Le Petit Bas Perdu Café

5/14/2016

I was certain that I have written this review exactly a year ago when I was visiting a friend in Montreal. I've just realized that I had failed to upload it. I feel sort of guilty because I am so indebted to the owner not just for the fantastic coffee  drinks he made for us, but also for the wealth of information he so enthusiastically shared with us. I mean the man knows the art and science of coffee.
The focus is on coffee, so if you want something else with it you better come early - the pastries go pretty fast (these were very good as well)
Thank you Jesse. Sorry to be so late with my review.

3/19/2016

• 1 check-in

We went there to have a cup of coffee after brunch.
I don't quite understand all the good reviews on Yelp because the barista guy wasn't friendly at all, he was rather intimidating. Also, there were no pasties available the day we were there. On top of those, the tables were really weird, like, lots of coffee beans on top of the table.
I didn't quite like this cafe due to its atmosphere, I guess their cappuccino wasn't too bad.

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  Cappuccino

  Cappuccino

3/7/2016

I usually don't rate that bad, but I didn't get a good experience here.

First time there to meetup with a friend. Although, that one time, they don't serve anything else than coffee. It was Monday 5pm and I sure don't want coffee at that time.

Staff could be much friendlier.

I have to say I was expecting more from this place.

12/16/2015

• 3 check-ins

How can a place receive 5 super stars??? I ought to find out! I'm so happy to find this place and all thanks to Yelp!! I even spoke aloud in class, "YES!!! I'm coming here!" obviously turning my classmate's attention to my computer and we both became excited, and we both got in trouble.

It is easily passable, the entrance is unnoticeable. I wasn't sure if I'd open a door to a storage room or coffee shop!

Jesse is a genius of coffee and he wants to make YOUR perfect cup, which is really how it should be!! You tell him what you want, he'll know what to do. He likes to try new things, he offers different beans, and if you want to chat coffee he'll be there. Great bar-like atmosphere but for coffee!!

Amazing hours!!!!

Nobody knows much about this place, so during the busy December month when all students are studying OUTSIDE (including me!!), this place stayed quiet. There are outlets everywhere and I actually studied here too, for hours.

He doesn't make food often. But if he does, it is fantastic. I love it here!!!!

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  sometimes, there is food

  sometimes, there is food

10/4/2015

• 30 check-ins

What is it about this place that's so addictive? Is it because the exquisite brew, is it because of the cozy and friendly atmosphere, is it because of eclectic mix of music or interesting patrons?

There may be hundreds of reasons but I can guarantee you that L'Artiste Affamé will always leave you with a unique and personal experience.

Whether you are a Barista, a coffee shop owner, a true aficionado or simply someone who just enjoys coffee, everyone has their own style and type of brew that they prefer - Espresso, Macchiato, Americano, Gibraltar, French Press, Cappucino, Flat White or my favorite, the Latte!

Detail oriented, Owner Barista, Jesse Lewin will embrace your choice, masterfully craft it with care and serve you a fantastic cup every single time. In fact if you come often, you will be able to discover the different nuances from different roasts that have been carefully curated based on source and quality of roast batches. Although the choice is not deep, to accompany this, you can sink your teeth into surprise sweet delights that vary by season or tasty grilled cheese sandwiches.

As I savor my cup, things fall into place, different flavors of cereals, chocolate, fruits tingle the palate and different comforting smells of flowers, caramel, and roasted nuts touch deep warm memories of when we were young - including an occasional whisk of freshly dried laundry - yep there's a laundromat in the back!

It's never boring at L'Artiste Affamé. You can travel to Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Kenya and even Rwanda while lounging from the comfort of the sectional sofa, sitting at the glazed coffee bean tables or dangling your feet from the coffee bar stools - listening or taking part of discussions and stories about the different roast houses and beans.

We live in the electronic age of data over-abundance, where our sense of identity sometimes gets lost. Here you can let your the "inner artist" emerge, let your mind wander without rules or constraints, learn something about fellow guests' passions and most importantly learn something about yourself and dare to be different. Perhaps this is why I keep on coming back.

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  Latte delight!

  Latte delight!
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  Filled to the rim!

  Filled to the rim!
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  Love!

  Love!
• See all photos from Charles N. for Le Petit Bas Perdu Café

7/14/2015

• ROTD 10/28/2015

• Listed in CAA - MTL edition

Love love love this place. Fantastic coffee prepared by a friendly, unpretentious barista who knows more than a thing or two about coffee. The space is relaxed and inviting and, charmingly, shares the space with a laundromat.

