Lettieri Espresso Bar

I am not one for fancy coffee shops, I only attend if there is free wifi or someone really recommends it. So after sushi my friend suggested to grab a quick coffee and tea and catch up a bit.
Now I had noticed this location before and thought it was interesting as you’d just think it was part of Honest Ed’s.
I have to say I love the benches right inside, you feel like you’re outside but yet you are warm.
I ordered the chai latte and expected the powder stuff they give you at Second Cup/​Starbucks. However this was real chai tea, with milk, to make a latte, a really good latte that I was reluctant to try (I like my powder).
I’m glad I’ve stumbled upon this though and will keep it in mind if I see other Lettieri’s around.

Came here tonight (Sunday) after having dinner a block away.
There’s not much selection in terms of brewed coffee … it was 7 PM so it wasn’t too late or anywhere close to closing time. My father frequents Second Cup where he has more than 2 choices in terms of brewed coffee. I had the Matcha Latte, which was mediocre. It was quite lukewarm and I was able to drink it quickly. The point of hot drinks is to enjoy the aroma, no? If it’s extremely lukewarm, you’ll just gulp it down.
I know that it’s bad to judge a book by its cover, but … the clientele at this place is really spooky. If I was there alone, I’d feel very uncomfortable.
The tables are neglected by staff. Honest Ed’s must sell cloth that can help solve the problem of dirty tables. By charging $ 3 for their lattes, they can easily afford cloth for 5 cents. Just a thought.
Meh. I’ve experienced better.

This could be Starbucks, or Second Cup, or any other coffee shop. Nobody here really knows how to make an espresso or say it without an «x» so if you are having any «expresso» based drinks, they are likely to be as average as any other chain.

Latte… pretty good. It deserves 2 – 3 stars. But, this review is more about the café than the latte.
The tone of this place is scary. Sure, it is a chain and the neighbourhood is pretty good. But, when you look closer, it seems that either some bad shit has gone down or they are preparing for some bad shit to go down.
The tip jar… its filled with water. My guess is to stop, or prevent, people from stealing the tips. The bathroom, disgusting. There was no lid on the tank of the toilet. When I flushed, it spat. Thankfully I was not standing within firing range. No paper towels. It was a hover, quickly wash hands, wipe them on pants, get out and use your hand sanitizer.
The barista took my order but stared at me until I gave her money. I saw some friends walking by and waved at them, I guess I did not dip into my wallet as quickly as she would have liked.
The Annex is not the kind of neighbourhood that I feel unsafe in. In this Lettieri — I did not feel safe. I felt like a drug bust was going to go down or a rowdy group was about to enter.
Go to Aroma down the street… much more relaxed and civilized.
WIll not return.

What better way to recover from a trip into Honest Ed’s than with a drink at Lettieri? In all seriousness though, this is a great little coffee shop tucked away at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor.
Get yourself a coffee, a latte, a smoothie, or a snack. The prices are all fairly decent and the selection is good. They bag their own tea and have some delicious options! Try the Soltice Sippe over ice. (I’m a sucker for iced tea)
A major plus is the ample seating and free wi-​fi! One star off because you often run into a lot of crazies here… which, while amusing, can sometimes cut into your coffee break.

You almost miss this little place, tucked under the glowing distraction that is Honest Ed’s.
They sell smoothies and simple sandwiches, basic café stuff. But when I stopped in I had one of their carrot muffins. It was so good. Moist. Lovely. Mmmmm.
It’s a great place to people watch and not nearly as crazy busy as the Green Beanery across the street.

I guess with chains such as Lettieri, what makes the distinction between each franchise is that which you use them for. Some you feel comfortable with because they’re a quick in-​and-​out for a coffee on the way to work. Other locations provide you with a WiFi-​friendly workspace. This one stands out for me as a meeting place for me and several other performers working on shows.
I didn’t know this place existed even though it’s right on the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. Part of the problem is that it is literally carved out of the north-​east corner of Honest Ed’s (
) and with Honest Ed’s ostentatious lighting and window frontage, it’s easy to miss this very unassuming coffee shop. Upon entry, the shop itself is brightly lit, affords some tasty coffees and other beverages, and a small assortment of desserts and the like.
Seating is ample for meetings, gatherings, or just some quiet time that you may need/​want with your coffee/​tea/​what have you. Having been inside Honest Ed’s on days when there are sales happening, I can see very easily why this particular store may become a haven for those tired by the shopping journey.