Cafes
Aroma Espresso Bar Toronto
When the Annex area JJ Muggs/JJ Albany's/Albany's finally bit the dust last year, I wondered what would take its place. The Bloor West & Albany Ave location is a big storefront with huge patio potential, so a new resto or cafe would be a shoe-in. Then again, the Annex needs another restaurant (let alone sushi place) like it needs another poor university student... there are already far more than this neighbourhood knows what to do with.
Still, sure enough, a few months and a huge renovation later, redundancy rules as Israeli import, Aroma Espresso Bar debuts to challenge American standard, Starbucks, and Canadian stronghold, Second Cup, on opposing corners of this caffeinated intersection.
I walk in and my first impression is, well... I'm impressed. The cafe has much better atmosphere and design than a stale Martha Stewart inspired Starbucks, and the almost Parisian red/black/chrome interior is a step up from Second Cup's various shades of le brown... though SC does score points for coziness whereas Aroma can feel a little too slick.
Every other table is appears to be equipped with a blogger of some kind (ok, just 'net-users, but who knows) as a free WIFI pass code comes printed on each receipt.
Frills aside, let's talk coffee...
Unlike the major North American coffee shops across the street, Aroma is not banking on inventing new pseudo-coffee concoctions every month (as good as some of those might be). They're sticking with absolute coffee classics.
The chart pictured here, sits on the counter and while there is a real menu board up on the wall, this is about all the aide you need.
Yes, six types of espresso.
No, you aren't on Corso Italia, this is still the Annex!
As usual, I've brought some friends to sample the new place with me, so we put in our order and soon our names (yes, like they do at Lick's) are called out at the counter so we can pick up our order.
It's a nice personal touch (even if the spelling was a little atrocious) and perhaps better than someone shouting "MOCHA" and 3 people show up to debate whose cup it is. At the same time, the names are all printed on receipts -- one for you, one for them -- so there's a lot of paper going to waste. I hope they've got a grey bin behind that counter.
First up, a double espresso -- a solid kick of caffeine and flavour. Simple and likeable, I'd order it again, though I'm thinking the Turkish Coffee may be worth a shot next time I'm looking for a jolt.
A large foamy Mocha is next and it looks great. When I can finally sneak a sip from my friend, I begin to understand why she's cradling it with such love. It's thick and blended really well. The testament to that is this photo:
Even after drinking up some of the foam, a stir-stick still stands at attention in this tall cup of Mocha goodness.
You may have noticed the "Aroma" chocolate alongside that cup. It doesn't come with the Mocha, it comes with everything. Regardless of what you order, you get a solid little piece of milk chocolate on the side. Not a make or break item when choosing Aroma, but its nice to see that when you're paying a decent price for coffee (prices are similar to Starbucks in most cases) that you are actually getting that little bit extra in terms of quality and service.
From the non-coffee choices:
After tasting the chocolatey mocha, a full on Hot Chocolate was inevitable. This one had another friend just sitting there just taking in the aroma for a minute (how appropriate). While I poked fun, it's true, the smell of real chocolate, not bottle semi-chocolate syrup or powder, is a lovely thing.
Pictured at the top, you can see through the clear glass cup she's stirring, I wasn't kidding about the chocolate. Reminds me of the delectable Italian hot chocolate at B Espresso on Queen East.
Tea, on the other hand, was nothing to rave about, but it was good, reasonable priced (one price for any size) and the selection was decent (5-6 types). Hopefully they'll be adding even more though as Torontonians are used to having a pretty wild selection of teas to choose from.
Aroma also offers some fresh-baked pastries as well as sandwiches and salads (all made fresh in-house).
Pastry-wise, the cheese danish is a flakey kind of wonderful whereas the mini cinnamon bun was under-baked... a little hit and miss.
The sandwiches and salads I simply have not tried yet, though I was surrounded at other tables by monster salads that looked amazing.
Looking forward to your thoughts on their food offerings.
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Aroma Espresso Bar
500 Bloor St. W (Corner of Bloor & Albany)
416-536-7750
Discussion
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Any improvement over the undrinkable espresso served by Second Cup and the relentlessly-synergized corporate atmosphere of Starbuck's is most welcome.
