Sip on a cold brew coffee
Whether it’s sipped from a hipster-perfect stubby bottle, spouted from a Nitro tap system or just poured into a plain ol’ glass, cold brew coffee has officially taken Toronto by storm. In addition to the majority of Toronto juice bars serving up the sumptuous spin on the iced coffee, these home-brewed (high five) cafés and coffee houses will set you up with a chilled glass of the gourmet coffee drink.
Pilot Coffee Corp
50 Wagstaff Dr, Toronto, ON M4L 3W9One of Toronto’s most esteemed roasteries and coffee moguls, Pilot Roasters is responsible for some of the best cafés on the east side. It should come as no shock that these guys are also masters of the cold brew coffee, which they sell at their headquarters and tasting bar on Wagstaff Avenue as well as at their two east side coffee shops – Crafted and of course, the famed Te Aro.
Northwood
815 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1M1This hybrid café and cocktail bar was one of the first spots in Toronto to bring in the trendy cold brew coffee, working with the locally based Two Bears brewers. The modern tavern – complete with exposed brick walls and amber-hued architectural lighting – is the ideal spot for a cold-brewed concoction by day or specialty craft beer by night. Pick it up to-go and enjoy at home all week.
Early Bird Espresso And Brew Bar
613 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2B7Although its sleek Fashion District digs are about as cool as it gets (particularly the patio, a prime spot for a summertime hang with friends or daytime work spot), the menu at this downtown espresso bar is even more impressive. A revolving selection of beans from top-grade coffee roasters from around the world (whether it’s the Brooklyn-based Lofted Coffee or our home-grown Pilot Roasters) are accompanied by specialty drinks like the espresso tonic and cold brew coffee spouted from a Japanese machine you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
Story Planet
269 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2G3It's a café meets…magical place (really though, there's no other term for it). In their own words, they are “committed to helping you get wherever you need to go – comfortably, safely and without intergalactic incident.” The centre is one half storytelling and creativity building zone for kids, and the other half, a cool café for adults seeking a cold brew coffee, some curated reading materials, and a peruse through the space-themed shop. The not-for-profit brings in well-known authors to run storytelling workshops with the wee ones while parents hang in the Intergalactic Travel Authority café up front.
Rooster Coffee
479 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2N4The celebrated east-end coffee spot now hosts two locations, and you’ll find a similarly nuanced feel at both. The original café in Riverdale brings together chic Parisian and rustic Canadian vibes, featuring a black-and-white-striped awning and heavy live-edge wood furniture. The Financial District shop on King East is easy to spot with its boldly lit-up sign spelling ROOSTER COFFEE with incandescent light bulbs, and hosts a more industrial feel with warm touches like soft leather armchairs and two vintage chandeliers. Both host made-in-house cold brew coffee for a summer pick-me-up in a bottle.
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
630 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1G3This local chain of coffee houses is best known for their beautifully designed locations and next-level-delicious espresso drinks. But they also host their made-in-house cold brew coffee in oh-so-aesthetic stubby bottles at three of their Toronto cafés. Stop in at the Fashion District location in the Robertson building on Spadina Avenue and enjoy a bottle in front of the stunning bio-filter living green wall in the lobby.
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