Get brewing: Where to buy coffee beans in Roncesvalles
There’s nothing like the smell of freshly-ground coffee beans wafting through your home. Roncesvalles has its fair share of stores and cafes where you can buy beans for a delicious cup to brew at home morning, noon or night.
I Deal Coffee
221 Sorauren Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2G1Delicious coffee with a conscience is what you’ll get at this Sorauren Avenue roastery. They sell light, medium and dark roast Arabic beans sourced from fair trade suppliers that work with small farms and co-ops. Another plus is that the beans are grown organically. The community focus also extends to local businesses, where I Deal picks up indispensable extras like baked sweets and milk.
Cherry Bomb Coffee
79 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2K6Look for the cherry-red orb hanging above the door at this lower Roncy coffee shop and you’ll be guided towards some of the strip’s best espresso. Caffeine junkies can pick up more than 15 unique varieties of light, medium and dark roast beans available by the pound, including beans from Toronto’s own Spitfire Coffee Roasters. The signature Cherry Bomb blend is a full-bodied spicy blend with hints of citrus and cashews. If you’re feeling indulgent, try the Hawaiian Kona medium roast (priced at $50 per pound), a mild brew with smooth milk chocolate notes.
Alternative Grounds
333 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M8A coffee institution in the neighbourhood, they were roasting farmer-friendly coffee beans even before there was an official fair trade body in Canada. Suppliers to cafes and restaurants across the city, AG offers an eclectic and ever-changing variety of beans from South America and Africa with an emphasis on roasting-to-order for maximum freshness. They offer beans in conveniently-sized bags for individual or bulk purchase. It’s worth calling ahead to find out what’s roasting!
Extra Butter Coffee
283 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M3You can pick and choose from a selection of several Dark City roasts for home grinding, including the namesake Extra Butter variety. Dark City has been on the Toronto coffee scene since 1987 and to preserve freshness, prides itself on preparing beans to order on an antique roaster. If you’re having a weekend morning coffee fest, allow yourself to be tempted by the breakfast offerings at Extra Butter, including delectable doughnuts and maple mustard bacon buns.
Starbucks
2201 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1X5Whether you like your coffee at the crack of dawn, mid-morning or in the afternoon, there`s a roast with your name on it at coffee giant Starbucks. One of the leaders of the modern day coffee house revival, this ubiquitous chain offers light-bodied blonde roast, smooth and mellow medium roast or a full-bodied medium variety for home grinding. Since opening in 1971, the company has veered towards a community focus with ethically-sourced coffee high on the agenda.
