Nava Social is quickly becoming one of Toronto's most notable brands in the coffee industry thanks to Gabriel Navarro, a coffee icon leading the charge and spreading his love for community and coffee as far as he can.
Navarro has been working in the industry for over 10 years and is the residing Chief Executive Officer of Nava Social, a new pillar for experimental coffee that has recently opened a second location in the King West Entertainment District.
Some may remember the viral attention Nava Social received upon launching the stunning (not to mention delicious) Butterfly Pea Flower Latte out of their east end location. This particular beverage caught the attention of influencers and coffee lovers all over the city and was the initial catalyst for getting people in the door.
Navarro says, "At the core, we are a coffee shop, and we care about quality. We are providing a unique experience, and we want all kinds of people coming in and leaving with the satisfaction of carrying something delicious in their hands that's long-lasting on their taste buds."
With a passion for design, Navarro wants to leave a unique impression on his customers. The new Nava Social location boasts a stunning atmosphere with one of Canada's only glass espresso machines because Navarro has nothing to hide and wants his guests to see their coffee being made.
The espresso machine is manual and needs to be calibrated carefully every hour. His baristas are meticulously trained to ensure that each espresso pulled is high-quality, meaning the colour, texture, look and taste are all up to par with what a professional barista would consume.
"Everyone is used to drinking something different, so I can't tell you what to order. We're all about making sure that we take care of the quality, so no matter what you order, you will be satisfied by what we make for you."
Nava Social is all about the approachability of specialty coffee shops, which can often seem intimidating if you aren't quite sure what to order. Navarro wants to break the barrier by introducing the beauty and accessibility of local specialty coffee shops to everyone.
"I want people to understand why we are serving the hand-crafted drinks that we're making. I want them to know where the coffee and tea comes from, and why we prepare our beverages the way we do."
Navarro was astounded when he first put out an ad for Nava Social's hiring, that most who applied had significant managerial work experience. He believes that those who work in the coffee industry should be able to provide an appropriate living wage for themselves so that they can be properly focused on their craft.
With the advantage of securing a group of tight-knit team members, Navarro and his colleagues have had the opportunity of being more creative at work. He says, "Take our vanilla, for example. I had my own recipe, which I thought was great, but my colleague showed me a different recipe that was way better than mine. I'm not here to tell people it's my way or the highway. I think that if you listen to those who have their own expertise, you can grow. If we grow, our customers can grow, and we can educate our customers on why our coffee tastes so good."
It is important for Navarro that a certain hospitality education is provided to his customers in order for them to return, and have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to taste, flavour profiles, textures and origins of the coffee they drink.
Their new staple, the Pink Horchata Rosa, is an excellent example of how Navarro and his team were able to concoct a masterpiece that is unlike any other drink on the market. By using a mixture of cultural influences (primarily inspired by Navarro's Mexican background), the team created a complex yet approachable beverage that is also caffeine-free, non-dairy, lactose-free and vegan friendly.
Made with oat milk, house-brewed Madagascar vanilla bean syrup, apple, almond, cinnamon, beetroot and white rice milk, Navarro describes this beverage as a complement to the perfect summer day and encourages all to give it a shot next time they stop by the café.
Navarro plans on continuing the expansion of the Nava Social brand, hopefully opening locations in the First Canadian Place and on St. Clair Avenue. The goal in the coming years however, is to set up shop in Montreal, as well as Kelowna, BC.
"In the Kelowna Okanagan region, you have fruit, you have produce and wine, and the scene over there is growing so quickly. People usually leave the area and move to Calgary or Edmonton, but now they are staying and are trying to develop, so my goal is to travel across Canada and do as many projects as I can, with each Nava location possessing its own unique identity."
You can stop by and say hello to Navarro, who is usually working at either one of the Nava Social locations at any given time. He is always happy to discuss coffee and would love to meet like-minded coffee connoisseurs like himself. You may even recognize him from the logo on their bags of Java Roasters Coffee that are sold on-site.
To learn more about Nava Social, visit their website, or find them on Instagram, where they will post all important news updates, coffee anecdotes and more!
