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Crafted by Te Aro
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
135 Ossington AveToronto, ON M6J 2Z6
Neighbourhoods: Ossington Strip, Trinity Bellwoods
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 6 pm
Sat 8 am - 6 pm
Sun 8:30 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Crafted by Te Aro
Review Highlights
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"and they even add vanilla extract to their London Fog." In 2 reviews -
"...beautiful space to drink a creamy, rich and smooth latte in." In 8 reviews -
"There is a communal table flanked by folding chairs, a few..." In 3 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
4/6/2012
4.5 stars
It's nice to get to a new wi-fi, err, coffee place. Sip Sip.
VIBE
Gorge to the gorge. From the garage windows to the reasonably priced photographs of Toronto on the wall to the little alcove in the back, I love it. They have a sweet little back patio too. I am currently sitting at the large wooden table near the front and have read two of the magazines on the hanging rack. Whatever happened to the free magazine section in coffee shops? (I'm looking at you Tequila Bookworm). The indie is on rotation. If this place was in Portland, it would totally be in Portlandia.
I DRANK
Iced chai latte. Bonus points it's in a large mason jar. Bestill my little hipster heart. It's sweet enough for to keep those internetting duties go on for hours.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Oh, these guys are CRAFTY. Boom. Good drinks inspire creativity, no? -
Review from Tina H.
3/31/2012
This cafe is very cute. Clean, cozy, hardwood floors. I love the decor. Mirrors and art pieces on the walls. We had the table that was an apple orchard box. The ambiance is nice. A nice touch is serving water in County Fair Drinking Jars (the ones with handles). For some reason drinking from jars makes me smile.
The cortado I ordered was perfectly delicious. This place was packed. It's pretty small and there isn't a lot of seating unfortunately because of the lack of space, so you'd be lucky to nab a seat on a weekend afternoon... Luckily we found one!
I'd definitely come back for more espresso-based beverages (and maybe a baked good of some sort) and hope to grab a seat to get some work done. They also seem to have sandwiches but I haven't tried them.
Loyalty card! 10th one is free.
Solid place. Definitely high on my "go back to this place" list. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Is it strange that I sit here, and write this review?
The Coffee is excellent. Smooth and Bold at the same time. Also has option for different milks. It's expensive, but probably the same as Starbucks.
The place is small, a big common table in the front and a back room with more small tables. I'm sitting at the common table, but it's too high and my chair is too low. Shoulders coming up, and this just doesn't work for me. Glad I'm only here for a little bit.
It's a great place for working (free wifi) or meeting as a group, but I would availability of space might be limited. I'm here at 1pm on Friday and it's pretty full.
I do like the rustic vibe in here, and very comfortable and quiet. I like quiet when I need to concentrate.
Free parking for an hour 8-6pm Mon-Fri on one street south (Argyle) and surrounding side streets.Listed in: Coffices
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Review from Lynn C.
1/18/2012
Thanks to CM Vivek S., I was introduced to this great little coffee shop on Ossington.
What's cool about this place:
1. It's not just espresso + brewed coffee, but they offer french press, AEROPRESS, AND the Hario V60.
2. They roast their own beans
3. The place is very pretty
4. You pick your roast from their daily menu
Okay, what about the coffee? For my cappuccino, I had the Elevens Espresso roast ("Bright, floral, effervescent with creamy body"). It didn't blow me away. To be honest, it was a bit richer and more acidic than what I'm used to--and there were less milk and foam than I expected, but it really was GOOD.
At around $3.00 a cup, it's neither cheap nor expensive.
If I live closer, I'd probably be here a lot more often and try their other beans until I found something I love. But for now, it'll just have to be a place I'd pop over if I'm ever in the neighbourhood. -
Review from Erin B.
I'm a fan of Crafted. I love the big front window, which has a wee bar and benches so you can sit and watch the world while you sip your coffee (the big window in the front room also means that the light in here is delightful). I love the communal table that takes up most of the front room. I like the readily available water pitchers spiked with lemons. And I super love their coffee. Sometimes I get a cappuccino to stay. Sometimes I get a bag of beans to take home. Always it's delicious. They even have a gluten free treat option (chocolate dipped macaroons). I haven't tried them, but I like that they're there.
There's something strange about the acoustics in Crafted, though, that I find very distracting. Try as I might, despite spending a great deal of time pulling out textbooks and setting up the wifi on my computer, I have never been able to get work done here. I think there might be just too much activity in a small space for my poor, sad, focus to handle.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge!
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Review from Eliah H.
