Best espresso choice in the city. From light and fruity to dark and traditional. I am pretty sure they also have a medium roast. Choices are clearly displayed on the wall with country of origin noted. Very knowledgeable staff know their coffee and their baked goods, which are baked on site. Rare is the cafe that can bake and produce great coffee. By my count, there are only two such places in all of Ottawa. This is one of them.
Was looking for coffee and was surprised at how it looked inside! It's super cozy with what I can describe as a spiced tea aroma in the place. It would've been perfect to bring in a book to read with a good cup of coffee. They had variety of pastries/bakery treats. I just tried this raw cocoa nut ball and it was delicious. A little pricey but great. I appreciated the decorative details (see photo for an example) and the items they sold to help the community. I'd come back and try something beyond the drip coffee, which was also quite good.
Decent cup of coffee in a tiny coffee shop. The attached book store is a nice touch. Nothing spectacular, but all the basics are here including nice staff, good baked items and flavourful drinks.
Forget the below average drinks at the various coffee shop chains in Ottawa, for those who know what real coffee is, this place delivers. Not much nearby but it's a small, cosy little place that makes a great cuppa. No flat whites on the menu but their lattes are pretty good & not as airy as Bridgehead. Small selection of muffins & cookies available which is perfect for an afternoon pick me up.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
The Gem of Old Ottawa East. Love the atmosphere, love the workers, love this place. Despite the small place given, Cafe Qui Pense makes it their own with a nice, sleek and organized setting. Though don't expect much selection in here, the tea selection was a bit sad (seven kinds of tea and a lot of them were the regular black and green teas), the coffee selection is sort of the same thing, though they had rare types of coffee - the one I chose was an Ethiopian macchiato (estimated $4, no size offered, but it was rather small). The food selection was almost none existent when I was there, I didn't even notice the small pantry that was right in front of me at first glance.
There was a couple of customers at the cafe (four tables plus two high chairs next to a table that's near the window) so I was able to sit down and wait for my coffee. The barista did such an excellent job on the drink; not only on how the actually coffee was, but how fresh it was. Watching him make my coffee from scratch looked so difficult, the presentation was perfection, and afterwards he threw a pot of coffee since is had been sitting for a hour and began to make a new one. I've never seen such hard work being put into making a drink! And if customers don't want to see the work being put into their drinks, they can kill time by heading to the next door bookstore through a cute walkway that connects the two. Overall, this place is worth the trip and the rather expensive drinks that's not suited for regulars (Especially for the St.Paul University students that have this place across from their campus), they have their own unique style and proof of their hard work. I look forward to my next visit.
Visited today. A small, cozy spot across from Saint-Paul's. Espresso was fantastic - they offer a choice between two different roasts. They have a limited selection of baked goods, and I chose a croissant not expecting much. The croissant was actually nice and very buttery. I will definitely be returning.
One Of Ottawa's Real Foodies
+4.5
It has been a wow week for me when it comes to checking out new and delicious coffee shops. The Café qui pense opened June 15 at 204 Main Street, by The Green Door Restaurant and across the road from Saint Paul University. Their espresso bean hails from Equator Coffee Roasters in Almonte. The work horse espresso machine is the highly regarded La Marzocco from Italy. Today I had an 8-ounce traditional European cappuccino ($3.45). It required a spoon to dig out the sediment of thick coffee-crema-whole-milk-candy. My honey had the medium 12 ounce latte ($3.98). My stealthy taste test confirmed it was equally delicious. The place is small. There are three dark-wooded tables for 2 lined up on a long banquette bench, artistically painted an aqua similar to the Santorini blue of my cappuccino cup and saucer. There is also two stools at the front window bar. Creamy white beadboard covers most of the walls, creating a cozy warmth in this quiet setting. There is street parking in front of the s
Small and cozy!
I liked the vibe. Not much sitting area but good to grab a coffee. There's a small book store next to it which you can buy books, bags, cards, etc from there.
They also sell local products such as chocolates, coffee and tea.
I had a medium drip coffeefor $ 2.79.
Tasted good.
Highly recommend!
Super cute cafe with amazing drinks and INCREDIBLE baked goods. Their scones are absolutely insane. Super friendly staff and the owner is so hard working and kind. Always a great experience, you need to go here!
We really loved this place, everything was amazing and the service was really nice! Next time we are in Ottawa we’ll be definitely back!!
Great coffee and service! Scones and espresso-based drinks are easily the best in the city.
Definitely worth a visit!
Loving the laid back and hip atmosphere in here! The latte was perfect, the cannelés delicious, and the fresh baked blueberry muffin was superb. The barista was very kind and helpful! I'll be back next time I'm in town.
I really enjoy coming here for great coffee and even better service. The whole staff is really community oriented and ethically conscious. The baristas always put in a lot of care into every drink and have been fantastic during the pandemic to keep serving the community in a safe and friendly manner. Thx for the great experiences!
Huge selection for a relatively small coffee shop. Price are competetive and coffee taste delicious. The lady was very friendly as well.
Good sandwich and very large delicious latte for the price of less than $5 each. It's a pretty cramped place but it's great if you're grabbing a coffee/snack to go.
It would be great if they added some bright colours or lights outside so they stand out a bit more.
Make a reservation
Order online
Find the best restaurant in Ottawa
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes