The Black Canary Espresso Bar

Came here with a friend on a Sunday afternoon. It was kind of busy but we managed to grab a table. There is 1 large wooden table that fits about 5 – 7 people and some bar stool seating along the windows. There are 3 small little tables for 2 people to sit and in a corner, they also have 2 couches.
I think it has a really low key vibe, it’s not very fancy in décor. I like the music playing in the background, and I think they have a turntable as well. Did not hear it being played while there though. They also have a loyalty stamp system that lets you collect points easily.
For my drink, I got the Nutellacinno, which was okay. Not as sweet or chocolatey as I thought it would be though. Good place if you want to do some work on the computer and wifi works, did not find it spotty. The only caveat about this place is if you want to go to the washroom, there is only one. You have to notify the staff/​owner at desk and have him open the back door for you. Then walk down a long hallway to get to washroom.
Service is nice tho. I was busy doing some work on my computer and time got away from me. Oops! Ended up being the last ones leaving but did not feel rushed at all. Thumbs up for not hurrying us. Thanks!

Has an atmosphere for quietly reading or doing some work. Not a place you would want to bring friends to hangout in just because this location is pretty small. But it has a very warm and cozy touch to it.
I had a cappuccino and it was great!

I love this place.
Free wifi, tons of power outlets and natural light, and a nice selection of seating (communal and individual tables, couches, and a bar by the window). The atmosphere here is always great, with people working on their laptops or chatting quietly and nice low-​key music playing in the background.
Oh, and they also serve coffee! The drip coffee and americanos here taste great and are very reasonably priced. In the mood for something a bit sweeter? Try their Nutella latte — they let you lick the spoon used to mix the Nutella and espresso and it tastes like a delicious caffeine heaven. I really like this fun aspect of the service here, which in my experience has always been friendly and welcoming. The staff make an effort to get to know you and remember your order. Best part is that they have a beautifuly designed loyalty card and you can get a free beverage for every 9 drinks you buy. Shows that they care about their regular customers and I really appreciate this little perk.

Great selection of indie music and friendly staff members too! Also, brownie points for free wifi. Décor is simple and non-​assuming — there is a cozy area with couches and books which I really like. One thing that makes Black Canary stand out is their Nutella lattes. I mean, Nutella + latte? A-​maze-​ing!

I like to come here in the morning to do work before getting on with the day. Delicious espresso. The baristas are always friendly and pleasant to see in the morning. There are a bunch of regulars that stop and chat with them, which I actually like to overhear as I’m a bit of a people-​watcher. Lots of natural lighting, not too crowded. They also have great music– indie low-​key stuff that I love! Overall, it’s quiet and low-​key in the morning, so I like to wake myself up here.

I love getting a simple drip coffee from here. The coffee’s good and has a nice comfy interior to work on a project in or to pick up a couple take away coffees in your sweatpants on a wet Saturday morning.

Not a fan. Café smelled like body odour as soon as we opened the door! Looks better in the pictures than in real life. Apparently the coffee is good — perhaps that’s the attraction, but I won’t be back.

Special Oreo Cookies, a great Americano, and good people.
A+ coffee and a little gem of a hangout in the neighbourhood while furniture browsing/​shopping.

Very friendly barista. Great environment to get some work done!

I’m not a coffee person, but I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the aroma emitting from Black Canary lingers so pleasantly in the air that it almost made me order a cup of coffee to experience the delicately strong brews.
On a recent visit, I had their hot chocolate and pretended it was coffee as I just wanted to belong since everyone was drinking coffee. Thankfully, I don’t care if I’m the odd one out, plus my friend wasn’t a coffee drinker either, so we both enjoyed our hot chocolates together. We just sat at the far end and chatted away.
It was quite a small place, that consisted of one communal table with six chairs, a few small tables, stools along the front window and a small nook with a coffee table and lounge chairs. Furnishing was a mish mash of eclectic styles of new and old furniture. Walls were adorned with lovely photos and there was one plant at the corner which gave the place some liveliness. Also the floor to ceiling windows provided lots of sunshine with a great view of people passing by.
Service was friendly and warm, place was comforting and not busy like most coffee places. Definitely a hidden gem off the beaten path.

I can’t say that I love the décor here (kind of mid-​century meets hipster café), but the matcha latte I got was wonderful. It wasn’t too sweet but very matcha-​y. The milk was steamed kind of like an extra frothy cappuccino, so I didn’t get the microfoam mouth feel of a great latte. Despite that, I still loved my drink.
They had a small selection of baked goods, including the usual cookies, scones, and muffins.
There’s also a lot of seating, including bar seats by the window, a communal table, and some smaller cozy round tables.
All in all, I would come again :)

I’m in love with the chai latte and my. Partner with the Nutella late. Great staff as well. Cool place :)

Try their nutella latte, delicious! and they let you lick the spoon!
I just wish they opened a bit later on weekends as I would love to study there.

Beautiful little coffee shop, with tons of natural light, comfortable seating, and excellent food + drinks. I had a nutella latte (they take a big spoonful of nutella and stir it into your steamed milk, then let you lick the spoon — YES) and a grilled chicken sandwich. Both super good. Wireless was spotty/​difficult to connect to. Total bill was $ 13, which was a teensy bit steep. But the excellent ambiance makes it worth many return visits.

