Hey I like the cool funky look of the place but its really cold in there. Cement floors and garage door windows look good but let all the Canadian super cold flow in. A little expensive if you ask me, $6.50 for an English Breakfast tea and cheese scone. Well thats the way I see it. read more

Pilot Coffee Roasters - Here are the cool looking garage doors that let the freezing cold Canadian weather into the cafe. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I live in the 'hood now and fell in love. It's about time I updated my previous review since I'm pretty much here every day. The flat whites are delicious. Croissants are pretty good too. I wish they had more savory options (Bobette and Belle nearby has a ham and cheese one, mm). This place is awesome. Since I moved I only got one bad bevy after coming here dozens of times. My favourite cafe in Toronto! read more

Pilot Coffee Roasters - Getting some web dev in with a side of deliciousness (butter tart & flat white) - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The space is very inviting for people to come, have a drink, munch on a snack, and chill. I really liked their pear and ginger cider. I have never seen that before on a menu aside from the traditional apple cider. This was really refreshing and warming. The place is always hustle and bustle with people dropping in for a cup of coffee before being on their way or waiting for a table nearby. Great place and even better in the summer when the front patio space is open. read more

Pilot Coffee Roasters - Pear and ginger cider with a chocolate and sea salt cookie. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Of the many independent coffee shops in the Leslieville area, Te Aro is probably my favourite. Even if it weren't just steps from where I work, I would probably come here just as often as I have been. The coffee is consistently good (beans are from Pilot Coffee Roasters, drinks are expertly made), the price is more-or-less reasonable (and they don't charge extra for almond milk!), and I just adore their cookies (my favourites are the peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip and the chocolate chip with sea salt). The people are friendly and the ambiance is relaxed to go along with the rustic industrial chic decor. There is plenty of seating indoors and out - I recommend the patio if the weather permits - so this is definitely a place where you can grab a coffee and a treat and settle in for a morning/afternoon with friends, work, or some well-deserved me time. read more

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Judging by the service at this place, it must really suck to work at Te Aro. Not sure what is so confusing about needing extra room in my cup for cream. Also not sure if the place actually wants business. Between the patrons and the staff, things seem off at this place, and fail to understand how it's survived this long in such a saturated market. After putting up with some severe and unmitigated rudeness, the lovely lady behind the counter yes to me, "good luck out there!" To which I reply, your nine lives are all up. read more

went in to grab a cup of coffee on a Friday afternoon. I only drink brewed coffee (I've worked at a coffee shop for several years) and I can say with confidence that te aro/pilot roasts their coffee right. their ridged paper cups are brilliant because the design allows you to hold the cups without using any sleeve - which saves money for the business & supports their 'green' initiatives. lovely patio as well. coffee - 5/5 patio - 5/5 vibe - 5/5 washroom - 3/5 bang for buck - 4/5 read more

Pilot Coffee Roasters - the cup. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Damn! This is some fine coffee! This is some of the best coffee in Toronto. Maybe in ANY city! They select and roast some of the most rarefied beans available in the GTA and all are available for your homebrewing pleasures - but the joy here is really had by sipping a finely crafted cup in this awesome converted garage. The atmosphere is mellow enough to come and get some quality work done, or to hang out with friends and have a spirited discussion. The people who work there seem to genuinely enjoy what they do and the barristas display some serious skills. All of this quality is brought in at a price that is more than fair compared to other cafes - mostly of a lower quality than Te Aro. The owners of Te Aro are New Zealanders. Little known in this hemisphere is that Kiwis are purveyors of great coffee as a matter of both national pride and habit. It was, in fact, on my very first trip to NZ that I started my life long love affair with coffee. Yes, I do confess an extra jolly factor in being able to walk in here and order a flat white without so much as a raised eyebrow. These Kiwis are so darn hospitable that I even personally witnessed them endure copious amounts of Aussie chauvinism with smiles to spare... I momentarily considered withholding a star due to the owners recalcitrance in not having opened a west side location EVEN THOUGH I asked nicely. See mom? It doesn't always work... read more

