Applied Arts Coffee is a new coffee shop in the Bywater, serving up great coffee with unique toasts and pastries all made in-house. With their grand opening on Sept. 8, I was excited to check the place out. I was drawn in by their outdoor seating with umbrellas, along with easily accessible outlets. The seating was cute and comfy as well, making it a great place to camp out and get some work done.  

Beet cured gravlax, $15.50

The pastries — a pan of gooey cinnamon rolls, cherry chocolate scones, pickled pepper cheddar chive bacon scones — all looked delicious and interesting. At the recommendation of the barista, I went with the beet cured gravlax. This toast has beet tartare, dill aioli, soya crunch and sprouts on pumpernickel. I was so impressed with all the flavors and textures of this dish. A lot of toasts are dry for me, but this one was generous on sauce and salmon. 

Coffee-flavored chocolate chip cookie, $3 

I love coffee and I love chocolate chip cookies, so I couldn’t resist the combination. The cookie delivered on flavor and texture, with some melted chunks of chocolate, despite the fact that they did not warm up the cookie. The coffee and chocolate flavors were well-balanced. This cookie should satisfy anyone interested in a smaller cookie with crispy edges and soft center.  

Latte with oat milk, $6 

This café latte is a winner. The coffee was a perfect balance between the bitter and acidic taste of a perfect espresso shot, and it came in the huge comforting mug. You could taste the quality and care that went into making this espresso — roasting in-house always makes a difference. The best part was that oat milk isn’t an extra dollar, unlike many other places. The downside here is that this is a $6 latte without any flavor. However, you do have the option to add simple syrup for free.  

Applied Arts Coffee is doing food, coffee and pastries right. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you can even take a bag of beans home. With extensive indoor and outdoor seating, it is the perfect spot to get some work done, catch up with friends or just enjoy some tasty pastries and a refreshing cup of joe.