Cafes
Fahrenheit Coffee
Fahrenheit Coffee is committed to the perfect coffee experience. That's because owner Sameer Mohamed has long been judged on his ability to serve the perfect cup. Literally judged, that is.
"Yes, those are my awards," he says when I ask him about the trophies displayed in his new cafe on the Esplanade. "I've competed in barista championships both regionally and nationally. And I'm training my staff to compete as well."
That's why Mohamed, who placed second overall in the Canadian Eastern Regional Barista Championships last year, decided Fahrenheit's bar would be white. "It shows every little spill," he says.
Mohamed, who hails from Montreal but was born and raised in Kenya, discovered his love for coffee working at a roaster part time while studying finance in university. He started working for Sense Appeal when he moved to Toronto, then finally decided to take the plunge and open his own cafe. And now, when he's not pulling shots or impressing customers with his latte art, Mohamed also teaches classes with the Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy.
Fahrenheit Coffee shares its space with COAG Grinding & Brewing, a company, Mohamed tells me, that has graciously sponsored Fahrenheit in the form of its equipment, including its prized Dalla Corte DC Pro espresso machine. And we put the machine to work on the afternoon I drop by. The first taste: a shot ($2.25) of Diablo, a blend of Brazilian and Colombian beans roasted locally at Te Aro.
"There's an immediate brightness to this one," Mohamed says, giving the shot a swirl. "It's full of body and volume." The espresso has a lovely dark chocolate finish, lingering with a bit of sweetness.
Mohamed then prepares a shot of his Kenya Kandara, which hints of sundried tomato and a bit of fruitiness. "The last sip is honey," he says, taking it down.
While there's no drip coffee to be found on the premises, Fahrenheit offers Americanos ($2.25), cappuccinos ($3.25), lattes ($3.75), teas from Metropolitan Tea and more, as well as baked goods from Circles and Squares. Soymilk is available at no extra charge, but, alas, extra space (and seating, except for a few barstools) is not.
Photos by Dennis Marciniak
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Huh? Is that what they are teaching at the Academy?
Thank you for your comment. The Barista Academy is dedicated to helping people produce a quality cup every time. I would encourage you to come by and allow me to talk you through our 3 different coffees. You are a coffee nerd and so am I. I would love to discuss what we have with you.
As for the quote, I understand your concern about "body and volume." Volume is definitely not something I look for in an espresso and that may have been lost in translation. What was meant by that comment is that the body of the espresso fills and coats your entire palette. Hope to see you soon.
Best,
Sameer from Fahrenheit
Sameer was more than willing to explain the complexities of the shot when I was there. Great shot. Great barista.
*THE* coffee shop to go to in the Esplanade / Distillery / St. Lawerence Market area.
Hope we see you soon!!
Sameer from Fahrenheit
A beautiful space with smiling baristas and nice espresso cups. And, amazing coffee.
Thanks for the support guys. Will see you soon hopefully
Sameer from Fahrenheit
Oh, and fantastic Americanos, and among the top 2 cappuccinos I've ever consumed.
Sameer from Fahrenheit
May I suggest including opening and closing times when reviewing these establishments?
Our Hours are:
Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm
Sat - 9am-5pm
Sun - Closed for Classes
Cheers
Sameer from Fahrenheit
I will most certainly be stopping by.
All the best Sameer, see you soon.
J.
Thanks for the shout-out. See you soon!
Sameer from Fahrenheit.
And coffee, ahhhhh the coffee. If you've never worshiped it before, Fahrenheit will convert you. Be ware :)
Thank you so much for coming in and being so kind! Look forward to seeing you soon!
Sameer from Fahrenheit
I did forget to ask you the last time we were there, what make a model of expresso maker for the average home you would recommend? I know it won't totally compare with yours of course, but that will just keep me coming back in between. :) Does brand and price really matter???
Thanks Sameer. I will be in asap, ha, ha!
Thanks.
Thank you for your immense flattery! We are open from Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Closed on Sunday. As for your espresso machine, we can talk about that in detail when you come in.
Best,
Sameer from Fahrenheit.
We are in the process of relocating! Will make sure you know where we are as soon as we do! Follow us on Tiwtter and Facebook for immediate updates!
Best,
Sameer from Fahrenheit
I noticed that you are opening a new location at 120 Lombard. When do you expect to open?
Viktoria
http://www.blogto.com/cafes/fahrenheit-coffee-lombard-toronto