% Arabica Toronto Union Station — Restaurant in Toronto

I was anxiously waiting for them to open since more than a year. I first had Arabica in Dubai and I loved it. Best coffee I ever had.

The one in Dubai always had the perfect warmth, warm enough to feel hot yet not so much that it would affect the taste profile and you could drink it the moment you got it. The one in Dubai was the smoothest coffee I had ever had. I got it multiple times during my stay there and it always lived up to its high expectations that I had set from it.

I had the same expectations here. If I’m paying such a premium, I expect it to live to the expectations I set from my previous experience of the brand, sadly this wasn’t the case.

The first time I had it in Toronto was on day one. I was 6th in line, waited in line before they opened on launch day. I got the special cup, which was a nice feature and they also gave me a croissant which I’ll say is the best I’ve tasted. The coffee was a let down.

My first cup was a hot latte. I wanted to go back to basics to set a benchmark to compare it with. The coffee was very hot. First sip burnt my taste buds. Could not taste the flavour profile, just tasted burnt coffee. The cup did look great though. I waited for it to cool down but then the flavours had also subsided and it tasted like a cold not fresh latte. I gave them the benefit of the doubt. It was day 1, they were packed. No worries. This is why I didn’t leave a review in my first visit.

My second visit was this morning. I tried the Spanish latte. The temperature was good, not perfect, but good. Warm enough to be able to drink and experience the flavour. The problem this time was with the flavour. It was too subtle. Not as smooth as how I remember it from Dubai and it tasted weak like coffee for someone who likes it less strong. I really didn’t like it. I’d get the same experience from a $2 espresso made from a regular store. Not worth it at all.

I’ll give them a third chance, not anytime soon but eventually. I know I had set the bar high for them but arabica in Dubai really was that good. I had it three times, from different outlets and it always lived to its hype.

Sorry Arabica but I don’t think your Union Station store is anything special. I wish it was, but this isn’t the case. I’d recommend making your own espresso the way you like or just go to any other cafe downtown and save up on the premium you’d pay at Arabica if this is the quality of coffee they’re able to serve.

Update: gave them 5+ chances since they opened at Union and not once was the coffee good. I think they have the tools but not the expertise. I mostly try the same blend of coffee and it always tastes different. Mostly too hot. Sometimes less strong, other times more. Never perfectly smooth with an optimal temperature.

During this time I did try Arabica in London and coffee there was exactly as I recall it being in Dubai, where I really enjoyed it.

Sorry Arabica Union but downgrading the review to 1 star as I think I've given enough chances but it wasn't meant to be. Good luck, I'm sure many enjoy your presence at Union but it's not for me.

Not worth the price considering the inconsistency in their primary product, however, having said this, their croissants (only tried them at the union store) are the best I've...

As a coffee enthusiast with a discerning palate, I enjoy sampling diverse coffees during my travels. I also appreciate sharing gastronomic and travel reviews grounded in personal experiences and thorough research. % Arabica, alternately referred to as % ΔRΔBICΔ, is an international Japanese specialty coffee chain brand with its headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. The company's international flagship and headquarters are also situated in Kyoto. The chain's inaugural store opened in Hong Kong in 2013. As of October 2023, the chain has expanded to 163 stores worldwide.

% Arabica’s stores focus on having a clean, minimalist style fitting the Japanese design principles of simple beauty while having local design elements inspired by the countries in which they are based. I have experienced the world through % Coffee : % Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama % Arabica Kyoto Higashiyama % Arabica Hong Kong % Arabica Toronto: Union station, Yorkdale % Arabica Vancouver

The coffee flavors consistently exhibit tasteful and wonderful notes, reflecting exemplary quality control.

As stated by Kenneth Shoji, founder of % Arabica, the company's core philosophy revolves around expanding % Arabica's reach globally, encompassing varied cultures and landscapes, and allowing customers to experience the world through coffee, with the first flagship store debuting in Kyoto, Japan, in September 2014.

The flavor of % coffee is characterized by its richness and smoothness, with no discernible aftertaste. I have had the pleasure of trying several flavored lattes, namely Kyoto, Spanish, and dark latte, and have been consistently impressed by the exceptional quality of the coffee's flavor and texture. Each of these brews has been perfected, resulting in rich and smooth flavors. I am extremely fond of all of them. Interestingly, we have not yet had the opportunity to try the pastries, which seem to be priced somewhat higher than expected.

The Union Station location boasts exceptional convenience, particularly for those commuting from the station. It provides an ideal setting for a rapid caffeine boost or a relaxed coffee break. The store's design theme is marked by a modern, chic, and bright aesthetic. While the prices are relatively high, the outstanding quality of the coffee and the location's prominence make it a worthwhile occasional treat. As a result of its convenient location, Arabica Coffee is well worth visiting. Reviews on Kyoto and Yorkdale locations were...

TLDR; Service at this location is horrendous. I understand they must deal with insane rushes, but as someone that works in service, as well, Arabica needs to do some serious customer service training with their staff.

The store was surprisingly pretty empty when I got there and ordered, there was only one other group of 3 that ordered ahead of me in the store at the time. I ordered a spanish latte, and the girl at the cash (Chika) asked if it was with regular milk. I was on a call at the time and was in the middle of a response. There was a total of about 1-2 seconds that elapsed from when she asked the question and when I was able to respond to Chika’s question, but she had, without a word, already presented me with the tip & checkout screen and walked away. When she finally returned, I said “Sorry with oat milk please”, and she visibly rolled her eyes and adjusted the order, and again presented me to the checkout screen without a word, which felt incredibly hostile. I still tipped 10%, which then came out to a hefty $9 for one latte. She silently handed me the receipt and left. When I looked at the receipt immediately after this interaction (and before they had started making my drink - the 3 people ahead of me were still waiting for theirs), I saw that it had said “matcha latte”, so I went back to the cash area and said, “Sorry, I ordered a spanish latte but this says matcha?”, and she replied “You ordered a matcha latte.”, to which I replied, “No… I ordered a spanish latte…” (I felt like I was being gaslit by a man in that moment 😭). She again rolled her eyes and walked away without a word, and said something to her coworker in a different language (possibly Japanese ?). She never addressed me or looked in my direction again, so I was very confused and feeling frustrated by this entire experience. They called my order number and the girl at the end of the counter (who was the one Chika had said something to in a different language I couldn’t understand), gave me the unfriendliest look when handing me my order and also said nothing other than “iced spanish latte”.

I understand it could’ve been frustrating dealing with people all day, and then misunderstanding my order, but the way the staff handled this insanely common and simple situation left an incredibly bad taste in my mouth, especially considering that I had paid a premium price for this incredibly...