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Cherry Bomb Coffee
Categories: Food Bakeries Food Coffee & Tea Bakeries, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
79 Roncesvalles AveToronto, ON M6R 2K6
Neighbourhood: Roncesvalles
(416) 516-8212
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 6 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
21 reviews for Cherry Bomb Coffee
Review Highlights
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"The baked goods seal the deal though." In 4 reviews -
"...a try of freshly baked date squares that was presented to..." In 2 reviews -
"...west-end coffee spot of mine, fantastic espresso and lattes." In 6 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Leah P.
Toronto, ON
4/12/2012
Hot damn, Cherry Bomb! Fantastic coffee, great open kitchen set up and the pastries make my knees weak. Also, they've got a badass basement bathroom that has you walk past what looks like a garage band rehearsal space. It's like a secret world that makes you wonder what the hell happened in there the night before.
The space UPSTAIRS is a bit jam packed and when lineups get long (every morning and all day on the weekends) it becomes an awkward waiting game where you'll be slammed by at least 2 strollers. There are 4 seats outside though that provide some prime people watching. Sorry, family watching. -
Review from Jenna M.
3/3/2012
I trust my nose to lead me in the right direction, and if it smells coffee I'll likely find myself standing in Cherry Bomb. Whether you're in the mood for a house blend, an espresso, a latte or a fancy pants machiatto, this place knows it's coffee. And, if you're feeling peckish, you're in luck! Their assortment of pastries and baked goods are equally appealing. I often dream about their scones...and the glassy-eyed dopey look on my face does not disappear until I've devoured one...or umm...two.
Their variety of aromatic blends of coffee, mostly organic, are a coffee connoisseurs dream. You can grab a cup on the go, or buy a pound of coffee to take home with you. Prices for a pound range from $13 to $22 and quite a few blends are Fair trade. You cannot go wrong supporting the little people in the marketplace.
The only fall back of this Roncy weekend hot spot is that it's pretty teeny tiny. No seating area - other than a high table and some stools along the window wall - which is fantastic for people watching if you're lucky enough to steal a spot.
The staff are a friendly bunch who are quick to serve you if the lineup isn't out the door, which more often than not, it is. My advice...go where the crowds go...and always follow your nose! -
Review from Charlotte S.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012
I am a pastry lover, of sorts. I've been told so many times to check out Cherry Bomb Cafe, despite it's distance from my home.
Finally, yesterday, I did, and I'm super disappointed. First of all, it can't be efficient to put all of your freshly baked goods behind the counter (like 10 feet behind the counter) and create a situation wherein patrons have to ask what the baked goods are. No signs, no glass display case, no prices, nothing. Really complicated when it should be much simpler.
To add insult to injury, essentially every baked item had almonds on it, which is annoying. I have a small "a" nut allergy (i.e. I can't eat them, but I can eat things that have been in contact with them, as in I won't die) and everything was smothered in nuts. Sad, because some of the otherwise nut-laden sweets looked delicious.
There wasn't a ton of selection and the prices were a bit steep. Cherry Bomb also has a large space on the Roncy strip, so you'd think there would be tables and chairs, like a real cafe, but alas, there were not.
Like I said, really disappointed, won't go back. -
Review from Jen R.
Toronto, ON
2/1/2012
Super fantastic espresso beverages, perfect mixture of sweet and bitter- sans sugar! My friend who lives in the hood, always gets their Red Tea lattes- and loves them. I'm GF (gluten free) so I can only say that their baked goods smell so wonderful- made there in the shop daily. They do now have some GF goods, I had a sweet macaroon the other day!
The downside, is the seating- there are about 7 spots to sit, two being long benches which face into the cafe, which makes for an interesting perspective but not exactly coffee sipping comfort. In the summertime, customers pour out on to the sidewalk; sit on planter boxes, the few chairs that exist under the awning and generally mill about chatting. It is a VERY neighbourhood friendly place, it makes me wish I lived in Roncy. -
Review from Jenny M.
Toronto, ON
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This has always been a favourite west-end coffee spot of mine, fantastic espresso and lattes!
