Where to go for your next coffee chat
So you’re back to the daily commute and no longer have the convenience of your own coffee machine at your fingertips at all hours of the day. On top of that, the Goodmans LLP Café is set to be closed for yet another year, and Starbucks locations across the city are disappearing faster than Cognomos processes conditional drops. Where should you get your coffee fix near campus? We did the hard work and sampled five cafés around the law school so that you don’t have to.
Now, you’re probably wondering, what credentials do we have to be giving unsolicited advice on where to buy coffee? Great question. As three roommates who started a semi-satirical review page on Instagram as a pandemic project, we think we have the combined expertise to write a review column for the school newspaper.
Let’s dive into the reviews.
Goldstruck Coffee (130 Cumberland St)
To set the scene: you exit Flavelle, and set your eye on Yorkville. You pass an endless number of people walking in and out of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, etc. You think to yourself, “I also deserve a treat.” But you just paid tuition, and looking at your line of credit causes you physical pain. So you continue on your journey, and find yourself at Goldstruck.
The coffee is fine. I asked for a brewed coffee. The barista asked me, “Pour over or drip?” As a regular drinker of whatever Keurig pods I can find on sale, I was clearly not Goldstruck’s target clientele. I pick the cheaper one—a drip coffee for $3.14, tax included. Again, it was fine. $3 is probably robbery for a cup of drip coffee, but hey, it’s Toronto, and Yorkville no less!
Highlight: solid availability of various dairy alternatives.
Sorry Coffee Co (102 Bloor St W)
If you think, “I want another Yorkville coffee, but with more dogs this time,” then Sorry is the place for you! It offers dog bowls filled with water for your four-legged friends as well. Sorry might be home to our favourite takeaway coffee cup in Toronto—the aesthetic and the ~vibes~ make for a great Insta story. The coffee itself was good and cost about $3.60 for a standard Americano, so not your cheapest option. The only downside is a lack of seating area, so you can’t waste the afternoon sitting in a coffee shop pretending to read case law.
Highlight: 10/10 branding.
Pilot Coffee Roasters (55 Bloor St W, Suite 128)
Another aesthetic choice! Located in the Manulife Centre, Pilot Coffee Roasters is a great spot if you want your coffee served with a side of corporate. Jokes aside — Pilot really does make great coffee. It’s also the perfect distance from the law school for when you feel the need to escape for a little while, but have to be back on campus for a mandatory lunch time training session.
Highlight: the sea salt chocolate chip cookie is divine.
Coffee Island (925 Bay St)
Do you know that feeling when the week is dragging on and you think to yourself “there’s no way I can get through this day without a treat yo’ self coffee”? Situated precisely halfway between our house and campus (shoutout to Yonge and College), Coffee Island is the perfect layover. When I went to pay for my mid-day treat, the barista’s eyes lit up as she glanced at my name on my credit card. She explained that the store owners are also Greek—you can probably guess based on our last names who wrote this review. She even gave me a small discount based on our lovely conversation! Overall, good vibes at Coffee Island.
Highlight: they give out free dog treats, so it’s another great spot for dog owners and dog observers alike.
Almond Butterfly Bakeshop & Cafe (100 Harbord St)
When taking a trip over to the West side of campus and in need of a pick-me-up, look no further than Almond Butterfly. $3.14 for an iced Americano, cardboard straw included (#SaveTheTurtles). You’ll get a standard 12oz pour, no ornate branding on the cup, but hey, sometimes simplicity is key. And that’s exactly what this coffee is. Nothing fancy, but it does the trick.
Highlight: an affordable (by Toronto standards) option for getting your caffeine fix.
Bonus Review: Dark Horse Coffee Automat (1235 Bay St)
Can a vending machine make a cup of coffee that’s worth drinking? This is the kind of investigative journalism we’re interested in. We tried the contactless, autonomous espresso bar, which purports to serve the same quality of drinks served by real humans at Dark Horse locations around the city. I’m not sure if I’m quite sold on that. For $5, I’d rather pay a real person to make a coffee than fund the robot takeover of our society. But hey, we can’t tell you how to vote with your wallet.
Pro tip: sign up for the email list and you might be able to snag yourself a free coffee. It doesn’t feel nearly as bad when it’s free.
