Lit Espresso Bar opened its doors no more than a week ago, but already they are experiencing success.
Joe, the cafe owner, has been enjoying great coffee around town, mentioning the popular Crema and several of blogTO's best cafes. Realizing there was an untapped market in the heart of Roncesvalles, he decided the time was right to enter the hot drink market.
The Lit menu features cafe regulars, including espresso, Americano, cappuccino, caffe latte, macchiato, drip and hot chocolate. Regular and premium loose leaf teas are available, as are juices and water, including the typically Italian Orangina and Brio.
A usual range of sweet nibbles are on offer, such as cookies, muffins and croissants, with butter tarts, date squares and banana bread being a touch more notable. To set themselves apart Lit is offering panini, either basic grilled cheese, cheddar and prosciutto cotto or with eggplant, zucchini, roasted red peppers and mozzarella. The panini are all made fresh in-house; Joe even roasts the veggies himself.
All the coffees are made with Intelligentsia, a premium and generally eco-minded Chicago coffee company very popular at favoured cafes in cities south of the border but just beginning to gain traction here in Toronto. Joe assured me their coffee came out the best in his many tastings.
Having already had breakfast and then a snack at Buddha Dog, I was only in the mood for an espresso. Although I'm not a coffee aficiosnado, this was one of the better espressos I'd had in a while, with a thick crema and rich flavour. My only complaint was that the single only offered two sips.
At a dollar per sip I don't know I'll be there every morning for an espresso, but the modern yet warm feel, highlighted by the bar made of giant old barn timbers, Lit will be on my short list of places to meet friends for a hot drink.
Discussion
37 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
Looks like a great place but I thought Roncy was already saturated with amazing cafes - Tinto, Alternative Grounds, Cherry Bomb and Coffee and all the Jazz just to name some of them.....
Yeah, plus the ubiquitous chains (Starbucks, Second Cup, Timothys) and Polish joints like Granowska. Seems there's plenty of them .
It's funny, Tim, you're right, but somehow this has a different feel. It didn't make me think of the other Rocy cafes, but did make me think of Crema.
Looks like the same cafe with just a different name. I really wish these cafes would try to do something original. Like Tim said, there are a lot of very good cafes around town. As it stands, I'm not likely to try/switch to one of these new coffee shops unless they're better than everyone else (they won't be) or they do something to differentiate themselves from the others.
Lit would probably say their coffee and panini set them apart. Are either good enough to make them a destination, I don't know. So far every time I walk by they have been busy; it will be interesting to see if that lasts once they're no longer the new kids on the block.
I'll have to check this out. I'm curious to know if it'll trump Tinto, which is one of the more original cafes I've been to and is much closer to my apartment on Galley.
Does Lit have free internet?
(P.S. the best coffee I've had in this city, or any other for that matter, was the Honduras blend at Manic Coffee [made in the famous Clover!]. It temporarily ruined my ability to enjoy any other coffee.)
I can see why you thought of Crema. The branding has a similar colour scheme.
What Roncesvalles REALLY needs is a liquor store.
I second the LCBO sentiment.
Thirded!
I originally included a statment that Lit sold out of panini this weekend, but have been corrected. I removed the incorrect text and added a note that panini are made in-house as my original wording suggested they used pre-made panini.
Also, I asked Joe about how Lit fits in the neighbourhood. He sees the other cafes as competition, but is emphasizing the "comfortable Italian theme" as what sets Lit apart (his family is from central Italy). For now their focus is on coffee and panini, but look for homemade Italian soups in future.
If fruit markets every 1-2 blocks can be successful, perhaps as many cafes will be too.
The cafes in Roncesvalles aren't really premium cafes, in the sense that Lit might be (I haven't tired it yet). The fact that Lit uses Intelligensia coffee shows that they take coffee very seriously, whereas Coffee and All that Jazz, Tinto's, Alternative Grounds (ick) and Cherry Bomb don't really. Lit has the right coffee and the right equipment, but it will be interesting to see if they can produce truly premium coffee.
"The fact that Lit uses Intelligensia coffee shows that they take coffee very seriously"
Maybe if they were in Chicago. Roasted coffee has a shelf life of 5 days before it becomes stale. The best coffee anywhere is high quality green coffee beans that have been roasted on-site. Fresh! Check out the coffee classes at The Merchants of Green coffee and enlighten yourself on the coffee trade and the science behind it all.
