become one of my beloved urban destinations.

But the real pull for me - just like a few years ago - was Toronto's food and coffee scene. There are tons of incredible eateries, cafes and bars serving plates around the globe. And for someone who loves a good cup of joe and hanging out in coffee shops, Toronto is a happy stamping ground. I wrote a blog post about some of my favourite cafes and brunch spots in the city a few years back, so it was just appropriate to write another post to pay homage to this great coffee city.

Fika
28 Kensington Ave

Located on one of the most urban, even a bit gritty streets of central Toronto - think tattoo parlours, cannabis joints, vintage and graffiti - you wouldn’t believe what a calm oasis Fika is. This Swedish inspired cafe is a polar opposite to the Technicolor houses and graffiti outside: the colour palette is grey-white with wooden accents. Calm soundtrack enhances the ‘hygge’ mood.

You can smell Fika’s fresh cinnamon buns the minute you open the door. They are freshly made and taste just like the original Scandis, packed with cinnamon and cardamom without being overly sweet. This was a very happy find as often cinnamon buns across the Atlantic are heavily sweet with sugary frosting. You can also find Dala horse shaped gingerbreads, hazelnut brownies, and other treats often seen in Swedish coffee shops. Coffee is excellent, packed with notes of roasted almonds and dark chocolate. Fika really transported me straight back to the Nordic countries, with its calm atmosphere and the smell of cinnamon buns, even when outside it couldn't have felt any more different.

Found Coffee
324 College St

With a small facade on a busy thoroughfare, it is easy to walk past Found Coffee. But if you find your way here - follow the coordinates painted on the wall - you are greeted with some of the friendliest baristas, exceptional cups and incredible food.

It is so easy to like this place. I initially popped by just for a coffee but since I enjoyed the place so much and the baristas were some of the friendliest, I ended up returning twice. One of the baristas briefed that the beans used for my cup were from Ethiopia, roasted in Australia, and had notes of chocolate, maple syrup, berries and cream; all of which I could happily detect. The other told me all about the health benefits of my matcha. There is a small but mighty menu, revolving around fresh sourdough and bowls of hearty steel cut oats. The avocado sourdough and smoked salmon sourdough were standouts for me. The filling vs bread ratio is very generous, they don’t skimp on the good stuff.

Wooden benches with an abundance of pastel coloured pillows, lots of green foliage, bouquets of fresh flowers and plenty of natural light make the small space cosy and welcoming. Found Coffee feels like a relief from the surrounding milieu of noisy thoroughfares, neon signs and fast food joints and it was a perfect spot to read and energise.

Boxcar Social Laneway
298 Markham St

The calm interiors of Boxcar Social are completely incongruous with its exteriors; located in the middle of a car park behind drab buildings, the cafe transports you to a calming oasis where you start to wonder if you've landed at a small cafe in Japan.

While the interiors have low ceilings and grey concrete floors, a glass tiled wall brings in natural light, and ash wood panelling and a real tree in the corner add touches of simple Japanese warmness. An oak shelving is filled with a record player and vinyls, making the space look casual as a friend's living room.

The espresso drinks are served in delicate, earthy pottery mugs and pastries on wooden plates; I always appreciate these details that enhance the taste experience. Boxcar Social, with a few locations around the city, is known for their good coffee. My coffee was strong with notes of citrus and redcurrants, rounded with a smooth, balanced aftertaste. The pastry selection is miniscule but since these are provided by Forno Cultura, it is all about quality rather than quantity. The background music is mellow, making it an ideal retreat to immerse yourself in a good book before venturing back to the modern hustle and bustle.

Carbonic Coffee
37 Baldwin St

When I see a sign that a coffee shop sells natural wines, I instantly get good vibes of the locale. Carbonic Coffee is a place designed for little slow moments of indulgence, whether over a single origin coffee or a glass of wine. But this is not a fancy wine bar by any means; the atmosphere is casual with second-hand furnishing and adobe-like alcoves filled with pottery and cushions. A selection of barista magazines for browsing and a modern soundtrack add to the laid back feel. An outdoor terrace on a leafy road attracted those wanting to enjoy the prime angle for sun worshipping.

There is a small but sublime pastry selection; pistachio croissants, blueberry tarts, salmon croissants. I am still dreaming about my croissant oozing almond paste in every bite. Carbonic roast its own beans and the coffee is fresh, although it could have been slightly creamier, but that’s just a personal preference. I ended up staying quite a while, reading and daydreaming. And Carbonic Coffee was an optimal place just for that.