I used to always get the lemon-poppyseed loaf as well, really tasty, but their new pastry chef has been whipping up some incredible baked goods, that I couldn't resist a switch to something savoury instead. I grabbed a cheese croissant last time I was in, and it was everything a croissant should be, light, flaky crust, and a moist layered interior, with the perfect amount of white cheddar, mmm! -
Review from Matthew H.
Toronto, ON
7/4/2011 15 Check-ins Here
Being a Roncy local and a coffee addict, this is the business with which I make the most transactions. Judging by the constant line-ups, this is the case for a lot of other people too.
The interesting thing about Cherry Bomb is the grab-and-go business model. There can't possibly be another cafe in the neighbourhood that moves as many baked goods and espressos as this cafe does in a day (especially a Saturday). I imagine the owner sleeps on a bed of indie cafe money and that his or her workers will someday become aware of their oppression and rise-up to take control of the means of production.
Anyway. The coffee is consistently good at Cherry Bomb, if not the most revelatory in Toronto. The baked goods seal the deal though. Everyone talks about the scones because you should eat the scones that's why. You should also eat the things that people don't constantly talk about, like the coffee cakes and the double-chocolate cranberry cookies that defy the laws of cookie physics by staying soft and moist in perpetuity amen.
Spend your money here like I do and then wonder why you can't afford new underwear. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2010
On my way to the bank, I stopped in to try their coffee.
Now, I`ve read all the reviews about which coffee I should have tried. Perhaps that would bump it up to a three.
This place has some stiff competition from a few faves on my list Manic Coffee, Balzacs and Capital Espresso.
I found the regular on tap coffee I had to be nothing special. Though much better than at a breakfast bacon and eggs special that comes with coffee that`s for sure.
It`s possible that it was an off batch judging from the number of positive reviews but it will take me some time to try this place again.
I give it points for the giant cherry as their signage!Listed in: Coffee Adventures in Toronto
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Review from Greg C.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2009
Stop 2 on the Natey/Gory espresso run West-End edition was Cherry Bomb coffee.
I made the wonderful decision to wear my Chuck Taylor shoes on a frigid day. The walk to this place nearly kills me. I want to hit that smug (lucky) bastard Nathan because he's sporting proper boots like a normal person but I resist the urge. I just keep moving.
This place was too cutesy for me on the outside and the inside didn't change my opinion of it, either. It's "Pushing Daisies" does espresso shop. It is crazy busy and there is no idling room. Needless to say, expectations are low.
Double espressos are ordered. The shots arrive looking darker with a bit of crema on top. Not like the mahogany tone of Blondie's. This coffee rules. Not what I expected at all. The shot is flavourful and consistently full bodied. Sweet cinnamon / nutmeg tones are detected. It retains the flavah without tasting like the mudwater it kinda looks like. It's the most "Italian" of the shots we'll try that day.
Service feels a little rushed but when they pump out a quality product like this, who can complain? I leave fully satisfied and vowing I will never be such a superficial jerk again. But that passes.Listed in: Natey / Gory West-End Espresso…
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Review from Eliah H.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2009
*Update.
Really, their Kona coffee through the espresso machine is one of the highlights of my coffee drinking life. Awesome baked goods as well. I heart this place.
I come to Cherry Bomb mainly for their Hawaiian Kona coffee. Kona is to coffee like the orgasm is to sex. IT'S THAT GOOD! The only regular coffee that I've tasted that comes even close is Sulawesi Tana Toraja, if you can find it. Cheery Bomb brew their Kona through their espresso machine which seems to complement the bean very well. It's about double the cost of a regular coffee but considering that some places will charge you up to $7 for the same cup of Kona well...You wont find that coffee brewed any cheaper anywhere else in Toronto.
Aside from coffee Cherry Bomb also bakes up their own delicious pastries, from croissants to muffins to scones. Nothing like one of their yummy warm-from-the-oven scones along with your coffee, I recommend.
As to the physical place itself Cherry Bomb is mostly a take out establishment with only rail seating by the front window as well as a long bench outside in the summer time. Pleasant earth green tones with light wood with a few art posters hung up on the wall make up the ambiance.
The staff are friendly and service is prompt. You may find a line up when you get there as the place is popular among the locales. It's always worth the wait, though I think they could benefit with a second espresso machine. All in all a much welcomed establishment to lower Roncesvalles.Listed in: Eliah's Big List of Go To…
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Review from Nathan W.