Located deep within Leslieville, which I'm sure is going to be renamed Coffeeville for all the high ranking cafes in the area, you'll find one of Toronto's more prominent coffee roaster/cafes called Te Aro. This cafe/roaster is housed within what was perhaps a former auto or loading bay of sorts. The whole front wall is a rolling window which I assume is opened during the hot summer months. Inside is a good sized space (which quickly gets cramped due to Te Aro's popularity) with high ceilings over minimalist earthy tones that accent across the cafe. It's comfortable enough a place to sit and sip coffee whether solo or congregating with friends, but I wouldn't say lounge chair comfortable. In the right hand corner of the cafe you'll find a large Sivetz fluid bed coffee roaster, considered one of the best coffee roasting machines in the world. The results of which ends up being a bright and delicious cup of coffee to your lips. Te Aro carries a few regular brew coffees which are rotated from day to day (I assume their yummy Little Bro house blend is regularly available) as well as their house blend Big Bro espresso and a single origin espresso. The recent Nicaraguan I had French Press style was delicious as was the single origin espresso I had when I first encountered this place. Price-wise Te Aro is in line with most indie cafes. Even more reasons to go to Te Aro: If you are hungry Te Aro also offers a large assortment of snacks as well as the more hearty fare of soups 'n sandwiches. I found the staff pleasant and knowledgeable. Worth mentioning and one of the reason I gave Te Aro five stars is that above everything else they also offer a coffee tasting session each Friday at around noon. A good way to get familiar with fine coffee. Te Aro is definitely one of the shining stars in the midst of Coffeeville. I recommend dropping in. read more

Te Aro Cafe is a retrofitted garage which has carved out a spot in my heart. My first impression of the place was "Coooooool!" Owned and operated by the darling couple, Andy and Jessie, alongside with their equally cool staff - they make fantastic coffees sourced from Fair Trade and Sustainable operations all over the world. Passionate and insanely knowledgeable about the science of coffee, they host a free "Cupping Sessions" every Friday at 12:30 PM where they personally guide you through the intricacies of tasting and profiling coffee to help you cultivate a finer appreciation for it. The cafe's "cool vibe" and fantastic patio serve as a great spot to chill out and connect on a date. read more

Antipodeans rejoice - Te Aro knows what a flat white is and how to execute one perfectly. (How I missed this in the menu at the Ossington location still astounds me.) Second-to-last stop on our Yelp Indie Coffee Passport UYE, our big group struggled slightly to find room to sit and consequently took over the big communal table. There's not much other seating here, so save it for a visit on your own or a couple of people at most. The feel of Te Aro is like walking into a workshop or something similar - big shelves take up one wall, filled with coffee-related paraphernalia; you'll find lots of wood/metal/concrete amongst the minimalist decor. Up front, the counter has an array of baked treats, and on the wall is a big chalkboard menu. But really, the most important part is the coffee - first up I had a soy flat white, which was pretty much perfect (only a slight hint of bitterness, but the foam/milk ratio was spot-on). After seeing Eliah H with his french press, I one-upped to a one-cup of my own, one of the special blends on the chalk-board. They have soy out with other milks to add (yay!), so after my little timer went off, I happily sipped my cup of joe - a damn fine cup that Special Agent Dale Cooper would be proud of. Te Aro, thanks for bringing a little Aeoteroa to Toronto! (Try saying that 5 times fast.) read more

Went in to get a tea and cookie early Saturday afternoon, June 21. Ordered an Earl Grey. While waiting for the tea I saw the server was giving me Earl Grey cream. I asked him if there was vanilla in it and he said no..I've been drinking earl grey for 15 years and all Earl Grey cream has always had vanilla it in to my knowledge. He was super rude, said "I work here, I know". To which I replied "I'm not saying you are wrong, I have just never seen Earl Grey cream without vanilla and vanilla screws my body up". He again dismissed me and was super rude for really no reason. I actually left the tea there because I was so bummed at how mean he was. I left thinking I was crazy and was losing touch with tea naming conventions! I checked their site to see the brand they serve and how they make their Earl Grey cream and......low and behold there is vanilla it in. http://www.pilotcoffeeroasters.com/collections/tea/products/earl-grey-cream Customer service can shape a person's day and I would recommend somewhere else if you want good service along with staff who know their products! read more

