Featured Espresso: Burundi

Spotted: Mercury Espresso
Address: 915 Queen Street East
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
@mercuryespresso

Espresso: Sogestal Mumira
Origin: Burundi
Roaster: George Howell Coffee / Terroir
Located: Acton, MA

My Thoughts: Thank you! I really enjoyed the mouthfeel and the juicy - mouth watering action, and LARGE body.

From the notebook of GH:

Creamy Orange | Caramelized Peaches | Cinnamon

Suggested extraction instructions:
Group head temperature: 197 F (91.7 C)
Espresso dose: 20 grams (We suggest a VST 20 gram basket.)
Pulling time: 25 - 28 seconds
Finished espresso: 28 liquid grams

Features espresso: el roble, Santander, Colombia

Spotted: Mercury Espresso
Country: Colombia
Farm: El Roble
Farm Size: 740 Acres
Altitude: 5,000 ft
Varietals: Caturra
Harvest: 2011
Roaster: Terroir Coffee (GH Howell)

Tasting Notes: Honey, almond-butter, bittersweet chocolate, lively acidity North Italian Espresso Roast

 Suggested extraction instructions:
Group head temperature: 197 F (91.7 C)
Espresso: 19 grams in a double basket
Pulling time: 28 seconds
Finished espresso: 28 liquid grams

Verdict: Sweet almond-cocoa bark. Smoothness from beginning to end.
As it cools; the bite gets stronger and the acidity livens up to a full fledge smack.


Thank you Mercury for allowing Toronto community to indulge in the world of GHHowell
Coffee.


information taken from: here
*Contributor: K.Zyganiuk*

Matalapa Love

Spotted: Mercury Espresso Bar
Roasters: Terrior/George Howell Coffee
Farm: Matalapa
Origin: La Libertad, El Salvador
Altitude: 4100 feet
Varietals: Pacas and Bourbon Peaberry (70/30)
Method: Washed

Winning the CoE in 2003, Matalapa keeps impressing us. Terroir (George Howell) has great partnerships with amazing farmers - and this is no exception to the rule.

Verdict: Licking your lips sweetness of tropical guava with buttery smoothness as it lingers on your tongue just makes EA go CRAZY!!!!

Gosh Mercury, you make Espresso Adventures want more!!
Plus, visit the shop for their amazing Movember 'stache...(photo tmr)

Featured Espresso: Alchemy

New Espresso Blend?
Beans: Alchemy Espresso Blend
Regions: El Salvador, Brazil, Costa Rica

Roasters: Geogre Howell's Terrior Coffee
Where to find: Mercury Espresso Bar
                        (915 Queen Street East)
(DEC 10, 2010 - hopefully still there)

Technical: Pulled for 27 seconds at 197F

New Blend that GH/Terrior has come up with. The greatest piece of information they provide are the specifications that will optimize the shot. Geogre has a plethora of knowledge and is constantly improving the craft.!

Verdict: Smooth Chocolate Body! with hints of fresh Cirtus once it hits your tongue. Sweet aftertaste.

Look who else I spotted: Josh, (New member of Mercury team, ex-Crema)

Featured Espresso: Matalapa

Spotted at: Crema Coffee Co. (53 Bloor St. E)

Mon-Fri: 7am-8pm

Sat: 8am-8pm

Sun: 9am-6pm

Featured: Matalapa North Italian Style Espresso Roast 
                (Single Origin - El Salvador)
Roaster: George Howell's Terroir Coffee
Located: Acton, Mass.

Verdict:  Initial tastes had a smooth buttery orange swirl, with light toasted/burnt marshmallow flavour similar to Greg's Ice Cream. As you take more sips, there is a delightful acidity that tastes cocoa to round out the flavours.

 
This will be in the hopper until they run out of beans, so come in now for a limited run.

Straight from Terroir Coffee's website:
Layered orange-blossom honey, hint of jasmine and a creamy dark caramel finish. Matalpa’s soft acidity is ideal for a light espresso, providing great sweetness with buttery body.

Matalapa is a fourth generation 190 acre farm at 4,100 feet above sea level. It was founded in the late 1800's by Fidelia Lima, great grandmother of the current owner, Vickie Ann Dalton de Diaz. She maintains 14 acres of virgin tropical forest and keeps her coffee plants shaded with over 40 varieties of shades trees. Terroir has been following this farm for several years now and have been very impressed with each year's improvements since winning in the 2003 El Salvador Cup of Excellence. The crop is very impressive for its sweetness and buttery body.

If you've tried this roast - let me know your thoughts.