Cafe Oranje

289-260-5279

312 King Street East

Hamilton, Ont.

Chris@cafeoranje.ca

Tweet @cafeoranje.ca

www.cafeoranje.ca

**updated**

This cafe has been a long journey for the 2 owners, I have been following Cafe Oranje on twitter and Facebook for quite a while thinking it was open already.  When it was announced on the last week of August it was official! I quickly gathered one of my partners in cafe hopping and planned a trip to King Street!

I was greeted and served by Amy one of the owners of the cafe and she was happy to tell me about the coffee, why they picked it and the roaster (everything is locally sourced).  We found street parking very easily and seating as well.  I ordered a medium roasted coffee, pour over method and it came nice and hot and fully flavoured. Lovely!  

I was really happy with my coffee, free parking across the road before 9 (we didn't get that) and the service.  The day we went the poor airconditioning was working overtime and not keeping up too well. We understood because it was the third day the cafe was open.  We enjoyed the location because the great bookstore next door, we got a book and figuratively chilled (I'm not listening to the OED description of literally).

1)coffee- $2 8/10

2)roasted- locally roasted by Rob House called Hero coffee (special blend to enhance the properties of the beans to be flavoured like the beans that were originally Dutch sourced. 8.5/10

3)service- fast and friendly 9/10

4)assessibility- some street parking but a city lot is directly across the road 8/10

5)flavour- great, full flavour 8.5/10

6)Eco- friendly- china cups in house, unknown if the cafe recycles, cafe Oranje carries soy and almond milk 9/10

7)cup size- attractive, large mugs 9/10

8)food- Neil had a tasty cookie baked by Cake & Loaf on Dundurn, freshly baked 9/10 (vegan food now available)

9)ambience- clean, austere furniture paired with rustic, brick antique building (very cool). 8/10

10)wifi- yes, upon request.  10/10

*Cafe Oranje is one if the biggest social media savy cafes around! Check them out and enjoy the regular tweets and Facebook updates!

* 9/10 overall for wonderful new cafe to enjoy great coffee with a Dutch theme!

Johnny's, Lock Street

129 Locke Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
Www.johnnyscoffee.ca

Oh boy, I have to say I have been really looking forward to doing a proper review of Johnny's Coffee. This coffee shop is another one of the treasures that Hamilton has to offer the coffee/cafe aficionados that want somewhere to chat, meet, enjoy and engage each other and the baristas that work there. Steve (one of the baristas) completely took his role seriously and answered my questions with humour and delight. My daughter Maggie and I love the whole package that Johnny's has to offer, comfy and plenty of seating, freshly roasted coffee, organic teas and delicious vegan and non-vegan treats that were amazing and made "in house". We proceeded to pull out the iPad and engage the free wifi to look up, I expect super important things and take blog pics:)

We both came to the conclusion that Johnny's is one of our favourites, and that includes some pretty fierce competition.

1) coffee - medium $2 and large $2.50 9/10
2) roasted locally - yes, at Detour Coffee in Dundas 9.5/10
3) service - 9/10 (friendly, inviting and offered wifi codes with no prompting :)
4) accessibility - Lock Street is easy to get to and a street around the corner is free 8/10
5) flavour - 9.5/10 (full, rich, not bitter and fresh....amazing)
6) Eco friendly?- 9/10 (china cups, compostable paper cups, almond and soy milks available with vegan bars available)
7) cup size - 9/10 (nice large cups and a card when you buy 9 the 10th is free)
8) food - sandwiches, salads and pastries available but not reviewed
9) ambience - 10/10 (perfect, hipster cool with music, panache and a relaxed atmosphere)
10) wifi - yes and free upon request

Johnny's is the place to go for a fun, delicious trip to fun town!!!

Detour coffee beans - Dundas
Wiifii accessible
Panache, friendly atmosphere