Second Cup

This place recently had a big makeover, and looks 200% better!
The interior feels a bit bigger, with cool white tiles and plenty of light. One side of the store has been alocated to a food counter called "Gourmand d'ici", which was not open when I visited.

They're giving out frozen yogurt samples these days, and I shamelessly went in just to try the cookies and cream one.

I am a fan of their carrot cake for a year now. Every time I go to second cup this is a must. But I am not really impressed by the quality of their latte. I think they should put more effort in it, such as training their baristas a little more.

We stopped by this Second Cup today since my wife loves Second Cup's carrot cake. So as usual we ordered a carrot cake and a latte. Last year I have been to this Second Cup several times when I first moved to Montreal but in the last couple months I tried lots of other cafes in Montreal and I guess my taste bud for coffee has risen. So, when I got the latte, I was pretty upset. I know it's a chain coffee shop and I am not expecting some fancy latte art. But what I do not expect is a watery latte with under-frothed milk for $5 where with the same price I can get a great latte in other places just 1-2 minute walk away.

In summary, I really hope they train their baristas a little more. Because they are using all the ingredients they are supposed to use/have. It's just that training or dedication which is missing for a great espresso drink.

I want to take the time to acknowledge Natalie for her wonderful gesture and service. On a really cold winter night, the battery of my iPhone was draining very quickly so I decided to stop at Second Cup to warm my hands with a large White Hot Chocolate. As I entered the store and was about to place my order, my phone died. I panicked because I had a free reward on the Second Cup app and I really wanted to splurge on a large beverage. She offered me a charger so that I would be able to redeem my prize. I was shocked. 5 star amazing service

My rating scale is based first and foremost on the quality of food & drinks, which is why no Second Cup can get more than 2 stars. This particular Second Cup has the particularity of having lots of seating areas. Outdoor, indoor next to the baristas, in the common area of the commercial building, and even a separate secluded area. I've never had trouble finding a seat at the desired noise level. It's also open 24H. Courteousness of staff has improved quite a lot since I started my undergrad a few years ago. Wi-Fi is ok for browsing.

But let's not kid ourselves, a Second Cup is still what it is, even after the re-branding and printing "there's a little love in every cup" on your drink. Ofc I didn't walk in expecting the quality of a 3rd wave coffee joint. But the latte must be the worst I have ever been served. A bitter burnt shot with no hint of any aroma, paired with insufficient milk, that just made me feel angry and dehydrated. It's reminiscent of Van Houtte. Even the lattes I used to make at home using preground espresso and a $80 machine were better. The chocolatine was quite a looker without substance as well. It had one shallow streak of chocolate inside about the size of a pinky and wasn't buttery, sodium was a bit apparent. The almond croissant was better, in comparison. Stick with Starbucks or McCafé for tolerable consistency.

Abundant seating and outlets and tables and free wifi. Unfortunately as of about a year ago it no longer is open 24 hours but rather closes at midnight.

Newly renovated in 2018. New on menu : frozen yogurt.
It has the best terrasse on McGill street for now. Good place to take a coffee break especially if you work in downtown.
Good service and quality.

While the coffee is good, the place is too dirty (they need to clean more, remove plates and old cups, etc., much more quickly). It's tiny inside, and hard to move around - strange set up. Also a rookie mistake: iced coffee filled to the top (no room for milk). Must be better options than this place, but the outside seating is nice (although the rock music was too loud and inappropriate in my view).

Small (and crowded) Second Cup next to a bookstore and attached to a college. If you're claustrophobic you may not like waiting in a crowd for your drink. Drinks are okay. I got a pumpkin spice one and it didn't taste like much. I tried the marble cake and it was delicious. Also tried something called Baba. It looked like a pastry ball and I thought the woman said it was filled with pudding but it was really just cake with spices, but more solid. I don't think I'd get it again but it's good to try new things. The seating area outside was nice, although there is construction going on in the building so the noise level was pretty high.

Fast, friendly service and a marvelous mango boost, Second Cup has all the ingredients to keep me coming back. The place was buzzing with activity, which means the place is good and draws regular crowds. If you need to get some work done, there are plenty of nice tables and open wifi.