Mercury Espresso Bar

2010-04-15T15:26:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. We've moved. After 4 years, we finally have our own website.

So head over there, check out the new digs, and click the "blog tab" to continue following us.

Thanks for your support.

Cheers.

Mercury

2010-03-20T09:30:00.008-04:00

Monday March 20, 2006....... We opened Mercury at 7am........ For the first time........

Things sure were a lot different back then. You'll notice a disconnected phone booth onthe noth wall there. Does any one remember the phone booth?!

You'll also notice where the windows are now. No windows... Then there were 'Leather Coats', but they weren't very warm in the winter months.

And that sign that used to hang above the door found a new place on the brick wall. It's one of those things that I don't notice all the time but when I look over and see it, I realize how many changes have gon on in the last four years.

Oh ya! Remember this?

Wow!

Thank you everyone! Four years and counting.

2010-03-18T15:10:00.002-04:00

Does anyone remember when Alex was just a young pup?

Happy Belated Birthday, A-Train.

2010-03-11T17:08:00.002-05:00

we've reopened! let's hear it for those guys that made the rennovations happen!

Matt Taylor

Doug Tiller

Kyle

A cast of others including Grasby and Dave

Please come down and see all the changes! A few include- more seats, freshly brewed french presses, and our new monumental mercury espresso blend, which contains and Ethiopian and Costa Rican bean. Au revoir mes amis!!

2010-02-16T06:58:00.004-05:00

Most of you know all about the upcoming renovations, right? On the 22nd we will be closed for a shop overhaul and we'll be returning on the 28th? Ring a bell? How about the fact that we're going to have a new espresso blend, geared specifically to our strict specifications? How about that one, huh tough guy? We haven't even filled you in on our biggest paradigm shift, because some might say that it's too huge. But here's the thing, I'm willing to let the cat out of the bag to you; the anonymous peope of the interweb.
You ready?
Once you hear it there is no going back.

Take the red pill!

WE SWITCHED FROM WINDOWS TO LINUX!!!!!!

I know, right, this is a huge shock!
It's tough to get used to, but I took about 15 minutes to familiarize myself with it and now I am a master.
Let me now regail you with the best Linux joke the interneat has to offer:

um... what?

2010-02-09T06:46:00.003-05:00

If anyone gives me a strawberry milk today I will give them a million.
Seriously, I just had the best soggy milk with my cereal and it was tinged with strawberry flavour from the disgusting dried strawberries and now I have the THIRST FOR MORE!!!!

2010-02-09T06:25:00.002-05:00

GOODE MOURNING SKULL CHILDREN OF LESLIEVILLE!

COME TO ME, SO THAT TOGETHER WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE ABYSS.
TODAY I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO ADD NO SUPPLEMENTARY CONDIMENTS TO YOUR COFFEE. BY DOING SO YOU WILL BE EMBRACING THE DARK EVIL THAT IS COFFEE.

CAN U DIG IT?

ANGELS AND DEMONS, YO, TOM HANKS AUDREY TAUTO, CHECK IT.
UPDATE: COFFEE IS NOT EVIL, BUT I AM BECAUSE I AM A GOTH. PREPARE TO BE SACRIFICED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did anyone see the new aquateen hunger force with the rabbit robot come back?

2010-02-07T15:22:00.002-05:00

Hey there coffee connoisseurs!
This is Mumbles Mcgee and Boom Boom Box coming to you live from Mercury Sunday, where the best soul hits blare and the highest quality coffee flows!
Yesterday I didn't get a chance to get a word in about the Ikirezi Burundi Ngozi. Sadly for you guys, it's all gone! I bought the last bag. Sorry. But it was my favourite coffee on press in weeks! The earthy apple notes coupled with AJ's pretty face put a smile on my face all day! Hopefully we'll see that one again.

Today we're cupping some of the Kenya French Mission Varietal from Dark City. We're definite fans. There is a nice light, nutty earthiness with what I find to be a grapefruity citrusy spin in the aroma and aftertaste. Come try some or buy a bag for the folks at home!

