Sam James is: an attempt at a third wave coffee shop for Toronto, carefully crafted espresso drinks, and a young, hip clientele that appreciate good coffee without sacrificing a smile along the way. I can appreciate all that, and for those reasons, Sam and his coffee installations throughout the city are on my rotation, but I'm not about to become a regular either. Sam James isn't: a particularly pleasing place to sit and enjoy said coffee, a spot to really eat much while you sip, or a place to charge a heap load of macchiatos for the office (Sam is cash only.) The website suggests beautiful, design centric, or at least thoughtful interiors to all the locations, but Harbord is talked about as the quintessence, the epicentre of Sam James Coffee Bar. The interior just feels incomplete and sad. There are perhaps three stools and a bench outside, which, given this is Toronto, sees a limited use. I obviously didn't expect wi-fi, but I might have stayed a bit longer if the foodstuffs on offer looked a bit more appealing. Drip coffee is not the speciality here--they didn't do pour-overs or anything like that. If you want to see baristas flex their muscles and show off their skills, try an espresso drink. As mentioned, they only take cash, though admirably, every location has the same attitude when you look inside your empty wallet--'no problem, come in and pay later'. While I didn't make use of this generous policy, the fact that it can and does exist in present day Toronto is charming. I appreciate their neighbourly attitude and their attention to detail in the cup, but I don't think Sam James is an everyday kind of coffee for me. read more

It depends on what you are looking for on whether or not you would want to checkout same james. the coffee is amazing! so totally awesome in that regard, but the space is super tiny. If you are looking for an superbulous cup of coffee on the run then this is the place for you! if you are looking for a place to hangout, read, socialize while drinking your fantabulous coffee this is not the place for you. oh yeah and its cash only... read more

If you're looking for a fine espresso experience close to U of T (university of Toronto), you have to check out Sam James! My wife and I had the Gibraltar, sweet notes of chocolate, raspberry notes with good acidity and a long finish! read more

Sam James Coffee Bar - Mmm, sweet espresso at Sam James Coffee Toronto! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ok, so good coffee is hard to find in Toronto...really hard to find. Sam has a following already and rightfully so. In my experience w other baristas in Toronto he is up there, like head and shoulders above up there. The place has been busy since day one and now a wait may occur for a sensational espresso or what have you. The pace itself is tiny...tie kneeee. Two stools in the window is pretty much all the seating there is but that may change. Pretty much its a grab your coffee and go kinda place. Its a welcome addition to the sea of second cups, tim hortons and whatever the eff else huge slop coffee chains there are in Toronto. read more

I love this place, mainly for the bike suspended on the wall. It makes you feel like it's going to fall on you. I love to bring my friend here (who is a life insurance specialist) because it makes him squirm to see the bike on the wall. The cappuccinos here are perfectly crafted and the barista has these great intense eyes (*faint*). There isn't a lot of seating here but if you can snag a bar stool it's so good. read more

Sam James Coffee Bar - Cappuccino to go. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great cappucino. Wish they had different food options (same as many other coffee shops), and wish they had a larger space to enjoy the coffee in. read more

We are trying to visit all the Toronto Coffee Conspiracy shops while on our Staycation this week. I was a little underwhelmed with Sam James Coffee Bar - I like my cafes to be a welcoming spot. And while the staff were super friendly, there were only a few stools, and they were mostly occupied, so it didn't seem like a great place to hang out. My cappuccino was very pretty, but a little on the sharp side. I think if you needed a good coffee on the way somewhere, it's a good spot, but if you want to sit and stay awhile, it's not the spot for you. read more

Amazing coffee as always! Small with limited seating, but there's also a bench outside for sunnier days. Great lattes. The Americano was also good! read more

Sam James Coffee Bar - View from the window seats - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Ive come in a couple times for drip coffee but the last time was pretty bad. I confirmed this with my buddy. The service is consistently lacklustre but im not there for smiles....i want good coffee. I really dont see what all the hype is about. The interior is not cool folks. Its a disaster. Why does every cobbled together wanna be hip coffee shop incorporate old fence boards and edison bulbs? Cuz theyre ghetto. Plus its dirty inside read more

