Here are 6 Toronto cafés where traditional global coffee rituals or preparations accompany your daily pick-me-up.
Sometimes, you want more than just your everyday double-double (Canada-speak for coffee with two sugars and two creams). Fortunately, Toronto has a wide array of unique specialty coffee experiences you can enjoy from around the world.
Try an immersive Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Sample the robust flavours of Vietnamese coffee. Create envy-inducing #CoffeeTok videos of slow-drip South Indian or space-age Japanese siphon coffee. Whether you’re in the mood for a rich Turkish coffee or sweet and spicy Mexican café de olla, you can sip it in the 6ix.
Here’s a roundup of culturally significant specialty coffee practices and offerings brewing up across Toronto.
Turkish coffee ritual at Liu Loqum Atelier
If you’re looking for a traditional Turkish coffee experience, you’ll want to stop into this stunning, light-filled coffee shop in Little Italy. Liu Loqum Atelier specializes in authentic Turkish coffee and offers an extensive selection of imported Turkish delights.
Don’t be surprised if you find coffee grounds at the bottom of your cup: Turkish coffee is brewed unfiltered with ultra-fine coffee grounds, making it stronger in caffeine and richer in flavour. Liu Loqum Atelier serves theirs in a dainty little cup that sits atop a picturesque serving tray.
You absolutely have to pair it with Turkish delight, so take your pick from unique flavour combinations like mango pistachio and blueberry hazelnut. Other sweet options include halva and baklava. Or go all in on a full Turkish breakfast with bread, charcuterie and salad.
Ethiopian coffee ritual at Blue Nile Ethiopian Cuisine
You may or may not know that Ethiopia is widely believed to be the birthplace of coffee. Considering its deep history and coffee culture, an Ethiopian coffee ritual is a really special ceremony to experience.
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant offers traditional Ethiopian coffee rituals in their cozy, brick-clad space in Danforth-Greektown. The ceremony starts with a host roasting the coffee beans over a charcoal burner, creating an aromatic smoke that fills the air.
Next, the coffee is brewed and cupped in front of guests. This creates a unique experience where coffee lovers can literally immerse themselves in the scent and flavour of freshly roasted and brewed Ethiopian coffee.
Of course, while you’re there, you should also try Ethiopian cuisine if you haven’t already!
Vietnamese phin-dripped coffee at Dak Lak Cafe
Vietnamese coffee is making waves in Toronto, and Dak Lak Cafe is a local café well-loved for its authentic take on the brew. Visit their homey coffee shop near boho Kensington Market for a robust cup of ca phe, brewed drip-style through a metal phin filter.
The phin rests on top of a glass, and when hot water is poured in, thick, robust coffee slowly drips into the clear glass below, which may also contain sweetened condensed milk and/or ice. The sweetness of the condensed milk and the full-bodied flavour of Vietnamese coffee make for a deliciously strong coffee.
Vietnamese coffee is typically made with robusta beans, which are higher in caffeine than your typical beans, but Dak Lak does offer a mild version if you’re looking for a low-caffeine option. In addition, they serve up a variety of authentic Vietnamese street foods and other drink specialties, like their popular egg coffee which has a dollop of creamy egg foam.
Japanese siphon coffee at Coffee Island
Coffee Island, a contemporary coffee shop near downtown Yonge Street, lets you choose between multiple coffee brewing methods, including pour-over, Chemex, Aeropress, cold drip and Syphon, which is inspired by a Japanese method of brewing.
Japanese siphon coffee involves using a scientific-looking device that heats water in a lower glass chamber, creating a vacuum. The vacuum draws water through the coffee grounds of an upper glass chamber, resulting in a smooth and clean brew that really brings out the flavours of the coffee beans.
Siphon coffee is a mainstay of Japanese café culture as much for its aesthetics as the satisfying coffee it produces.
South Indian filter coffee at Madras Kaapi
Madras Kaapi is a warm and vibrant coffee shop on College Street that serves traditional South Indian filter coffee alongside other South Indian drinks and treats.
If you haven’t heard of South Indian filter coffee before, it’s typically infused with chicory, brewed in a special filter, and topped with frothy milk. Also known as kaapi, you can enjoy this comforting South Indian specialty either hot or iced.
The South Indian coffee filter is similar to the Vietnamese phin filter in that it involves pressing the coffee grounds into the filter, adding hot water and allowing it to drip through slowly. The coffee is served in a davara and tumbler, a metal cup and bowl set, and it’s poured back and forth between the two to create the signature froth.
Madras Kaapi sources its coffee beans directly from the hills of India for an authentic kaapi every time. Be sure to order the Idli Podi (spicy steamed lentil cake) with ghee—perfect for pairing with South Indian filter coffee.
Mexican café de olla at Pancho y Emiliano
For an authentic taste of Mexican coffee culture in Toronto, you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to Pancho y Emiliano, located in the eclectic neighbourhood of Kensington Market.
Here, coffee is prepared the traditional Mexican way: paired with cinnamon and panela (unrefined whole cane sugar) and served in a traditional earthen clay pot for one.
The clay pot is important not just for aesthetics but also because it further enhances the coffee's flavours. This aromatic coffee drink is the perfect treat to enjoy after devouring tacos or for pairing with churros.
Afterwards, stop by one of the local grocers for Mexican-spiced cocoa, which you can take home with you as a sweet reminder of your Toronto visit.