I. Really. Liked. Te. Aro. I. Really. Dislike. Strollers. These two things seem to go hand in hand. The good: - The roast their own beans (but they aren't good beans) - They have the same pastries and muffins as dark horse (but a bit less expensive) - There are some good baristas here (scratch that, Emma quit.) - There is a big patio out front - The decor inside is lovely - I am especially enamored with the solid wood communal table - it has beautiful butterfly joints - They usually play good music... Te Aro single handedly rekindled my love of Wild World performed by Cat Stevens The bad: - there are some bad baristas here/new baristas (new to the trade itself) - the lids for the take out cups are like sippy cup lids - it's just weird and I don't like it - sandwiches are expensive (but they have sandwiches! kind of makes it a neutral) - It's always full of people with babies. I like babies better than children, but I hate strollers. Te Aro caters to the stroller crowd. - Their wifi requires a randomish 16 bit hex key that they keep in a cup under the counter and always kicks me off. Thankfully, someone close to them has an open network (that is much more reliable). - There are no bike racks and they don't plan to get bike racks. The closest city bike posts are outside of view so I never really ride my bike here because I am pretty confident it will be stolen. I have recently downgraded this review to a 2 star rating. I don't really even go here anymore. I don't like their coffee and I don't like the other people who have discovered that this exists. read more

Here's my ranking so far My rankings: 1. Intelligentisia, Sam James, Te Aro (soy latte) 2. TAN (soy latte) 3. Crema (soy latte) 4. Mascot (soy latte) 5. Bisogno Espresso Bar (soy latte) 6. Tampered Press (chai latte) Sometimes its difficult to describe why I like certain coffee shop over others. Today, we visited Te Aro and thought it was delish! It was just the right amount of espresso to steam soy milk ration. Absolutely loved it. My bf was shocked when I said that I liked it as much as Intelligentsia and Sam James. I don't exactly know what it was but I couldn't put my coffee mug down! Yum yum. read more

My friend and I have a nice-weather-on-Sunday plan, and I'll let you in on it: Te Aro I always get an Americano; he gets a latte. Sometimes we split a cookie or a scone, and I try to time it right and nab the last bite as he's fiddling with his phone to get a great snap of the foam art on top of his drink. Barristas = artists, y'all. Warmer months? Outdoors for a prime people watching patio spot. Cooler months? Indoors at the long communal wood table (5/5 on decor, including the large garage door that brings the outside in). WE'Z GOTS OUR RITUAL DOWN PAT. And, chased with a stroll around Leslieville...wouldn't change a thing. Yelp note: all you work-from-home-ers and freelancers: it's a great weekday place to tackle some work, too. read more

OHMYGOD they have the best mocha ever!! And their green + white pear tea was soooooooooooooooooooooo delicious and it smelt amaaazing. I'm having trouble deciding which is my favourite favourite beverage, but I think I'll go with the tea. Their coffee was pretty nice too! I also adore their decor. I would prefer to sit inside just so I can admire the atmosphere. I love the dark colours and cozy feeling. Strangers I met here are so sweet :) The baristas even sweeter. It's never empty here! read more

I love this place. I love the location; set back from the main street in a little nook between a florist's and a store for baby gear. The view isn't much, but the window seat's perfect for an afternoon of reading and people watching. I love the clientele; the strangers on my side of the glass are just as interesting, not to mention superfriendly and sweet. My first visit was on a Wednesday, just after noon, and the place was comfortably packed. Frequented mostly by locals who know their coffee, there's a nice mix of people typing away on sleek Macs (Starbucks has nothing on Te Aro's superb WiFi), friends chit chatting over a cuppa, dog walkers popping in for a quick to-go, and the occasional stroller or two. I love the coffee; OH the COFFEE. Te Aro does their grinding in-house, and if you glance to the back, you'll spy the gleaming beast of a roaster that works the magic. They do a lovely dirty chai here, and having sampled the chai latte as well, that shot of espresso really does make all the difference. It really would be shame to leave Te Aro without trying something involving their specially selected beans - this coming from someone who doesn't exactly handle their caffeine well. Yes, I was jittery for the next five hours or so, but would I try a straight macchiato next time? In a heartbeat. I love their latte art; this deserves it's own special mention. Consistently gorgeous. There's a reason why the tip jar is never empty, and I'm not talking about the rubber duck someone put in. I'll never understand hipsters, but I digress. In conclusion, super determined to become a regular at this lovely coffee joint! I'll be the girl reading Ishiguro on the second window seat from the right...come introduce yourself! "Over second and third cups flow matters of high finance, high state, common gossip and low comedy. [Coffee] is a social binder, a warmer of tongues, a soberer of minds, a stimulant of wit, a foiler of sleep if you want it so. From roadside mugs to the classic demi-tasse, it is the perfect democrat." - Author Unknown read more