Nick even on the Merchants of Green website it says: "Fresh coffee, consumed one to three days after roasting, is dramatically superior in taste to any other coffee."
3 days is plenty of time for beans to get from chicago to toronto. And many people say beans are best on the 3rd day after they have degassed a bit.
this is crazy with all new coffee shop (3rd wave)gonna fall, look @ wild thing great review (and they have great espresso. i tried it) but its just blank no one goes in.
good luck to all but there is way too many.
try to keep it real
marco, what kind of BS is that.
a.new cafes will slowlly pushe all the crapy coffee out.
We dont need starB...
b. We checked wild thing last weekend. It was pack and the latte I got was amazing. So smooth(maybe its the organic milk) and cup was cool.
try to be positive. The 3rd wave just picking up
They do have free wifi, comfy seating, relaxing atmosphere, and super friendly staff!
"Maybe if they were in Chicago. Roasted coffee has a shelf life of 5 days before it becomes stale. The best coffee anywhere is high quality green coffee beans that have been roasted on-site. Fresh! Check out the coffee classes at The Merchants of Green coffee and enlighten yourself on the coffee trade and the science behind it all"
-Nick
The above statement is completely untrue for anybody wondering.
Coffee once roasted needs a rest period of AT LEAST 2-4 days to de-gas to a stable enough point to properly brew.
Brewing coffee which is too rich in cO2 (gas) will actually inhibit the solubility of coffee molecules, as too much gas acts to shield water, thus underextracting.
You'll get best results brewing with whole bean coffee which is 5-12 days old in any properly sealed packaging.
What is most important is that you buy coffee that HAS a roast date on a SEALED bag, which also has a one-way valve, allowing for cO2 expelled from fresh beans to escape the sealed bag without allowing oxygen or light to enter.
Again 5-12 days for best results, upwards of 15 if still sealed, however once opened, use quickly, as the older it is, the faster it dies.
Anybody stating otherwise is incorrect.
And for the record "the best quality coffee anywhere" Nick, is that which has been roasted by a skilled and consistant roaster with a pallete.
Of which there are no local comparisons to Intelligentsia.
I live on Roncesvalles (above a storefront) a few doors down from Lit. I will tell you that this is EXACTLY what my nearest blocks have been missing. We had Thai, (two in the same block) Polish bakeries (also two in the same block) but no cafes. For anyone living on a street that T's up to Roncesvalles on the nearest 3-4 blocks, they're in for a treat for two reasons: 1) It is the closest walking distance cafe, and 2) it is exceptional. What a treat!
The reasons why this cafe makes me happy:
1) The staff. The staff. The staff. I can't say enough. They are so incredibly friendly, I get welcomed by first name every time I set foot in the door. Whether by Wanda (the lovely Wanda!) Joe, or Ian, (the original trio) or the newer members of staff, I always leave feeling happier than when I came.
2) The food truly is tasty. I am a working single female who doesn't cook much, and the paninis are delicious and affordable. Also, the Americanos are great.
For anyone who would like a cafe experience with the feel of walking into an inviting family kitchen, this is the place. For anyone going for good coffee, treats, food, and atmosphere, this is the place. Or just out exploring? Stop by!
I second the motion that LIT is EXACTLY what Ronces needs.
It is NOT just one among several coffee shops lining the Avenue...it is simply the BEST source for real Euro-Italian
coffee/espresso. Timothy's - please - garbage, as is Second Cup; these two Ronces coffee joints don't even rate as far as I'm concerned. Starbucks is too far north to really have a direct impact on the main hood coffee joint business. That leaves Alternative Grounds - which REALLY needs a major internal overhaul, Tinto and Cherry Bomb that co-exist with LIT. Staff at LIT are indeed very friendly, the food is good quality, and the interior is very soothing.
On my way to buy some great beans at Alternative Grounds, the Espresso Velvet Blend, I stumbled upon Lit. I like the warm feel coming from the wood and colour choices and the minimalist appointed interior.
The choice of absolutely high quality grinders and coffee machine speaks for themselves.
I was told that only ?doubles' were available. I understand that using a double basket gives better results. As I never order these I anticipated a double pour. I received a single pour. Next time I will ask for a double pour. The result was a very rich smooth intense coffee ... not bitter or harsh. Two or three sips of excellence. They are definitely filling a niche in the neighborhood. I wish them much success.