I did hear about this quaint little espresso bar from a friend and it was a must stop by before I leave sort of place. We were on our way from lunch after just cruising the Ossington Strip.. (way to many hipsters in one spot). I decided to take a trip up the street to Sam James Coffee Bar for a shot of espresso. Upon arrival I noticed how nice, small and all coffee this place was. I dig the no frills and cash only service. However, I was a little disappointed in the overall coffee quality, considering the expectations and reputation this place comes with. It wasn't a bad shot but it was a little under extracted. With the blend roasted by their roasting company "Cut Coffee" it needs a little more refinement in my opinion. Roasting can be one of the most frustrating things besides a broken toe nail or a splinter. Some people take on the task and it can be the silver bullet that slays the Werewolf. On that note I would say that considering they are just starting out they definitely have something to work with here, in terms of roasting that is. I gave them the 3 star treatment because to be honest the shot I had was better than decent and the Cappuccino was done nicely. I will say that they only lost the stars because my good friend Doug gave this stuff a huge thumbs up and it was quite mediocre overall. I was also told I should come back when the owner is working the bar. I will definitely have to make a trip back, but the time is now for me to get back to NY. DON'T PARK IN THE BIKE LANE OR YOU WILL GET TOLD OR NOT SERVED.. A little much, a little snobby, a little foolish quite frankly. read more

Disappointed with service . Heading back to college ave next time. Try small independents Wherever I travel. This location got a two star. read more

The staff here seem friendly, and are obviously well-trained. The coffee, however, was not my fav. I was surprised that they were using the toi moi beans, as they tend to roast quite dark, and it was very apparent in the espresso shot and the cap. Hard to get out some of those nuances when the bean is roasted so dark. Saying that, my cappuccino was expertly prepared. The reason why I dropped another star was that I love being able to sit down at a cafe and enjoy my coffee - this place is purely for takeout. read more

I found that Sam James Coffee Bar gives 25 cents off a brewed coffee with your LiveGreen Toronto Card. I found it on the DealsHype App for Androids and iPhones www.dealshypeapp.com read more

Beautiful espresso, the beans are not over roasted so the coffee is not too bitter. Lovely staff, cute place to grab a quick coffee to go. It's definitely a grab and go kind of place, there isn't much seating. But the coffees are amazing, one of my favourites in the whole city. read more

A Letter To Sam James: Oh Sam James; why must you make me take a star off your 5 star rating because you have only a few stools to sit on. Maybe I get it. Maybe you don't want the hipsters studying and the aspiring film writers to park their derrière at your place all day using up your electricity and your wifi bandwidth. But when you and your fellow baristas serve me a piping hot siphon coffee in the equivalent of a juice glass I need a place to sit and soak in the moment. Keith B, Jeremy V and myself went on a coffee crawl because of you and your siphon coffee to see how it compares with what Toronto has to offer. With your popularity it will be tough to ever find a free stool, especially for 3. Although it would have been nice to have the hand of the coffee saviour himself serve me, the other guy was pretty good. From educating us of the inner working of the siphon to describing how it would taste on my palette, all occurred as described. Your siphon coffee does not have that bitter bite that other coffee's have and maybe even putting some cream and sugar in it will destroy the natural glory it creates. This coffee is in a close race with the other well known clover machine. Of course because I don't know much about the coffee business model and its expenses, and unless it is the handpicked beans you seek from across the globe I only wish this coffee was a dollar or two cheaper. IF...check that...WHEN I return, I must try some of your other delectable cups to find the one which has made people love you so much. read more

So I came here this Sunday afternoon, very chill vibe. It was freezing outside so the warmth and smell of coffee just engulfed me as I entered this small joint..It is really small indeed...not very many places to sit but a great grab and go type place. Diverse crowd, ranging from university students to adults and children...seems like a neighbourhood hot spot. LOVE the little nick nacks on the wall, especially the old family photos...or the little plaques ie. "booze is the answer." I had heard great things about Sam James, so I had high expectations. We got two lattes. When I said "one non-fat latte" I was given a look. I KNOW this is not Starbucks, this is a real deal coffee place. But what can a girl do? Don't hate me because I want non-fat milk. Is that a crime? It turns out the lowest they carried was 2% which was FINE. The latte was GREAT, I could have easily drank two. Will definitely come back, maybe even try one of their treats. read more

