Café Lino

Founded in 1957 on Saint-Laurent, Café Lino Espresso claims a notable distinction: it was the first business in Canada to sell espresso machines. More than six decades later, the shop at 7050 Saint-Laurent still operates on that founding premise, pairing house-roasted beans with one of the more serious equipment selections in the city. The roasting operation added a traditional drum roaster in 2006, using hot-air burners to process Arabica beans; the results can be tasted in-store or purchased in bulk, whole or ground to order. The machine floor covers the full range, from stovetop moka pots to high-end automatic Jura systems, and the staff are known for matching customers to equipment with some precision. Food critic Daniel Pinard gave the shop an early public endorsement back in 1996, and the reputation has held. For anyone building out a home espresso setup in Montreal, it remains a logical first stop.