2010-02-06T17:32:00.002-05:00

Aj just shared a french press with the delightful mumbles mcgee!
ikirezi, burundi, ngozi... is tongue twister indeed.. say that 100 times fast and you might fall over.. but it is delicious.. extremely smooth and easy on the pallet.. like me! i totally liked it, but i am yet to find something that tops the ethiopian yirgacheffe my new all time favourite EVER!
I drank it every morning last week at home in my polar bear pjs... and found a new best friend* no other can take its place.. except maybe YOU

2010-02-03T06:48:00.002-05:00

yesterday was garbage day. walking home from my morning jaunt around the block and such (physical activity, fresh air, natural anti-depressant and the like) i noticed that someone one my street had put out a palm tree with their trash.

actually, it may have been two palm trees in one pot for some reason.

anyways, this sort of thing is typical of my street. just last week i ate popcorn and sat in the window watching a high speed cop chase involving dogs and police officers (at least 20 of them, though sometimes it is hard to say, because they all look the same in uniform and especially from my window, and moreover when i am more focused on which piece of popcorn is going to come next, and further more, they all had their hands covering their faces because they were doing official things like communicating via their high-tech walkie-talkies). the chase ended well for the officers, in case you were wondering, because among their numerous ranks and with the help of their trusty steeds (dogs) they managed to find the one scrawny little fellow they were looking for.

right.

so the palm tree (or two). anyways the garbage truck that came to pick up the tree had three scruffy men driving, who waved politely at me as i concluded my jaunt, and actually, the truck was blasting cindy lauper's girls just wanna have fun.

she looks great, eh??

this led me to believe i had not yet had enough coffee, so i went to mercury (naturally) where i delighted in a cortado with our current featured single origin espresso (costa rica tarrazu!!!)

right so it did work, though, having a coffee. great idea. do it, seriously. see you soon!

-aerin

2010-02-02T07:25:00.003-05:00

YEAH!
GROUNDHOG DAY!!

did you know that in 1992, Wiarton Willie the groundhog died two days before groundhog day and they instead presented a decoy groundhog in a coffin with COINS OVER HIS EYES instead?
WOW!

Yeah, so happy groundhog day! Take those coins off your eyes and bring them down to the shop and grab a coffee!
Bye!

lol.

2010-01-31T08:13:00.001-05:00

THE VERSATILITY OF COFFEE PT 2.

MEETING NEW FRIENDS.

OFFICIAL BEVERAGE OF KITTEN GLITTER PARTY!

TO BE CONTINUED...

2010-01-29T15:48:00.004-05:00

THE VERSATILITY OF COFFEE PT 1.

DRINKING, RELAXING BY A WARM FIRE

BOOTING UP WORLD OF WARCRAFT AND SHREDDING DUDES WHILST ON YOUR HIGHEST BUZZ-RAGER

TO BE CONTINUED...

2010-01-26T06:27:00.002-05:00

listen up all you jam hands!

It's young matt here and I have a mission for you! If you bring me a copy of a burned cd today (the twenty-sixth of january) I will personally give you one free coffee of your choosing. However, there is a catch!
You have to bring me a copy of calvin johnson's mix called

LOST GIRLS 1977-’82 female new wave / punk underground 

I have it at home so this is a one time offer. I need to listen to this so badly!
Come onnnn I know you guys have resources and internets, just give it a chance, what do you have to lose?

2010-01-23T16:06:00.001-05:00

in my joy i would like to announce that we will be naming our love child
douglas matthew.. after our favourite gay couple in the whole east end

2010-01-23T16:04:00.002-05:00

gasp! i can feel the light within my womb growing! addy just impregnated me with her beauty!!
i so happy!!

2010-01-23T15:39:00.001-05:00

come share in our happy love.. aj and addys romantic weekend getaway... at mercury...
a toast to our upcoming marriage,, true love forever t.i.d. t.i.n.d.

2010-01-23T06:52:00.005-05:00

"The Wow! signal was a strong narrowband radio signal detected by Dr. Jerry R. Ehman on August 15, 1977, while working on a SETI project at The Big Ear radio telescope of The Ohio State University. The signal bore expected hallmarks of potential non-terrestrial and non-solar system origin."

This is a mystery of the universe. A signal that makes no sense, but potentially bears some form of consciousness behind it. Through examining and studying the Wow! Signal I have come to my own theory concerning whether or not it is a sign of intelligent life. I propose that it didn't come from outerspace, but rather from jaded coffee customers who have woken up too early for their own good. If you think about it, we've all been there. Waking up at 4:30 a.m. muttering letters and numbers that seemingly only make sense to ourselves.
For someone who sees themself as the Carl Sagan of the espresso biz, I'm working with a crack team of baristas/meta-physicists to crack and decipher what the Wow! Signal might mean. Latte for here? Extra shot? Who knows. We've tried our radio telescope in South America to try and beam similar messages to the sender in hopes of a clarifying response:

pew! pew!

