Strange Love Coffee

Editor's Review

In early 2018 the group behind Strange Love Coffee saw the Abstract Arts Tattoo and Piercing shop on Queen St W and saw the potential for a strategic partnership. In a setting that has taken on many forms including combinations of tattoo parlour, piercing shop and clothing store, now they have seamlessly managed to fit in a coffee shop. The back of the space is split into two levels, with the top floor home to the tattoo shop and the downstairs currently a retail-clothing store. On the main level, Strange Love shares the area with the piercing portion of Abstract Arts. Incredibly, even with all of this crammed into the same space, they were still able to fit tables, chairs. and bar seating.

One might think with so much other activity surrounding the café, the coffee not be a priority. But the baristas and the name above the door make sure this is not the case. A La Marzocco Linea PB sits atop the bar next to two Nuova Simonelli Mythos grinders to pull their rotating selection of espresso. Behind them a Mahlkönig EK43 grinds their filter coffee to be prepared on a Fetco brewer. Although the entire space is filled with equipment for the various businesses, maybe the most notable is the soft serve ice cream machine sitting on the back countertop. In the summer time you can treat yourself to an affogato while you sit and admire the pleasantly chaotic environs. 

Reviewed by Peter de Vooght.

Cafe Features

Loose Leaf Tea

Table Seating

Wifi

Toilets

Buy Beans

Coffee + Drinks

Cold Brew

Filter Coffee

Decaf

Non Dairy