T.A.N. Coffee

VIBE
Nothing special here. Everything is a bit bland and the door is open so I’m a bit cold (yes, I’m a grumpy old woman). Staff is nice and a good worker. You may or may not see a homeless man pop in about two or three times while you’re here. So yes, the atmosphere is to be desired.
The church pews are not really sturdy so anytime anyone moves you feel it. Tables are minimal for internetting.
They DO have a garden patio in the back. Very interesting.
Probably more of a take your coffee and go (though there are lots of seats here).
I DRANK
London fog. Way too sweet. Not too my liking.
They have smoothies and other coffees and lattes on hand. This is my first time here so I can’t comment on anything else.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Not getitng my tan here anytime soon but for available cafes offering internet access and an outlet? Yes please!

It’s a decent indie coffee shop. Honestly though, nothing special. I did appreciate the fact that on the couches on the far right there is plug for me to recharge my phone but aside from that, this place is no different then a ton of nearby cafes. The interior is nothing special except form perhaps serviceable.
It is really an okay place but I would not try to make a point to come here. While I would make a point to go to places like Holy Oak Café or Tequila Bookworm just because they try to be so much more.
It is fair to say that T.A.N and the sums its parts is far more interesting than just this part.

Only my luck: I am served hot chocolate on a lip-​stained mug! I immediately showed it was dirty & the barista made me another cup. That was good service. He used ½ water & ½ milk — not tasty.
But I got to listen to a free folk concert by 2 cute, young buskers!

Great beans + roasted weekly + skilled barista = great cortado.
The baked goods looked great too, but I wasn’t crazy about the vibe here. The current colour (they seem to change it often — see photos) is a lime green that wasn’t particularly warm or inviting.
It wouldn’t stop me from going back, however, as it’s likely to be a different colour next time.

Part of the Indie coffee passport 2011. This is the 2^nd branch of the café. I think the location is more accessible by public transport as you its right on the main queen street drag. The setup is functional and simple. Free WiFi which is always good.
Now for the drink I ordered my cappuccino with the sweetener. The serving is on the smaller side. Latte art is OK. The espresso itself was mellow but had nice aroma.
Good iteration for the drink and I think it is better than the other branch.
3.5 stars for the drink
2 stars for the setup. I wouldn’t mind coming here if I am in this area.
Tried the cortado on the second visit as per the recommendation of a fellow Unilocaler. I would stick with cappuccino as even though the latter art good the taste wasn’t. I think the either the machine was off as the espresso shot was scalding hot and threw off the taste. 2 Star for the Cortado.

I dig the atmosphere here! And of course the coffee is good. (that’s the most important, right??)
Also — FREE Wifi!
Caramel sea salt brownie — yum yum yum!!!

a very cute café with comfy benches covered with pillows. Yay I love pillows in cafes=)
also friendly barista.
and they had some crazy looking coffee making machine (that looked more like a locomotive=))
oh the desserts are yummy (sea salt brownie here was my second this week (first being in Green Beanery) and it was sooooooo gooooood!) and the variety of drinks is great!

I had a really great experience at T.A.N. and would recommend a visit here before you head to Parlour on Ossington for a haircut!
I had the perfect chai latte and a lovely chat with the adorable barista (literally adorable — personality AND killer smile)
They had lots of tasty treats to munch on with your coffee and comfortable couches, chairs and bench seats with tables. It feels really relaxed and tucked away and almost homey. Loved it.

I really enjoyed the short time I spent at T.A.N, the exterior does not do justice to the quiet and spacious interior. The staff member there was very easy going and friendly, we chatted a bit about the indie coffee passport while she was making my drink amongst other topics, and commended me on my choice of the «cashew cookie» which turned out to be amazing and like she said, I will never look at a peanut butter cookie the same after having tried that. (I even left a quick tip about that! Which I hardly seem to do).
The menu was pretty typical I say and it did not seem to be expensive at all, I don’t believe any item cost more than $ 4.50 apart from the $ 5 sandwiches I believe? I got myself a Chai Latte and saw they used Indian «Masala Chai» tea leaves which perked my interest. My drink was good, I should have sub’d for soy milk and maybe a bit of vanilla like I usually do but meh… I doubt I would try it again, I would much prefer a coffee drink next time.
Like @Isabella mentions, it does give off a Starbucks vibe but for me it was because of the overall seating arrangement of the place (although it was more like Second Cup to me), but it’s definitely more comfortable than Starbucks seating.
It’s not the cutest establishment I’ve ventured in to, but it was pretty late in the day when I arrived and it was very quiet and relaxing. Exactly what I was hoping for and would very much like to come back in the summer for their garden patio!

