We have seen a lot of singularly-focused cafes in our 15 years covering coffee here at Sprudge. We’ve seen pour-over only cafes and espresso-only cafes, we’ve even seen in instant coffee-based coffee shop. What we have never seen in all this time is a French press-centric cafe. But that changes today, thanks to the all-new Espro Coffee Bar.
Opened recently in Toronto’s Beaches neighborhood, Canadian French (but not French Canadian) press maker Espro states the new retail location is “Canada’s only french press-focused coffee bar” and will also serve as the brand’s global headquarters. Much like Intelligentsia’s Pasadena Illumination Bar that serves as a vehicle to highlight their instant espresso, the Espro Coffee Bar is a showcase for the P7 French press. It will be used to brew a rotating lineup of coffee roasters from around the globe, including La Cabra, Onyx Coffee Lab, an Espro House Blend, and a “curated selection of micro-roasters.”
The Espro Coffee Bar will serve fresh pastries with “curated local pairings.” No WiFi, though.
But there’s a catch. The reason the Espro Coffee Bar is only French press-focused and not French press-only is because they also serve espresso. Based on images of the cafe’s interior, the Espro bar also has two Modbar espresso modules. But don’t let that deter you from going to check out what is decidedly a new concept in the wide world of specialty coffee.
The Espro Coffee Bar is open now and located at 2102 Queen St E in Toronto’s Beaches neighborhood. For more information, visit Espro’s official website.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
