caffè sola
- 02.26.07
- Dining
- 4 Comments
caffè sola is the cutting edge of the coffee culture in Saskatoon. That’s not an idle musing. It is the most distinct, unique and well executed coffee bar you can find in Saskatoon, period.
The first thing that makes caffè sola unique (other than the accent on the name) is that you can find it in the warehouse district of Saskatoon. It is tucked into half of an old building which used to house a company called Western Supplies Ltd. (its name is still carved in stone above the door).
When you enter, the first thing that strikes you is the industrial loft-like feel of the place. The floors are concrete and the table and chair bases are primarily metal. Trendy lighting, interesting art and a wood burning fireplace in the corner add to the ambiance of the place. A large food area is next to the entrance where the baristas will create your choice of poison.
Now I’m not a true coffee connoisseur. I like my cappuccinos, my lattes and my french presses but if you were to ask me what type of beans or grind I would like in my cup, you would be greated by a blank stare. I like dark roasted coffee but as to how it goes from a bean to my beverage, I’m clueless. Thankfully you don’t really need to know this to get an amazing drink at caffè sola. The head barista is obsessed about coffee. On his personal blog he throws out words and phrases such as “underdosing” and “heightened palate sensitivity”. This is someone who has spent a great deal of their life thinking about coffee and it shows. The cappucino I nursed was wonderful, creamy and ever so slightly sweet. Call me sappy but I also love the heart swirl on the top.
The food is a good match for the coffee and teas. On our recent visit, I had a pear and brie panini which melted in my mouth. The pears were sliced superthin and almost dissolved into the brie. The bread was crunchy and artisan made. Besides the paninis, they also appear to carry soups, salads and sweets which I’m sure are equally as good.
If there is one thing I could fault caffè sola over, it would be its limited hours. Currently they are open 7-6 Monday to Friday and 10-3 on weekends. Make the effort to find time to visit. It is one of the best places to relax and enjoy your coffee, perhaps play a game of chess or read a book and while away your afternoon. The cafe is a labour of love and it shows.
caffè sola
Corner of pacific avenue and 23rd st east306 244-5344
I love Sola. By the way, they also sell some great teas that you can take home for brewing.
Based on this entry – we made our first visit to Sola over the weekend.
The Barista guy was too busy poking the fireplace to make us cappucinos when we placed our order, so we ordered anyway, paid the Starbucks level prices & sat down and waited until he was ready.
The place just felt cold and boring (in fairness, it was a cold and boring March afternoon). The chairs are trendy but uncomfortable. The cappucino was just bland; I was hoping to find a local alternative to the addictive cappucinos I’ve enjoyed in Italy, but honestly, I’ve had better out of an instant mix pouch from the grocery store.
Sorry to dump on the place Todd, as I expect you are treated well there, but I was really unimpressed and would rather go to Starbucks or even the Roastery the next time I go out for coffee.
I’ve heard that sola’s coffee has gone downhill since one of their original staffers left to start his own place at the mendel art gallery. I’ve been to both places and found the coffee at the mendel to be better.
I don’t think the comparison to the roastery is fair… Jeff, I have always found sola’s coffee to be MUCH better than the roastery or starbucks. there was a guy who used to work there who started his own place in the mendel which is where you should go if you’re looking for better coffee.