Move over, Americano: Montreal coffee shop changes menu item to ‘Canadiano’

A Montreal café is serving up support for Canada amid ongoing U.S. tensions. 

Café Coco & Bean on Montreal’s West Island renamed the classic Americano coffee on their menu to ‘Canadiano.’

The owners said they are taking a stand following U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods.

“I saw it on a TikTok and thought that’s really funny, bring some heritage to the drink,” said Shauna Cordner, manager at Café Coco & Bean. “Because you hear of the Americano but were here in Canada so it should be the Canadiano.”

“We thought it was really funny, we thought it was really clever,” said Candice Najum, co-owner, Coco & Bean Café. “We hadn’t even thought about it ourselves, so we’re just jumping on whoever started it first.”

“It’s just a way to stay light of the situation that’s going on amongst the U.S. and Canada,” she added. “So, it’s just a way to sort of cross the hurdles that are coming.”

“When the idea was brought up of changing the name here,” explained Cordner. “I was like that’s really fun. It really supports who we are and using local products.”

“Everything here is sourced locally,” she added.

Since opening over three years ago, Najum said that they have built a little community at the café.

Customers lined up to try the Canadiano – reinforcing national pride.

“It’s not to look at it negatively,” said the co-owner. “It’s not to take a stance politically on one side or the other.”

“I think it’s just to announce that you are proud to be Canadian.”

“People come in and because it is headlined in pink, they notice it right away,” said Cordner. “So they kind of laugh at it and they’re like, what’s the Canadiano? And when you explain it to them, I’ve had a lot more people saying, I’m gonna try it today, whereas they would have gone for a latte before.”

“It should be positive,” added Cordner. “It should be something we’re laughing at because it has been known as the Americano for so long, changing the name is honestly funny.”

On Thursday afternoon, Trump announced that Canada and Mexico will get a one-month pause on tariffs for some imports that are compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement – but will remain for those that are non-compliant.

Both Najum and Cordner encourage Montrealers to support local businesses during this time.

“I think we need to all stand in this together and unite,” Cordner explained. “And the only way that we can get through this is supporting each other.”

“It’s gonna be tough going forward,” added Najum. “I think the tariffs are gonna be tough on every type of business, especially small businesses.”

“We haven’t felt it tangibly yet,” she added. “But we know the prices are going to go up.”