I went in the early afternoon on a weekday and sadly the pastries were already sold out... but Mamie Clafoutis is right next door and you're welcome to pop over to pick something up =)

• 
• 

  Latte.

  Latte.

6/16/2015

• 2 check-ins
• ROTD 8/16/2015

• Listed in Craving Caffeine

L'Artiste Affame is tucked away in a basement and if you're not careful you will walk right by it.  That would be quite unfortunate because this cafe is awesome.  They have a unique selection of beans and it certainly makes me want to try there filtered coffee on a future visit.  I went for a latte instead which was pretty competitive with some of the other great coffee shops in Montreal.  They also have a small variety of baked goods from Boulangerie Guillaume which are pretty tasty.  My almond croissant was pretty sweet, flaky and all around a solid choice.

The vibe here is great and if you need a place to get work done then this is it.  It wasn't super crowded so there was some background noise but not too much that it was distracting.  They also have a fast wi-fi connection which is a huge plus.  As a side bonus there is a laundromat here so if you live nearby you should come here for some coffee while you do your laundry.  It is an interesting concept and I loved it.

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  Latte and almond croissant

  Latte and almond croissant

9/3/2015

• 3 check-ins

• Listed in 5 Star Reviews, Montreal, Je T'Aime

I can say that without a doubt, L'artiste Affame is the best combination cafe/laundromat I've ever been to.

But seriously, good coffee and espresso (I liked their flat white a lot), and a great place to chill. There's always people on laptops, and there's free WiFi.

In the back, you can do your laundry. There's even a sock vending machine.

Jesse is a super cool guy, and if you need advice on the cool spots to hit up, he'll set you straight.

Super cool wall decor as well.

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  Coffee bean table top

  Coffee bean table top
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  Menu

  Menu
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• See all photos from Kenny C. for Le Petit Bas Perdu Café

11/6/2015

• Listed in 2015!

Artiste affamee is a neat place. Somehow it was everything and nothing like I was expecting. Blame all the hype on yelp and the fact I have faint memories of the space when it was used as an art gallery. Most importantly the coffee is good, and the space comfy, spacious but still cosy. It feels a lot like hanging out in an artist's lair, that happens to have an espresso bar and laundry mat within it. Which I guess is sort of the point, right? Hanging out with the starving artist?

I like that the hours are extensive unlike many cafes in the area. I could see myself dropping in for an early weekend or evening weekday reading session, it has the right vibe for it with mellow music. It wasn't crowded at all on a weekend morning, which is great for early birds like myself.  As it was it was the perfect relaxing atmosphere for an hour away from my infant, sipping a coffee and reading a book uninterrupted. When I was visiting there was a father and his grade school aged son visiting, and the kid seemed to love checking out all the art on the walls, and exploring the books and crannies. No one seemed phased by him, so note to self although it may not immediately scream kid friendly its a good option when my own son is a little older.

1/16/2016

• Listed in Espresso bars

Love this espresso bar. It's roomy, WiFi is good, oh, and the coffee is BOOM.
Jesse sources very carefully and you'll find only top notch roasts being served here.

Singular complaint, he uses very average milk where as many espresso bars opt for 'Le run de lait', a small scale dairy crew that produces high quality milk (pasteurized of course, but better than any commercial dairy offering). societe-orignal.com/prod…

Other than that, I always enjoy stopping in and have begun buying my beans here as well to get a taste of Transcend Roasters out of Edmonton. He also serves Bows n Arrows on a regular basis.

9/5/2014

Just opened, really solid cafe with a great offering of coffees you can't find anywhere else in the city. Really friendly owner who actually takes the time to talk with you.

Great place to get your coffee fix and break out of the robotic and unappreciative coffee shops around the city

11/21/2015

Good coffee. Great place to relax and read a book. If I lived in Montreal, this could easily be my go-to cafe.

2/16/2016

thought this place was called le petit bas perdu, Yelp corrected me.  they deserved 5 stars  then and with the correction yelp made I'm reposting.  great coffee.

drink coffee here.

5/4/2015

• 22 check-ins

• Listed in indie coffee passport 2015 montreal, But first, coffee!

