Like a single espresso shot; small things can pack a hefty punch.

So don’t count out Pikolo Espresso Bar based on its square footage. It would seem size doesn’t matter when you’ve got a ton of character to back it up. 

Amid the multitude of commercial buildings that line Park Avenue between Sherbrooke and Milton sits an unexpected little bundle of joy called Pikolo (derived from the Italian “piccolo,” or small).

Catering in large part to the hip, young crowd that dwells in the surrounding McGill Ghetto, Pikolo oozes with the district vibe. With its wrought iron-trimmed windows, steel stools and industrial lighting, it has managed to retain much of the industrial look of the early 1900s. However, its modern furnishings and new-age take on coffee prove that it is part of 21^st century history-in-the-making.

The café was opened in the summer of 2011 after the owner returned from travels abroad. She’d witnessed both the laborious nature of working coffee crops and the artistry of filling coffee cups. She was determined to bring that respect of coffee to her native Montreal.

At Pikolo, you won’t get a mainstream cup of java. This hidden coffee heaven promotes direct trade coffee. This means elevated levels of social responsibility and large doses of quality goodness thanks to a direct relationship between the coffee bean roaster and the farmer.

That’s a lot of good in a little cup.