Drink
I ordered a large mocha here and while it wasn’t the best I’ve had (read: Green Beanery), it was smooth and bold and all that I expect out of one. It was also made very conscientiously by the barista.
Menu
They offer a pretty nice selection of brownies, muffins and organic energy bars. A definite cut above your usual Starbucks fare, and I don’t think I’d be scrounging around for a local pizza joint nearby.
Service
Amazing service, really. On my visit the barista was friendly, charming and engaging. The staff seems to be very comfortable and inviting.
Ambiance
This place is so damn laid-​back, it makes for a perfect place to lounge around with a drink and a good book. The further back of the café you travel, the cozier it gets.
Study/​Work friendly? Yes.

#indiecoffeepassport stop #3
It was late Saturday afternoon and the sun had set. I was getting cold on my walk home and the growl in my stomach was getting louder. My caffeine fix from Mascot’s had long worn off and with plans on my evening’s agenda, I needed sustenance to stay awake. I walked past TAN café and looked through the windows condensed with the warmth of brewed coffee and roasting of beans. Yep, I decided that I would have more caffeine and sugar in my day’s diet before dinner. But more importantly, I would acquire another stamp on my Indie Coffee Passport.
For a late weekend afternoon, there was plenty of seating options and about 8 people were scattered in different spots. The comfy seats were taken and I sat on the cushioned pew along one of the walls. It was fairly comfortable and I stayed for a while reading my book.
I ordered a regular coffee which was okay. TAN roasts their own beans, but I didn’t find my particular cup of coffee to be impressive. It was sort of bland and not strong enough for my liking. I should’ve ordered an Americano. I did love their chewy, sugary pecan caramel bar. It helped induce a sudden sugar and caffeine buzz afterward that I didn’t love so much. Thankfully, the buzz wore off on my walk home in time for a proper meal.
It’s nice to know that TAN is here and that it’s a good spot to come to and do some work. I’d love to check out the patio when it’s warmer.

After walking past this quiet café several times on the way to work, finally stepped in this morning for a latte.
Menu — all your standard espresso drinks, coffee, and loose leaf teas + muffins and bagels. My latte was okay/​good, but at $ 4 for a regular, kinda pricey. They do have stamp cards if you come often enough.
Ambiance — relaxed and haphazard, like sitting in a friend’s basement. Local art on display, mismatched furniture, and coffee tables with newspapers and Wallpaper back issues.
Music — sounded like CHUM FM or something.
Service — this place never seems very busy, so service is unhurried and thoughtful.

T.A.N. is the first stop of our Niagara Neighbourhood crawl. First coffee of the day is always A-​OK! Thie location little out of the way from all the hassle of the more busy shopping area east of it.
I found the interior of TAN quiet and rustic. Love the patio at the back and some of the sofas and armchairs in the front… or if you don’t want to be lounging around, you can always put your laptop and surf away in one of the café tables.
The cappuccino I found is quite good. Roast is a little strong but good to really wake me up and jump started my day! The «Heart» shaped latte art is a nice touch.
BTW if you want to feel good about spending your money ethically, T.A.N.‘s Free trade coffee may make you feel good about yourself.
Free WIFI and Indie Coffee Passport participant makes T.A.N A-​OK experience!

If I had to guess, I’d assume that T.A.N. stands for Tarry and Natter, but that would be cloyingly British. I stopped in for a quick americano and ended up chatting with the friendly barista, Nicki*, for over an hour. Our conversation, ranging from Toronto politics to the nuances of «It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia» was an excellent way to start the day.
T.A.N. (The Alternative Network) is located on Queen Street West across from CAMH. All the coffee is fair trade, organic, and roasted in house. They also offer desserts and sandwiches, Larabars (!), Boylans soda and something called Black River Nectar, a locally sourced fruit juice from Mississauga.
There is plenty of seating, and while I wouldn’t call it cozy, it’s quite charming and I’d definitely spend a few hours here. Which I have.
Obligatory Title Pun: Put on some lotion, ’cause we’re going to TAN.
Menu Readability: I’d like to point out here that I hate their logo. Quel désastre!
Need to mention: The washrooms are maybe my favourite part. I won’t spoil the surprise, check ‘em out!
What this place teaches me about myself: I could probably spend a whole weekend discussing the complex relationship between Frank and Charlie.
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* Or it could be «Nikki», but I hate this spelling and I wanted to err on the side of my personal taste.

