Post Run Fuel

If I'm in the area, I usually make it to Manic, for some post workout points.
Its tradition to start the day off right with the following items:
1- double espresso shot of intelligenstia Black Cat
1- lovely Berry Muffin.
1- glass of water.

Great combination of carbs to fuel you, plus vitamin C and essential fats.
Along with hydration, and your daily dose of caffeine.
How do you start your day?
Or what do you use to fuel your day!

Love
Espresso Adventures!

Snowy Saturday; SJCB, Dark Horse

This past Saturday, Toronto got hit with some lovely snowy weather. Snow storm with winds in the mix make for lovely photos!

In the midst of the snowstorm, we were still able to conduct our first Espresso Adventure of 2011.

The morning starting with treking 3 blocks to start the Annex/Queen W adventure. New EA meant that we had to go to some favs and big names from the scene.
First off we lounged inside of Sam James Coffee Bar where Sam James himself was on the La Marzocco GB5 himself.
Pulling an elegant double espresso, in a fashionanle manner is not easy, but the finese that he intellectuall feels is an intuition that may never occur.

Verdict: Buttery smooth with infusion of half melted chocolate. Random spurts of citrus and tea to round out the flavour porfile of Toi, Mot et Cafe. Balanced acidity helped to start the day off right.... in addition a lovely Cranberry/Vanilla Scone added enough to combat the blistering cold winds....

 Lunch Break!!

Well, not my lunch break - but I wish it was my lunch break.

Next stop: b espresso (Dundas/Church) - no photo... will need to return with adequate time to take in the environment.

Last stop: the new Dark Horse Espresso Bar (Queen and Euclid).

Brillance in a nutshell.

Proper review to come in the next couple of days.

First Experience: Grinder Coffee (Gerrard)

Grinder Coffee

Address: 1021 Gerrard Street East
Neighbourhood: Gerrard Sqaure
Website @grindercoffee

Opening up in a former cyber cafe seemed unimaginable, but it seems to keep attracting more and more customers. Lined with a plethora of small round tables creating workstations for locals, it seems this local community hot spot has a great following. Making up a for the pocket in between Chinatown and Little India, Grinder serves freshly brewed coffee and pulls a mean shot of espresso.

First Experience: Little Nicky's

Little Nicky's Coffee
Address: 375 Queen St. West (Get Directions)

Neighbourhood: Queen West/Fashion District

Tel: 416.260.0500

Located just south of Queen at Peter Street, it's hard to miss this downtown cafe. Attracted only by various word of mouth comments and a lonely street sign enticing me for mini donuts it was only a matter of time before I would visit this location.
Open in July of 2010, it's a throwback to retro. Word on the street is that retro is IN, but something was different about this location.

Featured Espresso: Detour Ethopian Yirgacheffe Koke

Spotted: Dark Horse Espresso Bar (Spadina)
Beans: Single Origin-- Yirgacheffe Koke
Region: Ethiopian 
Roasters: Detour Coffee Roasters
Located: Dundas, ON

Technical: Pulled for 23-25 seconds at 198F

Verdict: this is extremely sweet aromatic roast, with crisp notes of blueberry, and sweet lime. Jasmine/Floral hints round out the cup. Delicious from the beginning to the end. So airy that you'll be back for more.

Personally, I am a huge fan of what is being produced out the Yirgacheffe region.

Dark Horse is also pulling 49th Parallel Epic Espresso.

Looking for new changes in 2011;
Dark Horse Espresso Blend from the chaps at Detour is currently being roasted this week.

Going from just Brazilian SO, to a blend of Brazilian and Guatemalan . Discover this at any of the three locations this weekend.

NEW cafe is open, going to make time to visit the new shoppe.

Ezra's Pound

Ezra's Pound
Address: 913 Dundas Street West  ‎
Neighbourhood: Trinity-Bellwoods, Little Portugal
(website) @ezraspound

The second location of Annex darlings Ezra's Pound has flourished on Dundas West (3 blocks west of Bathurst) in Little Portugal. Creating a great ambiance for the community with large glass windows, small wooden tables, and a warm environment to learn more about coffee, he's created a buzz of activity. This location doubles as a showcase for what Ezra is trying to accomplish: Educating the masses. Opened T-Sun 8-5pm (10am start on Sunday. What happens on Monday?

Featured Espresso: Intelligentsia Honey Badger

Alert, Alert!!!! Calling all Toronto Intelligentsia fans:

Spotted: Manic Coffee (427 College Street)
Hours: Mon Jan 3rd: 8am - 6pm
            Normal hours: M-F [ 7-7pm];
           Weekends Sat/Sun [ 8-8pm]

Featured:Intelligentsia Honey Badger (Blend -Brazil and Kenya)
Roaster: Intelligentsia
Located: Chicago,IL



Limited Seasonal Espresso -- from Quality Roasters Intelligenstia spotted at Manic Coffee in Toronto, a special blend of three really sweet coffees from Brazil and Kenya.