Alcove Coffee
Alcove Coffee is a pocket coffee shop attached to photography studio Junction Cove.
It acts as a stop for creative specialty coffees, pastries and the occasional sandwich for those using the studio and working in the industrial area.
What was previously an industrial space has been transformed into a fashionable plant-filled cafe with slanting design, a bold greyscale and yellow palette and penny tiling by local artist Caitlin Doherty.
Espresso-based coffees here start out with a Lyn Weber single shot machine, one of very few shops in Toronto to have one and excellent with the specialty beans Alcove intends to cycle through.
A matcha latte ($4.95) can optionally come with a Japanese marshmallow from Cafe Cat & Paw that seriously ups the cuteness and Instagrammable factor and actually adds a nice hit of sweetness too.
There are also marshmallows with paw designs, and a regular latte goes for $4, made with Turbo beans from Propeller with a heavier body and hints of dark chocolate for a nice traditional taste.
A “Guillermo” is more of a rarity, two ounces of espresso hot or over ice served with a citrus wedge.
Sometimes it’ll be lime or blood orange, but for me it’s clementine.
No matter what the fruit the effect is intended to be acidic, balancing and refreshing against the bitterness of the coffee.
Pastries come from La Bastille, such as a beignet for $2.50 coated in sugar and filled with a sweet vanilla custard that makes for an indulgent little breakfast.
Sweet croissants go for between $2.75 and $3.10, savoury ones for $4 like a ham and cheese topped with bechamel.
Chocolate-dipped strawberry meringues ($2) are also from Bastille.
Protein balls are actually made in house with coconut oil, almonds and dates for sweetness. The chewy, dense bites are energizing for their size.
Occasional options like a bacon grilled cheese come from TuckShop.
Junction Cove and Alcove have separate entrances, the 1500 square foot studio space with a massive permanent seamless 18 square foot cove intended for use by pro photographers, motion shoots, and even special events like weddings and corporate functions with a capacity of about 150 - 200 for cocktail.
Still pricing starts from $675 for a half day and motion pricing starts from $1000 for a half day, and with that you get the use of basic equipment like AC cords, flats and ladders.
There’s also a state of the art kitchen in the open concept studio space, perfect for catered events or food shoots.
Their logo represents the Junction Triangle, with the cafe located at the uppermost tip.
Alcove Coffee and Junction Cove are siblings to Album Studio Rentals, also owned by James Tse.
Hector Vasquez