Toronto indie coffee roasters for caffeine lovers

With the rise of the indie cafe, Torontonians have become schooled in the art of the coffee bean and all it can offer. As demand has increased, so have the available options for caffeine lovers. Here’s the lowdown on where to get a great cup of freshly roasted coffee or a bag of beans to grind at home.

By The Coffee Snob

I Deal Coffee

1

84 Nassau St, Toronto, ON M5T 1M5

• Phone Number
  • 416-364-7700Primary
• Directions

I Deal Coffee specializes in roasting small batch, organic, fairly traded coffee and its beans consistently deliver complex and delicious coffee. With three cafes covering the west end, one in midtown, and an abundance of retail shops that carry its brand, this is definitely the biggest roaster on the list, but we think it’s because the coffee tastes so darned good!

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Toronto places to get espresso beans

Dark City Coffee

2

12-3480U McNicoll Ave, Scarborough, ON M1V 5A6

• Phone Number
  • 416-282-2307Primary
• Directions

Dark City Coffee has been roasting since 1987, which makes it a veteran in the coffee biz. These guys roast their beans to order (you can order by the pound) and deliver them, too. They guarantee that you'll love the coffee you make with their beans, whether it's one of the certified organic or conventional offerings. Trust me, you will definitely love it.

2354194 On Inc

3

2489 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2H6

• Phone Number
  • 647-748-3633Primary
• Directions

This shop is located just north of Eglinton on Yonge Street, where brothers Felix and Won Cha roast their beans in the back of their street front cafe. Their beans are all fair trade, although not organic, and the fragrance of coffee roasting in the back while you throw back an espresso can’t be beat.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Midtown coffee shops around Yonge and Eglinton
• A day in the neighbourhood: Yonge and Eglinton
• The best cafés in Toronto’s midtown neighbourhood

Social Coffee Co Ltd

4

55 West Beaver Creek Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1K5

• Phone Number
  • 416-848-0718Primary
• Directions

Although based out of Richmond Hill, Social Coffee Tea Company is worth the hike. Offering a wide variety of blends and single origin coffee beans, it has a strong modus operandi and has won several prizes in world coffee roasting competitions. If you were still looking for a reason to try these guys out, you can’t beat that.

Moonbean Coffee Company

5

30 St Andrew St, Scarborough, ON M1M 3H2

• Phone Number
  • 416-595-0327Primary
  • 1-866-595-0327Tollfree
• Directions
• Menu

This is a local favourite, shipping beans across Canada and to the U.S., with a cafe that serves espresso-based drinks, as well as a selection of more than 30 loose leaf teas. Moonbean provides certified Fair Trade and organic beans, as well as conventional, and its Kensington Market cafe is worth a visit, too.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Brave the winter months at these cozy cafés in Toronto
• Best fair trade coffee shops and cafes in Toronto
• Best restaurants in Kensington Market

More from The Coffee Snob

You’ll never catch The Coffee Snob sipping a cup of joe from the corner store. No, sir. He’ll have his barista create the perfect espresso for him every time. After all, coffee is an art.

How about some ice in your coffee?

You can time the seasons by iced coffee: when it appears on the menu, you know warm weather is here, and when it disappears, you know summer is over. It's the perfect way to keep cool, and on top of your calendar. And here in Québec City, you'll find no shortage of options for this delicious drink.

Hit the books for a caffeinated study session at these cafés

As a student, it often seems like a cup of Joe, a textbook and a group of friends is the best way to buckle down to complete those study notes. Toronto, with coffee shops gracing almost every block, is no stranger to the over-caffeinated student.

Secure your java fix at these coffee shops in the Beaches

The quaint and popular Beaches neighbourhood offers great shopping, Victorian and Edwardian architecture and some of the best independently-owned coffee shops in Toronto. Grab an iced coffee before hitting the boardwalk or settle in with a book at any one of these local cafés.