Archi Element

Had the creamiest matcha latte at Archi element - the creaminess and lightness of the soymilk cream top was balanced perfectly by the roasted kinako powder. The matcha latte was the foundation of it all but the flavor wasn’t overpowering. Definitely recommend. Also tried the white tea with gooseberry option - the white tea flavor shines through and it’s a very refreshing tea-based drink that’s perfect for a warm afternoon. They currently only offer tea-based drinks and pour over, but they will soon be introducing espresso-based drinks. Can’t wait to come back and try their coffee based drinks.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that this is not primarily a coffee shop, it’s a beautifully curated ceramics shop that also serves thoughtfully crafted drinks. It’s the kind of place where you can discover exceptional ceramic pieces to add to your collection or give as meaningful gifts, while also chatting with the owners and learning about tea culture and the art of ceramics. It’s not a place for you to bring you laptop and work at. Every drink on the menu has been meticulously developed, with each recipe refined over countless hours to achieve just the right balance of flavour. You can really feel the care and craftsmanship behind everything they serve — and if you take the time to talk to the owners, they’re more than happy to share their process. I highly recommend visiting to try their drinks, but the true highlight is their tea tasting experience. It’s an intimate introduction to Chinese tea ceremony and culture, paired with a rotation of seasonal teas that make each visit unique. I don’t live in the west end, but I constantly make the trek over to try their new drinks, and to check out what’s new in their collection.

This is one of those rare finds that you can't wait to tell people about. The aesthetic is a masterful blend of rustic charm and artistic elegance, with shelves displaying an incredible collection of unique, handcrafted ceramics that are available for purchase. The beverage menu is where they truly shine. Forget your standard iced tea; these are expertly crafted infusions with layers of flavor. We had drinks with beautiful floral notes and fragrant garnishes—one even had a delightful blend of tea and coffee. The quality and creativity are outstanding. The atmosphere is made even more special by the kind and knowledgeable staff and, naturally, by the magnificent resident cat, who lounges with a majestic air of contentment. While the seating is limited, the intimate setting makes the experience feel all the more personal and peaceful. It's a true neighborhood treasure and well worth seeking out. Go check it out and get yourself a beautiful stunning pottery piece while you're at it!

A truly wonderful spot in Toronto! The pottery here is stunning each piece shows the care and artistry of the maker, making it not only beautiful to look at but also worth collecting. The matcha drinks are just as impressive: smooth, lightly sweet, and full of flavor. Everything together creates such a unique and memorable experience. Highly recommend!

A beautiful ceramics and tea specialized shop. Wonderful tea ceremony experience, owner explained everything in depth about the tea, the ceramics and objects used during the procedure. They buy the tea leaves directly from the farms! Also their selection of ceramics are lovely, carefully selected featuring wood fired pieces.

This space is so beautifully and carefully crafted, you can feel the magic as soon as you step in. Not only is the atmosphere beyond words, but the quality of the drink offerings are just as amazing. The owners and staff are super lovely and talented as well. I'll be back many times over and will enjoy watching them grow, adding yet another reason to come to this neighbourhood. Overall, gorgeous and special!

Quaint cafe/art shop that is nice to relax in. There are very few seats, about 4. Very thick and nice houjicha drink, but I found the price to be too high. Considering the price point, as much as ingredients may have not been slept on, I found the taste to be somewhat ‘expected’ and didn’t wow me. I would’ve expected a more unique flavor that surprised me.

This is not your typical cafe, but rather a space to appreciate art in all forms. This isn't for dining in. The shop is more of a showroom format and offers a great selection of artisanal teaware and accessories, drawing from modern Chinese and Japanese aesthetics. Worth a trip if you are a collector and want to invest in a piece that is both functional and beautiful. In addition, the owners really took their time to curate a creative seasonal drink menu that capitalizes on their extensive knowledge in tea. Apparently they went viral on social media so there's typically a queue, but with patience you will be rewarded with some of the best blended drinks in Toronto. (And the store cat is the cutest fluff ball ever)

Archi Element is a really unique and cozy tea shop that has so much character. They have a small but powerful menu of house special tea drinks. They also offer a traditional tea tasting experience where you can learn about quality Chinese tea enjoyed with paired snacks. DRINKS (4/5) We ordered a Lychee Bloom and Green Beard to sample both a lighter and heavier bodied beverage. The Lychee Bloom is high quality jasmine tea topped with a peeled lychee, some lychee juice, and garnished with a floral buds. Super refreshing and perfect for the summer! I'm a huge fan of jasmine tea but sadly the lychee top notes felt stronger than the floral jasmine and the aftertaste is left with a bit of astringency that comes with tea. I would order this again, but do note that the lychee, fruity notes are quite strong. The Green Beard is essentially a matcha latte served with soy milk and topped with a soy cream top and dusted with soy powder/injeolmi. When mixed together, it is absolutely velvety and decadent. The soy milk is the Asian/Chinese variety which is typically creamier and thicker bodied and pairs well with the matcha without overpowering it. I could do without the injeolmi topping but I understand others might enjoy it. AMBIENCE (3.5/5) The interior has a unique rustic Asian inspired decor with a plethora of handcrafted bowls, cups, and pottery from local artists that are all available for sale. The backroom has traditional floor seating but is reserved for patrons that pay for the traditional tea tasting experience. I've also heard they have a store cat but unfortunately didn't see it when we visited. IMO I wish there was less pottery on display to include more seating because right now there is two bar seats with two other random chairs that can be placed at the bar for use also - so very limited seating. SERVICE (4.5/5) The staff were helpful with explaining the tea tasting experience and describing the menu. The barista was very delicate and calculated with handcrafting the beverages which made it seem quite masterful. LOCATION (3/5) Located by College and Dufferin, it isn't the most central or accessible area. Taking streetcar or bikeshare is definitely the recommended method! OVERALL (4/5) Overall, the drinks are well and delicately crafted showcasing the fresh ingredients well. I'm a bit disappointed I wasn't WOWed by any particular drink, but I'm eager to come back and try their other house specials and the tea tasting experience.

Archi Element located along College near Dufferin is a beautifully designed space for curated ceramics, fine teas, and craft experiences. There is nothing like this space in the city and my first visit certainly won't be my last one. The store also adopts the wabi-sabi philosophy, where beauty is found in the imperfections - simplicity, asymmetry and the unique character of objects that show age and wear are embraced. Walking through the doors of Archi Element, you are met with displays of beautiful handcrafted ceramics, from intense holders to cups. The interior has elements of the outside throughout (like cement and wood). In the middle of the store there is a tea counter and at the back there is a small room for tea ceremonies. There are only a few seats to enjoy your beverages if you decide to order one. Walking through the store it was beautiful to see handcrafted ceramics, each so delicate and fragile. Definitely a great chance to treat your self or gift it to someone else. I also opted to grab a drink. Staff were friendly and explained the offered drinks to me. Each drink is carefully created to bring out the best flavours of the teas, keeping in mind what ingredients are in season. As a recommendation by the staff/owner, I ordered a Lychee Blossom (lychee meets jasmine green tea, soft floral notes in full blossom) - $8.99. My drink was made at a reasonable time and I enjoyed it at the counter. The lychee blossom was delicious - the flavours of the jasmine green tea complemented the natural sweetness of the lychee perfectly. It was a perfect refreshing drink that wasn't too sweet for a hot summer day. Overall, such a unique new store for ceramics and teas! A definite must visit if you are around the College and Dufferin area.

Very cool concept speciality tea place, there's limited seating but I enjoyed looking at their ceramics and the drinks were refreshing and very unique, just a little expensive for the size