Soy Latte Project
Vegans and Vegetarians (as well as those who are lactose-intolerant) are often charged extra for choosing soy at the coffee shop. The Soy Latte Project is an ongoing effort to compile a list of places in Toronto that won’t gouge you for going dairy-free.
(Please help to contribute to this list! If you know of a coffee shop which does not charge for soy, email me at sarah@torontovegetarian.ca or post it in the comments.)
UPDATE: Blog TO has put together a comprehensive list of 50 places which don’t charge extra for soy. Check it out here. (My special thanks to Lyndsie Bourgon at BlogTO for contributing greatly to this list!)
A NOTE: Store policies are subject to change. Please let me know if a cafe on the list should not be here!
THE ANNEX
Ezra’s Pound
238 Dupont Street
ezraspound.com
Green Beanery
565 Bloor Street West
greenbeanery.ca
Madeleines Cherry Pie and Ice Cream
1087 Bathurst Street
madeleines.ca
BROCKTON VILLAGE
The Common
1071 College Street
(just east of Dufferin)
Grain Curd & Bean
1414 Dundas Street West
Grain Curd & Bean on BlogTO
Naco Gallery Cafe
1665 Dundas Street West
Naco on Facebook
CABBAGETOWN
Jet Fuel
519 Parliament Street
jetfuelcoffee.com
COLLEGE STREET/LITTLE ITALY
Riviera Bakery
576 College Street
Riviera Bakery on BlogTO
CORKTOWN
Balzac’s Coffee
55 Mill Street
Balzac’s Coffee on BlogTO
DANFORTH/GREEKTOWN
The One In The Only
966 Danforth Avenue
The One In The Only on BlogTO
Big Carrot Organic Juice Bar
348 Danforth Avenue
www.bigcarrot.ca
THE JUNCTION
The Beet Organic Cafe & Market
2945 Dundas Street West
(at Medland, in the TD building)
Organic, fair trade, and fresh roasted coffee.
thebeet.ca
Crema Coffee
3079 Dundas Street West
cremacoffee.ca
Gingerbread House Family Cafe
2790 Dundas Street West
gingerbreadcafe.ca
Rebas Cafe & Gallery
3289 Dundas Street West
rebascafe.com
KENSINGTON MARKET
Hot Box Cafe
191A Baldwin Street
Hot Box Cafe on BlogTO
I Deal Coffee
84 Nassau Street
idealcoffees.com
Moonbean Cafe
30 St. Andrew Street
Moonbean Cafe on BlogTO
Pennylicks Gourmet Cafe
281 Augusta Avenue
Pennylicks GourmetCafe on BlogTO
KING WEST
Zoe’s Bakery Cafe
548 King Street West
zoesbakerycafe.ca/
LESLIEVILLE/RIVERDALE
F’Coffee
641 Queen Street East
F’Coffee on BlogTO
Merchants of Green Coffee
2 Matilda Street
merchantsofgreencoffee.com
Pulp Kitchen
1129 Queen Street East
Near: Jones
pulpkitchen.ca
Healthy cuisine and organic items. Veggie Friendly.
Red Rocket Coffee
1402B Queen Street East
Red Rocket Coffee on BlogTO
Riverdale Perk
633 Logan Avenue
Riverdale Perk at BlogTO
Simple Cafe
1303 Queen Street East
Simple Cafe on BlogTO
Tango Palace Coffee Company
1156 Queen Street East
Tango Palace Coffee Company on BlogTO
Te Aro
983 Queen Street East
Te Aro on BlogTO
LIBERTY VILLAGE
Liberty Village Market and Cafe
65 Jefferson Avenue
Liberty Village Market and Cafe on BlogTO
The Roastery
53 Fraser Avenue
The Roastery at BlogTO
MOSS PARK
Cafe 260
260 Richmond Avenue East
Cafe 260 on BlogTO
PALMERSTON
The Palmerston
800 Dundas Street West
The Palmerston on BlogTO
PARKDALE
Poor John’s Café
1610 Queen St. West
(near Sourauren)
Cheap lattes, veggie-friendly menu.
