Jazz, Coffee, Patio: Sublime

The Sublime Cafe
Address: 219 Augusta
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
website

Smack in the Market, ala Kensington, there is a spot that could describe the vibe that is ever so present.
Chill with a dash of art.
That would be my description of Sublime.
A bit of a front "porch" area doesn't really give away too much.

NY: Blue Bottle Manual

Blue Bottle Williamsburg
Address: 150 Berry Street (N.6th and Berry)
Neighboruhood: Williamsburg

Borough Brooklyn, New York 

website, @bluebottlenyc (718) 387-4160

 Since breaking into the neighbourhood in 2010, the West coast staple brings a la minute grinding to each cup. Personalized care goes into every cup - but what impresses coffee geeks alike is the offering of coffee week to week.
Seasonal single-origins are available through drip and espresso on the re-mastered 1950 Faema Urania - one of the few manual machines within NYC.
The Vibe within the cafe is excitement, and curosity. As my friends have requested to visit this location - I take the opportunity to have something other than mainstay Hayes Valley Espresso Blend.

Manual Machines!

Crema Coffee Co.
Address: 53 Bloor Street East
(located inside of the Freshii)
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(website)

 It's hard to survive in cut-throat Toronto, but it's even more tactical when you are a cafe located right downtown. In heavy competition with brands like whorebuxs, and the likes, its seems that Crema's shared space with Freshii really works. On this lovely fall visit, I was initially coming to experience the 49th Parallel current edition of epic espresso - and the Manual machine of gods!!
What I also found was the clover machine, ad 3 pump manual machine and a vast array of pastries. There was typical Crema menu, plus a choice of 3 different single-origin choices for the clover. Competition as Bux has one up the street

Machine:Mirage Triplet Idrocompresso
Doser: Mazzer
Turnover: Heavy Take-out traffic
Beans: 49th Parallel - Epic Espresso
           (Honduras San Vicente, Organic Ethiopian  Yirgacheffe Koke)
Music: virgin radio
Indie Coffee Passport: YES
Disloyalty Card: YES 
Seating: There are tables on the inside and about 3 sets on the outside -- great in mild-to-hot weather.

Verdict: Balanced body, and a hit of frontal palette experience of smooth rich chocolate, and hits of fruity kick, possibly blueberry, pears.

BARISTA PROFILE: JOSH from CREMA on BLOOR

He's actually owned a cafe out in Vancouver called Bump n Grind located at 916 Commerical Drive, but decided to sell it , and travel the world. Having dabbled in bike mechanics and working in cafes in his life, he decided to move to Toronto and experience the east.  Cool guy, knows this Mirage machine well, enjoys his craft, and "surprise, surprise" enjoy Fixed and SS bikes. A nice fella to have a chat with. He does hope to infuse his knowledge of coffee into every cup he produces.
His next major step will be to buy a boat and travel the seven seas. But he actually hopes to be the first person to compete in the WBC as a nation-less competitor. How COOL would that be?
Check him out at the Crema Location!

Espresso Adventures - Crema (Bloor) Edition from Cindy Shum on Vimeo.