I've been to every coffee shop up and down this street for over 25 years playing chess in the back at Butlers pantry when you could still smoke there, to Timothy's when Manuel was running it( and did a great job) and to Alternative grounds for the art and yada yada and to Cherry bomb for a tad over priced and usually long awaited Java! Now the Lit Espresso Bar has opened its doors and its ALWAYS FRESH coffee and actually studied and researched weight and style of grinding has grabbed me and held me along with thier excellent Panini's catering to both Veggies and Meatheads alike. The always friendly service and outstanding product combine for me to take top spot on the Roncesvalles battle of the Java bars!
LIT is a great place, but they really should do something about the back of the store - very dark, too dark. This is a common problem I see in T.O.; the front of the coffee houses are bright, and the rear, which needs more light in terms of colour, is dark and depressing. Just my two cents. The chocolate brown paint at LIT has got to go.
I have an Espresso Bar at Blue Mountain and we use Intelli. They roast on Tuesday and we receive the beans on Wednesday, and it's true that you cant use them for at least 2 or 3 days because they have to settle down a bit.
Hey , I love Lit and they just added GALATO to their menu. It tastes great, it is the real Italian ice cream. You just have to love the customer service you get there, Wanda remembers my name and my drink every time iI go there. By the way they except debit, visa and master card now. If you want the best coffee in T O you have to go to Lit.
I work just down the street for LIT, and I go get my coffee there every morning. I love that the staff knows your order when you walk in, and the atmosphere is always great! Gotta love the new gelato as well.
I'm no coffee aficionados (or maybe I think I am given this post)... I've tried all the coffee shops in the hood and think Lit has the best tasting coffee around. On par with Dark Horse. Really, really good coffee! And the service and atmosphere is great too.
I never even thought of their panini. Their zuccini muffins and their lemon ginger scones are amazing and totally one of a kind!
Closer to Queen on Ronces is Cherry Bomb, with limited counter seats only. Their scones are crunchier and equal, depends on whhich you feel like at the moment. Definitely their SCONES (but not the cheese or foody ones..just the lemon, cran etc.) top their coffees -- which are not that great, compared to the one you get at Tinto's (near Cherry Bomb) or common. And their coffee -- well it's hard to get the perfect coffee unless you go to an expensive hotel or simply love that overburnt bean taste.
Joshua, you better get back over there ASAP and check out STUMPTOWN coffee that just priemered at Lit Last week. Then you'll be wishing that you didn't just say what you said about their COFFEE, it will blow you away. Look up Stumptown too on google, amazing people.
Aficionado.
Went to the new location at College/Ossington. The coffee is exceptional - bought some Stumptown and got it roasted and it was amazing! The only downside is the quality of the desserts are terrible - I recognize the desserts, Ive had them before at Dark Horse also and they were terrible too, must be the same company. But the coffee is the best in the city!
I too went to College/Ossington. The room and especially the douglas fir bar is exceptional. The coffee isn't, though. I can nip into a host of great espresso bars around the city during my daily travels, and this isn't one of them. But, nice room, though.
I recently visited the location at College and Ossington and I was blown away by absolutely everything. The decor made me feel right at home, and I love the old movies they have playing at the back of the store. Their coffee and desserts are amazing, and the panini's they just started serving are to die for!
I also love that the staff is so friendly. You can walk in there and have an amazing conversation with whoever is working, and they will make you feel like an old friend.
I definitely recommend trying Lit College out, you won't regret it!
AWESOME SPOT. AWESOME. I goto the College one. Real bomb.com.
Had high hopes, even despite the whisperings that the Stumptown was a little dull...I was disappointed. While the cafe (I went to college) was very stylish, the coffee just didn't live up to the stumptown i've had in NY.
LIT on College St......one of the best cappucinos in the city!!!
They have amazing coffee and snacks, I usually love it, but their ice coffee is truly the worst I've ever had. I almost took it back to get a refund, they don't even use espresso cubes and it was bitter as hell. It tasted like they made a batch of instant coffee and put in the fridge. $2.00 for a large cup of cold instant coffee, great. I threw it out.
Best ice coffee in the city: Alternative Grounds.