Liesa Hartman’s favourites found in new café Hartman’s Coffee and Tea

Hartman’s Coffee and Tea features all of Liesa Hartman’s favourites. The new mico-café on 2 Ontario St. has already had a warm reception since recently opening.

Liesa Hartman’s newest venture, Hartman’s Coffee and Tea, comes from her life-long goal.

Hartman always wanted to open the micro-café, but it hadn’t felt like the right time until recently. She thanks property owner Bruce Whitaker for bringing her vision of sharing her favourite beverages with the community to life on 2 Ontario St. and noted that the opportunity comes at a great time as her children are older.

“I think all the businesses of Stratford offer something fun and unique, that's one of the joys of living and shopping in Stratford. Additionally, there's quite a few java spots in town and we all offer something a little different and complementary. For my shop, my place is 100 per cent me,” she said to the Stratford Times. “It's all my favourite things all in one little spot utilizing all the coffee, tea and hospitality experiences I've amassed over the last 15 years here in Stratford.  I really get to share how I like to enjoy coffee and tea with all the people who stop by to visit.”

The café features a variety of coffee, tea, and alcohol from all over Ontario such as Woodstock’s Street Ahead Roasters, Listowel’s Boundary Roasting Co., Toronto’s Copper Tea, London’s Paradigm Spirits, Alton’s GoodLot Farm and Farmstead Brewing, Prince Edward’s Traynor Family Vineyard, and Stratford’s Black Swan Brewing. A selection of caffeine-free teas from Thes Du Nord, based in Quebec, is also available.

Hartman’s Coffee and Tea is 300 square feet and Hartman is trying to maximize the space as much as possible with shelving and purchasing volume. There are eight swivel chairs at the bar-top seating area near the window. Most of the baking onsite in a small commercial oven.

“I always wanted one of those easy bake ovens as a kid and now I got my wish,” Hartman said.

Hartman is feeling energized with the community support so far since opening the doors to the café and is looking forward to future endeavors with Hartman’s Coffee and Tea.

“It's been bonkers and humbling and I can't wait to get back in the shop and do it all over again.  I'm so inspired,” she said. “There's so much I want to do and create in that little space.”

More information about Hartman’s Coffee and Tea can be found online by visiting https://hartmans-coffee-tea.square.site or the Facebook and Instagram pages.