August has been coffee month for me. Maybe it's the blog. Maybe it's the wars. Maybe it's the escalators that lead up to gyms. Whatever the reason, I've consumed more java this month than I have in the past year.
During my caffeine travails, I've found myself becoming more of a fan of the Casa Acoreana Cafe in Kensington Market. Also known as simply "Cafe", Luis Coffee Stop or the cramped shack at the corner of Augusta and Baldwin, Casa Acoreana Cafe serves up great coffee at a price they're not afraid to tell the world is cheaper than Starbucks.While the espresso, lattes and chai seem to be popular choices, I've been going back for the simple yet seductive ice coffee. It packs the perfect flavour and just the right amount of ice to cool and refresh.
Casa Acoreana cafe also provides one of the best vantage point for people watching in the market. On this day, I particularly enjoyed following the conversations of all the passerbys who pet and otherwise attempted to engage the dog sitting in the bike basket outside.
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We call this place the coffee shack, and the seats at the windows are indeed great for people-watching. It's kind of like going to the cottage — whatever the urban version of rustic is, sheltered but not insulated from the weather.
The coffee was okay but the price is right and the view quite charming. The barista was a bit grumpy -- a customer not drinking his water was the tipping point.
ozzy changed the windows so the place stands up to the cold a lot better now=)
Dear Diana, I think the coffee is great...but hey I work there. Dave gets a hard time when he doesn't drink his water...that's how we joke around...take it all in next time before posting about me and our coffee at the casa.
ok julii u'r the best but i think ozzy's the grumpy one...had a coffee from there the other day and tried to be friendly with mr. ozzy but he seemed like a mr. grumpy...maybe he should lighten up..we as customer's pay his bills...
I think the first few times I went to Louie's, I also thought Ozzy was grumpy but with time (I've been a weekly customer for about 5 years now) I got to know him and realized he is a really nice guy. He can be grumpy but he is also very genuine and will do anything to those who need his help. If you go there more than a few times, he'll quickly remember you and what you normally order and have it ready for you before you even hit the counter. But please, don't feel alarmed if he seems to be rude to another customer, that's the great joke among the regulars there - Ozzy pretends to abuse them and they pretend to care but it's all a big joke.
Honestly, it was last year I think I visited Toronto briefly for a day and in that day saw one of the most beautiful baristas I ever seen. Was it this cafe? It looks like it- the windows open out to a crowded world, rastafarians walking by, graffiti on some walls. The man, if I recall correctly, looked Italian and spoke several languages. Did we speak in Spanish? I think we did, or maybe it was Italian...
Oh, and the coffee really was great.
ozzie's the greatest....he says it like it is...a good laugh ...a great heart ...and he loves and is passionate about T.O.
Casa Acoreana is the perfect vista for a perfect latte on a perfect day in kensington market