Toronto, ON
12/13/2009 1 Check-in Here
Stop # 2 on the Gory n' Pantz Espresso Run - West End.
Cherry Bomb was in that first wave of cafes that hit the city in the early portion of this decade. At the time, they were a welcome addition to the quickly changing Roncesvalles street scape. One size upgrade later, they are now a burgeoning institution. As a side note, their set up is not geared to idling countless hours with your laptop. Besides some rail seating at the window, the shop is a customer corralling area and a counter. Some may be irritated, but I see it as a smart acknowledgment that most or your business is getting coffee to go.
We enter into what appears to be a slam of customers (not surprising for a late Saturday morning) and the counter staff seems a little flustered. No chance for idle discussion of technique here. We order two short shots, which she makes sure to write down and then join the milling throng. When we get our shots, they seem like a regular volume, so either the written order is missed or ignored?
Look - lots of light tan crema, volume suggests a normal sized shot
Smell - pleasant neutral, almost like brewed coffee with milk
Taste - mild, creamy cashew, pleasant body, almost no bitter notes. Gory's fave cinnamon notes start to build nicely several minutes after we leave the shop and walk up the street.
Rating - Bon Iver, with special guest's Norah Jones and T-Pain, covers Sade's 'Smooth Operator'.
On the one hand, it's pretty clear they were just concentrating on knocking out drinks as fast as possible during a rush. On the other, this is a pleasantly surprising shot. Not a complex work of art, but solid and enjoyable. Since Lit hit the area, I generally go to them, but Cherry Bomb deserves more frequent visits. Special note - they stock Hawaiian Kona to sell as beans, but will also use for espresso or americanos. It's definitely something worth treating yourself to occasionally, if you can handle the $35 a pound. -
Review from Kat F.
I had the strongest yen for a chai latte after grabbing a bit of brunch down the street at Easy and Cherry Bomb presented itself to me. It was my first visit and I fell in love with the decor. It's a small, unassuming 'to go' place with a beautiful kitchen that you can fully see and enjoy from behind the counter. They had really nice blue patterned wallpaper and I felt like I was catching a peek of someone's home country kitchen.
The chai latte was hand-spiced and jazzed up by the barista. It rivaled my only other positive chai latte experience, which I'm sad to say is courtesy of Starbucks. I'm glad I have another alternative now as it's way tastier and cheaper - a small is $2.50, medium $3 and large $3.50.
I also couldn't resist a try of freshly baked date squares that was presented to me the moment I placed my chai order. I just had to have one. It was a pretty good date square but a little too crumbly for my liking - I prefer my date squares to have a little more structural integrity than this one did. -
Review from Robin E.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2008
I first noticed Cherry Bomb café from the Roncesvalles streetcar. Drawn in by the kitschy 70s font stenciled across the glass storefront, the two bright orange bucket chairs brightening up the sidewalk entranceway, and the giant namesake replica explosive jauntily perched above the striped green awning, I knew this place, just a stone's throw from my then new digs, was high on my list of "to-try"s.
Now, 18 months later, I can't imagine morning life without my C.B. ritual. In fact, I'm writing this fueled by my latest organic, fair trade Cherry Bomb Kamikaze Americano ( or K.Z., to the initiated). I've got a Cherry Bomb crush folks. And here's why:
First of all, the place is as cute as a button. From the red Raleigh cruiser mounted to one of the key-lime-pie coloured walls, to the triptych of framed vintage wallpaper samples, to the cheery floral curtains, and the paint-by-numbers-esque horse and dog paintings - this place has a style that infuses cheer into my morning.
More importantly, the coffee and baked goods are top notch. Cherry Bomb's array of espresso-based concoctions is complemented by a selection of delicious signature blends - Killer Bee decaf, Shogun espresso, and Cherry Bomb house. These and other locally-roasted beans are available ground and brewed with loving care, or by the pound for home preparation. And, as for edibles, the 30-something husband-and-wife team at the helm have baked their way into local hearts, turning out a daily-changing menu of morning scones (today's: date pecan or lemon blueberry almond), muffins (today's: mixed berry maple syrup), and cookies (almond, oatmeal, and biscotti) - all from a standard kitchen oven behind the counter. Arrive early, or risk disappointment as these delectable small-batch treats sell out fast.
