Balluchon Raymond Inc. - CLOSED

This cafe is no longer in operation. i deal coffee has replaced it.

Title: Balluchon Raymond Inc.
Address: 221 Sorauren Ave.
Phone: 647-889-1279
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 5 PM, Sat-Sun 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Website: N/A

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Flax milk available
- Custom roasted fair trade organic Ethiopian coffee beans
- Offers apple cider in the winter
- Discount if you bring your own cup/mug

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers bagels
- Offers gluten-free brownies and other baked goods
- Offers sandwiches and wraps

Review

Drink of Choice: Large Latte, $4.48

Balluchon Raymond Inc. is located far west in Roncesvalles. When I made my trip, it was a couple of months back when the weather was still freezing and dreary. The trek from the bus stop to the cafe seemed to go on forever in the cold. However, I finally made it to my destination in one piece. The cafe was snuggled deep in a residential neighbourhood with another cafe, Joes (that was also part of the Indie Coffee Passport), down the street.

I was greeted by the owner, Raymond, who was a person full of life and character. He was a roaster by trade and was more than enthusiastic to talk about his cafe when I asked. In fact, he took me to the back to show me a layout of where his second cafe was going to be. It was going to be at Duffy's Farm Gate Market, located in Hepworth (which is north of Toronto with a 3 hour drive for those who have never heard of it), that had indoor and outdoor vendors that offered local produce, coffee and more. However, the current cafe is now under renovation but is still open to the public. For regulars, they would be seeing a transformation as the cafe gets new French windows, a front patio and some reno on the inside.

Raymond emphasized on wanting his customers to "enjoy the moment" when they are at his cafe. He is not a fan of the fast-paced lifestyle that Torontonians tend to have, grabbing their coffee to go or always on their laptops (he offers Wi-Fi, but he prefers that you don't you use it so much or at all!). He is inspired by the European cafes and wants to create that environment for people to be able to sit for hours and relax with a delicious cup of coffee. So if you do go to his cafe, take your coffee in "civilized ceramic" rather than in a to-go cup and stay as long as you can!

The cafe have plenty of gigs that happen every so often. You pay what you can to enjoy some fun and live performances. They have anything from live acoustic music to young professional classical musicians performing. As well, there are always new art up for sale every month with an artist opening. After the reno, the cafe will be having a grand re-opening and will be inviting the neighbourhood to come out, which is later to be announced.