Undeniably, Sam James serves some of the best coffee in Toronto. His diatribe on why his business runs under a cash only model (http://samjamescoffeebar.com/?p=574) also makes him super cool for operating on principle. I will happily fork over the 3-something in change for an excellent cappuccino served with a smile. Also: free 1 hour parking just down the street on Harbord means you can park, pop in and grab a coffee, and be on your way. Easy. read more

I'm no coffee snob, and I haven't really lived in Toronto long enough to offer a decent local comparison, but I would say the coffee here is quite good. However, I'm baffled by the wait times I've experienced at this place. With a machine that can pull at least two drinks at a time, the skater dudebro behind the counter only makes one at a time while his cutesy indie rock counterpart simply takes orders and doles out pastries; and even the one coffee seems to take wayyyy longer than it probably should -- like, an espresso took about 15 minutes just yesterday! Not sure if slowness is part of the artisanal vibe of this place, or if the two young bucks behind the counter just don't care, but whatever it is, getting a coffee here can be indeed a truly painful experience and after three tries I probably won't be back for awhile. What's the haps, Sam? read more

Not sure what the hype is about this place. About a year ago I tried their regular/Americano coffee and it was just ok, barely drinkable. I can definitely find tastier java elsewhere in the Harbord street/Annex neighborhood. Today I thought I'd try a latte - I mean, how can you screw up a latte?? Well my vanilla latte was quite underwhelming. The temperature was only slightly warmer than lukewarm and I could hardly taste the espresso shot (did they even use espresso in this?). I felt like I was drinking lukewarm, instant vanilla decaf. My suggestion is that you save your $4.75 and get your latte fix elsewhere. read more

It is as good as it gets. I know Sam from a million years ago, before he was a superstar Barista. I was so happy when I found out he was opening his own place. SJCB is a super fun little place, minimalist in styling, Unique with Personalized Art, very easy to go into, and the Espresso, Cappuccino, and Americano's are to die for! With a strong group of Barista Superstars working there, you get something fabulous every time. No Fast Pours, No Sour or Bitter Long Pours, All just Superstar Service and Quality. The Steamed Milk art is divine, and it is foamtastic by request. They also always have fresh treats. They do the laborious Siphon Coffee which is badass, and this is the first place I have ever seen that in Toronto. I LOVE to point this out... This shop is not dirtied up by a flood of MAC users trying to be all scene and show off how awesome they are. I like that so much! I am from a small place, where everyone drinks coffee when they are at a coffee shop. I have seen some people read books and the paper, and good on those people, Sam makes this place feel like home!! I also love that people skate board out front, and there are always cyclists zooming by and there are people from every walk of life in this place getting buzzed on caffeine. SJCB and the Pocket are the only two places I will hit up coffee not created by moi at Chez Nikkita. Sam however suggests places & other barista's to try that he likes in the city, he is a spread the love kind of a dude. Try Sam James Coffee Bar, one word description is QUALITY. Note: There is no bathroom here, so suck it up, Hold it and unleash the furry elsewhere. read more

Though a beverage at Sam James is all you will ever need, if you are feeling adventurous, the almond croissant has a brown sugar and butter mixture inside that is sinfully good. read more

I really like the coffee here. The flavour for their coffee and americanos is the perfect pick me up in the morning as a wake up! It's a great place for a grab and go coffee since it is small inside and seating is very limited. Service is very friendly and creates a great atmosphere for a regular neighbourhood go to spot. read more

I'm usually a 2 Splenda in my coffee kind of gal. Their cappuccino was so good I didn't add any sweetener of any kind! Size looked small but it was a good amount. Staff friendly and fast. Yum and the price is right! read more

I don't have anything good to say. It started with snotty service, moved to cash only, you would think that at least the coffee could taste good. Nope. Tastes like Toronto street char! Never again SJCB!! read more

