Their concept is simple: Breathe, Eat, Drink. I got a little taste of it in Little Italy just last week. Nestled in the CHIN Radio Building, Presse Café has a great open space with plenty of seating. This is the first location in downtown Toronto, the second location is uptown on St. Clair Avenue West.
Presse Café is an international brand that began in Montreal, where they now have 20 locations, and hundreds more all over the globe from Cyprus to France to Australia. Their coffee has been savored since 2003 in the “café-ambiant” market. In the words of President and Founder Marcel Hachem, “We are proud of our brand. We insist on sharing this pride and our passion – these are elements that go beyond cultural differences.” I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hachem and I got some inside scoop on their food, stores, locations and more. As I sampled a lovely arrangement of sandwiches, or Presswiches as they call them, healthy salads, fruit juices and smoothies, muffins and pastries, I couldn’t help but ask about the consistency in the food all over the world. Besides the evident fact that ingredients are different everywhere and will differentiate the taste and even style, about 75% of the menu is consistent throughout the locations and the rest leaves room for the diversities in crops and cultures worldwide.
Presse Café is a real oasis for people on the rush. It’s a great place to stop in and re-energize at any time of the day – great for morning coffee, snacks, lunch and evening treats. Although their style is fresh and modern, each Presse Café is designed carefully to its unique surroundings. I like our Toronto style on College… will become a neighborhood favourite.