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I want to give this this place a higher rating, but they don't deserve it. I've been here a handful of times & each visit just seems to get progressively worse. The coffee itself is quite good (once you finally get your order- more on this issue later). 5 stars for the ambience & layout of this cafe. There's plenty of seating, huge patio, free wifi etc. Usually they're playing decent music & the customers who stay are either working away on their laptops or the dreaded stroller blocking moms. Either way, there's plenty of room for everyone. So why the low rating? The staff. I've noticed the person at the cash taking my order to be cheerful, pleasant & helpful when deciding on what to order. Then that person disappears & you're left waiting for your drink..... 5, 10.... maybe 15 minutes later, your drink may finally arrive. I'd love to be over exaggerating but I've actually had to wait this long. And no, it wasn't because it was busy, or that they "forgot" my order. The baristas simply have other priorities. I've watched and waited while they serve their friends, chat amongst themselves, take off into the back etc.. All while a few of us customers will patiently wait for them to essentially provide us with what we've paid for. I don't think it's unreasonable to have to wait a few minutes for a hand crafted beverage, but the lack of customer service is appalling. That being said, will I ever go back? Never. I gave Te Aro a fair chance multiple times because I don't think it's fair to base a review on one visit. Luckily, there's a bunch of way better coffee shops you can find in this part of the city (Mercury, Boxcar Social, Dark Horse... Just to name a few). Don't waste your time or your money here. read more

This review is short and simply to praise their espresso. Being an avid espresso drinker I decided to check this place out when I was passing by the neighbourhood. When ordering I was taken by surprise that for a 'simple' espresso cup I had three options in terms of flavour. I can't remember which fancy one I chose but damn, that thing was good! I'll come back to try the others and some of their food too, at which point I'll provide an updated review. read more

One of the best cups of coffee/espresso in the east end, decent treats and wifi. A front patio and big garage doors that open up. It's a great place to go for an espresso or coffee. They also sell coffee that they roast in-house, which is quite good, and with roasting dates on the bag (important if you're interested in 'freshly roasted'). Finally, they have a decent if not amazing selection of well-selected (trendy) coffee equipment: aeropress, chemex, pourover, hand grinders, etc. read more

My first time at Te Aro though I have come across the name in reading up on coffee houses in Toronto. Through the course of a few hours, had both an americano and a cafe latte. I found both to be very enjoyable, as the espresso was pressed well and tasted great. The latte art was also enjoyable. The ambiance, atmosphere and crowd here is something to mention too. My friend and I sat inside the cafe, and I really enjoyed the layout and industrial feel to the place. There was farm equipment and crates/etc. around the sides. Seating was plentyful from long benches to individual tables. In addition, there was plenty of outdoor seating set up the particular Sunday we went. My friend avoided any of the pastry/food selection after having a look - none looked very appetizing to her. I really enjoyed observing the crowd coming in and out of Te Aro. From artsy hipsters, to elderly folk, couples, families, those out walking their dogs - it feels like a great place to both spend some alone time doing work, or hanging out and chatting over a warm drink. I would return if in the area - I am a fan of the Leslieville neighbourhood! read more