We've also tried to send them a wake up call by imprinting the basic fundamentals of life on earth and in our solar system on a golden disc, much like the golden disc sent out on the voyager spacecraft. Should someone come across it by chance, they could glean some knowledge of what it is like to be in the world and perhaps we will be able to further interact, lessening the confusion between us.

We even put johnny b. good on it.

So far, however, we have had no luck, just more muddled transmissions from Extra-Terrestrials/morning customers. With all of the other sources of confusion in the world (Miley Cyrus et al.) it's easy to feel why all of us in this espresso industry sometimes feel like a pale blue dot.

R.I.P. Carl Sagan, Tupac, Etc...

2010-01-20T08:52:00.003-05:00

sometimes, when the world is cloudy, the sunrise looks like the apocalypse.

come have a coffee with me. apocalypse. coffee. apocacoffee. apocoffee. cup of coffee. mmm. sunrise...

2010-01-19T07:15:00.001-05:00

espresso •basso, El Paso, Picasso, Sargasso, Tasso •fatso, paparazzo, terrazzo •Brasso •espresso, gesso •intermezzo, mezzo •scherzo •peso, say-so •calypso, dipso •schizo • buttspresso • torso • also •amoroso, capriccioso, oloroso, so-so •Caruso, Robinson Crusoe, Rousseau, trousseau •so-and-so •Curaçao, curassow •Thurso, verso

2010-01-17T09:02:00.002-05:00

No two vortices are the same so the math describing vortex movement is extremely complex due to periodicity, chaos and the fractal type structures witnessed there. The vortex is the means by which states of motion are transferred from one condition to another. Twin opposing electrical vortices are therefore the means by which the infinite variety of motions and their resulting physical forms manifest themselves in our Universe.

2010-01-07T16:05:00.002-05:00

Hi guysz, it'sd Mert and Nield here 1nce more to tell you thast we are having one jamminh new year here at mert's erepsso bar! this landscape of our fair city of toronto has changed vastly upon the last year or so so wer'e going to tell you about what's happenign! first we saw the opening gof our new rivla bar-> ice cream shop: Gary's! IT is located across the street and they serve our ice cream frflavoured espresso! Next down the road we got the new guys from new zelend "te air". These guys operate their new machine (wich they just bought) "air roster".

MErt's here, being my place of working, has added new coffeeee classes, so beyond the working class and upper middle clas. We have brought you! the public some opportunities- not- to- be- missed!!!!

I'm going to hand it over to Nield right nouw for some educations about what our coffes are like here at our salon, go nield1!!

Nield here! I;''m a guy i life to dfrink yerba mate here with the party of espresso roosters! we can win this coffee fight togehter right now: ethiopa yerchaffe off with some dark cittay coffee!! k thaxnks! have a nice 2010

BYE UNTIL LATER!

2009-12-23T11:11:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone. Here are our Holiday Hours:

Dec.24:6:30a-5p,
Dec.25th:Closed,
Dec.26th:8a-5p,
Dec.31st :6:30a-5p,
Jan.1st-Closed.

Happy Holidays! and a Happy New Years.
Thanks again for being so amazing!

2009-12-06T16:30:00.001-05:00

GUYS! MATT HERE! AERIN IS TOTALLY BIRDO! THOSE LASHES! THAT WINK! TOTALLY!!!!!!

2009-12-06T15:37:00.003-05:00

some of you may or may not have noticed that it is in fact december.

actually, matt taylor has yet to notice, because he is still sporting his trusty movember stache. i can't bring myself to tell him because, well, because i'm new here, and also because i don't think he would part with it anyways.

but, and so, it's obvious that as head of the mario kart family, matt actually needs to have a mustache and i think he's just finally realized this so that's okay.

matt taylor

and, also, his brother luigi has obviously also not realized that it's december, and this too is okay, because luigi is supposed to have a mustache as well.

neil rankin

so, actually, the whole movember thing was just a ruse for their true personalities to have an opportunity to come out. and for everyone's true mario personalities to come out, i've noticed.