Wheel chair accessible, washrooms in basement
Belly
1574 Queen West
bellycatering.com
Catering company & cafe
QUEEN WEST
Beaver Cafe
1192 Queen Street West
Cafe Bernate
1024 Queen Street West
Cafe Bernate on BlogTO
Cream Tangerine Cafe & Gallery
1087 Queen Street West
creamtangerinecafe.wordpress.com
Drake Cafe
1150 Queen Street West
thedrakehotel.ca
Knit Cafe
1050 Queen Street West
theknitcafetoronto.com
Luna Cafe
181 Dovercourt
T.A.N. Coffee
992 Queen Street West
tancoffeetoronto.com
White Squirrel Coffee Shop
907 Queen St. West
(across from Trinity-Bellwoods Park)
whitesquirrelcoffee.com
RONCESVALLES
Alternative Grounds
333 Roncesvalles Avenue
alternativegrounds.com
Balluchon
221 Sorauren Avenue
Cherry Bomb Coffee
79 Roncesvalles Avenue
(between Marion and Pearson)
cherrybombcoffee.ca
Coffee & All That Jazz
72 Howard Park Avenue
coffeejazz.com
Tinto Coffee House
89 Roncesvalles Avenue
(between Pearson and Marion)
tinto.ca
ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
Hank’s
9.5 Church Street
Hank’s on BlogTO
YORKVILLE
Zaza Espresso Bar
75 Yorkville Avenue
Zaza Espresso Bar on BlogTO
Posted: August 2nd, 2009 under Soy Latte Project, Vegan.
Comments
Comment from Sarah
Time September 24, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Thanks Bruno.
Comment from Laurel Alanna McBrine
Time October 3, 2009 at 7:12 am
Here is a way to get your soy free at Starbucks, if you wish:
Purchase and register one of their cards and you not only get soy free, you also get any syrup (I like vanilla or caramel) and free refills on brewed coffee.
There are more benefits, but I only use the soy/syrup.
I think it is better to support the independent coffee shops that do not charge extra for soymilk. However, when you are travelling or in an area where Starbucks is the only choice and you are craving a latte, this is one way to beat the system, if you choose.
Comment from Moreen Murray
Time October 8, 2009 at 8:41 am
Thanks for this project! It's about time -it's certainly annoying to get charged extra for soy milk…isn't that discrimination?
Hmmm…maybe going to White Squirrel instead of Starbucks or other locations – it's a great little cafe…
Comment from Sarah
Time October 11, 2009 at 2:03 pm
@Laurel: I agree. Thanks for sharing your way around the "Starbucks Surcharge."
@Moreen: Maybe not so much discrimination as much as a cash grab!!! I wish I lived closer to White Squirrel, as they look like a really great cafe. Luckily, there are a few soy-friendly coffee shops in my hood!
Comment from Moreen Murray
Time October 11, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I do have a Starbucks card..maybe I should refill it just in case? :)
Thanks for the tip Laurel!
Comment from Anonymous
Time October 20, 2009 at 9:18 am
I think with all the profits Starbucks and Timothys make, we should not need to purchase a special card from them, go to a website to register in order to not get charged extra for soy or lactose free milk. It is ridiculous. I have been to small neighbourhood cafes that never charge extra and make a better latte! Starbucks especially should stop charging their customers extra.
Comment from Sarah
Time October 25, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Anonymous: I completely agree with you about how we shouldn’t pay extra – after all, if we ask for soy to put in a regular coffee, there isn’t any charge.
I guess the problem is there isn’t always an independent retailer around. I’ve certainly worked my fair share of jobs where the only coffee shop within a reasonable walking distance was a starbucks, second cup, or timmies. Boycotting is good, but sometimes you need that coffee fix. For those times, a work-around might be the best option.
Comment from Colleen
Time February 5, 2010 at 11:07 am
Orange Alert charges for their soy milk – and are stingy with it to boo!
Comment from Sarah
Time February 5, 2010 at 11:36 am
Thanks, Colleen. Duly noted. (And stingy? Ridiculous!)
Comment from sarah
Time February 5, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Big carrot common juice bar on the danforth… soy, rice, almond.. all organic, sam price!
Comment from Bruno der Bär
Time September 24, 2009 at 2:25 pm
The information about Aroma is wrong. I payed today 50 cent for my soy milk choice. But Green Beanery is said to not charge extra.
See here for the map of cafes that don't charge extra
http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2009/09/say_no_to_the_soy_milk_surcharge_50_local_cafes_that_wont_charge_extra_for_those_who_dont_do_cow/
Green Beanery
http://www.blogto.com/cafes/greenbeanery