Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Calling Back.

Everybody's talkin' at me, saying I don't blog anymore. Well, I've been busy. I swear, really, it's not that I don't care, I've just been really really busy....with stuff. You know, work....and my hobbies, I never have time for those anymore so I have been doing a LOT more macrame.

Anyway, here I am and I'm not even supposed to be doing this right now. I came all the way down here just for you. Ain't I sweet?

Speaking of sweet.....(WARNING: clever transition coming on)....have you tried the Persephone & Alchemy Blend from Intelligentsia?? All the folks in the know know it's GGGgggggrrreeaatt!

FIve DOllars! (Is the cost of the blend in a fancy French Press, it's also the name of my new book being released by Knopff this Spring. Look for it in stores soon).

On that note I leave you with Ben, Berg, and Cadence...Weapon. Peace.

Monday, April 28, 2008



So what is new? Oh yeah, It was cold and rainy this morning and I started off my shift by pulling my first ever shot! According to beard-Matt, it was pretty good. Oh yeah, and a young couple just consummated their relationship by means of a lengthy and apparent make-out session. Also, Ben is back from his London, Ontario Vacation.
"Frenchin' in the foyer."
I'm really looking forward to the mercury softball team, and I'm expecting to set some kind of record; most strike-outs? Slowest slow pitch? I don't know, all I know is that I want my number to be 80 'cause it's the atomic number for Mercury (Hg). Anyway, It stopped raining so TTC or walk (if you're mad) your way down here and drink some stuff.

Sunday, April 27, 2008



You and your napkin babies win this round Matt D...
This time...

Tuesday, April 22, 2008


Does the Pope always wear red shoes?
PRADA?

Is his underwear hand stitched by nuns?

boxers or briefs?
Commando?

These are questions i want answers to! I'd go look it up myself...but i feel your answers would be much more creative and perhaps factual. I invite you to share all the Pope facts you've got.

Guess what's back on the block!?! not the new kids.. but almost as good...
Our Fresh Pressed Lemonade. That's right we're back to selling you Lemons! Wait, that sounds wrong. AH well, come on in and try a refreshing Lemonade (and if adventurous enough the brand new TRAN MAN SPARKING RASPBERRY LEMONADE).

I feel as an ending i should leave you with the muffin names Damien came up with this morning and this excellent photo i found. Good luck out there... it's a crazy world!

BANANA your dreams away / RASPBERRY adventure kingdom


Monday, April 21, 2008


Susanna felt hot and thirsty so she ran up to the Mercury counter and demanded she be served an ice-cold, refreshing sparkling raspberry lemonade. What she wasn't prepared for was the explosion of flavour that was to be released into her psyche. She proceeded to consume the delicious beverage too quickly and had to be resuscitated from her brief coma with a Ethiopia Sidamo shot. (Is there anything coffee can't do?)

Alex didn't sleep much the night before because he was out late again chasing tail. No, not that kind of tail. We're talking about tail-winds. He says they are your best friend when you want to go really fast on your bike so he spent half the night zipping around the streets of Toronto looking for a sweet spot. He should have checked theweathernetwork.com to save himself the trouble but luckily enough Amber Fox was at the helm and pulling fantastic Kid-O shots which saved his miserable life.


These real life testimonies are brought to you by the lifesavers who work the front lines of Mercury. If you aren't with us, then you're against us.

Thursday, April 17, 2008



So I think I will survive this my first shift at Mercury. While I haven't quite earned the title of Barista yet, I'd like to think that somewhere between scrubbing the toilet and learning the value of slurping instead of sipping espresso (not in that order) I've achieved some level of intiation.

I'm Susanna by the way, and while I'm a newbie, I think you'll get to see more of me..........
FYI I'll be the adorable yet slightly clueless girl for next while but I fully expect to achieve coffee snobbery (in an endearing way?) by the time you are jetting around on your bike and come in here panting for an iced latte or some sweet sweet icy cold lemonade.

Yours in coffee solidarity,

Susanna Merlo

Wednesday, April 16, 2008


This is really hard. This is probably my 15th time starting off this entry just because I'm so indecisive about what to blog about. I guess I will keep it short and concise as it would be pretty hard to follow the previous post with an amazing spectacle (I added a picture of a snarling wolf, is that okay?). I'm new and I just started working at five p.m. My name is Matthew Davey and I like old films from the 50s and 60s, garage/weird punk and all the wonderful noises and bloops that span the experimental 'genre'. My family thinks I'm strange because my shoes aren't brown. This is actually my first time on a computer in a week or so because my hard-drive crashed (saddest day ever) and I lost everything. Come see me and say hello and stuff! Alright, that's it!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008



FINALLY i can continue my illicit love affair with way too many single short espressos and get all tweaky and slightly too happy so i can serve all of you titillatingly terrific and tantalizing tasty beverages with a jumpy misdemeanor. by the by my name is Douglas Hayter and i am the newest member of the Mercury crew. to give ya all ya need to know about me i LOVE poutine (i would sustain myself on it if it wouldn't kill me. PS. go watch "danse la poutine" by TTC and omnikron on youtube its wut my dreams are made of) and i LOVE forties (of the olde english variety, i would sustain myself on them if it wouldn't kill me). so come drop by and say hello most dashing and charming fella you'll likely meet in a day or two and we can discuss the finer points of the classic curd vs. grated poutine argument or the equally epic OE vs. Colt battle that has waged through the ages.


eat your peas n carrots, peace

Doulgas

Monday, April 14, 2008





























Neil is going to see MAN MAN tonight. You got it Pontiac, guy guy the band. I will not be attending the festivities; therefore, I do not need to better acquaint myself with their sound. I have changed the tunes to The Smiths. Then i found this amusing little number to your left...and thought "yeah, yeah, that right baby. I'm going with it!"