Toronto, ON
1/28/2011 ROTD 6/15/2011
Crafted is a quaint little cafe on the Ossington strip. Though small in size with only enough seating for a handful of people it's does have a very pleasant decor (love the art poster espresso machine paintings) and it's more than comfortable for slow sipping that latte on a cold winter's day.
Serving Te Aro roasted coffee from espresso to regular single origins, all available to be brewed by various means, you can feel assured that you'll be getting a quality cup of coffee here. They even do cold brewed coffee in the summer with a glass device that looks like it came straight out of a science lab.
Service is competent and that's about as much as I can say in that regard. Aside from coffee they also do tea and offer some small edibles as well. A nice little cafe worth visiting.Listed in: Eliah's Big List of Go To…
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Review from Renata R.
Just across the street from my yoga, this place is heaven on earth (specially if you were used to I Deal). You have always smiling baristas, awesome music, great Tealish loose leaf tea selection (try their spicy chai!), and they even add vanilla extract to their London Fog.
The décor is beautiful, their cappuccino is probably one of the best I've ever tried and I sometimes go there three times a day. So, why they don't deserve 5 stars?
Reason #1: They're VERY expensive. Like expensive above indie-coffee average. If you like lattes or tea, forget it. You're bankrupt.
Reason #2: They close 6pm sharp. This is unacceptable. As I've said, it's just across the street from yoga, and it's also beside the bus stop. I'd like to leave my yoga class, grab a warm cup of something and wait for the bus. It's impossible as they close as soon as I arrive for my night class ( and all my fellow classmates probably feel the same frustration)
So, they're awesome, but they are not THAT awesome. But I still love them.Listed in: Coffee & Muffins
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Review from jocelyn j.
Mississauga, ON
6/8/2011
Strolling through the ossington neighbourhood I dare to step into the other Te Aro....Unfortunately I should of kept walking. I ordered an americano and got coffee flavored water.
The atmosphere inside the location was quite alright....although the rustic look is a little overplayed when it comes to this blossoming coffee seen in Toronto. The Barista was very nice. However for a roaster with such a following I was absolutely disappointed with the product.
Step up and live up to what everyone says you should be. -
Review from Vivek S.
12/3/2010 6 Check-ins Here
OMG this Ossington spot is beautiful. Hardwood floors, large reclaimed wood planks on the walls and lots of sunlight in an airy enjoyable café. This spartan space is beautifully laid out. There is a communal table flanked by folding chairs, a few seats at a street-facing window (which in turn opens up like a garage door) and a nice long bench and tables facing the counter. It is at this bench where I soaked in an amazing afternoon at CBTA.
My two-cup french press was actually a helluva lot coffee and a helluva lotta flavour. I loved it. In addition to coffee they also serve Stewart's soda, San Pelligrino, juices, cookies, scones, butter tarts, muffins, croissants, and biscotti. There's plenty to keep you occupied, and the staff are very friendly.
Free wifi, but not any outlets that I could see. I have to come back for an espresso and I will update my review.
Obligatory Title Pun: Bring your sparkles, it's time to get CRAFT-y.
Menu Readability: The tall and slender handwriting on the chalkboard is to die for.
Need to mention: The toilet is in its own enclosed room inside a larger room with a sink and both have locking doors. Why?
What this place teaches me about myself: I'm so obsessed with washrooms, I could great a list on Yelp. (Wait a minute...)Listed in: Top Coffee Shops, Indie Coffee Passport, Ossington Strip
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Review from Sam H.
ETOBICOKE, ON
12/20/2011
The coffee is great, and I love the fact that they have Soy at the fixing station. Service is less the friendly. It's not terrible, but a smile and a "your welcome" wouldn't hurt. When did it become cool to be so aloof in the service industry. I go fairly regularly and I always feel like they are being put out to make me a coffee.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
12/30/2010 5 photos
After having a Cappuccino at I Deal Coffee across the street which was an disappointing experience, Crafted by Te Aro is really heaven in comparison.
OK, Crafted definitely worth its 4 star!!
Though we popped 15 minute before closing time and insisted to have our cappuccino in (please I cannot drink from a paper cup unless it is that I Deal coffee's mug), the barista was nice and cool about that... Kudos to that!! And on top of that, we are using our Indie Coffee Passports!
The cappuccino here is A-OK... strong and bold with a full body...
The seatings are comfortable and deco rustic, warm and simple.
I still cannot get over my I Deal Coffee experience.. I going to chill and drop by Crafted another time when I can really enjoy my drink.
