Toronto places to get espresso beans
Making your own coffee at home instead of buying it at the coffee shop can save you plenty and give you control over the strength of your brew. Skip the long lineup for that cuppa joe and bag some beans instead at one of these Toronto roasters.
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
215 Spadina Ave, Toronto ON M5T 2C7The menu here is richer than at most stops on the Toronto espresso trail. They’ve got espresso beans from Kenya and Costa Rica, as well as their house and specialty beans prepared especially for Dark Horse espresso bar. An espresso purist will tell you to never add milk or cream, but doing so here only enhances the raspberry/chocolate/merlot or candied orange/cacao/vanilla flavourings. Get your own bag of beans and try it any way you like.
I Deal Coffee
84 Nassau St, Toronto ON M5T 1M5The heart of their mini-coffee empire is in Kensington Market where 100 per cent Arabica beans are blended and roasted for use on-site and at three other downtown locations. They also supply beans to some of the best-known espresso shops in the city. The owners are committed to the principles of fair trade and sustainability, not to mention a rich and enjoyable cup of brew. African and Indonesian beans make up their medium-light espresso house blend.
The Bandit Coffee Group
1925 Gerrard St E, Toronto ON M4L 2C2This may be the only combination laundromat/espresso roaster in the entire city. There’s free WiFi, too, so you can work on your laptop while your clothes get laundered and then head home happy and caffeinated. Consider the fresh set of clean clothes an added bonus. They change their espresso blends with the seasons, so you’ll always be getting the best and freshest beans available.
Merchants Of Green Coffee
2 Matilda St, Toronto ON M4M 1L9This place has one of the best selections you’ll find in Toronto, making shopping for espresso beans a breeze. You can choose by region, brand or roast and click “buy” knowing you’re going to be in for a treat. They import green beans from Central and South America, Indonesia and Ethiopia so you can roast them at home to your own taste. They’ll also sell you a roasting machine and teach you how to use it.
Bisogno Espresso Bar
61 Sherbourne St, Toronto ON M5A 2P8If you find yourself at Sherbourne and Adelaide, pop in here to stock up on espresso beans. The primary focus is espresso and espresso-based drinks, so The Black Canary is equipped to satisfy almost every taste and preference. You can buy your beans whole or ground but the cozy atmosphere will make you want to stick around and have your first brew here. Smiles are free, even if the beans aren’t.
Balzac's Coffee Roastery
55 Mill St, Toronto ON M5A 3C4Balzac’s has spread beyond the GTA to Niagara-on-the-Lake, which only speaks to its expanding popularity. Although coffee is the main specialty, their espresso beans are distinctive, too. You’ll be getting fair trade organic beans that are an amber roast, giving your espresso a rich, creamy taste. They process their beans in the European style, so close your eyes, take a sip and imagine you’re in Rome.
Moonbean Coffee Company
30 St Andrew St, Scarborough ON M1M 3H2This Toronto coffee shop is a cult favourite, attracting a dedicated following that wouldn’t dream of getting espresso anywhere else. Moonbean’s beans are both fair trade and organic, thus meeting the standard for socially-conscious drinkers. They use a blend of three different beans from Indonesia, Central America and South America — places any coffee lover will tell you grow some of the best beans in the world.
Manic Coffee
426 College St, Toronto ON M5T 1T3It’s one of the few coffee shops in the city without WiFi but when you roast your espresso beans at home, you can have all the internet bandwidth you want. One of the most popular choices and original blends is the Black Cat Espresso, available in either a half or full pound. You’re also guaranteed freshness, as with the high traffic and turnover their beans don’t get a chance to sit around.
