Sestres- pastry and Coffee Shop

Vegan and Gluten-free Shop

191 Ottawa St.N.

Hamilton, Ont.

L8H 3Z4

www.sestrespastries.com

Sestrespatries@gmail.com

905-545-5040

Hamilton Ontario has a few special areas to shop with strong communities and interesting places to shop, Ottawa Street is one of them.  I have been going to Sestres for quite a long time, since it opened a couple years ago.  I am a huge fan of small business, friendly service and environmentally responsible shops and this one meets the criteria very well.  

When you enter Sestres you are met by a large array of pastries that are separated by gluten-free or vegan, honestly you would never know if you judged by looks and taste alone.  They have all kinds of coffee service too including the choice of soy milk in all the drinks.  When I went for a coffee recently they had begun to serve lunch as well, limited choices but delicious and safe for consumers that want to eat and not worry about their diets.

1) coffee- small- $1.60 med.-$1.89 large-$2.00 8/10

2) roasted- unclear where in Toronto but organic and fair trade 8/10

3) service- excellent, friendly and prompt 8.5/10

4) accessibility- Ottawa and Cannon Street with street parking or local lot 8/10

5) flavour- 7.5/10

6) Eco-friendly- china cups available in cafe, Eco sourced 8/10

7) cup size- 3 sizes to choose from with decent size 9/10

8) food- vegan/gluten-free food and pastries that would appeal to anyone 8/10

9)ambience-small,friendly and family friendly 8/10

10wifi- ????

*overall 8/10 support one of Hamilton's wonderful family owned cafes on a wonderfully eclectic street! 

C.J.'s - Cafe on Bronte

2416 Lakeshore Rd.W.
Oakville, ON
L6L 1H7
905-465-0411
Cj@cjscafeinbronte.com

Check out what's happening at www.cjscafeinbronte.com!

I went shopping downtown Oakville on the Monday of march break with some friends of mine and my daughter for something completely unrelated to coffee, but somehow it became completely successful with a lovely place called C.J.'s on Lakeshore off Bronte. This little place was recommended by a local shop lady and was great. We were greeted by a free wifi sign, vegan/health related book shelf, signs for supporting women in Peru and an aroma that was wonderful. I was impressed by the free parking (not often found in Hamilton unless you know where to look;) as well as plenty of seating for groups of people to meet and chat. C.J. The owner was there to answer any questions and offer an array of 4 coffees to taste, teas to order and a hot chocolate with whipped cream piled high!

1) Coffee- $2 for regular and $2.25 for large ($1.25 and $1.50 for refills) 9/10
2) roasted locally? - London, Ontario (fireroastedcoffee.com) 8/10
3) service- the owner C.J. Was friendly and accommodating 8/10
4)accessibility- Bronte and Lakeshore, free parking (no evening hours but 7 days per week) 8/10
5) flavour- medium roast, lovely taste 7/10
6)Eco-friendly- china cups, organic/fair trade, London Ont. 9/10
7) cup size- 2 sizes, big cups with cheap refills 9/10
8) food- vegan wraps with veganaise, many other tasty treats for everyone (I didn't have any)
9)ambience- friendly, funky, artistic, books, plenty of seating, 2 patios 9/10
10)wifi- yes 10/10

*overall 8.5/10 super place in the heart of Oakville! <3

http://www.cafefemenino.com/

The Naked Sprout

4040 Palladium Way, Unit #11
Burlington, On
905-319-2293
www.thenakedsprout.com

Get naked, go raw

The Naked Sprout is a special place, there aren't many places that you can go eat or drink and feel as good about how you eat and what you've eaten. This is one of the few completely vegan, raw, gluten free restaurants in the Hamilton area. Is pretty cool to go there with someone that is not vegetarian and have them experience great food in an awesome environment and have them not even notice that it's vegan, let alone healthy. I have been many times but spent time thinking about my coffee today (more than usual) and asking the regular questions about the beans and where they came from. My coffee today was roasted in Toronto at the Birds and Beans cafe and were Peruvian. In researching this roaster, I learned about the above average care the beans were grown in to preserve the environment in which they were grown. The people that grew them were properly supported financially, which secures the property from being exploited, and continuing to keep them remaining shade tree, bird friendly crop. Wonderful to feel great about what you're drinking!

1) Coffee- $3 for a bottomless cup (pricey but I got 3 cups of the best coffee included, I left fully caffeinated and happy about the coffees origin:) 9/10
2)roasted locally- Toronto 9/10
3) service- 8/10 excellent
4) accessibility- quite a distance to travel on north Walkers Line, worth the trip 7.5/10
5) flavour- 7.5/10 (great taste, could have bean stronger or made with a different method)
6) Eco-friendly- 10/10 other than growing it themselves you can get any better
7) cup size- bottomless and a big, gorgeous pottery cup 10/10
8) food- vegan, gourmet, delicious, brunch menu 8/10
9) Ambience- hipster vibe, approachable, great bright setting, brought dessert with a birthday candle 8/10
10) wifi- no

* great place for anyone looking for great, tasty coffee with no concern for unhealthy additives!
*overall 7.5/10 great food, good coffee