Free Wifi! -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
12/20/2010 3 photos
To an Amateur Home Barista, fresh roasted Espresso Beans make a huge difference from a morning relaxation with a Cappuccino in hand or a cup of daily Java from the Timmies variety. Impressed by their Cappuccinos from both their Leslieville location and this Ossington location. I got the Big Bro(0.5lb/$8.50) and it is amazing mesmerizing to see the shot pulled from a Home Machine. Instant Gratification, now I just need FREE lessons on Latte Art.
The Cappuccino made at Crafted was just as nice... Actually it's much nicer than mine but I'm feeling good about myself right now, so just chill and let me have my 15 minutes of Coffee Fame. I like the setting of this location better as the interior has more of that Cafe feel suitable to the Cafe culture than the more Roastery feel of it's original Leslieville hotspot.
There is a Back Patio that seems suitable for the Spring/Summer season but I feel just fine indoors with this soothing lighting they had just before their closing hour on Sunday evening. Maybe it's because I don't have a Dog so this spot is much preferable than the open-space of Leslieville. No CREAKY broken chairs here although I kind of miss those. :PListed in: 4+ ****Stars****, Coffee Drinks
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Review from Isabella L.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2010 2 photos
C O F F E E P A S S P O R T S T O P (#23)
Drink: London Fog
Atmosphere: This is literally a smaller version of Quaff cafe. But INSTEAD of it being BIG. simple. l o n g it's small. simple. short. They provide free wi-fi with no password (score) and a medium-sized communal table that could fit 6 people max.
My drink was disappointing to be honest. It was very hot, which I liked since it was absolutely freezing today. Kept my hands warm 'til I got on a bus, but the taste of my London Fog really lacked the earl grey taste. Instead, it tasted like caramel, just like the one at Red Rocket on Queen E. Even the foam wasn't very tasteful... which is quite sad. I was expecting this place to be amazing since Te Aro was. Guess you can't win 'em all.
They have a stamp card where you buy 9 drinks and 10th one free! Also, a contest where you fill out the whole card, put it in for a draw and the prize is a session with the owner for lessons in coffee making (something like that).
Verdict: I have a feeling you guys would make a way better Chai Latte than London Fog. Also, a 2.5 is based solely on the London Fog and the fact that I've seen this interior before from Quaff.
2.5Listed in: Indie Coffee Passport Stops
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Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
Crafted's a small space but they do well with what they've got and have made a cosy and welcoming space to beverage it up.
The decor is simple and has a nice vintage/mix-match feel to it - no cookie-cutter coffee chain look here. Shelves on the walls are filled with coffee and various paraphernalia, and there's a small adorable cart in the front of the cafe with water, milk & sugar. The front half of the cafe is mostly window and communal seating, and at the back there's a few small tables with chairs.
I grabbed a soy latte and was quite pleased with the flavour and consistency, definitely nothing too bitter or overpowering. As a bonus, the latte art was matched almost perfectly to a large art print of a cup of coffee hanging above the table where we sat. We spotted a box of Trivial Pursuit cards hanging about, so killed time while enjoying our orders by throwing out random questions.
My only wish was that we'd had more time to loiter and soak up the atmosphere and caffeine - getting there a mere hour before closing time on a Sunday was a rookie mistake I won't make again when visiting Crafted. And oh yes, there will be a next time! Yet another worthwhile stop on the indie coffee passport.Listed in: Caffeine Nation: The Toronto…
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Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2011
I stopped here with my Indie Coffee Passport to check it out pre-haircut (down the road at Parlour Salon). I had about 45 minutes to kill, ordered a mocha & a ginger cookie & settled in.
Uhm, delicious. My mocha was *delicious*. Props for the cute pattern on top & being filled to the brim with yum.
& the cookie? My only regret is that I gobbled it down too fast. More sweet than ginger but with just enough oomph to combine with the Turbinado in a delectable way.
There's not a crazy amount of seating but I thought they utilized the space perfectly. There are little pairs of seating & then a 'community' table. & they have wifi; you just have to ask for the password.
**
Aside: when I pulled out my passport, the barista went "Awesome!" which made me feel cool instead of a cheap punk.Listed in: Indie Coffee
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Review from Sharawadgis T.
Toronto, ON
11/3/2010
Crafted is a welcome addition to the Ossington neighborhood. It's put together with a little more love than the nearby Ideal and is a great place to hang out with a book, binder or laptop. Plus, it's got tons of coffee concoctions and prep methods that leave cookie-cutter coffee chains behind in the dust.
I snag my coffee beans for home there (ask about the current specials.) Plus, if you want to become a caffeine snob, they're holding coffee geekification workshops that will help you show off if that hot date turns into a sleepover... -
Review from Tanya N.
