French Press Maker Espro Immerses Guests at First-Ever Cafe in Toronto

Inside the new Espro coffee bar in Toronto. All images courtesy of Espro.

Canadian French press maker Espro (styled ESPRO by the company) just opened a French press-inspired cafe in Toronto, where freshly ground coffee and shop guests are subjected to full immersion. 

Visually and thematically, the shop is centered on the Espro P7 French Press, which is used to brew coffees atop the bar alongside cold brew and loose-leaf tea offerings. 

Throughout the minimalistic 660-square-foot cafe, brushed steel and stone surfaces are complemented by warm creams, matte charcoals and other muted, timeless tones, conveying a sense of luxury while reflecting the design austerity of Espro’s brewers.

The company collaborated with Toronto-based design director Emil Teleki to bring the shop to life with calming, indirect lighting. 

“The space was designed to echo our signature product, the Espro P7 French Press, through refined, elevated minimalism,” Peng Lin, CEO of Espro parent company DKK Brands, told Daily Coffee News. “Together with low-volume lounge music and ambient conversation, the design invites guests to unplug, slow down and connect.”

Seasoned barista Jacky Wong oversees the bar and curates the beverage program, which includes matcha, cold brew and a signature Espro Tonic. While French press takes the place of pourover and batch drip in the coffee program, the bar is also equipped with a Mazzer Kony S grinder and La Marzocco Modbar group heads for espresso-based drinks. A Mahlkönig EK43 grinds for the presses and other specialty brews. 

Roasted coffees are currently coming from Danish coffee roaster La Cabra and Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Lab, while an Espro house blend comes through a local partnership. 

“We keep things thoughtful and focused,” said Lin, who lives nearby the shop, which sits in the heart of The Beaches neighborhood east of downtown. “Our goal is to highlight the coffee while giving guests enough flexibility to make it their own.”

Founded in Vancouver, B.C., in 2003 by Chris R. McClean and inventor Bruce Constantine, Espro has focused almost entirely on French presses, with a pourover brewer and a cold brew system also briefly brought into and out of production over the years. Wisconsin-based kitchenware seller Regal Ware became a majority shareholder in the Spring of 2018 and then full owner in September 2020 as the original founders exited.

DKK, a Canadian company with Chinese manufacturing connections that also owns the Viva brand of teaware and Liiton brand of whiskey glassware, acquired Espro in 2023.

“We’ve never launched a brick-and-mortar space to showcase any of our brands before, which makes this debut especially exciting,” said Lin. “We plan to open additional Espro coffee bar locations. We’re looking forward to growing the concept thoughtfully and with intention.”

Last month, DKK also launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Espro 2, a “reimagining” of the P7 model press, that raised over $183,000. New and improved features on the Espro 2 include a removable BrewPod, finer micro-mesh filters and redesigned silicone seals. Those presses are slated to begin shipping to backers next month.

“We’re continuing to innovate within the world of full-immersion brewing, creating gear that makes it easier than ever to brew exceptional coffee at home, in cafes, and everywhere in between,” said Lin. “Above all, we’re here to help more people fall in love with the craft and calm of French press coffee.”

The Espro Coffee Bar is located at 2102 Queen St. E. in Toronto.

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