Te Aro is as good as it gets when it comes to cafes in this city for me. Having recently moved into the neighborhood, Te Aro quickly became my local favourite and regular weekend hangout spot. The cafe itself is great - big converted garage (?) that is a treat on warm days, and the free wifi and abundance of indoor and outdoor seating really add a lot of value. Being set in from the street lends itself to having a great patio too, and Te Aro does not disappoint. The espresso does not disappoint either. They roast all their beans in house and it's evident that there is a lot of care and effort going into the product they serve. I've never been disappointed by the lattes or drip coffee I've ordered. All in all, great coffee experience, and highly recommended to anyone in the Leslieville area. read more

Love the venue - a retrofitted garage - that fits the brand and the up and coming neighbourhood (sorry if you're from Leslieville and think it already arrived). I think the coffee speaks for itself, so I'm not going to get into it. Just go try a flat white ! The food is great, too. Almost as much as I love the coffee I just like walking in the front door and enjoying the space. The reclaimed wood table is amazing, and worth at least a visit just to check it. The Sivetz roaster in the corner is pretty unique, roasts all the Te Aro beans, and chances are someone who works there won't mind telling you about it if you ask nicely. Andy's accomplishments in roasting are pretty easy to taste, and have been rated and published. See http://www.coffeereview.com/review.cfm?ID=2061 Blogto shows them voted as the best new cafe 2009, so did I, and I'm giving them 5 stars. Not in attack mode, but one must disregard 'sarah l.''s review. She doesn't like strollers, big deal. I think it's great they cater to urban walking moms, and obviously so do lots of urban moms. read more

#indiecoffeepassport #8 After we filled our stomachs with sushi, we continued our Indie Coffee Passport crawl to Te Aro. When we arrived, the café was already bustling with activity. If I'm not mistaken, Te Aro might be one of the few cafes open in the area on a Sunday. The overall vibe felt comfortable albeit a bit noisy for me, but I do think that as a large group, we contributed towards the noisy environment. Personally, if I came here by myself to do work, I wouldn't be able to concentrate. But I was meeting with, or was with a group of friends, then Te Aro's a good place for it. We were here for at least an hour where a game of Uno broke out and my friend Mark, who was in the neighbourhood, joined us for a bit. He also became initiated into the cult and favourite time waster otherwise known as Yelp. I really like the décor: a contemporary feel with beautiful dark wood tables and shelves, a lot of industrial accents, and plenty of light. I'd like to return here in the summertime and sit on their patio. As for my coffee, I ordered a regular cup of Joe which tasted good since they roast their own beans. But Mark's cappuccino looked really nice and from what he told me was yummy. I'll have to order it the next time I'm here. read more

The staff were very helpful-when I asked for a flat white with an extra shot they pointed out that a four shot flat would fill the tulip cup before the milk was added. So I got a latte instead. Pilot coffee does not disappoint. My friend's mocha with almond milk was excellent, as was the pumpkin carrot coconut muffin. The only downside was a massive cheese scone that had almost no cheese and tasted almost exclusively flour with a sprinkle of salt on the top. Horrible. read more

Have been here 3 times now. The coffee is good, the layout of the cafe is nice, the customer service could probably use a bit of work but I guess you get that with a bunch of hipsters that never smile. Overall a nice place read more

I wasn't crazy about the garage-like vibe of this place. It seemed cold. My latte was also only slightly about average. Why the four-stars then? - Free wifi. - They take the Indie Coffee Passport, and advertise the fact with a big sign. - They encourage reuse with a .15 discount for bringing in a reusable mug, .20 if it's one of theirs. - They have a "These Come From Trees" sticker on their serviette dispenser (google it...these stickers discourage use and save trees). - Staff was friendly. - Latte art! 'Nuff said. read more

Te Aro is serious about their caffeine. It's obvious that all the baristas are super passionate and knowledgeable about coffee. Before Te Aro, I didn't really know what a good shot of espresso was supposed to taste like. Now I know. Not only do they serve a really great cup of coffee, they also offer barista training courses (not just for baristas, wannabe baristas and coffee enthusiasts also welcomed!) as well as public coffee cuppings and brewing method demos. I recently took the Level 1 barista training out of pure interest, and learned a lot about extraction, grinding, dosing, etc. There's also lots of opportunities for hands-on practice - I made about 5 sad-looking (but delicious!) lattes and drank probably 5 shots of espresso in the course of 2 hours. Needless to say, I was really buzzed that night. Buzzed from caffeine or buzzed from the thrill of learning about coffee? I would say a combination of both. The cafe can get quite busy during the day, but there's a great vibe about this place. There are also lots of coffee beans and paraphernalia for sale, but I would say get your grinders and presses elsewhere - prices here are a little bit steep. Free wifi always AND free street parking on Queen on Sundays! read more

