The Perfect Serving with Neo Coffee Bar

Coffee, Cake, and Community: Neo Coffee Bar’s Unique Café Experience

Neo Coffee Bar, a beloved café in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market neighborhood, first opened its doors in August 2015. With a focus on creating a welcoming community space, the café’s minimalist design features concrete walls, warm wood accents, and an open layout that offers a serene and inviting atmosphere. Guests can enjoy views of the coffee and food bar, as well as the glass-walled kitchen, enhancing the café’s transparent and inclusive vibe.

A Seasonal Menu With Japanese Influences

Neo Coffee Bar’s café and bakery offer a rotating seasonal menu crafted from scratch using locally sourced ingredients. Their culinary philosophy revolves around three core values: simplicity, sustainability, and authenticity. Influences from Japanese cuisine can be seen in their menu, which pairs beautifully with their beverage offerings, including espresso, drip coffee, Neo Coffee Bar specials, Uji Cha, Sloane Tea, and Uji Matcha.

Expanding With a New Location

In November 2019, Neo Coffee Bar expanded with a second location at Bay and College. The café introduced a soft-serve machine, originally intended for the new location but temporarily housed at the original café due to construction delays. During this period, Neo Coffee Bar tested various soft-serve flavors, receiving enthusiastic feedback that inspired plans for monthly seasonal flavors during warmer months.

Q&A With Neo Coffee Bar

How has the Taylor ET161 machine helped diversify your menu?

The Taylor ET161 soft-serve machine has added a seasonal dessert option that complements the café’s pastry offerings, encouraging creativity in menu planning. The soft-serve treats have become a popular addition, enhancing the café’s dessert menu during warmer months.

How do you choose your soft-serve flavors? What inspires you?

Flavor inspiration comes from Japanese fusion elements such as cream cheese, matcha, and black sesame, which align with the café’s culinary theme. The team selects complementary flavors that pair well with both pastries and coffee, ensuring a cohesive and delicious menu experience.

How long does it take to perfect a soft-serve recipe?

The process typically takes about two months, from initial planning to final product development. Flavor testing is done in-house and usually requires one month to refine each recipe, ensuring that customers enjoy the highest-quality soft-serve.

Soft Serve and Drink Pairings

Neo Coffee Bar sources its matcha and Uji Cha directly from Kyoto, Japan, ensuring authentic flavors that elevate every serving.

Experience Neo Coffee Bar’s Unique Offerings With TFI’s Foodservice Equipment

With its seasonal menu, creative desserts, and cozy atmosphere, Neo Coffee Bar has become a must-visit café in Toronto. Whether you're enjoying a specialty coffee, indulging in soft serve, or sampling Japanese-inspired pastries, Neo Coffee Bar offers an unforgettable experience that celebrates coffee, cake, and community. Their success is supported by high-quality equipment like the Taylor ET161 soft-serve machine, available through TFI's range of commercial foodservice equipment.

If you're looking to enhance your café or foodservice business with reliable, innovative equipment, explore TFI Food Equipment Solutions range of coffee makers and frozen dessert machines designed to elevate your menu and customer experience.