Aroma Expresso Bar (500 Bloor St W)

I have been coming to Aroma since I moved to Toronto in 2007 - pretty much when I first discovered the Annex. To say this place is unique is an understatement - it's a really is a cool hang out that feels refreshing and perfectly incorporated into the neighborhood.

All coffee beans here are roasted in-house using the Torrefazione Artsian method, I'm not sure exactly what this entails, but apparently it is done by hand. So, attention to detail is pinnacle in this slow and traditional process.

The double espresso is really nice, full bodied and really balanced. Although all hot beverages are served with a milk chocolate rectangle, I paired my espresso with an alfajore sandwich cookie. It's basically date filling dusted with coconut flakes that's sandwiched between two soft short bread wafers - delish!

Believe it or not Aroma is not a Toronto upstart. A little research told me that they are in fact a major chain of cafes from Israel, they also have locations in Thornhill and Vaughan.

4.5/5

Java Jive (585 Church St)

There's something unique about this small coffee shop, it's not pretentious at all, and although they have an espresso machine, the popular drink seems to be the brewed coffee.

The staff here always greet me with a friendly smile - this is really nice and appreciated. The Customer is number one here.

The coffee is decent (not too strong) and they have 7 different kinds on tap - from decaf to a number of flavours. Oh and the patio is great for people watching ;)


I hope they continue to have a loyal following of locals because I heard that a new Tim Hortons is going to open up just south of Church and Wellesley Streets.

Definitely worth a visit, the place really has a warm/welcoming local atmosphere!

Some Indie Cafe reviews to consider

Some of these I have visited and others are still on my list. Although the columists didn't review the brewed espresso at these cafes, the reviews are pretty thorough and offer some insight on exactly what makes these places truly unique and worth visiting.

Definitely worth a read...

Article: Espresso yourself: find your perfect cafe

Indie Coffee Passport - Complete :)

In conclusion, I don't recommend anyone consume 14 espresso shots in one day because as a result last night was pretty rough and I spent the night detoxing. My motivation for covering all the remaining cafes was that I had purchased a TTC day pass and I wanted to get my full money's worth... it just came at the expense of possible heart palpitations. Ah well, only live one eh.

On the bright side, I completed the coffee tour 2 days early. Every cup is marked off as you can see from the completed passport in the picture above. Each shop had their own fun way of stamping my card. I particularly liked The One in the Only Cafe's seal of completion - just a big random scribble all over that little cup - nice.

In all honesty, the tour was really fun and I learned a lot. It gave me an excuse to get out and explore many areas of the city that I hadn't been to before. As I went around I realized there are many more cafes that aren't on the passport that are worthy of a visit too. I think it would be a great idea if more of them participated in the tour next year. My appreciation for coffee has grown as a result and I have hopefully become a bit of a better blogger. Talking to people along the way enforced the fact that our cafes are local hang outs where people enjoy conversing and share thoughts in a comfortable setting, to me these places are the present day versions of the Tim Hortons/Country Styles/coffee pot diners of generations past.  

Stay tuned, new reviews coming soon...  

Rooster Coffee House (479 Broadview Ave)

Well, I didn't think I had it in me, but I managed to make it to my final destination...

Double espresso:

Appearance

Te Aro Eleven espresso blend.  Retro demi tasse cup. Fairly dark brew with deep brown creama. 

Aroma

Bright and fruity – bit of a citrus/floral essence. Warm cinnamon/nutmeg undertone.

Taste 

Compared to the Eleven blend brewed at Crafted by Te Aro, I find it more robust and full bodied here at Rooster.  There is really no sweetness to the pulled shots here.  The bright citrus notes shine through though with a burst of full tongue flavour. The one, two punch to my tongue lingers for a moment before it melts away. This is a great ‘pick me up’ brew.

4.8/5


It’s interesting how the same blend of coffee can vary in flavour between cafes, this goes to show how complex coffee really is. The technique of the barista and the espresso machine itself can alter the flavour even slightly. Then there's the differing water to ground coffee ratio too. Many things affect flavour and make it unique at each shop.

This was a great coffee day, 6 cafes were completed in all. It’s interesting how the café atmosphere varies between shops with the same owner (I Deal Coffee – Ossington versus Kensington) and how the flavour of the same blend of coffee can be unique between cafes (Eleven blend at Crafted by Te Aro versus Rooster Coffee House). For me this was a great way to end the tour and I really didn’t plan for these comparisons to happen on the last day!

So, at last all the cafes are done - conclusions are to follow in a separate post… that is after I recover from the caffeine crash I am about to endure!  

I Deal Coffee - Kensington Mkt (84 Nassau St)

I couldn't get over the fact that we were sitting at a 80s era Galaga table arcade game, I so wanted to try it out, no idea if it works or not! This cafe has waaaaaay more character than the Ossington location, I have noticed this being the case when it comes to the secondary branch cafes that have been opened by Red Rocket and Dark Horse as well - can't beat the originals I guess.

Double espresso:

Appearance
Very dark brew, no creama, no saucer. But it is sitting on a retro video game table - good enough for me.

Aroma
Bright and sweet with warm caramel undertones.

Taste
Dark chocolate with a caramel sharp finish. Lots of lingering citrus-y brightness as well. Definitely packs a lot of punchy bright flavour.

4.4/5

Okay, I have reviewed 5 cafes today, so at 10 shots of espresso, I think I'm gonna crash.... just one left!!

The Tampered Press (256 Crawford St, Unit B)

Back to the Trinity Bellwoods area. Almost missed this shop as it doesn't stand out on the street. The simplicity of the exterior carries inside, where less truly is more...

Double espresso:

Appearance
Espresso here is served in a clear glass - this is cool and unique! Great first impression indeed. When it was served to me, I was able to see the layers of espresso before they separated - this is pretty unique. The double shot here appears to be a larger amount than the other cafes.

Aroma
Mild and milk chocolate aroma. Quite silky smooth with a hint of cinnamon spice.

Taste
Very balanced and easy/pleasant to drink and sip. I find it very smooth and almost creamy in texture. Mouth feel is balanced with a slight spiciness at the finish. A nice blend that I would return for.

4.6/5

Just 2 cafes remaining to review!