Hamilton's Best Coffee
 

so let's hear it.
What's your favourite coffee in the Hammer?

1. Colombian Coffee in the Farmers Market
2. Bad Dog Cafe
3. My Dog Joe
4. Caldense Bakery
5. Speakeasy Coffee - Harbour Diner, Bread and Roses Cafe

Hmmm, I don't drink coffee.
But most people I know really like Locke Street Bakery for their coffees. I think it's supplied by Seattle's Best.

I drink tea instead, sooo I would say the best tea would be Main Desserts.

i'll admit to being a real coffee snob. i've got a colombian friend who turned me a few years ago, even though the way i drink it offends her - lots of cream and sugar. i've got 3 requirements for my coffee: gotta be tasty, fair trade and organic, if possible.

for home drinkin' it's either speakeasy or the colombian stuff from the market. when i go out it's either bad dog cafe, bread and roses, or my dog joe in westdale.

...
 

P.A.M.'s african queen dark is my favourite I must say.

I enjoy that there is now a 24 hour second cup in the downtown... sure it's in the lobby of the hospital but it's still coffee past 5 o'clock in the south end of downtown.

What's the Coffee Shop on James South across from Chat Royale in the lower entrance called? Isn't it open later?

And which lobby is the Second Cup in? The Main Bldg or Fontbonne Bldg (I think that's what it's called... the one in the back?).

I had no idea that even existed.

Hourse of Java

and

between the main entrance and the juravinski tower

Sweet!!Thanks! I actually like some other drinks from Second Cup! It's just a 2 min walk from my place then. Did they close the one in the Fontbonne Bldg?

I don't drink coffee. I do drink tea. I don't like Timmie's, I know bad bad bad Hamiltonian!

Another bad me is that I LOVE Starbucks haha especially now with all the Christmas flavours like peppermint mocha :slob: I also like the frappuccinos too. I feel so bad having to go to Meadowlands to get my Starbucks fix or on Upper James.

I hate Hortons and starbucks.
PAM's Palma is good too. Not to mention, PAMs at King/James has the best seats in the city for viewing the heart of downtown....awesome couches overlooking King/James.
The Coffee House is the one on James South with the lower entrance. It's a wonderful place to sit and read...nice jazzy type music always playing.

I know what u mean, man. I don't drink coffee either, but whenever I drink tea from Tim's it always gives me gut-rot. FROM TEA!?! haha You know there's something wrong w/ that.

I usually make my own (I have like 15 kinds) or go to Infussions or even better Main Desserts. I prefer the whole loose-leaf/bodum experience over a bag like at Infussions.

Do you (Steeltown) or anyone else have any good suggestions for good tea in this city for the non-coffee drinkers among us?

There are actually two coffee houses along this stretch. House of Java is at street level right by Duke Street. The Coffee House is a former Second Cup franchise, and is a bit further north along the block. That's the one across from Chateau Royale with the lower level entrance. That's also my preference for coffee shops along that stretch.

Not a huge fan of PAM's. Their coffee beans aren't as fresh as they should be. I really miss Timothy's - not a single shop in this city.

I was at House of Java today...they've got some great organic, fair trade beans.

Ottawa & Dunsmure

Bad Dog (assuming the new owners still sell the same brand) - hands down, best coffee in the city. Organic, fair trade.

Cafe Don Jorge (Colombian coffee at market) - a very close second, and significantly cheaper by the pound than Bad Dog. Organic, fair trade.

PAMs (at King and James) - consistently good, and great staff.

Bailey's - excellent coffee, nice pub-style interior with low, intimate tables.

Courtyard Cafe - nice flavour, but they need to serve it hotter.

al Centro - very good coffee and cappuccino, but like the Courtyard they need to serve it hotter.

Freeway Coffee House - Very good coffee and a huge selection of teas.

Speakeasy - the batch I bought tastes a little burnt, but otherwise pretty good.

Locke Street Bakery - I can't stand Seattle's Best, so yuck (but their bagels are great and Peter & co. are very friendly).

Starbucks - I think they make the coffee as horrible as they do so you're forced to buy a seven-dollar soy green tea latte venti instead. :P

Tim Hortons - tolerable if you have it there and get it in a mug rather than a take-out cup.

Second Cup - I can't even abide the first cup. Bleagh.

EDIT - three more places:

Denningers (Jackson Square location) - surprisingly good - much better than I expected.

Deco's (also in Jackson Square) - meh, it's Mother Parker's.

Bread & Roses (at Sky Dragon Centre) - pretty good, but a little on the harsh side.

Bad Dog does still have the same coffee.

I would put My Dog Joe in close second behind the Colombian in the Farmers Market. I've got Bad Dog a close 3rd.

The Freeway & Speakeasy.... organic and fair-trade as well..? freeway is for sure

yup both are.
As is Bad Dog, Colombian in Farmers Market, My Dog Joe, several different blends at House of Java and the 'Special Reserve' blend at Denningers. Also the now open Tapestry Bistro in the Staircase has organic/fair trade.
On weekends, Locke St Bakery has an organic, fair trade blend, but not during the week.

