Tucked away at 28 South Unionville Ave in Langham Square, A Lot Coffee is the kind of place you could easily walk past without noticing – and that might actually be exactly what makes it special. I discovered this tiny café during a morning visit, and honestly, it’s become one of those spots that makes you feel like you’re in on a secret.
Location, Location, Timing
Langham Square is convenient if you know how to work with it. The underground and outside parking lots are perfectly manageable during morning hours, but become increasingly challenging as the day progresses and peak hours hit. If you’re not a confident driver or prefer avoiding parking stress, the morning visit strategy works perfectly, or just take the bus and walk there.
What makes this location genuinely smart is the ecosystem around it. You’ve got restaurants, T&T Supermarket (大統華超市), condominiums above, and various small independent shops and businesses all in one place. However, since these are independent operations, their hours vary significantly. Only a few operate early, like A Lot Coffee and T&T, which creates this perfect morning routine possibility: grab a drink, do your grocery shopping, then have a meal once you’re done.
The café is surprisingly hidden despite being in a busy plaza, completely overshadowed by the many restaurants and shops around it, including the Hong Kong café right beside it. This invisibility factor actually works in its favour – once you find it and go inside, it’s genuinely peaceful.
The Space: Cozy to the Point of Limitation
Let’s be honest about the size situation: this shop is tiny. We’re talking about one small high table with three high chairs, a long bench on one side with three small black short side tables, and one wooden bench with a grey table. That’s it, in term of seating arrangements.
The limited seating makes it challenging if you’re planning to camp out for extended study or work sessions. You might be able to work here if you’re willing to ask permission and the timing is right, but don’t expect laptop-friendly infrastructure especially during their busy time. It’s similar to many specialty cafés in Markham where the focus is clearly on quality over quantity when it comes to space.
I did noticed that there were some baked goods available, though the selection seemed modest. What caught my attention were the cute decorations on the shelves – small touches that make the cramped space feel more intentional and interesting rather than just cramped.
The Menu: Variety in a Small Package
Here’s where A Lot Coffee surprised me: despite the tiny space, they offer extensive drink options with two size choices (regular or large), giving you legitimate reasons to return and explore different styles of coffee and tea. The variety is genuinely impressive for such a small operation.
I went with a regular-sized Jasmine Tea Latte with less ice ($7.35) and a regular-sized Tiramisu Latte with milk foam ($8.00), making it the grand total: $15.35 for two specialty drinks, which feels reasonable for the quality and uniqueness of the offerings. In addition, the barista offered me that they could put less iced if we wanted to. It was a nice change compared for me asking them.
The Drinks: Tea Meets Coffee Innovation
The Tiramisu Latte was much sweeter. The milk foam added a nice textural element that made each sip feel more substantial.
The Jasmine Tea Latte, however, was the standout for me. It struck this interesting balance between tea and coffee-style drink preparation, creating something that felt familiar yet distinct. The jasmine flavour was subtle but present, not overwhelming like some floral teas can be. With less ice, the flavours had room to develop properly without being diluted.
Both drinks showed genuine craftsmanship rather than just mixing syrups into generic bases.
Service That Actually Helps
The service here deserves special mention. While we were still deciding what to order, the barista took time to recommend drinks and explain differences between options. This wasn’t rushed customer service as we came when its open on a Sunday morning – they genuinely seemed knowledgeable about their menu and wanted to help us make choices we’d actually enjoy.
In an industry where many specialty coffee shops seem to assume customers already know what everything is, this approachable expertise made a real difference in the experience.
The Atmosphere: Intentionally Peaceful
Background music played at exactly the right volume that you could hear it when you are not talking and listening carefully It wasn’t intrusive enough to interfere with conversation or personal reflection. The sound level created that perfect coffee shop ambiance where you can mind your own business and genuinely savour each sip without external pressure.
The early morning timing contributed significantly to this peaceful vibe. Since most other restaurants and shops in the plaza weren’t open yet, there wasn’t the usual foot traffic and bustle you’d expect from a busy shopping center.
Perfect For These Types
A Lot Coffee seems designed for specific personalities and situations:
- Morning People: The early opening hours and peaceful atmosphere reward those who embrace earlier schedules.
- Coffee and Tea Lovers: The menu variety and quality execution appeal to people who genuinely care about what they’re drinking.
- Quiet Seekers: If you’re looking for a calm space without the chaos of larger coffee chains, this hits perfectly.
- Introverted Personalities: The small, peaceful environment and non-pushy service create a comfortable experience for those who prefer low-key social interactions.
The Reality Check
The limited seating means this isn’t a place for large groups or extended work sessions. If you’re planning to meet a friend or two or need reliable WiFi for laptop work during their busy hours, you’ll want backup plans just in case. But if you’re looking for a quality drink in a peaceful environment, especially during morning hours, A Lot Coffee delivers exactly what it promises.
Would I Return?
Absolutely, and specifically during morning hours when the entire experience works best. The drink quality, knowledgeable service, and peaceful atmosphere create something genuinely special when the timing aligns properly.
The Bottom Line
A Lot Coffee succeeds by understanding its limitations and working within them rather than against them. The tiny space becomes cozy rather than cramped, the hidden location becomes peaceful rather than ignored, and the morning timing becomes strategic rather than restrictive.
If you’re a morning person who values drink quality over Instagram aesthetics, and peaceful atmosphere over social buzz, this little hidden spot in Langham Square might become your new regular. Just remember: timing is everything, and sometimes earlier may be better here.
Have you discovered A Lot Coffee or other hidden gems in Langham Square or even in York Region? Drop a comment about your experience – I’m always curious about which specialty drinks are worth trying and what other early-morning spots I might be missing.
Follow me for more behind the scenes and updates on upcoming blog posts or subscribe down below to get more upcoming posts sent to your email:
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest
Jen's One Fine Day 
Leave a comment