3/13/2011
My sister and I stopped by here on a walk through her neighbourhood. Actually, I made her stop here since I've been wanting to try this place out for awhile and had my Indie Coffee Passport on me. It's smaller than their Queen Street location but just as charming. It's really bright since there's ample sunlight coming in from the large front windows (can summer just come already?).
I had their flat white, which was great - definitely a choice when you need something just a tad stronger than a latte. My sister had their hot ginger lemonade - she really enjoyed it. It had a good balance between the lemonade and ginger so it wasn't overly sour or "ginger-y".
Glad I dropped in and look forward to coming back. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
7/30/2010 10 Check-ins Here
So far, so great! I could be cheesy here and say "Te Aro has "Crafted" a beautiful new coffee shop in the West End." OK, I did it. Cheese factor overload!
But seriously, I am so happy to have a new coffee place on Ossington, because Ideal was getting way too popular and way too short staffed. This is an outpost of a coffee shop in Leslieville that I had heard great things about, so even more happiness!
Everything is new and fresh and clean in this cute little coffee shop, and the garage doors in the front and patio in the back make it a lovely spot in the summer.
The selection of coffees is genius here! They have this mad scientist contraption for making cold-brewed iced coffee and it is the best, smoothest iced coffee I have ever had. Serious fan. I have also tried a latte and an iced latte, and was just as impressed.
They offer yummy cupcakes too, and some vegan treats for those who are inclined.
Staff is super nice and knowledgeable about their product.
Another PLUS! is the frequent buyer coffee card. Ideal doesn't have that! It's just another little extra that is already turning me into a regular at this place. I'll see you there! -
Review from andrew s.
9/17/2011
After a string of medicore espressos, and an apparent lack of online concensus as to who actually pulled good shots in Toronto, I was about to give up. But after grabbing a cubano (mmm) from across the street, I wandered in and had a very nice, bright and sweet ristretto. The iced coffee was good as well.
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Review from Tony S.
Toronto, ON
8/20/2010
Yes, 5 stars. This is on top of the fact that they pull a really nice shot of espresso and can actually speak a little about what they're pulling. They've always been--- WAY TOO NICE -- and the environment is very chill...small, but chill.
The muffins are amazing and another nice touch? They respond to you through their twitter account.
If you want to go loiter and complain about wi-fi availability look for other reviews to tell you what's the news on that. I walked in, grabbed a shot and a pound and left. They're awesome. -
Review from neesa r.
5/7/2011
it's a very cute cozy coffee shop.
it looks small but there are lots of seating spots at the front with a big table to share with others and few smaller tables at the back and a cozy patio at the very back.
the prices are good and the chai latte is yummy.
I miss Get Real that was in this location but Te Aro is a great little spot to enjoy too. especially in the summer at the patio=) -
Review from Anthony W.
7/6/2011
An oasis away from the hip
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Review from Brian S.
Toronto, ON
10/5/2010 ROTD 12/10/2010
Yes, i'm a fan. I live right near the Ossington strip and it's nice now to have somewhere else to go apart from Ideal. Like this morning... I go into Ideal, and there's a big line, and it's not moving quickly because there's only one person there, and the tables aren't really set up well. So I wander down to Crafted, and there's no line, and a nice table with a plug close by and I quietly get a few blog posts in, undisturbed, with good music, and most importantly, a tasty coffee to wake me up.
Listed in: Ossington Village, Cafes where I go
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Review from Leslie-Anne W.
Toronto, ON
A cool, beautiful space to drink a creamy, rich and smooth latte in. The pumpkin muffin was moist and flavourful. The music was requisitely hip.
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Review from Rob B.
11/21/2010
good to have some competition to I-Deal Coffee . An improvement over Starbucks in some aspects.
Their specialty drinks like Mocha, or Chai Latte, or London fog, would fit right in with the Starbuck sweet tooth...
The Chai Latte is unfortunately from the carton & overly sweet.
Mocha was way too sweet. could only drink a quarter of it.... More attention to atmosphere than I-Deal's (some prefer it)
What I-deal does have going in it's favor is the winter sunshine.
The coffee is good however, (safe from sugar)...and they have a very good decaf.
Both places have a very pleasant staff.
I would add that both places lack a certain "soul", that places like El Almacen or Linux cafe have. Why, because Almacen and Linux are both one business one owner shops where you get more pride & response from the proprietor on premise.. I-Deal and Crafted however small an expansion at 2 shops have taken that one step at distancing themselves towards a chain...becoming more about the business then the community, quality and interaction.
