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Our favourite downtown destination for coffee connoisseurs is about to get even better. Time Out Market Montréal’s Tunnel (as it’s affectionately known by regulars), has a new addition to the team — with years of experience at local specialty roaster Kittel, Elsa Ouagmi is bringing her passion for all things coffee to the table.
On a mission to bring the feeling of a neighbourhood coffee shop experience where everyone knows your name to the downtown core , Elsa is focused on creating connections with coffee-lovers. “A local coffee shop knows the name of your kids. It’s where you take a walk to for some fresh air,” she explains. “Tunnel is about finding the perfect coffee product for the client, and getting to know people through their drink. That Marc-André arrives every day at 1:10 p.m. for his usual, for example,” she says.
Elsa fell in love with coffee in 2015 while living in Australia, before joining Kittel (a specialty coffee roaster in Montreal) in 2017. As a champion of others in the industry, she strives to empower women and unrepresented communities by connecting coffee professionals, and is working to start a Canadian chapter of the IWCA to promote, educate and network women and self-identified women to help each other build stronger business opportunities.
In addition to Tunnel’s expertly pulled shots, next-level beans sourced directly from the Canadian Roasting Society (a hub for Montreal’s all-star indie coffee roasting scene) and addictive baked goods, coffee-lovers can also expect new coffee experiences on the horizon thanks to Elsa. “Every time we have an opportunity to personalize the coffee experience, we will,” she says. “We will share advice so the customer is aware of what specialty coffee is — like selling wine.” Tunnel coffee fans can expect “cuppings” (otherwise known as coffee tastings) to develop the coffee palate; a rotation of local coffee roasters; innovative team building events and coffee afternoons for visitors to Montréal.
In addition to the good-vibes-only ambience, Elsa explains that Tunnel is the best combination of working fast and efficiently, and caring about coffee. “We have fun, but we are serious about what we serve,” she explains. “I just want people to have the best coffee experience ever.”
More information about Tunnel Espresso at Time Out Market Montréal here.