Pilot Coffee on Ossington
Pilot Coffee has seen multiple transformations, but this local roaster’s Ossington standalone location might be its sleekest so far.
Like its locations in First Canadian Place, Union Station, and its roastery on Wagstaff, Pilot serves its usual signature espresso blends and single origin coffees.
Technically this cafe is the resurrection of Crafted, the original Ossington cafe iteration by Jesse and Andy Wilkin—the masterminds behind the Pilot brand.
The popular paper airplane-logo’d company has risen from its initial form as the primary roast of Te Aro in Leslieville to a full-fledged chain of cafes, with beans carried at cafes and restaurants across the city.
Along with a small pop-up counter in a Financial District office building, there’s now five locations of Pilot altogether.
Like all the others, this airy space is designed by Williamson Williamson Architects. It looks huge—the tall ceilings have something to do with that—but the space actually only seats about 30.
You can expect to find it full of people working away on their computers at the communal tables and plant-covered booths, but keep in mind that the bar area is a laptop-free zone.
Pour-over stands are just a few of the expected equipment found here. A wall dedicated to their beans is where you’ll find 340-gram bags of stuff like the single-origin Don Julio from Guatemala ($19) or the popular Heritage blend ($18.50).
Cold brew is offered here, both on tap and in cans ($3.95). It’s a Direct Trade specialty coffee brewed at the Wagstaff roastery; shake it up and pour it for a rich, foamy effect—just be careful, one of these is the equivalent to about two and a half shots of caffeine.
If you’re really fiending for that caffeine you can also get it in a four-pack for $17.
A flat white ($3.50) goes nicely with an avocado toast ($5), which comes with a simple smashed avocado with garlic oil, chilli flakes, and some micro greens.
As with all other Pilot locations, a combo of tasty eats and high-quality coffee never disappoints.
Hector Vasquez