For example:
Espressos = $1.80
Canadian coffee = $1.40-$1.85
Mocha or Hot Chocs = $3.30-$4
Tea = $1.65
The only thing that put me off was the different prices for stay-in vs. to go. While the concept is very European, it just comes off as pretentious in a north american city, and if anything, encourages waste.
:)
"First up, a double expresso -- a solid kick of caffeine and flavour. Simple and likeable, I'd order it again, though I'm thinking the Turkish Coffee may be worth a shot next time I'm looking for a jolt."
And yes, the improper spelling of Macchiato is a shame.
The instance has been corrected.
Thanks for a great review. So we finally have a chain with real hot chocolate in the city? Can't wait to try this place.
And yes the "macciato" kind of puts me off. Macchiato literally means "stained" like stained with a bit of milk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_alphabet
pure dutch press hot chocolate....Aroma comes very close...and I mean
very close...with a capital on VERY...and they do the same traditional mark
by leaving chocolate with the beverage which i really do enjoy....
all in all anything is better than starbucks....and this is far and beyond the starbucks experience and product offering..
Have a look: www.arcaffe.co.il
I understand getting mixed up on a detail like here or to-go, but I consistently have them repeat back to me something totally different than what I ordered. There's thinking you asked for a small when you ordered large, and then there's repeating back to you an order for a decaf cappuccino when you ordered a large regular latte.
I'd think it was all my bad if it didn't happen to the people I was with as well. A friend of mine who lives in the neighbourhood says it happens to her so often she just expects to repeat her order two or three times, every time. Bit of a damper.
nothing like that never happened to me. the service is always great, staff is friendly not to mention that the product is amazing.
I appreciate the review and will check out Aroma next time in the Annex, but I think you're sort of missing the point of espresso if it is merely a means to a "jolt", as the above would imply. You're better off going to Timmy's in that case. Nor should it be "simple". In fact, good espresso is as complex as wine. I've heard good things about the cafe culture in Israel. My former roommate from Tel Aviv was appalled by coffee situation in Toronto, and rightly so. Perhaps Aroma will help.
And yes, the girl told me at the counter it was the Isreal Tim Hortons; it's one upscale one ^^ Definitely like the chic modern.
Check it out
http://www.canadasisrael.ca
The only drink I had was a brewed coffee but after reading your blog I am definitely going to be trying a cappuccino or two... or five :)
is someone know if they are going to open another Arome at the Promenade mall and when?
Ever since I landed in Toronto, I've been appalled by the horrible quality of food and drink served here. There an expression in Israel: Either you make hummus with love, or don't make it at all. If you were ever stranded out on the street late at night and smelled the coffee and pastries being prepared in Aroma on Hillel Street at 5am, you'd know what I mean. As was mentioned in the thread - Aroma is not generally considered the most exclusive cafe in Israel, but it has pride and after being to the one here -- I'm glad that they're trying to reproduce it.
My only beef is...why haven't they gone fair trade with their coffee?
Please open more!!!
5 stars.
Great place for coffee and a meal.
aroma is truly one of the best coffee places in town.
it looks great!
this coffe-sure sure.next to movie thetre.at list life saver-friends can do it or you would me let die,next time i 'll find some body other to help me.no warries.but to be friends- not aloud? when i needed help in my life i was looking for wise person to have advice.beter this way.thets why i realy like thet perfect coffe shops are opens becouse you can have small corner for your self in cozy atmosfer ,to think ,to read, to relax,to take you time-deferent words.no rush ,life is show haw it soposed to be in life.
I would have loved the experience if it weren't for the crude employees.
israel is taking millions of dollars from Canadian tax payers, they don't need any more.
I will certainly return with family and friends.
So.. no I wont support apartide by buying a coffee from a franchise from a nation accussed of war crimes (white phosprous burning women and children)torture,useing canadian passports to murder,killing canadian peacekeeper,undeclared nukes,building (Aroma stores) on stolen land, Ect. Ect.
the BEST Ice-Cap type drink in the city!