Beatrice Society
511 Richmond St W

Beatrice Society is one of the new-kids-on-the-block in Toronto’s blooming coffee scene. Here, there is a big emphasis on herbal remedies, healing plants and adaptogens, something that you don’t often associate with coffee shops. They organise wellness focused events and have manuals for healthier lifestyle. So, that in mind this is a perfect little break for those wanting a nutritious smoothie or a mushroom protein coffee. Or, equally, you can just pop by for naughty delicious treats and chunky mugs of coffee from Subtext Coffee Roasters; I belong to the latter group with many other patrons. No guilt here!

The space is lofty with high roofs, big industrial windows, and mezzanine. I appreciated the personal space around each table, but equally I felt like part of a community which somehow makes me more productive. Sage effect walls, teal blue mini tiles and Persian rugs give warmth to the otherwise industrial atmosphere of concrete floors, exposed pipes and concrete pillars. This is exactly the kind of place I love: spacious, unrushed and with options to be healthy or madly indulgent.

Hamers Coffee
870 Dundas St W

Hamers Coffee is almost like a mini gallery space; dotted with contemporary art and minimalist plywood boxy chairs and benches you almost feel like you've come to be cultured. The place is small but feels much more spacious thanks to its minimalist furnishing and big windows bringing in plenty of natural light.

You come here for a meticulously made coffee, but there is a tiny selection of house baked biscuits and muffins, or made-to-order artisanal sandwiches for a bigger bite. The coffee was very smooth from the first sip to the last and had nutty undertones. They specialise in pour overs to extract flavours from specific beans. They also have a rotating selection of beans to purchase. And a big applause for charging extra if you use a paper cup.

There are no standard tables and chairs so it's a good excuse to leave the laptop home and come here to read and catch up. Or sit by the angular coffee counter and have a conversation with the friendly baristas like many locals did. The busy Dundas St W is a good backdrop for people watching too.

Arvo
17 Gristmill Lane

Given that creating good coffee is manual labour involving many pairs of hands, Arvo Coffee finely blends in with the industrious mood of the Distillery District. Located in one of the old warehouses, the dark industrial look has been retained with concrete floors, chipped brick walls, metal bar stools, and old decorative machinery. Although I prefer whiter, more Japandi inspired places, Arvo felt cosy for a morning brew and reading.

The coffee here is very good with notes of dark chocolate and a hint of ginger. The taste is complemented by beautiful pottery cups and the right amount of creamy milk. Many different methods are available as well as beans from near and far. The espresso-based drinks seemed to be the biggest hit, but it was also nice to see the baristas patiently crafting hand-pour drinks.

Arvo serves up a handful of toast with different fillings. I had Uncle Eddy’s Trout Toast, that sadly was nothing to write home about. So I would stick to the stuff they do the best; the coffee that together with friendly baristas would be a good reason to return. If the weather is on your side, grab a table outside on the pedestrianised main strip and watch the street life of this trendy little enclave.

The Sonndr Cafe
1068 Dundas St W

The Sonndr Cafe is a small hangout that I knew from their beautiful old location that reminded me of arty Scandi milieus. Recently relocated to the quieter end of Dundas St I had to have a little peek to see what the place has become in their new post.

The coffee counter at the front of the cafe is the heart of the place where locals seemed to gather and converse with the friendly baristas. The intimate back of the cafe with individual tables was perfect for remote working. There is an outdoor patio that was pretty spacious but lacked cosiness; probably because of the recent relocation.

I sat at the back, entertained by the cafe’s great soundtrack, flipping through pages of my magazine and sipping coffee, packed with robust notes of dark chocolate. It was perfectly paired with sweet and zesty gluten free lemon cake. Somehow the ambience at The Sonndr is unhurried, perfect for those golden moments when you just want to slow down and enjoy a beautifully made drink.

AM Coffee Studio
2233 Dundas St W

Roncesvalles is a trendy little pocket in Toronto, known for its great coffee scene, little shops and wellness focused establishments. And so, AM Coffee Studio nicely blends in with this contemporary setting as the front works as a coffee shop while the back is a yoga studio. And as you would expect from a wellness studio, the atmosphere is calm, and the interiors pretty and boho: charcoal walls brightened up by slashes of pink, green foliage, hanging lights and omnipresent floral theme.

There is a great selection of baked goods, and I appreciated the multitude of those incorporating alternative milks and vegetable ingredients. My vegan walnut and banana muffin was incredibly soft and juicy, packed with fruit and nuts; one of those pastries where you have to lick your fingers after every bite. The coffee is aromatic and the beautiful cup enhances the experience. They also have a selection of beautifully presented healthy salads and sourdoughs. Even when I did not do yoga, I did feel refreshed after my little visit to AM Coffee.

While it might have taken me a while to fully appreciate Toronto, this Canadian metropolis has somehow managed to captivate me. Perhaps it's the unhurried atmosphere despite being the 4th largest city in North America, its friendly folks or pretty neighbourhoods. Or simply the diverse food and coffee scene that reflect the eclectic community. Either way, Toronto always feels special to me.