Best of Toronto
The Best Americano in Toronto
The best Americano in Toronto is what I use to fuel my day. Not particular to frothy drinks or snorted addictive substances, I have the prospect of a fresh pull and a warm cup helping me lift my head from the pillow each morning. A barista once told me that the Americano was created for people who can't pull a decent shot. "By diluting it," he said, "you minimize the mistake." True or not, I know I can always tell a good Americano from a bad; the best are consistently flavourful, smooth, and well-rounded.
Here are some places in Toronto where you can count on a good cup.
See also:
The best cafes in Toronto (West Side)
The best cafes in Toronto (East Side)
The best late night cafes in Toronto
The best cafes for free WiFi in Toronto
The best cappuccino in Toronto
Jimmy's Coffee
Perhaps it's the consistency of its pulls or the feeling of seclusion it provides in the busy downtown core, but Jimmy's is simply one of the best places to grab an Americano in Toronto. Some might call it sacrilegious that Jimmy's offers the option of a single-shot Americano (before storming away in their suede keds..) but I appreciate the opportunity to have a half-jolt at the end of the day when I'm already three coffees in. Jimmy's uses Classic Gourmet, at $2.25 for a single or $2.75 for a double. More »
Capital Espresso
Capital Espresso took over the former home of Vice magazine a little over one year ago and has since been keeping Parkdale residents happily caffeinated. Using Social Coffee & Tea Company beans, a roaster from Richmond Hill, Capital is always switching up its espresso blend (though keeping with the same roaster), meaning you might get a different tasting Americano from one day to the next. Consensus says "delicious," however. $2.50 More »
Manic Coffee
Yes, this is the place that has offered a $15 cup of coffee. But if you look past that attention-seeking little Joe you'll find a quality Americano offered on a consistent basis. Typically pulled using Intelligentsia Black Cat, the cup is $2.90 and best paired with a baked good from Wanda's. More »
Thor Espresso Bar
There are many remarkable things about Thor. Owners Patrick and Tom, for one, their nifty Slayer espresso machine, and the sidewalk show inevitably occurring outside the nearby Thompson Hotel. Thor is my choice place for an Americano on lower Bathurst, even if it is one of the only places for an Americano on lower Bathurst. The espresso is typically a single-origin blend from Social Coffee. More »
Crema Coffee
You know Crema must be doing something right with their Americanos, because they keep making them available at more and more spots around Toronto. Of course, if that logic were indeed true, we could deduce that Starbucks pulls some the best shots in the world. In any case, I'm always satisfied with Crema's Americanos at whichever location I may find them. Each drink is made with a double shot of 49th Parallel roasted beans. $3.10 More »
Mercury Espresso Bar
Mercury Espresso Bar just has a great vibe, which is part of the reason why I always find myself wandering in for an Americano when in Leslieville. The espresso drink is no longer available in a large cup size and typically uses the Alchemy blend roasted by George Howell Terroir. $2.75 More »
Sam James
Anyone who has talked to Sam knows that he's passionate (to say the least) about coffee, which is probably why his pulls are always top-notch. He uses laser-cut metal filter baskets for his portafilter, purifies his water with a reverse osmosis filtration system , and he is always updating and improving his methods. The result is a smooth and flavourful Americano made with Ethiopian beans from Montreal's Toi et Moi. $2.50 More »
R Squared
R Squared is a relative newbie on the scene, but it has quickly become my personal favourite for a quality Americano. The baristas tend to really know what they're doing, and some, actually, have gone competitive with their skills. In the humble Queen West shop, however, they're pulling double shots of Social Coffee beans, priced at $2.79 for an Americano. More »
Lit Espresso Bar
Using Stumptown Direct Trade Coffee, both the Roncy and College Street Lit cafes are known to make a quality, consistent Americano. I've always had friendly service, to boot, and you can't beat one of Lit's fresh panini to go alongside its standard double. $2.95 More »
Cafe Pamenar
When I asked the barista at Cafe Pamenar which espresso beans are used in the cafe's Americano, he responded with a cool, "I don't have to give you that information," leaving me to deduce, it must be Illy! Did I say a bad word? In any case, if a cup shrouded in mystery is your thing, you'll get that at Pamenar in Kensington. $2.38 More »
Sense Appeal
Doubles come standard for Sense Appeal's Americano, and they are usually offered using Ethiopian, Brazilian, or Guatemalan beans. The great atmosphere and tasty treats are just bonuses, but it's the locally roasted beans and skillful pulls that have distinguished this shop from others in the King and Spadina area. $2.55 More »
Fahrenheit Coffee
Formerly of Sense Appeal, Fahrenheit owner Sameer Mohamed ventured out on his own to open this cafe, first on the Esplanade, now on Lombard. Sameer uses a blend of Kenyan, Brazilian, and/or Colombian beans, locally roasted at Te Aro, for his espresso drinks (Americano, included). And last time I checked, there was no drip on hand. While it's a shame to miss out on the latte art, Sameer's Americano ($2.25) is certainly delicious. More »
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Don't tell me the Oatmeal lied to me...