doug tiller

matt davey

robin

aj

katie

addie

chris swimms

i don't have a character yet because i haven't advanced to the next level. next month if i'm lucky.

but so in case you forgot again, it's december, so here's a list of reasonable things to do with all yr time:
1. skating (hot chocolate necessity both before and after, or risk losing the value of the full skating experience)
2. hang out with yr dog (always an option, but more so when winter is suddenly here and yr pet conveniently has more fur than you and is therefore a mobile blanket for yr personal cuddling enjoyment)
3. go sledding (enough said)
4. post on blogs, or better yet, make witty comments on my blog post
5. stuffing (the turkey and the stocking)
most importantly:
6. hang out with me at mercury and drink espresso, or cappucinos, or if you must, a latte or two. i'm accumulating points to cash in for my mario kart character.

2009-12-01T12:01:00.003-05:00

Happy December to you all! With the holidays hovering over us, we scramble around trying to figure out what to present as a present. How 'bout a gift certificate for your favourite coffee shop? But wait... Hold on! In addition to the usual $5 and $10 Mercury Espresso Bar Gift Certificates, we'll be selling cerificates for our first in a series of Coffee Education and Cupping Classes. For $60 you can get that caffeine crazed friend or family member one of 10 spots open on Tuesday January 26, 2010 at 7pm. The course will include a journey that takes you from the cherry to the cup. We'll be discussing growing and harvesting, processing(and how each process is integral to the cup), and of course a tasting! We'll sample 6 coffees prepared in 3 different ways. Not to mention a few interesting tidbits along the way. Of course you'll also take some top notch coffee home with you as well. You can share your new found knowledge with anyone who'll listen. Come on down and let us know how many you want and we'll hook you up. Again, the date of the first class is Tuesday January 26, 2010 @ 7pm. We'll be doing a regular series of these classes and each time we'll focus on coffees that are in season at that time. Can't wait to see you there!

2009-11-28T13:01:00.002-05:00

miss your momma?
why not come in for one of ajs warm breast milk lattes..
fresh.. hot.. welcoming... like mommys love
combined with our rwanden feature..
everyone wins
even yer mom

2009-11-26T19:23:00.001-05:00

dear leslieville
could someone please help aj administer a coffee aenima? i hear its REAL healthy
especially if you enjoy the smokey jasmine hues of yirgacheffe...
ims gonna be clean as a whistle!

2009-11-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

is it wrong to make love to my americano? pucker up black cat
ajs in the mood for LOVE

2009-11-12T14:20:00.002-05:00

SILENCE AND "THE ESPRESSO"

I got to thinking about 20 minutes ago when I was asked to write a blog about something that's been on my mind for a while now. Something that every barista has experienced; Silence. Silence, as we all know can be like a warm toilette over the face, or it can be a maddening prison where all of our perverted thoughts run rampant in our ever-so-derranged minds... wait, you guys don't have derranged minds? Don't bullshit me... Anyway, let's get started.Really? Are you some kind of Moron?

Perhaps the most irksome request asked of a barista nowadays (none-"why-bother" drink request) is the "could you please turn the music down?" question. Admittedly, sometimes people do get carried away, but come on, SLAYER IS LIKE MOZART! This is obviously and stance of the barista protecting themselves from POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME by using noise as a distraction from TERRIBLE 'NAM FLASHBACKS.

Johnny?
John?
JOHNNNNYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
WHY?!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?

But really... are they? What some people don't understand is that Silence does exist in the loud coffee environment, and it is not all unwelcomed. It isn't a desolate, baron, antarctica-like silence, but rather a staggered silence throughout the day. These staggered silences are usually the result of someone lifting the needle off of the turntable so that it makes that "RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRURRRRPPPP" sound. It's kind of like listening to early hip-hop once every three hours for about 10 seconds. 10 Seconds of in-between-ness (Fig 1a).

(fig 1a) As you can see, silence is distributed evenly and fairly throughout the day. It is also green.

This is an instance of when complete silence is totally and wholeheartedly embraced. More are embodied in the list that follows:

Early mornings when you just want to be left alone, with your thoughts (Why am I up this early? Where am I? This hangover sucks.)
After DEATH METAL FRIDAYS 1-3pm when people are done assaulting you with torches and pitchforks accusing you of satanism.
When we are closed
At inopportune moments when you are trying to insult a jerk behind his back
oh wait that last one shouldn't be on here.