We still are doing a good job of keeping beans on the shelves despite the fact that a weekend has come and gone. If you're feeling a bit adventurous you might want to try the Millers Blend the next time you come in. It was developed as a tribute blend for the man who taught the intelli guys how to roast. So how bad could it be? answer, none. It just can't go wrong.

Well happy Hunting as they say in French.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

And You thought we were just being funny. Well let me tell you, little Jimmy didn't think so. After we sold him for a pretty penny life has never been the same. Sure, he's the youngest tightrope walker this country has ever seen. Sure, he can dance a jig with a family of elephants. Sure, his new adopted parents love him very much-- but due to the fact that they are clowns, he has a hard time deciphering if they are in fact happy or sad. He tends to sit at the window of the circus tent watching the rain fall lightly on the ground and wonder... why? why was i left alone at mercury? Why was i sold to the circus?

Okay. I have no idea where Alice was going with that
but
.....

I think it's an opportune time to announce that Mercury is formally acknowledging its outer space roots and collabo-ing with the United Federation of Planets on a series of Star Trek-inspired special menu of drinks:

The Wesley Crusher- single decaf soy latte with two pumps of vanilla, one of chocolate, one of hazelnut, one of caramel, with cinnamon and chocolate on top.

The Tasha Yar- three double ristrettos in one cup.

Qagh- Worf's favourite. Spoiled cream, four shots espresso, and the grinds. Possibly alive? After you drink it, we line up and kick you.

The Picard- Tea, Earl Grey. Hot.

The Deanna Troi- Whatever the person after you was going to order.

Or you could branch out from your usual fave and try out one of Intelligentsia's latest single origins on press, our feature latte, or just a little something you haven't tried yet!

We want feedback, so make sure you select an away team and "bean" down to the Merc today. Our prime directive? Deliciousness.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

And so it is--
Another wonderful day of fabulousness.
Little Trans upon their bikes while Huge (were talking 9 stories high) Zielinskis blow bubbles into the wind.
Tip Top Taylor on Vacation.
Feisty Feistnerns walking babies.
Killer Tillers with back ailments.
Rankin kissing clouds.
Sorry Mr.Bruneau, you're cramming for exams and your deadlines soon approaching.
Berg and Berg Berg-ing off on Berg corporation time.
Fox has graduated- lets send her congratulations.
Traub-Rees using his time wisely to find a partner with double last name. Example Adrian Traub-Rees meets Maryanne Buart- Seer and they live happily ever after.

INTELLIGENTSIA HAS ARRIVED!!!
That's right folks, we are stocked up, straight up cool.
This Weekend will prove to be an excellent time for a coffee. We're featuring the BALI (again i know, but when it's that good you just can't say no!) and a slew of Brand spanking New Intelli beans and blends. Don't miss out! Plus you know what they say about walking out in the rain...FREE SHOWER!

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

One Word At A Time .BEN. ALICE. ADRIAN.

Sitting, looking justifyingly curious at all prices.
concertedly our hero basked beside his steed.
Consequently coincidently....

Tune in next time for the conclusion to this hilarious poem.
word.
by.
word.

Onward and upward!
Emo Phillips once said "Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps" but you know... it's not one of those days.
Alex Tran Man
and A to the B to the Berg are just chillin' out to some ILL COMMUNICATION!
and to Quote T birds hoodie "We guarantee absolutely HipHop Mania"


We're pouring Mexico Oaxaca as the feature bean, and pressing Tres Santos and Cruz Del Sur. We've got a fridge full of milk and fresh cider. I don't recommend mixing them... but I'm sure we could come up with a fantastic combo of steamed milk and espresso. New exciting idea. Never been done. I'm going to blow this one out of the water! Be the first one ever to try- get this- a latte!

And now... the rap up

I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. -- Hunter S. Thompson

Friday, April 04, 2008

AND YOU CAN TOO!
Mercury is Hiring

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Do you like pretty pictures?
(This Guy Does!)

Well, then have we got some stuff for you to look at! Monsiuer Ryan Gauvin's beautiful pictures of cyclists and baristas now adorn our walls. Don't believe me? Well then why not stop by for a peek at some of the best photos this young man has to offer. While you're at it how's about we make you a fine cup o' Bali a la Paradise Valley in Latte form, only $4,75
And if you like what you see... check this out!
http://www.imagearts.ryerson.ca/rgauvin
We're back in business with a fully loaded shelf of beans on display-- and wait for it-- also FOR SALE! wow, I know! So pop in and pick up a pack. Drop down for some Diablo. Can't wait for Costa Rica! We've got beans with your name on them.