Mofer Coffee has two locations in Toronto, 1040 St. Clair Ave W & 1577 Danforth Ave. Both cafés are open for take-out daily from 8am-6pm*. As part of the Brewed at a Distance series, I visited the shop closest to me, AKA its St. Clair location just east of Dufferin.
Mofer Coffee’s mission is coffee excellence from crop to cup. As such, Mofer only sources single origin Ethiopian coffee that is naturally sun-dried & roasted in small batches in its Toronto stores.
Before becoming a coffee shop, Mofer was already part of the coffee scene selling wholesale bags of beans either whole, ground, or green. You can still buy their packaged coffee at their cafés or on their website (with free shipping with $49+ purchase).
ATMOSPHERE
Despite opening its St. Clair location in 2018, before this pandemic, I had never visited Mofer. However, being home more has allowed me to patron the small businesses & cafés in my area. I am so glad I stumbled upon Mofer.
In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting much from the coffee shop due to its simplistic exterior. But boy, was I wrong. When you step into the café, you are instantly transported into its space. Mofer’s high ceilings, mix of modern/rustic pieces, & hints of Ethiopian artwork and coffee ware across the café breathes life into the space. It’s unique, refreshing, and honestly unexpected in an area like St. Clair (a predominantly Western European area). Although unable to sit inside the coffee shop right now, once restrictions are lifted, I can tell Mofer will be a relaxing and rejuvenating place to sit and enjoy a coffee. Plus, since the café's space is quite large, it will be somewhere many can enjoy.
MENU
Now moving onto what we all care about most – the coffee. Mofer Coffee does not disappoint. Their coffee is flavourful and shines through in any drink you order. I’ve had their cold brew, iced latte, and iced mocha, & all three were wonderful. Their iced mocha was especially impressive as the creaminess of the chocolate melded very well with that of the coffee. Sometimes I find mochas either overdeliver or underdeliver the taste of coffee, so getting that perfect balance is hard. Not for Mofer.
(Note: I devoured my drinks before I could snap a picture, so this image is from Mofer's IG)
When picking what to order, my only suggestion is to go light with the milk as you don’t want to mask the deep & fruity notes of the coffee. So for any latte lovers, I’d suggest getting a double shot to ensure you get the fullest flavour possible.
Along with coffee, Mofer also sells a small selection of pastries & a range of teas. I’m really excited for my next visit to try their iced teas, available in flavours like lavender or strawberry. As for pastries, don't miss out on their gluten-free waffles.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE CAFÉ
To continue supporting the café during these troubling times for small businesses, there are a variety of ways to do so. You can purchase bags of their coffee to brew at home, buy a gift card for a future visit, or simply purchase from the café in-store, through Ritual, or on UberEats.
You can also support Mofer by following them on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and yes, even TikTok.
*Given the COVID-19 pandemic, hours depicted in this post may be skewed as businesses adapt to better serve its staff, customers, and community.
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