SILENCE: BLISS OR HELL?

THIS IS THE QUESTION.
ONLY ONE ARBITRATING FORCE CAN QUELL ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE TWO TENSE FORCES:

GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL

Charizard is my FAV!

2009-10-16T16:48:00.001-04:00

DOUG IS GONE TO SPAIN

TIME TO CUT LOOSE!!!

FRIGGIN PARTY OVER HERE!!!!!

2009-10-09T16:34:00.003-04:00

Hey internet world, this is Matt coming at you from the real world. The very real world. In fact I am writing from the 'desert of the real' in the movie the matrix.

mercury in what is actually the year 2020

I know what you're thinking, 'cause right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here: Why, oh why, didn't I take the BLUE pill?
You know, I know this espresso doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?

Ignorance is bliss.

and that's it for moi!
Go Addy!

Ugh Matt Davey. I'm so glad that guy is gone for the day. Always showing me up with his prettier latte art and stuff. I guess I'm just lucky to work alongside Matt. This has, after all, always been my dream. No, not to be Matt. Brewing exceptional bean oil!

I still recall being a wee lass, so wee I could still fit into the top shelf of a shopping cart, cruisin' through the aisles with my Ma, as if grocery shopping wasn't, in fact, a huge chore (everything was exciting back then, eh?...). Our favourite part was always inhaling the scents of freshly ground coffee in the coffee aisle. Seriously, I didn't even drink coffee back then but my addiction had already begun, from the very first time I took in the simple smell of "alright" coffee. My journey has led me here, and I am so grateful. Barista-ing with cool dudes like Matt Davey, I give thanks, on this weekend of Thanksgiving (unless you're from Amerikuh and don't know when Thanksgiving is), for mindblowing coffee and lovely people to make it for me!

So if you, like my young self shown above, are heavily addicted to the smell of coffee beans, come indulge! Bask in the glory of a legal drug for only a few dollars.

2009-10-02T17:29:00.003-04:00

So, as you all know, I've been working here a long time and my blog entries have been, for the most part, on the abstract-eye-bleeding-sore-causing-mind-hemorrhaging side. So let me take it down a notch for you guys and maybe blow your mind for real this time. I'm going to try and draw upon the parallels between two of my favourite things and the battles in my mind that ensue between them. Yeah, you guessed it. It's the match of a lifetime. It's

ESPRESSO VS. FALCONRY

FUCK YEAH!

FUCK YEAH!

So both of these things take a long time to learn. When I started at mercury, it took me at least three months before Matt let me go behind bar, but guess what coffee world, you know how long it takes before you can get "behind the bar" in the falconry world? According to Ontario Field Ornithologists it takes TWO YEARS. So matt, who is stronger? You or a falcon?

SCREE!!

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Round two: Extraction time.
To prove I'm not completely biased towards falconry I'm setting up this category which should be an easy win for espresso. Generally, most people who order espresso drinks are impatient and demand a short wait. Luckily, your favourite little brown liquid comes out in 25-30 seconds, (unless you're an Italian guy and your drink comes out even faster). Unfortunately, the gestation period for a falcon is 30 days, or approximately 2592000 seconds. In 2592000 seconds you could make 86400 shots of espresso. So there you go espresso, you win one by the numbers.

flarp.

Lighting round:
How much caffeine does it take to kill you? Approximately 7500mg.
How many falcons does it take to kill you? Approximately 1.
1 point falconry.
A common practice for elevating a cup to bring it closer to the porta-filter during extraction is putting a ramekin under it.
A common practice before elevating your bird of prey to the skies and ordering it to kill a small mammal is putting a LEATHER GAUNTLET UNDER IT.
1 point falconry.
Espresso has cool nicknames like 'spro, the brown swallow, shart etc...
Falcons have cool nicknames like raptors, life devastators and flying death machines
1 point falconry.
You can drink espresso
You can't drink a falcon
1 point espresso
You can share an espresso based beverage with a friend.
If you share your falcon, your falconry license will be revoked, and your falcon will rain hate-death down upon you.
1 point espresso
Espresso being a colonial commodity was probably a part of the instigation of many wars.
No one fights wars for falcons except for nature conservationists, and those guys are generally lame hippies.
1 point espresso

And thus concludes the lightning round. So wait a minute, what? The outcome denotes a TIE!? What?! I was writing this as a kind of aptitude test to see what I would do with my future.
The solution between this tense conflict is evident. We need to cross the bridge between these age old institutions. I suggest we combine espresso and falconry to create the penultimate, delicious, deathmachine industry. We can have these shops all over the country, people will live in fear of the gazing hawk and it this fear will invariably make them enjoy their espressos as if it were there last. And the falcons, if they drank the espresso, I'm sure they'd become even more vicious and effective at killing. We can call it Falconresso or maybe Espralconry! What do you guys think?