Rugelach (yum), cocoa almond cookies, date squares, and a few other assorted sweets are produced by a couple of outside local bakeries, providing a worthy supplement to the home-baked roster.
As with all things worth having though, a coffee at the Bomb takes a little time. Be prepared to join a line-up and wait a few minutes. Especially on weekends. But while you await your cuppa to-go, enjoy happy bustle and local camaraderie. This is the kind of joint where the proprietors and their rotating cast of supporting-role baristas know the regulars, and their kids and dogs, greeting them by name and making friendly conversation, even as they attend efficiently to a throng of caffeine-seeking morning brew-heads. And that counts for a lot these days. -
Review from Kim B.
ON
12/19/2008 7 photos
Ladies with big strollers? This is your place to get coffee. There's loads of room for you to back that buggy right on up to the counter.
As for loafing? Not so much. The room is rimmed with chairs, but they're backless, and therefore incapable of truly relaxing in.
But the atmosphere is warm, my chamomile tea was proper and hot, but I will say this: I bought one of their macaroon "balls" and it was the driest macaroon I've ever eaten, actually, I didn't eat it...I took one bite and gave up it was so hard and dry, and I never ever turn down the chance to get some sugar....wait...that came out wrong...Listed in: Oui to Tea!
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/16/2008
This sure isn't a place to bring your laptop and while away your afternoon. But that's okay, because you've got all of Roncesvalles and High Park to explore. Why waste time indoors?
The Cherry Bomb is a straight-up grab your drink, bump-into-your-neighbour, "isn't it a nice day?", dog-bum-sniffing connecting spot. Pets and strollers are popular here, and seeing all the people sprawl out front on the narrow sidewalk is refreshing.
Given that I didn't drink the coffee here, I can't comment on the quality of the brew, but my simple lemonade was a nice treat on a hot day, especially since it was fairly steamy inside. The constant Roncy foot traffic into this hub was to blame. Next time I'll do like the locals and actually stand outside and chat. -
Review from Christine L.
Toronto, ON
4/6/2011
It's TO GO: amazing coffee... amazing scones..... I don't think it gets better. When people visit from out of town, I make sure they get a Cherry Bomb scone so they remember how amazing Roncy and Toronto are.... I LOVE it!
(One of these days, they'll get proper seating.. it would be a great spot to hang out at...) -
Review from h o k n.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've been going to Cherry Bomb for two years now. Their coffee was great at first. But now I find their Americanos very inconsistent. Sometimes good sometimes bad. I'm not sure if it's barista dependent though. Any regulars notice the change to the quality of their coffees?
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Review from Tracy S.
Calgary, AB
8/22/2010
Best coffee in Toronto in my opinion! Great vibe, great people, great location. When I first moved to the city, Cherry Bomb kept me from going stir crazy from not knowing anyone :). Always great conversation outside on the stoop.
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Review from Jimi S.
ON
11/30/2008
you cannot help but feel a little cheerful in cherrybomb. its something to do with the colours on the walls. theres a strong presence of orange, (they wear orange t shirts) and a light almost imperceptible green.
plus they have different bikes on the wall that they feature. in other words, i walked in there and while i was waiting for my cappucino, i was staring at a bicycle which was temporarily mounted on the wall by way of a thin (i suppose bike) rail. okay. sure. whatevs, you might say.
other than that, the walls, though there might have been a bit more on them, seemed to rely mostly on their colour scheme and not much else. this philosophy made its way onto the floors which had few places to sit. for me, thats a criteria for a good coffee place, as opposed to just a good coffee.
cappucino was called and i went up to the front, glanced to my right and debated on whether i wanted to get one of their severely delicious looking pastries. i didnt. (i wanted a sandwich and went somewhere else). but if i were to venture, i would have chosen one of their rugelach.
instead i walked about warmed by the heart that was atop my cappucino; maybe the barista was trying to tell me something... -
Review from Lindy V.
Toronto, ON
12/5/2009
Cherry bomb blend and a homemade scone or muffin could the best start to anyone's day.
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Review from Wagner P.
Toronto, ON
6/27/2010
The best place for coffee, home-baked treats and reasonable prices.
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Review from Vivieno C.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2009
I think this is the best coffee in town...hands down!
