Get ready, coffee enthusiasts! As you may have heard, Toronto’s downtown coffee scene just got a new highly anticipated addition…. % Arabica. The world-renowned Japanese coffee brand, % Arabica, makes its debut in downtown Toronto with a new location at Union Station. This is the second Canadian location for % Arabica, following the success of Yorkdale Shopping Centre’s launch in December 2022. Founded by Kenneth Shoji, % Arabica hails from Kyoto, Japan, with 155 global stores.
About % Arabica’s coffee
Driven by a passion to have a great daily coffee experience, Shoji embarked on the journey of founding % Arabica. He wanted to have an amazing cup of coffee every day, with an equally exceptional customer experience. With this goal in mind, Shoji set out to learn the intricacies of the coffee business. Starting with purchasing a coffee farm in Hawaii, he ventured into green bean trading, exporting Japanese coffee roasting machines, and becoming a distributor for Slayer.
With his experience, Shoji launched % Arabica, driven by his vision to expand the brand globally, perfectly encapsulated in their motto, “See the World Through Coffee.” Focusing on premium coffee varieties, % Arabica is known for serving the world’s finest coffee beans, meticulously crafting perfect yet simple barista brews. The brand predominantly sources from small farms, offering their unique blend as well as single-origin beans from around the world.
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What’s on the menu at % Arabica’s new downtown Toronto Union Station location?
Their carefully curated menu spans espresso-based coffees, specialty lattes, drip coffees, matcha, and a diverse selection of specialty offerings. You can order them as hot or iced drinks. They also sell delicious pastries in limited quantities.
Espresso based drinks
- Espresso
- Espresso Macchiato
- Caffe Latte (hot and iced)
- Americano (hot and iced)
- Kyote Latte (hot and iced)
- Spanish Latte (hot and iced)
- Dark Latte (hot and iced)
Matcha options
- Matcha Latte (hot and iced)
Others
- Chocolate (hot and iced)
- Lemonade Still
- Lemonade Sparkling
- Water Still
- Water Sparkling
The eats
Looking for something savoury? They have almond and matcha croissant options, as well as a baguette sandwich (turkey or smoked salmon). For some sweeter options for those with a sweet tooth, they have different flavoured canelé options too.
The looks
Both % Arabica stores have a very Apple store-like aesthetic. The Union Station location is designed by Tacklebox Architecture, led by renowned architect Jeremy Barbour. His globally-recognized Aesop store designs have set him apart as a creative force.
For this venture, the design derives inspiration from Canada’s geological and glacial formations. The space features a floor-to-ceiling, intricately carved, faceted wall terrain, showcasing stacked layers of gypsum that beautifully mirror the formations found in eastern Canada. This distinctive touch adds a Canadian charm to the Japanese coffee brand’s aesthetic.
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The VIBE breakdown:
Location: Union Station, 65 Front St W Unit 416, Toronto, ON M5J 1E6 (in front of Sephora)
Community: Old Toronto
Crowd/VIBE: Mixed, Business, Student
Delivery: Not available
Reservations: Not available
Have you been? Let us know what you think below, and tag us in your photos, use #TorontoVIBE, or slip them into our DMs @ViewtheVIBE for a chance to be featured online and on our social.