Can this,

Coexist with this?

On second thought, maybe not.

2009-09-15T21:14:00.003-04:00

Hairshirt Fracture

I'm feeling like I'm waiting on a train
By the sounds from my bed I think somebody's bled
All over something someone's keeping clean

I don't need anything, just make it bright
then turn it low
You don't need more than me
You could live right there beneath the stairs
I've done it, I've said all I can, I've reached the end
Now you must learn to bend
Bend to the floor, taste the core

You're not going nowhere
leave the money right there
I feel the arrow sticking in my ear
We owe so much we pawned
Now watch the power come undone
I'm standing on my head to watch the day just drift away
This city always makes the same mistakes, asleep or awake

I'm sick of waking up inside white balloons
Inside of blue balloons

New York air is sweet tonight
there's no stars but that's all right
I'm breathing

I feel you through your fear
Pull the arrow from my ear
Tonight we'll take a different way home
They say the fire burns but won't consume
But it does consume

You're slick, you shoplift
What's left of my brain
You haven't changed
This city always makes the same mistakes,
it's just like me
It always breaks in two
I'm sick of me for being sick of you
We'll take a gypsy cab to heaven or hell
Time will tell

RIP Jim.

8.1.1949 - 9.11.2009

2009-09-07T15:52:00.002-04:00

There's another Doug Tiller. He's alive and well and living in Toronto. He came by looking for our Doug Tiller today. Doug Tiller, Doug Tiller is coming for you!

2009-09-06T18:10:00.002-04:00

I'll miss you buddy!

2009-09-03T17:59:00.002-04:00

"If the barista gives you a take-out cup without asking first you better take it out." -unknown

It was 2006 and Mercury was still finding it's footing in this new and upcoming (back when this actually meant that) Leslieville neighborhood. A small group of baristas found themselves with an opportunity to push the boundaries of customer service in a quaint cafe with a product superior enough to warrant more respect traditionally given in this field. Humor was employed in place of retaliation which could sometimes go either way.

Customer: Excuse me. Excuse ME! You are OUT of toilet paper!

Mike: Oh sorry about that.

Customer: This is unacceptable.

Mike: So it was a drip dry was it?

Customer:....well... How DARE YOU! (storms out)

Mike: Too much?

2009-08-19T16:11:00.002-04:00

from atop the precipice he wrote such loving prose/a shame he had to fall from grace/he landed none too gracefully/there were many who said his last words were spoken aloud as he crashed down the mountain side/most disagreed/they said his last words were typed/what follows is an artist's rendering of both/the spoken & the writ/

eureka/a little piece of the recipe for disaster was located locked and tangled upon this precipice on which i sit/a mad dash of snow down the hills toward the township above/below/added up/subtraction/retracting winter's breath down my neck/such a benevolent poet laureate was he that i was allowed to usurp the throne at widow's peak/and thrown he was to me as i was to the winds of change/a failure no less than a century young/more than a few lyrical quotes came to mind in those final days of mine/welcome/go back/goodbye/jump they said/the choice was their own/

never would i see the usurped again/lost in the mundane was he/precipitating all was a need to know/it led me here/to words of wisdom disguised in verse/labyrinthine in nature and made impossible to solve by the masses/hence my sitting here/ever more/chances are even they will try some day/try most likely to reach the same conclusions that i and the noble man before reached/too many ingredients were needed to truly get to the truth/the ever sought after/endless bounds/for me just another chapter/for them gospel/

hey ho come have a coffee @ mercury espresso bar!!!!!!!!1!!

2009-08-18T15:17:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm Chris, the new guy. I'm 25 and taurus. This is my first time working East of Spadina. I aspire to make you a damn good coffee.