Looks like competition is changing Tim Hortons suburban attitude into a more urban friendly Tim Hortons....

Meet the new Tim Hortons look, unveiled today at Hamilton....

http://yourhamiltonbiz.com/wp-conten...7/tims.jpg.png

http://yourhamiltonbiz.com/new-look-...s-on-main-west

Comfortable chairs, booth seating, an automatic sliding door, a fireplace, a big screen television and satellite are just a few of the elements that have been added to the store.

The theatre baking, which uses a state-of-the-art combination oven, allows food to be freshly prepared in front of the customers. This is the only Tim Hortons in Hamilton that offers this. There is also a cold stone creamery that serves soft-swirl ice cream, another franchise-first for the city.

In the next month, Burch also plans to add a patio that will seat approximately 10 people.

I saw the picture, and was thinking that I walked by the Tim Horton's on Main West just the other night and missed this…

Unfortunately, this is, of course, not the Tim Horton's near Dundurn, but rather that near Cootes. Pity.

It looks great, and those new services and amenities sound great. I happen not to be a big fan of Tim Horton's, and personally can't imagine spending $1.50 or more each day every day on coffee as some of its adherents do, but I respect the company a lot for catering to its clientele and evolving in a methodic way. This is a great sign: if they are doing this, you can be sure a lot of research and thought is behind it, and this is what consumers- at least in this part of town- really want and demand.

This look has been around for a few months now? I've seen it in Burlington already! Why are they saying that they are just announcing it today? Lol.

PS, I was wondering if they were planning on updating the Tim Horton's in Westdale anytime soon? That is my go-to Tim Hortons haha.

Which one(s) in Burlington look like this? I haven't seen any, but I'm kinda off in the corner of Burlytown.

There's a location on Dundas St., I believe it's on the west corner of Walkers Line, that has a different look from many of the other stores - beige brick and maybe those brown and red awnings... is that the one you're thinking of?

This design looks a bit similar but there are differences (the banner above the entry, the red siding-clad wall, style of brick?). I could be wrong, I don't get up there a lot.

Perhaps the interior elements they note are new too - booths, fireplace, theatre baking, etc.

Regardless, it's an upgrade. It's getting hard to remember what Hortons used to look like even 15-20 years ago before the last remodel, though those styles may still be out there.

The Tim Horton's on Brant. The one in the plaza with the BestBuy and it's when you get off the highway at the Brant exit. And, the other one is further up on Brant in the plaza with Fresh Co.

The style is the exact same as the photo except at one of the Tim Horton's, they don't have the red wall because it's attached to a Burger King and it's quite small.

Thanks - I'll have to take a better look. I tend to drive up that stretch of Brant with tunnel vision. :haha:

I do recall seeing that the one at the FreshCo plaza was being remodelled not too long ago; it would make sense to follow the new corporate design.

I remember the sunrooms, cold hard chairs attached to the table, fake plants hanging on the side. Thick nicotine smoke covering the air, ahh the old days lol. Plus actual smell of fresh cooked donuts, cookies, eclairs, and cakes. Used to have displays of cakes spinning around and they used to wear aprons.

Oh and the old sit-down counter they used to have.

Oh man! I remember the cakes! I was a young'un when they got rid of those, I think...

I also remember the peach drink they used to have. That shit was delicious.

They still sell the peach drink in bottles.

Drove by them earlier. Good eye :tup:

..not from the fountain :(

It's not the same. :no:

Noticed yesterday that the Coffee Culture sign has gone up for the Gore Park location...

