Best espresso in Toronto
The best espresso in Toronto comes from bars that recalibrate every morning and can tell you exactly what is in the hopper. This guide covers how to recognise a serious espresso program and what to order to test it. Roasters currently counts 294 cafés in Toronto, #2 in Canada.
What separates the best espresso bars in Toronto from the rest is the daily ritual: fresh-grind retention checked, dose weighed to the tenth of a gram, water temperature stable. The signature kit you'll see on the bar is usually a La Marzocco Linea PB or GS3, a Slayer, or a Synesso, paired with a Mahlkönig Mythos or EK43 grinder.
Espresso guides: where Toronto ranks
In the ranking of “Espresso” guides by café count, Toronto comes in at #7 out of 144, near the very top.
Zooming out, 294 cafés put Toronto at #3 in the Americas and #7 worldwide on Roasters.
44 cities in the Americas have enough specialty cafés (30 or more) for an “Espresso” guide, Toronto among them.
9 other cities in Canada have the same guide.
Beyond this one, Toronto has 8 more themed guides: WiFi & laptops, Brunch, Open late, Quiet cafés, Running, Filter coffee, Cold brew and Matcha.
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About espresso in Toronto
How many specialty cafés does Roasters list in Toronto?
294 cafés and roasters, which puts Toronto at #7 of the 144 cities with an “Espresso” guide.
Where can I find the best espresso in Toronto?
Roasters maps the specialty espresso bars in Toronto the community ranks highest. Open the app, filter Toronto by espresso, and save the bars worth going out of your way for.
Which cities rank next to Toronto for espresso?
Out of 144 cities with this guide, Montreal (298 cafés) ranks just above and Prague (290) just below.
What makes a great espresso?
A great espresso is balanced and bright: clean acidity, a sweet body, and a clear finish. It's pulled with a precise dose (typically 18–20g in, 36–40g out, in 26–32 seconds), from fresh, well-stored beans, with a calibrated grinder. The best bars in Toronto hit those numbers daily.
Which other cities in Canada have an “Espresso” guide?
Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton and Quebec, plus 3 more. Each has its own page on Roasters.