*an ode to the best as the starving artist has moved on. change of ownership effective April 1st 2016 therefore we don't know if what was l'artiste is still as such*

coffee, a simple drink made with hot water and the pit of a fruit yet unknown to most is full of aromas depending on many variables such as soil, weather, altitude, water, roast and so.

here, it wasn't simply just a cup of coffee. no, it was a lesson, an idea, a discovery, a crazy ride, it was life. what you may think as coffee is much much more. like wine, beer, liquors, chocolate and many other things in life, this tiny coffee bean weighing nothing more than 1/10th of a gram or so would give you sensory discoveries in unimaginable ways. gone is the way you'd drink coffee. gone is the way you'd think about coffee. gone is the way you'd enjoy coffee. as you delve more and more, that craving would grow so you embark on a quest for better, much better coffee until you quench that craving.

l'artiste was an eye opener. l'artiste was that crazy ride you wish never stopped. l'artiste wasn't pretty. l'artiste wasn't IG worthy. l'artiste was looked down by most. but l'artiste was all about vibe. l'artiste was all about friends gathering together and enjoying life for a bit. l'artiste was about coffee too. we drank some crazy wild coffee at l'artiste. we brought our own personal crazy coffee stash to share with others too. we experiment. we shared so many stories; good, bad, funny, weird. some may have gotten stoned too. we met crazy awesome people. made friends with some, shared a drink with others. we may not have known most by names but we definitely knew each other by faces. we bonded over a simple cup of coffee.

we lost a great one. l'artiste was way ahead of his time. while Montreal simply drinks coffee, l'artiste came trying to change people's view of it. l'artiste tried to create a movement. while l'artiste may have walked away to greener pasture/other venture, i believe l'artiste put the first stone of that change towards people demanding quality.

l'artiste was more than just baristas. l'artiste was more than just a coffee shop. l'artiste was more than just a coffee connoisseur haven. l'artiste, as he coined it, is a coffee sommelier. he is not the only one out there but he is one of a kind.

you'll be greatly missed!

with love

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  Sunday brunch, sweet potatoes and white corn hashbrowns, toasts, poached eggs, gremolata and sausages. hot sauce not included

  Sunday brunch, sweet potatoes and white corn hashbrowns, toasts, poached eggs, gremolata and sausages. hot sauce not included
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  bosques de San Francisco from The Barn coffee Roasters Berlin

  bosques de San Francisco from The Barn coffee Roasters Berlin
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  fig tart from copain d'abord, available on weekend only. and a gibraltar for indie coffee passport

  fig tart from copain d'abord, available on weekend only. and a gibraltar for indie coffee passport
• See all photos from Sumtimw0ng .. for Le Petit Bas Perdu Café

2/2/2016

The best coffee in Montreal with an amazingly comfortable and friendly atmosphere and superb customer service. Jesse is passionate about coffee and it shows. Sit back, enjoy the music, listen in on interesting conversations, and enjoy an amazing cup of coffee.

1/25/2016

Jesse knows his product so the coffee is amazing. And if you sit at the bar, there's basically always interesting conversation to be had. What's not to like?

9/5/2014

I just moved to Montréal from San Francisco where it's easier to find an amazing cup of coffee than it is to find a dépanneur. To say I was spoiled with coffee in that city would be an understatement.

I didn't think anywhere in Montréal would compare. I tried Pikolo, Myriade, Humble Lion, Kitsuné, etc. They're all beautiful shops, but lack the authenticity and care of crafting the perfect cup. Then I found L'Artiste Affamé.

Jesse the owner has built a beautiful, relaxed space and cares more about coffee and his clientele than any other cafe I've stepped foot in. We were on a first name basis after the second visit, and he even went out of his way to bring some new equipment in after a simple suggestion of doing so.

The coffee is on rotation so there's always something new. On deck right now there's Transcend out of Edmonton, Timbertrain out of Vancouver and Path out of NY.

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  Best pourover in town!

  Best pourover in town!

8/27/2014

• Listed in MTL Cafe Crawl

This place can easily be in top 5 if they continue to do what they're doing right now. Amazing coffee and friendly staff. Pikolo, Myriade, Humble Lion, Odessa, Dispatch have a new competition.

If you are anywhere near the Sherbrooke metro station or Square St-Louis, drop by and get your coffee fix.

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Edit: This place without any doubt offers the best coffee in Montreal right now! They have the beans nobody else offers.

8/5/2014

• 1 check-in
• First to Review

This is a new upstart cafe on St. Denis. Love the fact that their going after artisan coffees that aren't offered anywhere else in Montreal(according to owner Jesse Lewin).

They're bringing in locally baked goods, bike rack on the wall plus for the more adventurous - laundry mat at the back.

Solid Barista skills - former barista from Cafe Edgar.

1/26/2015

I think I know a thing or two about coffee, and about the independent coffee-shops specifically. Having been to most of the main third wave coffee-shops in the east coast, the experience offered by l'Artiste affame is the best par excellence, no match. The cortado is unparralled. And Jesse, is a coffee lover before being a barista or the owner.

Also, if you buy beans to make your coffee home, this place has some coffee beans that you won't find anywhere in the east coast.