TigerBaby Coffee & Clay is a multi-purpose destination offering striking drinks, pottery classes, community, and a chill space for self-care couch rots.

Opened in August, "TigerBaby is Toronto's first specialty coffee shop and pottery studio," explains Thomas Sawaya, who owns the café with his sister, Sarah. "He does all the coffee programming; I do all the ceramics. So, we're a good pair," she adds. 

Named for the Sawayas' childhood cat, the space is meant to be perky, fun and inviting. "It's a personal touch that my brother and I wanted to put in the space," says Sarah. "We had this cat for 20 years, and we loved him. It's fun to keep him alive."

An idea that first sprouted when Sarah was working in IT, TigerBaby is, at its core, for people who long for mindfulness and connection. 

"I started the idea for TigerBaby when I was working in my tech job," she explains. "I was spending a lot of time on my computer, and I just needed a break. I was doing pottery in my spare time." 

Thomas, meanwhile, was working as a barista, carefully cultivating his identity as a self-professed coffee snob. "He's extremely talented, and I thought what better way to bring our two crafts together," adds Sarah.

Beyond the two callings, the space also reflects the siblings' affinity for design. Its sleek, functional interior guided by Thomas' degree in industrial design; its pops of personality owing to a solid web of connections to local creators, from Adela Putra, who designed the logo, merch and art, to Studio Drum, Eric Kirwin, and more. 

"The three pillars here are creativity, craft and community," says Thomas. "We wanted to involve as many of our creative friends and artist friends as possible. We wanted TigerBaby not to be just for us but for everyone."

A spacious spot, the location comprises a cozy coffee house and two pottery studios — one for hand building, the other for wheel throwing.

"I started taking pottery seriously about 4 to 5 years ago," says Sarah. "I got to travel to Korea and to Spain to learn from different teachers around the world. I'm really excited about bringing that back to Toronto."

Offering a variety of classes—from single sessions to multi-week courses—the team covers a range of teachings. "I'd say it's a really great place to start if you've never tried pottery," says Sarah. "Our teachers are really experienced, so you'll be in good hands."

On the seasonal menu, Thomas highlights "anything that scores 80 or above by a licensed Q Grader" in a variety of options, from frothy cappuccinos ($5.75) to pour-overs ($9-$12) served in handmade cups with a side of APAX LAB Mineral Concentrates.

Enthusiastic about a pour-over, he always "has a rotating selection of coffees from guest roasters as well as a local roaster." Recent gems include Kenyan beans from UK-based Taith and Colombian beans from DAK Coffee Roasters, in Amsterdam. "If we're encouraging people to try pottery, I also want to encourage them to try pour-overs. This is how I like to get people into the world of specialty coffee."

Taking inspiration from an eclectic mix of sources—from social media to personal experience—Thomas' menu is a creative read that jumps from the micro-rebellion of an espresso-enhanced Fridge Cig ($8.50) to the punch of a Salted Iced Cold Brew ($7.50), made of Japanese-style flash brew with a cap of salted cold foam. "We want to be really ambitious with our drinks but we don't want to be pretentious," he assures. 

A blend of salt, 7 Up, ceremonial-grade Hokusan matcha and lemon, the Salted 7 Up Matcha ($8.00) was "inspired by kitchens in Hong Kong and Vietnam where they put salt in their soda for extra electrolytes," explains Thomas. Earthy and floral, it's Gatorade for mature tastes. 

In the Matcha-Lep ($8.75), orange juice, whole milk, house mandarin syrup and matcha cold foam pay homage to Montreal's legendary Orange Julep. "It's an orange creamsicle-style drink but with matcha in it," says Thomas, an addition designed to help cut through the sharpness of the citrus. 

Supplied by Breadhead Bakery, there's a selection of sweet and savoury snacks to pair with every sip. Choose from flaky croissants with almond or chocolate ($5.50), lemon financier ($5) or tender, everything-spiced bagel bombs stuffed with pillowy mouthfuls of chive-flecked cream cheese. 

Common enough in the wider world, sibling rivalry isn't part of the TigerBaby DNA. In fact, says Sarah, "getting to spend time together is the best part of it."     

TigerBaby Coffee & Clay is located at 977 College Street.