Coffee Cupping with Social /Manic Coffee

Manic Coffee

Address: 294 College Street

Neighbourhood: Little Italy/College&Bathurst area

Social Coffee Company

Address: 55 West Beaver Creek Rd. unit 45

Located: Richmond Hill, Ontario

This past weekend, Social Coffee Co held a special cupping session at Manic. The quickest and most trusted source: Twitter informed me that @Socialcoffeeco would be heading down for 4PM amd it only seemed like a no-brainer to get in on this action.

The weather was amazing this past weekend, so that meant pumping up the tires and go for a spin, to warm up the mind, body and soul.... or just my tastebuds for what would be a great experience.

NY: Joe (Union Square)

Joe (Union Square)
Address: 141 Waverly Place
Neighbourhood: Union Square
Borough: Mahattan
212.924.6750   website
@JoecoffeeNYC 

Okay, so let's recap the day:
Cafe Grumpy - Chelsea
Ninth Street Espresso - Chelsea
Ninth Street Espresso - Tompkin Square
Clinton Street Bakery - Lower East
Arcabo - East Village
RBC - Tribeca
Kaffe 1668 - Tribeca
Final stop by hitting Upper East Side.... JOE

Red Rocket Coffee (Wellesley edition)

Red Rocket Coffee
Address: 154 Wellesely Street East
Neighbourhood: St. James Town
website

 Located on the ground level of a condo building gives enough space for the launch of Red Rocket Coffee (2nd location originating from East end charmer)
It has filled the void in St.James, where there didn't really seem to be a coffee presence. To the East (Jet Fuel - Cabbagetown), to the West (Letteri at Church). With the Baker's Dozen closed down, where could the locals go?

RRC2 seems to be to the location, but it seems to be a hard-sell amongst locals in the area, there doesn't seem to be a pressing caffinated crutch, but it's slowing changing the neighbourhood, as once desolate buildings become livable condos and townhouses in the area. Times are a-changing... good, bad... who's to say.

Local indie cafes seem to be expanding to multiple locations. This growing trend, where brands/markets are already known, is great for developing that coffee culture. Next step: a late-night coffee culture that isn't solely for those ready to lounge for wifi access. Can this formula work for?
Seems that Toronto has a tolerance for local indie brands, which is to say good for us (5.3M strong). Red Rocket 2 seems entirely different from the East end charmer. Not only is it much smaller, but there is no wooden deck patio, or ample inside seating.
Yet the multiple times I've arrived at this cafe - constant buzz.always.

Bean Talk: Detour PNG Wahgi

DH2 (Dark Horse Espresso 2)
Address: 215 Spadina Avenue
Neighbourhood: Chinatown 
Previous posts: (link)

Getting the weekend off on the right foot means decompressing from the work week and kicking back your feet by enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Had the pleasure of enjoying a couple of cups, by the means of French Press.
First sip: CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.


Let's get down to the details:
Method: French Press
Beans:Wahgi Estate Peaberry
Origin: Papua New Guingea
VARIETAL
ARUSHA, CATTURA, TYPICA, CATIMOR, BLUE MOUNTAIN
PROCESSING
FULLY WASHED
ALTITUDE
1600 m
PRODUCERS
OPAIS PEOPLE FROM THE WAHGI VALLEY


Roasters: Detour Coffee
Located: Dundas/Burlington, ON
Tasting Notes: Clean - light coffee. hints of cherries, and tart pears. As the coffee cooled, it became a nice bright smoothness.
Seriously different from dark, heavy neighbouring Sumatara

Here's is a lovely 1 minute video: ENJOY THE WEEKEND

Requiste shot of their lovely 3-Group La Marzorcco FB80

ideal (Ossington)

Ideal Coffee
Address: 162 Ossington
Neighbourhood: Ossington Strip
website

Ossington Strip - HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!

With the ban lifted on shops, it's just popping with restos, bars, and cafes. Foodies... relish here.
Hmmm, another ideal coffee location to please the hipsters in the area might need to switch up from the kensington crowd.
As you enter into the cafe it's very laid back - rec room feel with some canadian folk playing in the background - Daniel Michel styles.
Feels like that corner store home feel. Literally on the corner - facing these new townhouses that just pop up.

First Experience: The Mascot

The Mascot
Address: 1267 Queen West
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
website, @WeAreTheMascot

Part cafe / part art gallery - this Large storefront fits right into the burgeoning Parkdale scene. Already turning 1 year old , it's a new pup in the cafe scene.
What makes this space work?
The first part of the space is dedicated to the "cafe" with a sparse collection of wooden tables and nicely accompanying chairs that fits right into the gallery space. As you step into the back with a collection of gallery pieces and  antique chairs lying around.

Machine: Victoria Ardunio 3 lever manual espresso machine
Beans: Bullet Espresso
           Brazilian, Ethiopian, Sumatran
Roasters: Reunion Island
Located: Oakville, ON

Verdict: Not hating on the Manual Machines - as I know they can be good (ideal in Kensington), but this espresso on this machine with the barista pulling for 11 seconds - tasted like ASH. I had one sip, and I put it back down, Crema was a dark brown composition. Seeing as the barista pulled the single I'm certain that all that was in my cup was the Heart of the espresso - and no body.
Nevertheless, I'm not sure I want to return back here.
I also believe that I'm not a huge Reunion Island fan = as I didn't like Red Rocket x 2, and Noir locations.....

To each their own.

Final note: Get inside for the modern/contemporary art pieces located within the cafe - but don't expect too much from the espresso. Take a photo outside with their friendly Mascot cutout sign = great for kids and adults alike. Be sure to ham it up for the camera Ossington and Ronsce crowd.
But I'll PASS on the coffee!

NY: RBC

RBC
Address: 71 Worth Street
Neighbourhood: Tribeca
Borough: Manhattan
website, @rbcnyc

Needed to stretch the legs - went for a walk, had to cut many other locations that I wanted to do in EAST village - but needed to be prompt for my 11amish meeting with Cora - manager of RBC.
Having heard that RBC housed the SLAYER machine- which is the limited/ exclusive machine from Seattle. Amazing technology that allows the barista to change the bar pressure during the extraction of the shot.

Had trouble getting my bearings as it was already 11 AM and the sun was shining at the peak behind the towering skyscrapers. There was no way if I could tell what direction I was walking in. I followed a bunch of people walking at lightning speed head towards NYU campus = which I knew from my research was close to RBC NYC