It's also a way to mask a bad espresso shot.
Like touring wine country, each vineyard is different, the same goes for our beloved Toronto cafes.
But hey, you want water poured over your shot? Ask! The great thing about Jimmy's is that they'll do it the way you want it.
By pulling the shot directly into a take out cup the temperature of the espresso will rapidly decrease. This drop in temperature will negatively take away from the flavour of the cup. The act of adding the shot to the water is to prevent the temperature from dropping too much to retain as much of the flavour and aromatics. This is why places like Fahrenheit do not serve espresso to go.
At places that do not make good espresso, I have to add sugar to make the espresso palatable. This is the test: no sugar and still good, means a really solid espresso. When you make a really solid espresso (your base), making a good Americano is easy. But you cannot make a really good Americano with a bad espresso shot.
Jimmy's should not be #1 on this list and I question whether is should even be on it. They did not pass my no sugar test and I've been a couple of times. They were definitely way above your average cafe, but did not pass.
Places that serve single shots (like Jimmy's) have never passed my test. I'm not a barista and don't know why. But my sample size is pretty large and this has always been the case.
Why the heck didn't Dark Horse make it onto this list??? Super weird.
Coffee is nothing like wine. What I mean by that is for the most part once the wine is bottled- thats it. Love it or leave it.
Espresso based drinks have so many variables before, during and after extraction in addition to how much milk, foam, or water etc. It's really a matter of preference. At the end of the day it's the customer drinking the drink NOT the barista. Let's all loosen up a bit.
Brozy7, I'd love to stop by your very relevant cafe. Where are you located?
1. Farenheit - only 2 weeks old but has surpassed every expectation
2. Mercury
3. Sam James
4. Te Aro
5. R2
6. Manic
7. LIt
8. R2
9. Pamenar
10. Crema
Peter Sense Appeal
People voted for their favorite cafe here, it has nothing to do with how awesome their americano is. Jimmy's shouldn't be number one (of course they don't make the best americanos) but they got the most votes, plain and simple. It's about popularity here, not quality. Clearly Jimmy's makes a lot of people happy, they must be doing something right.
This list and the order are a mess, but these things are not ever close to accurate. I think these "best of" lists are done this way to encourage all the (anonymous) comments and bitching.
www.yorkshiretea.co.uk
:) Coffee tastes like paint stripper smells! Mud, ick!
( I'm from the UK, I found this from an artist's website, http://randomredux.tumblr.com - I don't work for Yorkshire Tea or anything lol :) )
http://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk
:) Coffee tastes like paint stripper smells! Mud, ick!
( I'm from the UK, I found this from an artist's website, http://randomredux.tumblr.com - I don't work for Yorkshire Tea or anything lol :) )
You know why coffee shops make coffee? For the same reason any business does anything. To make some money.
I'd love a top ten list of places to buy a white tee shirt. (I hate the Bay! The Bay smells like perfume! Sears is WAY BETTER.)
When I first scanned through the list I had a moment of "why didn't mad bean make it? Too new maybe?
Either way, your shop has my vote. Awesome service, stamp cards are great, and not once out of the many many americanos or reg. coffees I've purchased there did I have 1 negative comment about.