I ordered the Soy Latte today and I thought it was pretty darn good. My favorite coffee place is Intelligentsia and I thought it would be tough to beat. read more

The atmosphere is relaxed with Ty Segall playing in the background. I ordered the cappuccino and it is the creamiest, smoothest thing to enter my mouth. Delicious. For $3 my only complaint is that the cup is very small, only because I want more of this magical drink! My friend got a mocha and they nailed the balance of the sweetness. Perfect. The barista is not very friendly but she's getting the job done and I'm not complaining. It's more of a cool confidence than unfriendliness. Overall I'm satisfied! Too bad about the lack of seating and WiFi though. read more

A good cup of coffee that isn't chain affiliated. I stoped in because they had great reviews and were close by to our Airbnb. Inside was cute with minimalistic decor. There isn't any real seating, just enough to wait for your coffee to be prepared. I purchased a vanilla latte w/ almond milk that was solid. It didn't blow me away like other places nor was it lacking any strength. I was bummed that they didn't have any other flavors other than vanilla, like at least caramel! I wouldn't go out my way for it, but would certainly better ordering from a chain. read more

My hood is coming up in the world. The lattes and coffee here are smooth and strong and pretty much perfect. Good stuff. On par with (better than?) Dark Horse and the Common, which are (were?) my two faves for coffee. It's teeny tiny though, so it's mainly a place to slam an espresso and go. read more

Had a few coffees at Sam James while in Toronto for work. It's easily the best coffee around Palmerston/Harbord and the staff are very friendly. I had a couple of great coffees (double ristretto, espresso) and one terrible one (Americano). Was surprised to have to try and explain to one of the baristas what a ristretto was though - settled for an espresso which to be fair was really good! And the barista spent time getting it spot on read more

Best Americano in the city, indisputably I think. Not much seating other than a 4 top with stools and a couple benches but you're not there to work anyway. read more

Small, take out place, more of a place to grab a coffee on your way to work vs. a place to linger. Everyone in the coffee crawl seemed to enjoy their cappuccinos and artwork on top of it. Prices are comparable to Starbucks. read more

What an excellent cup of smooth almond flat white. I was very impressed at the care and quality of this coffee. It's a great location for your weekend coffee stop with a nice bright view of Harbord Street. I also love how they don't price like Starbucks or Second cup - chains are ridiculously expensive and they serve absolute crap. read more

Sam James is a coffee legend. I was once way out of town in Maple or somewhere, and the barista started talking to me about how he might get the opportunity to learn some stuff from him. Sam James is like the Yoda of coffee. But taller. read more

Makes an Americano I want to sip forever.

The best coffee in the city in my opinion. Ordered a cappuccino yesterday and was thinking about it hours later. I only wish it was closer and I could call this my local. read more

The espresso and cappuccinos are some of the best in this great big city of endless cafe's. Consistent quality and good service. Bottom line, if you want a great coffee, this is probably the best place to get one read more

Excellent flat white. A bit sad and hipstery when I went in, everyone sullenly looking at the floor trying to be cool so I waited outside, but the coffee was delicious. read more

I LOVE this place. I love the environment, the consistently delicious caps. The crowd here is quite laid-back and unpretentious. My favourite part of coming here is the staff. They are so warm and friendly. They have "spotted" me a cap when I had no cash on me. I really think the whole coffee visit should be an experience and Sam James delivers - their coffees are delicious, they are proud of their product, seem so passionate about their work and seem like genuinely warm people. A highly recommended Cafe!! read more

Can't say enough good things about this place. I took my mom there this past Mother's Day, and it was an incredibly humid day so we decided to get iced Americanos. Found out at the counter they only take cash, and all I had was credit. No problem, they said, enjoy your coffee and just come back later to pay. Wow! I've never experienced that before in a big city! Making it even better, because it was just before closing time, the barista was handing out cookies and pastries to everyone, so I nabbed an apple fritter-type of thing and enjoyed the iced Americano (delicious, subtle and smooth) on their awesome bench outside. read more

Took a walk here after hearing about it from a shop owner on Queen Street... A very nice and simple place. A perfect cup.