Sam James Coffee Bar

Sam James Coffee Bar has been part of Toronto's specialty coffee scene since 2009 and now roasts its own beans in the city. The company describes itself as Toronto's favourite coffee roaster, and the Harbord Street café, the branch the business lists under Little Italy, is the best known of its small group of coffee bars.

The coffee is the focus rather than food. Every drink in the cafés is built on the house Butter Knife espresso, and the company says it roasts for caramel sweetness, chocolate depth and a full body, aiming for coffee that is sweet, chocolatey and consistent. It sources each year's crop and roasts and ships online orders within the same week, so beans bought in the café or online are fresh.

Specialty coffee writers have praised its espresso and its cold brew, and a stop here is mainly about ordering a well-made espresso drink rather than settling in for a long meal. Bags of espresso and filter coffee are on sale, along with brewing equipment, which makes it a good place to pick up a souvenir for coffee lovers back home.

The Harbord Street café is open from 7am to 4pm on weekdays and 8am to 4pm at weekends. There are three other locations: 6 Brock Avenue in Parkdale, with the same hours; 141 Ossington Avenue, open daily from 8am to 4pm; and a weekday-only bar below 150 King Street West in the underground PATH network, which suits office workers and visitors staying in the Financial District.

The cafés close in the afternoon, so plan a morning or lunchtime visit. Sam James suits serious coffee drinkers, students and anyone wanting a quick, reliable espresso. If you want to take the taste home, the company describes its flagship espresso as roasted in Toronto and crafted for home, and bags of espresso and filter coffee are sold in the cafés and online.

After 17 years the business has become a neighbourhood fixture, and the company says its aim has always been to build a café that Toronto calls its own. General enquiries can be sent to the company's own email address.