Featured Espresso; Konga

Coffice Time!

Decided that with December rolling in, I should get back into the Featured Espresso Posts. You'll be seeing more frequent posts...let's keep my accountable.


Spotted: Mercury Espresso
Farm: Konga Co-op
Origin: Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
Roaster: Terrior Coffee/ George Howell
Located: Mass (close enough to BOS)
Verdict: blast of bright berry, with pleasant tartness of raspberry, hints of tea/floral sense
Will I be back: definitely mate!


Breaking: Will we see the end to co-op coffee in Ethiopia?? (sprudge)

*Contributed by: 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)

Features Bean: Kenyan Kangunu

LIMITED... might even be GONE, but get there QUICK

Spotted: Mercury Espresso Bar
Roasters: George Howell/ Terrior

Details for Terrior: (here)

Country: Kenya

Farm: Kangunu Mill

Altitude: 5600 ft

Varietals: Bourbon SL 28 and SL 34

Harvest: 2009

Rainfall: Low to moderate

Production Method: WashedBittersweet Chocolate | Raisins | Blackberry | Black Currant | Plums

Featured Espresso: El Roble Espresso (Terrior)

Spotted: Mercury Espresso Bar
Address: 943 Queen Street East
Neighbourhood: Leslieville

Siphon @ Mercury

Slow-brew, hand pour, pour overs, siphons the tread for 2011?
Spotted: Mercury Espresso Bar
Method: Siphon
Price Tag: $5.75 Sm (enough for 2 cups)
Crafted preparation for a specifically brewed cup of coffee is what I admire. I can do this at home, but the cafe experience with their industrial grinders, and freshly rotated beans adds that "magic" factor.I'll wait that 5-10 minutes for a well-made coffee.
But is it worth the price tag? I say so: 2 small cups, making it about $3 per cup seems reasonable for the time and effort that the barista attends to the brewing. So why'd I try the Siphon?

Main reason - I dont own a Siphon - plus I also don't have a storage room filled with Geogre Howell's Coffee.... with that said:
Last week I made the trip over to the Mercury and had Nolan fire up the Siphon...

Mercury's 5th Birthday Bash

This upcoming weekend will mark one of my fav local coffee shops, Mercury Espresso Bar, 5th birthday.
The Weather looks like it'll cooperate! Hopefully no rain.
Address: 915 Queen St. East
Neighbourhood: Leslieville

MUTHAF@#%KIN’ FIVE YEARS!

SATURDAY MARCH 19TH - starting at 7pm

• Olde-fashioned Barista showdown. (Latte Art)
• Beer courtesy of  Mill Street 
• Food from George Brown's Culinary School. 
• Terroir/George Howell Coffee Co. donating amazing coffee.
• BEST of all Toronto's first Manual Brew-Off!  

Local baristas will be bringing the coffee, the method and skills.

"Bring your friends as well.  Baristas or not.  We need to get as many people to see what an amazing community we have.  Great coffee is not just for us." - Matt and Doug  

There will be a silent auction throughout the night, as well as a donation jar set up for Coffee Kids.
Mercury will be raising money for this great organization throughout the entire weekend. 

So to recap, Beer, Coffee, Food, Coffee, Beer, Beer. Food, etc....

SUNDAY MARCH 20TH (Our ACTUAL birthday)
Free *Daily Brew in 12oz and 8oz sizes. *limit one per person* - GHHowell's Alchemy Blend
Local bands from staff, former staffs and addicts of MercuryHere's the line up(check the blog for more details)

12:00pm-12:30:Edison’s Torpedo,
12:30-1:00: Silver Speakers
1:00-1:30: Nolan, Ken & Aerin
1:30-2:00: The Bait & Switch
2:00-2:30: Stiff Toys,
2:30-3:00:  Suitcase Sam and His Spectacular Two-Man Band,
3:00-3:30: Black Walls,
3:30-4:00: Soup Kitchen Line Up,
4:00-4:30: Annelise Noronha,
4:30-5:00: Gay
5:00-5:30: The Bitters.

There will be cake, coffee and bands all day. 

I'll be popping in - so should you! Plus it's an excuse to explore Leslieville.

Featured: Addis Ketema

Mixed bag of weather (snow, slush, freezin rain, hail, flash cold, rain) these last couple of days has pushed me to get out earlier, and why not visit some local stomping grounds.

Spotted at Mercury Espresso Bar
Espresso: Addis Ketema
Region: Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
Roasters: George Howell

Verdict: Smooth brightness and a clean distinction of root/ginger spice pronounced on my tongue shining through the mellow pre-ripe peach (think texture as mouth feel)
Very different from when Mercury first received this roast.
Pleasantly, and unexpectedly had Matt pull the shots this AM.

Featured Bean: Addis Ketema

Spotted @ Mercury Espresso
Beans: Addis Ketema (North Italian Roast)
Region: Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
Roasters: Terroir Coffee
Located: Mass.
@ghowellcoffee

Verdict: Sweetness hits the tip of the tongue, and explodes with more smooth tones as it reaches the back. Huge permisson with subtle lemon-cherry-ade (sweeten drink) accents

After consuming the double espresso, there was a smooth "campy" finish with a lingering campfire smoke caramelized toffee. Now that's how to do a pleasurable after-taste.

Price: $2.50
Disloyalty Card: Supported/Stamped!

From Mercury:
Lemon citrus, Sweet strawberry

From Terroir:
Certified Organic ~ North Italian Espresso Roast!
The Addis Ketema Cooperative has over 2000 farms averaging 3.4 acres each. This fine lot produces a very smooth espresso. It is infused with whispers of candy lemon, ripe apricot and mellow traces of ginger. Mellow acidity with medium body.

Get this fresh new seasonal blend before Mercury runs out.

Featured Espresso: Mamuto North Italian Roast

Spotted: Mercury Espresso Bar (915 Queen Street East)
Hours: M-F 6:30 am - 8pm
           Sat 7:30am - 8pm
           Sun 8am - 8pm
Featured: Mamuto North Italian Style Espresso Roast
                (Single Origin -Mamuto, Kirinyaga, Kenya)
Roaster: George Howell's Terroir Coffee
Located: Acton, Mass.

Pulling until they run out, than they'll showcase the Matalapa

Verdict: Rich brightness, with delicious fruitiness that coats your entire tongue. Sweet citrus notes (juicy) to round out the acidity. Flavours develop as you continue with your double espresso.

STRAIGHT from TERROIR COFFEE
We've opted to offer the new crop of Mamuto as an espresso roast!

Tasting Notes:
Bright blackberry and sweet citrus notes embedded in caramel.

Long a favorite of our customers and staff, Mamuto has held a heralded place in our hearts here at GHCC. When we first cupped this farm, in 2005, we were simply blown away by the sumptuous body, blackberry and black currant aromatics, with a hint of sweet tomato.

Taking inspiration from their family, Walter Paul Mathagu, the farm's owner, explained to me, he and his wife named the farm by combining the first two letters from three words: his name, Mathagu, as the father; Muthoni, his wife's maiden name, as mother; and toto, meaning child or children in Swahili: thus Mamuto. Mr. and Mrs. Mathagu have six children - three boys, three girls
Farmer: Walter Paul and Muthoni Mathagu
Region: Kirinyaga
Altitude: 5,000 ft.
Rainfall: Low to moderate+
Soil: Volcanic loam
Arabica variety: Bourbon Sl 28 and SL 34
Size of Farm: 21 acres total; 13 acres of coffee
Roast: Full Flavor

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.