Okay, this is where I’ll use one of the most popular review statements ever on Unilocal.«I wanted to love this place.» No, I didn’t copy and paste that. It’s just a saying that you’ll never hear me SPEAK but the meaning works well in this instance.
Cappuccino was full of Crema with nice Steam Milk Froth consistency, but maybe just maybe the finish had a bit Sour note that personally didn’t work for me as I browsed for the Watering Hole canister that was not available here. Comes oh so close to some of my more favourites. (–0.5 *Star*)
TAN does offer a few distinct seating areas that allows each Patron to select their preference as we chose to seat facing the Roaster. There was this guy that kept coming in and out and walking around the outside. Maybe he was waiting for the place across from TAN to finish construction?
Overall, TAN Coffee has been 3.5’d

C O F F E E P A S S P O R T F I N A L S T O P (#24)
Drink: Vanilla Cream Latte
Atmosphere: It feels like a Starbucks here. The girl behind the counter saw my passport and was suprised saying she’s never seen a complete one, ha. She was nice though. Inside, it’s pretty small, but cozy with a long bench and some pillows. Towards the back is a couch and a feel sofa chairs.
My drink was so-​so. Since this place was my last stop, I decided to try something new y’know? Y’no. Wrong choice. LOL. Oh well. I didn’t like it ’cause simply the taste of it bothered me. I should have stuck with Soy Chai. Somehow I imagined ‘vanilla cream’ to be more aromatic and less creamy tasting.
Overall: Nothing new really, but I should try out their other drinks ’cause apparently this is supposed to be one of the top coffee shops in Toronto!
W R A P U P:
This is my LAST STOP for my coffee passport. I hope you guys enjoyed my reviews and whenever I go back, I will definately update everyone.
Cheers!

Oh, the smell of beans roasting in the morning. How could it not awaken my mad love for coffee shops.
Coffee shops with free wi-​fi (password: community), a garden patio and the sweetest owner, that is. Needless to say, camping out for some work time is a necessity here! Only lament — where’s the raw sugar source? And a $ 1 charge for using visa? Perhaps that’s a Torontonian thing I need to get used to.

I spent about ten minutes playing with a few products they were selling. Coffee cups to go, mugs to go and an interesting coffee maker. I decided not to buy any of their offerings but I was almost swayed to buy something I didn’t need just because I hadn’t seen it before.
Yeah, I am one of those. I have significantly reduced that habit since I moved to Toronto! Thank goodness.
Anyone who loves coffee is to some degree a coffee snob. I mean, you can’t ingest that much caffeine and not have a point of view.
I have heard so much about this place. Pointed this direction by someone that works there and folks from the neighborhood.
I’ll say this, some have said it’s not a hipster location but I’m afraid they are marching in. If something is good, they will come. It has all the elements: wifi, fair trade, patio and non corporate.
All this being said, I cannot say it is the best coffee I have had in the city. I would go back and try another but it still falls behind Manic Coffee and Balzac’s.
Roasting coffee bean in house is awesome but the outcome still has to tickle my coffee palette.

This is one of my local cafes, although not one I use much. Not as much as I should. The coffee is good, and when we went in there today there was some latte art on top of the latte. There really isn’t as much latte art in Toronto as there should be.
I’ve used the free wifi there and it’s good. It’s what a place like this should have.
The owners are often serving here, and you always feel welcome. It’s not a snooty café (snooty for their coffee, that is) but it’s got some great coffee, and they are often roasting it themselves on their own roaster.
I’d recommend if you need a café in the ‘hood.

I am sitting here RIGHT NOW
why do I love reviewing placewhile i’m still in them?
ok, super cozy place. long room full of a 20s/​30s crowd studying. music is good without being distractingly good.
nice selelection of loose leaf teas. dessert case a.ok.
and, of course, free wifi.
there are only plugs on the front and end of the room, but plenty to keep a combination of laptop zombies and people actually socializing.
UPDATE: this place has a cute little lounge int he back if you don’t mind sitting near the washroom and I heard in the summer it has a kickass patio.
woot.