Confidence in coffee

Mountain firm named small business of the year

By Mark Newman, Mountain News Staff Tuesday, April, 22, 2014

Jason Hofing didn't start drinking coffee until he began working as driver for a courier company about six years ago.
Like many of us, his only relationship with the dark beverage was what he was handed at the drive-thru window.
Then one day he was making a delivery to a coffee roaster in Kingston who, when he saw the brand name cup sitting in the vehicle, invited Hofing inside to try some so called real coffee.
“I’ve been hooked ever since,” said the 36-year-old east Mountain resident, who along with his wife Rachel, started Red Hill Coffee Trade five years ago and last November opened E23, a coffee bar on Concession Street and East 23rd.
Late last month the fair trade coffee maker was named the 2013 small business of the year at the annual Hamilton Chamber of Commerce outstanding business achievement awards gala.
“It was really nice to be recognized for the work that we had been doing because we really want to play a role in being a business that’s part of the Hamilton community” Hofing said.
Originally from Brampton, Hofing is a graduate of Redeemer University College and spent a couple of years teaching Grade 6 at a Christian school in Pickering.
He noted his faith and desire to start a business that was socially responsible led him to set up a micro coffee bean roster (less than 2,500 pounds a year) featuring certified organic fair trade coffee where growers are guaranteed a minimum fair price for their crop.
“I was tired of delivering stuff that was going to end up in the landfill,” Hofing said. “Fair trade really spoke to me.”
Hofing said they decided to come to Hamilton because there was no micro roaster in the city and their three young daughters would be close to friends and family.
Working with Fair Trade Canada, Hofing said he imports coffee beans from a variety of countries such as Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Sumatra.
“We only purchase fair trade coffee because we want to make sure we’re a business that’s making an impact not just locally, but around the globe,” Hofing said.
The beans are roasted each Wednesday at their shop on Lancing Avenue in the Red Hill Business Park and on Thursdays the coffee is delivered to about 20 cafes and restaurants in and around the Hamilton area including E23, which opened after Hofing and his father-in-law spent numerous hours renovating the space.
Hofing said the “sticker shock” of paying $2.25 for a 10 ounce cup of coffee is wearing off as his customers appreciate a quality cup of coffee.
The beans for each cup are ground on site at the time of purchase and the coffee is made by slowly running hot water over the grindings in a paper filter.
Hofing said he got to know Concession Street from making deliveries to Papa Leo’s restaurant.
He noted restaurant owner Leo Santos was always promoting the street to him and when space became available at Concession and East 23rd he went for it.
“It appealed to me,” he said. “Lots of pedestrian traffic and great neighbourhoods with families.”
Hofing said the coffee bar allows them to further promote their product and so far business at E23 and the roasting operation has been good enough for him to consider opening another coffee bar in the downtown area.
“We are planning for some future growth,” said Hofing, who is hoping the chamber award will help attract some investors to fuel that expansion.

http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news/confidence-in-coffee/

The top 10 Coffee shops in Southern Ontario

BlogTO August 13, 2017

Coffee shops in Southern Ontario keep the caffeine flowing in beautiful spaces that are often off the beaten path. These local favourites often roast their own beans or source their coffee from those nearby. So whether you're driving through a new place or live in town, grab a cup of joe and sit awhile.

Here are my picks for the top coffee shops in southern Ontario.

Detour (Dundas)
Find this roastery and cafe on Dundas' main drag. Pick up a coffee to go and sit on the front bench or stay for brunch and eat it on the beautiful, tree-covered side patio.

Death Valley's Little Brother (Waterloo)
More commonly known as DVLB, this whisky bar and cafe was the coolest spot in Waterloo when it first opened up. It has a vintage vibe thanks to its dark wooden accents and includes lots of work space for students.

Cannon Coffee Co. (Hamilton)
It's easy to find great coffee in Hamilton and this cozy spot on Ottawa Street is a favourite in the town that everyone seems to be moving to right now.

Smile Tiger (Kitchener)
With a location right by the Via Rail Station, this cafe serves up espresso in the early morning for those heading to and fro. It also roasts all of its own beans on site.

Elm Cafe (Kingston)
Grab a cup of coffee to go and walk down to the lake. Or, take a seat in this cozy cafe run by a couple who serve Pilot coffee, baked treats and sandwiches.

Locomotive Espresso (London)
Whether or not you're a student who spent the night at a Richmond Street bar, you could probably use a pick-me-up from this espresso bar that serves Pilot coffee.

The Vic Cafe (Picton)
This cafe in the heart of Prince Edward County is attached to an old movie theatre. It serves food (think grain bowls) as well as coffee to go if you need to fuel up for a day of wine and cheese tasting.

Cafe March 21 (Windsor)
Yes, this cafe actually opened its doors for the first time on March 21. It serves all sorts of beverages (including blueberry lattes), a slew of made-in-house baked goods and ramen. Road trip to Windsor, please?

Settlement Co. (Waterloo)
Thanks to its tech scene and two universities, Waterloo is experiencing a growth spurt. Lots of interesting businesses are opening up, including this coffee roaster and cafe with two locations that dole out espresso-based bevies and nitro cold brew.

Redchurch (Hamilton)
Not only is this an indie cafe, it's also a contemporary gallery. Pick up a coffee and check out some local artwork.

http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2014...thern_ontario/

Redchurch is pretty good and looks fantastic but the best coffee in the city is with out a doubt from Relay, I live downtown so I usually get it from the Market but the one on Concession is great as well

The 10 Best Coffee Spots in Hamilton for 2019

By urbanicity.com

1. Relay Coffee
2. Mulberry Street Coffeehouse
3. Phin Coffee Bar
4. Cannon Coffee Co.
5. Saint James Eatery
6. Synonym Shop
7. Smalls Coffee
8. Grupetto
9. Redchurch Cafe + Gallery
10. Salty Espresso

https://urbanicity.com/hamilton/top-...lton-for-2019/

RIP Grupetto:

It’s been over a 10 yr journey from Domestique to Grupetto. Unfortunately grupetto is unable to carry on any longer. The stress and uncertainty due to the coronavirus COVID-19 and building issues has been overwhelming in so many ways. Sadly almost 2 in 10 restaurants or cafes have closed permanently across Canada. We urge you to continue to support our Dundas businesses, whatever they’re selling. Every little bit helps. See you on the street and on the bike.

In some ways I'm surprised that more hasn't closed down already. I know Meanwhile Winebar and This Ain't Hollywood are also closing unfortunately.