Our barista was exceptional. A beautiful young Asian woman who made a Cortado to die for. She was also incredibly gracious when I dropped my change on the floor. AND she let us stay there for an extra half hour– didn’t even once mention that they were closing.
It’s a small space but it never got too crowded. Diverse seating — a cozy nook with an armchair, communal table, high stools by the windows, small tables for romantic chatting. Perfect place for studying, a date, catching up with a girlfriend.
ONE PIECE OF WARNING: bathroom was nasty. It’s shared by the entire building. No soap left in the dispenser. Toilet didn’t flush. So yeah, just hold it.

Now that I’ve discovered this part of town — the Black Canary pales. $ 6.25 for a Red Eye + scone is a little much considering the many better options around. If their coffee was spectacular then that’s a different story. Debit accepted for $ 4+ spend, VISA with $ 9+ spend (which is not VISA policy — you can actually get fired as a vendor if they find out but I understand VISA transaction fees are costly and they aren’t the only business that does this). Otherwise cash only.
There is free wi-​fi and the space is actually quite comfortable to work in.
Go to Fahrenheit Coffee instead. Kick ass coffee and to-​die-​for herb + chèvre scone (but very little seating)!
I guess you have to decide what your priorities are!

Started working close by and I was always going to the nearby Starbucks until I started noticing my coworkers coming in with cups from this shop. Excited to know there was a speciality shop close by, and wanting a break from Starbucks, I went by to check it out.
Pros:
— Great staff. Every time I stop in the staff are friendly and make conversation, it’s quite refreshing.
— Delicious decaf. Yep, I drink decaf and the quest to find shops that offer a cup that tastes good is an arduous task. At Black Canary it is quite tasty.
— They offer almond milk as an option when in the mood for a latte.
— Free wifi.
— Small shop, but great seating options for hanging with friends or working the day away.
— Prices aren’t outrageous. Decaf Americano is $ 3 (at the time of this posting).
Cons:
— The washroom is a little bit of a walk in the back, so you probably don’t want to leave your laptop out if you need to go.
— If you spend under $ 4 they have to charge you $ 0.25 to use the debit. Slightly annoying, but I understand.
— Finding a plug for your laptop can be a little tricky if it’s busy. But I think this is an issue for most coffee shops.
— The hours in the morning. They don’t open very early on the weekend, so if you’re an early worker it makes it tricky to grab a coffee before you head to work.
In the area and looking for something that isn’t a big chain? Definitely stop by here. Enjoy the great coffee and atmosphere, fun music sometimes too!

The Black Canary Espresso Bar was originally known as Bisogno Espresso Bar. One of the owners’ love for comics had them open up a new café location attached to the comic book store, Silver Snail, at Yonge and Dundas this past year. The owner, Luthie, corrected me with the fact that Bisogno Espresso Bar’s name change happened before the opening of their second location. And although the Black Canary is a comic book superhero from the DC Universe, the café was not named purposely after the character.
I personally like the new concept of the café in combination with the comic book store. I find that absolutely fun and it adds a uniqueness to the café. So once I am done my passport and if I have the time, I think I will drop by their Yonge and Dundas location to check it out and see how it compares to the old location.
For those who are familiar with Bisogno Espresso Bar but haven’t dropped by lately, everything about the café is still the same asides from the brand change and menu board design (which I really like! Simple and clean but sleek). The café itself is set up with large windows, making it a great place to work during the day because I am a fan of having an abundance of sunlight. It has a large table that gives the ability for several people to sit at, along with a couple of small ones to the side. If you want to just chill out, you can lounge on one of their big comfy chairs or on the stools by the windows. It is a popular café, especially during lunch hour where people would be coming in non-​stop for their cup of coffee. Overall, it’s nice café downtown that has a comfortable atmosphere for a relaxing latte.

The Name has changed but thankfully the quality has not.
Still one of the top spots for Cappuccino in the city so its no wonder this is my first spot on the Indie Coffee Passport for 2012
Here is the verdict
Espresso: Medium/​strong flavor
Crema’: Just gorgeous
Milk: Frothed very well with nice microfoam though didn’t have the sweet finish one craves.
Latte Art: Better than the last visit
Only knock against is milk frothing as otherwise the drink would be perfect. High recommendations here for the cappuccino.
P. S. Why no free mini biscotti anymore :(

Where to go on a Thurs after work? That was my predicament last Thurs. I love having 1^st world problems for a change! This independent coffee shop is located in Corktown and apparently is renowned for its Nutella Latte. I decided to give it a go.
I did not try the Nutella Latte. I opted for a herbal tea. Something relaxing while I read my book. There is a communal table which was occupied by people and backpacks. Bar seats facing the windows, 2 seat small tables and a large couch. I chose the couch. Bad mistake. There was a fly! Argh! There was a fly inside the coffee shop. How can the baristas not be aware of this?
Maybe next time I will try the Nutella Latte, if there is a next time.