One of the loveliest cafes. I'm not sure why it's so nice, but it is. It's a bit overpriced, but of course we'll all spend that money here and have a latte or espresso because everyone says it's good right? Don't worry, I'm not judging. I love coffee. It smells great, tastes great, and makes me feel great. I don't find there anything to be too special with te aro though, no offence. On thing that stood out for me though was their patio. During the summer, it's absolutely so lovely to sit outside on the patio. It's such an open space concept type of place and a great area to have a small date, chat or even some studying time. They also make really pretty coffees. read more

This place is really nice and new. I loved the decor and it was a great space. I tried the mocha and it was lovely. Not too strong of coffee taste and not too sweet. They also draw designs on them which I am a big fan of. There are also different coffee/tea related things you can buy in there. They also have a patio which I imagine is amazing in the summer time. Next time I am in the neighbourhood, I will be sure to visit this place again. The service was great and the prices are average. read more

Great tasting coffee, hip crowd , relax atmosphere with free wifi and friendly service. Nothing much more to write or read. Actually, one more thing: they roast on site. read more

So I'm all about the quality of the coffee. I have been disappointed by coffee in Toronto. All the "Third Wave" coffee shops seem to only use Intelligentsia's Black Cat espresso and on the rare occasion 49th Parallel beans. Why do we have to go to Chicago or Vancouver to get well roasted coffee? So the small handful of local roasters I have been to generally don't have discerning barista's capable of extracting the full potential of their beans. So then we come to Te Aro. They know what they are doing with the roast. They use a fluid bed roaster which definitely has a distinct difference from the drum roasters that everybody else uses. Better? Depends on your taste. Definitely worth a try. Their barista are not exactly consistent, which may be changing as they are a fairly new operation. For example sometimes you get a nice rosetta (pretty leaf pattern in the milk) in your latte, and other times you get an attempted rosetta. That being said the shots have always been pulled in good taste and the milk is frothed well. The staff have always been super friendly and seem happy to be there. The space is very cool. It has a charming little outdoor area, set back from Queen St. enough to feel removed from the hustle. The inside is airy and tasteful and on warm days have garage doors which open up to the world. Definitely a nice place to sit and write or conversate while you caffienate. In conclusion, I would much rather go to Te Aro for locally roasted and well prepared coffee then go to a bundle of other places in town that do a poor job of extracting espresso from beans roasted in Chicago. But then I've never been that excited about Intelligentsia's Black Cat. Add to that the friendly vibe and cool space and you have a great place to go. . read more

The last several months, I've fallen in love with Leslieville. Great brunch options, little little antique shops, unique boutiques offering local design clothing, and of course.... cafes!! I checked out Mercury, Bobbette & Bell. They just keep getting better =) This place has something the others dont .... a SEXY patio!! The idea of sitting on a patio and sipping on a latte is so sexy.... I love it!! One eek, I thought the barista was a little too generous on the steamed milk which ended up covering the aroma of my coffee. But that was not a show stopper!! I still enjoyed it =) read more

Can a girl change her mind? After getting a gig primarily working from home, I've been spending a ton of time in L-ville coffee haunts. TeAro is most certainly the best the hood has to offer. Why did I not see it before? The coffee is so freaking good, baked goods awesome, staff super nice (but still pretty slow with the drink-makin') and the patio oh-so-cute. Every drink on the menu is flawless. read more