2009-08-05T17:08:00.002-04:00

Listen up GUYS! There's a new kid in town! I won't tell you who, but let's just say his name is "little Mikey." He's drippy, hot and delicious. Okay, okay, ya got me, Little Mikey is actually our new featured single origin espresso- Brazil Santo Antonio Estates. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Full in flavour, and encompassing a wide spectrum of acidity, this espresso will dance on your tongue like a pack of pop-rocks. All the more, it is balanced by a subtle fruit undertone. UNDERTONE! this is as nerdy as I get so I need to weigh out the rest of this entry with some STUPID IMAGES!!!

FAVELA FLAVA

me blogging at mercury espresso bar back in '92

my beloved pet lizard doris!

2009-07-30T16:27:00.002-04:00

K FOLKS, HERE IT IS. THIS IS THE MERCURY BLOG AND SO UHHHHH, MERCURY UMMM...

EMPLOYEES WRITE ON IT.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO.
BY LAW.
BY VIRTUE OF US WORKING HERE.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A HIGHER POWER- ROBOCOP.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!"

SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I GIVE YOU THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR BLOG/WORK ESTABLISHMENT: ADDY

Well, that Matt is a tough act to follow... So I'm the newest member of the blogging team, Addy... Adrien. I have been informed that without the production of this blog, I lose my job. So here I am, enjoying the breeze of the fan that is the extent of our air conditioning in this fine establishment.
Today, I spent my afternoon on my hands and knees organizing beneath the counter (you guys don't even want to know...), but my hopes are high that after this I can steam some dish soap water!! This is what it takes, boys and girls, to achieve status in the Barista world.
On the bright side, through the blood-drawing, blister-causing hazing, I get to enjoy the finest espresso money can buy. Take it from me, I don't even really work here!

2009-07-17T15:33:00.002-04:00

It has come to my attention quite recently that there was some slandering going on in the Mercury Blog. I would like to take this opportunity to express my apologies for this unfortunate event. The opinion expressed had to do with a local roaster. These opinions are in no way reflective of points of view of Mercury Espresso Bar. We are very supportive of anyone within the specialty coffee industry. It is an amazing industry with amazing people. People who all have the same idea as to where we need to be headed; forward and as a community. Again, as for the parties refered to in the blog, I apologize for this.
Sincerely,
Matthew Taylor
Co-Owner - Mercury Espresso Bar

2009-07-10T15:30:00.002-04:00

LISTEN UP MY LITTLE BROS!!!
SUMMER IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN FULL SWING DUE TO ALL OF US REALLY FEELIN' IT.

You know what I'm talking about- the heat!

"But Matt, how are you going to write a blog about heat when this is an espresso blog?"

Well how about I answer your question with another question:

"WHY ARE YOU STILL READING, BUSTER?!"

To be honest, I never really wanted to write about the heat, it is just that Doug asked me to write a blog today and i forget what he told me to write about so I figure that if I just write enough words it will come back to me... IN AN AWESOME WAVE TORRENT SPLASH!

OH HANG ON A SEC...

NOW I REMEMBER:
Our good ol' faithful buddy Neil, the barista, will be competing in the good ol' regional barista championships. These things are SERIOUS. They start on July 19th! If Neil takes the cake in this comp' he'll move on to the nationals which are held in Vancouver this year. CAN YOU IMAGINE NEIL ON THE WEST COAST? IT'D LOOK LIKE THIS, PROBABLY (See image below)

(this is not Neil)

NEAT-O!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, if Neil wins the nationals he'll be competing in the Barista WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in LONDON ENGLAND... Come on, this is a big deal because we all know Neil likes to mock the English with a phony accent, and this is maybe going to be his only chance to actually MOCK THEM IN PERSON AND ALSO DEFEAT THEM IN A COFFEE COMPETITION!!!

prepare to have that smug look espresso-ed off yo face, beeyatch

So let's wish that little guy some luck! He's an underdog! He's a sleeper hit! He's a buddy for all of us! He's like Teddy Ruxpin meets Gene Simmons! He's like Bea Arthur on a motorcycle!

Wish for his freedom, I want the Nile. Wish for the Nile- NEIL!

2009-06-30T17:54:00.002-04:00

Hi.

I'm Robin. I"ve been working down at Queen Mercury for, let's say, a while, and this is my first blog. What can I say, I'm not a blogger. I'd be categorized as techno-unsavvy, I don't even really know how to download music. Seriously. So instead of this computer mumbo-jumbo, come in, have a chat, bring me a mix CD, and we've still got the Brazil Varghina Sul de Minas so have a shot, it's tasty.

