Savoury Grounds

Savoury Grounds was for the longest time the only coffee spot in this area. They just don’t hit the mark on a good cup of coffee. The coffee is weak with very little flavour. The décor is old and dated and dirty.

I always enjoy the coffee here and is a nice spot on the corner.

great coffee. very friendly staff. not pretentious at all. love the mini donuts that come ever thurs /​fri.

Terrible coffee, brutal customer service, this neighbourhood needs a decent coffee shop!

Great spot. Fun staff. Double Americano is the best.

Savoury Grounds is the lone coffee outpost in this area of town. Unfortunately is doesnt really stack up to the Toronto standard of coffee glory. The inside is pretty cosy and they always have a couple papers kicking about but the coffee is very weak and pales in comparison to most. Typically we ask for doubles or triples just so we can get a full/​robust tasting coffee as opposed to their normal watery blend.
The staff are pretty friendly it’s just a shame that the coffee isn’t of a higher standard as it would be a great little java stop.

Okay, I feel bad writing this. But the quality of Toronto coffee has skyrocketed over the last 3 years, skyrocketed so high that it’s left Savoury Grounds… well… grounded.
The cappuccino was average for a regular shop, but not a shop in such a great location with such potential. Savoury’s space could rival that of the smaller shops like Sam James and Farenheit… but doesn’t have that feel, I don’t know what it is.
«An espresso and a cappuccino please» (always do that on my first visit to a shop), the espresso was quite acidic and not as rich and flavourful as it could have been. The cappuccino had a burned taste, similar to a Tassimo.
My advice is this. Just do what the 5 star shops are doing. Buy their machines, use their roasteries and poach an employee or two to teach everyone at Savoury Grounds to love coffee and its preparation, not to churn and burn.

Not a pretty to look at store inside (I would call it rustic) however the best espresso hands down in riverdale /​leslieville area

When I first started working down the block, I saw this coffee shop and got excited-​I love me some coffee shops during lunch break.
However-​much to my dismay this isn’t quite what I was expecting. It’s quite small, very little seating, and if you dare go with a part of more than 2, good luck finding a place to sit-​the tables are teeny and there is, as I just mentioned, very little seating.
That being said, this place ain’t bad, *especially* for the area which is very much lacking in cute cafés and eateries where you can sit (and not feel dirty…).
The prices are also decent, a small late or specialty beverage costing about $ 2.50 as opposed to some of the big coffee chains charging more like $ 4 for a small.
The staff is friendly enough, but nothing memorable. All in all a solid little spot in an area desperate for cute little cafes.

i use to work at an office fairly close to this coffee shop and i would come here every day. unfortunately it’s the only coffee shop close by unless you venture out to parliament & queen. i cannot even express how unorganized this place is, though the staff is friendly they seem to be clueless as to where things are or what to do 70% of the time. i think it might be a management problem but for the past year and a half that i was going there, every month or so there would be new employees! i never seen such a high turn over at a coffee shop before, and a small (?) one too. overall the coffee is okay, the lattes are good if the person making them knows how to do it. there were many times that my drinks were missing elements and tasted much too bitter. the tables & chairs in this place are broken and old, need to be replaced before someone hurts themselves. the counter with the sugar, honey and whatnot is often messy and sticky. it doesnt seem like there is much cleaning going on. despite all of this, the food is actually decent. the sandwiches are great. if you have more then 5 – 10 minutes to wait for a bagel then it’s worth it. if you are in a rush, there are other food shops across the street that are much much faster in service. i haven’t been here in a bit, perhaps things have changed but coming in everyday i’ve seen more then enough to rate this a ²⁄₅.

My double espresso was rich with flavour. What else to expect from a cup of coffee? :^)

Kat and I came in to grab a drink only to find that as of the day before it is under new ownership. The barista, who was working her second day, wasn’t sure what the new name was. So until someone figures out what is going on with this place I’ll keep my review listed here.
I just got a standard Earl Grey tea so there isn’t too much on that side to talk about other than the fact that they use loose tea and not bags. The barista was very friendly as Kat and I chit-​chatted with her while she made our drinks and food.
The place has a rustic feel, though maybe this will change with the new ownership? Probably not. Overall I would say this is a good place to stop in if your in the area, though it is kind of a skeezy area.

Located at Queen and Parliament. Kind of a nice addition to that corner if you know what I mean. Interior is roomy and there is free wifi and plenty of chairs for lounging and what not.
Impressive selection of loose leaf teas on offer for drinking and for buying. Although I’m no coffee connoisseur the aromas coming from the beans on site was intriguing.
Service was somewhat skittish. An order for a sandwich came with the remark that it would be a bit of a wait, no cold beverages on site-​save for iced coffee based drinks– and even though they have a great selection of teas-​no iced tea! Dayum! What a shame.

After another Unilocaler insisted that Savoury Grounds makes (and sells mix for) the best chai tea latte in the city, I knew I had to find out for myself. What I enjoyed was an incredibly rich and almost creamy latte.
Unlike some coffee shops, Savoury Grounds did NOT penalize me for choosing non-​dairy for my drink, and this immediately put me in a good mood. The chai is also available in four sizes, as opposed to the usual three, and there were also other treats available like muffins and scones.
The chai latte liquid mix is called Oregon Trail and I’ve made it twice since going to Savoury Grounds. Unfortunately for them, now that I can make my own chai lattes at home I might not have to go back! Unless it’s to buy more mix, of course.

Casual coffee shop in Corktown serving a variety of coffees, desserts, bagels, sandwiches, and paninis. The carefree (in a good way, mind) and friendly staff always remembers my order. SG sometimes hangs interesting designs and photography from local artists on its walls, but otherwise the store is shabby and underlit. I’ve never been tempted to stay there, but they pour a reliable cup of joe.
Obligatory Title Pun: SAVOUR your grounds here.
Menu Readability: Written in the funkiest printing on a chalk board above the counter.
Need to mention: If someone orders a bagel when only one person is working, service grinds to an immediate halt. Be warned.
What this place teaches me about myself: You say my coffee preferences are predictable, but maybe I’m just looking out for the common barista? Ever consider that?

This Savoury Grounds operates a coffee monopoly within a 500 m radius or a 5 minute walk and doesn’t feel the need to improve. Since opening in 2004, the place remains unfinished as the furniture is flimsy and cabinet doors missing. It offers a fine java fix but not a place you wanna hang out. No wi-​fi, mix music taste depending on the coffee-​tenders working at the hour.
In all, I wouldn’t recommend it.