Oh, Te Aro ... MEH. Coffee is fine, but the best in the city?. NO WAY. My Americano had no punch to it at all and was quite tasteless. Props for their ridged coffee cups though, they look unique and it's nice to not have to fish around and struggle with loading a sleeve onto your cup in a caffeine-deprived stupor. I haven't tried their food, maybe it's absolutely stunningly gloriously outstanding, but the bacon breakfast bap I bought as I surprise for my boyfriend was $9.50. NINE FIFTY. And it was small. And it took a long, long time for it to be ready (this was a take-out order). The staff are ok. Meh, meh, meh. I'd come back if I was meeting someone for coffee or brunch and they suggested it, or if they really wanted to go. I'm giving three stars because I don't want to be harsh and overly judge their pricey food without having tried it myself. read more

Pilot Coffee Roasters - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Te Aro is a spacious coffee shop with plenty of seating and natural light. It's wheelchair friendly too. Their coffee is pretty good and their almond chai is very smooth but a bit on the mild side. If you like your chai extra spicy, stay away. Sandwiches are good, too, and they come prettily tied up with a string for you. The three stars come from the overall pretentious vibe. I prefer my cafes to be friendlier and cozier. The price is a bit steep for what you're getting. As good at the drinks and food are, I wouldn't regularly pay that much for the quality I got here. There's better in Toronto for cheaper. read more

I still stand by my distaste for their lack of power outlets, as I sit here on my laptop watching the power descend ever so quickly. Maybe they want me to leave right after my first coffee and I guess I shouldn't hold that against them. Besides that, I do think this place is pretty cool. The interior is still hip and it seems to attract a rather cool crowd. The coffee is tasty and I was served by a very pleasant lady who didn't seems to care that I had no clue what to order and the correct way of ordering it. The bottom line is the space here is fantastic and maybe I got so mad at the lack of power because I would love to spend endless amounts of time in a space so well designed, populated with neat people, and has a perfectly cool curated soundtrack that makes me feel oh' so hip while I sip my Misto. There's a great amount of seating here, an awesome patio for people watching. The truth is I like this place and I'm glad it's in the neighbourhood. read more

Great coffee, great atmosphere. Good service. Terrible place if you need your laptop. I plugged into their only working outlet and sparks flew. Fair enough i suppose, they don't want people loitering around for hours but I walked in and my laptop had 1%. poor planning on my part but 1-2 working outlets would be nice. read more

About 6 weeks ago I concluded that responsible community members would voice their disappointment when they experience poor customer service. Te Aro was on my list and I gave the establishment a 1 star rating. I couldn't be happier to return to this site today and change my rating to 4 Stars. The owner of the business personally reached out to me after she read the review, met with me, expressed her deep regrets and concerns about my experience, offered me a store voucher, thanked me for taking a position and making the time to meet, and committed to introduce my feedback into future staff training sessions. If I had to write the scenario of what I would like to see happen, I couldn't have written a better story. Good for you, Jessie. This sense of ownership and accountability will always serve you well in a business to consumer environment. It will also contribute to the growth of your business. I look forward to returning to Te Aro for coffee starting from tomorrow. Laura read more

Once I saw the extended patio and the open concept, I was a fan of this place from the outset. Great place to people watch for sure. I like the benches that are off to the side. You're not forced to sit at a table. It's also not packed with tables out in the patio area. The indoor set up is very eclectic yet historical. Very organic. I ordered a cold mocha which was served in a jar instead of a mug or plastic cup. It was very very sweet mind you. The baristas were very attentive and friendly. I know that Faye C had a different experience but I enjoyed my time there. I would love to go back in the evening or even during the day would be cool too. read more

Are you a proud discerning coffee snob, a summer patio fiend, wheelchair-bound latte art collector, or perhaps a neighbourhood mama with kids in tow and a yearning desire to sit down somewhere outside? Do you dream of a relaxing, bright and spacious, hip and unpretentious place to express yourself with your presence over a warm cup of java and munching on yummy goods or breakfast sandwiches fit for every diet? You probably suffer from... well there's a mouthful of an acronym for your condition to make it sound like a legit medical condition, but I am too lazy to make one up. However, there is a treatment to alleviate your suffering: Visit Te Aro Coffee on Queen East. Baristas are standing by. Side effects include having to open your wallet wider though--surely there's a name for that condition also. {TTC: take the 72 or any Queen Street streetcar to Queen/Carlaw.} read more