2009-06-19T13:30:00.002-04:00

Hello Babies, my name is Katie. I never blog. Really. I've been working here since September and I"ve never written a blog. I guess I am just a shy guy.

So anyway.

This weekend is NXNE, right? It's only Friday and I'm totally tired. I'm a pretty lucky guy though working at Mercury Espresso Bar...this morning Neil pulled me a shot of the single origin Brazil that he is using in the competition and it really made my tired guy blues melt away. Maybe if you're lucky he will give you some of it too. I dunno.

If not we've got a bunch of other good stuff! You know about it!

Bye!

2009-06-01T16:28:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone,
This is lil' slugger here to tell you that Mercury Espresso Bar has once again been nominated for the illustrious Krups Kup of Excellence Award. In previous years, judges who knew very little about espresso would come into all the coffee joints in all of Canada (even all of the different Tim Hortons) and, well, judge us - harshly (nah, just kiddin' they were nice).

HOWEVER

This year they're expanding beyond the Krups Kremlin and allowing the masses to decide who has the best espresso. That's right, you! The people! You can do it!
Vote!
You can even vote for us if you like!
The Krups website is http://www.vote.krups.ca ! Follow instructions there if you like us!

2009-05-27T18:02:00.003-04:00

RAIN

I AM SO BORED

COME SEE ME!

TRY OUR NEW FEATURE BEAN:

HAITIAN BLEU

2009-05-20T13:49:00.005-04:00

One of the following statements is not true:

I saw a Colonel Sanders look-alike walking down the street today pushing a baby in a stroller.

Steven Seagal came in today and ordered a iced-soy latte. Pansy.

The SWAT team is swarming Jilly's right now. Curiously, we see many Dark Horse customers come through here.

We will soon have raspberry sparkling lemonade. We will also host more high-school students.

Ice-cream and beer was a bad idea last night.

What is the Leslieville Cheese Shop doing on Queen West? (Okay, it's not much of a statement but come on!)

Robin's hair gets really hot in the sun.

"Dogs are forever in the push-up position." -Mitch Hedberg

The other night someone puked up a screamo band all over my living room.

Luigi is totally the gay brother.

Matt Davey is now a record producer.

It smells like summer.

Being cute doesn't work all the time.

Doug Hayter is now the cheese master.

2009-05-18T14:53:00.003-04:00

"Buzz, your girlfriend, woof!"

Hay guyz.
It's the may 24 weekend!
That dusty, ol' battle-axe QUEEN VICTORIA would have wanted you to come to this establishment and drink some sclading hot bean oil (maybe, actually she was probably partial to tea).
come see me (matt).
taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa taaaaaaaaaaaa!

2009-05-14T14:53:00.002-04:00

Buncha wackos in here today (us)!

come try our rad new feature bean: Brazil VARGHINA Sul De Minas.

AND NO.

THAT NAME IS NOT A JOKE

COME TO OUR PARTY CITY:

2009-05-10T13:06:00.002-04:00

Yo buddies.
it is the day where we say how much we care about our moms. We often forget about how important they are, but you know, I find myself thinking about other neglected dudes too.

What about moths? Do they get mothers day?

and what about mammoths? mammothers day?

and what about the ice planet from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back; Hoth? Hothers Day?

In these modern times where no stone is left unturned in the name of civilization and science, why have we not realized all that is important to us, as well as our mothers? I think that today would be greatly enhanced if I were riding around on a moth covered mammoth on Hoth. Maybe I could wrap my tow-cable around an AT-AT or something, instead of getting lame flowers for my mom.

2009-05-08T14:51:00.003-04:00

It's a scorcher today.
What better way to enjoy your disgustingly sticky day than with an equally sticky, gooey shot of espresso? The shots we're pulling today aren't even liquid! They are more like gak (in a good way):

Here is a shot of the Rwandan Black cat I pulled today. Mmmm.

So come on down to this dainty little place on queen street east. Also, feast your eyes upon our new art works done by Toronto's own Laura Mensinga. Bee-yoots!

2009-05-07T12:46:00.002-04:00

This made me smile today:

"Can I order something for you?"

"Yeah...uh a latte."

"Ok, just that? They aren't going to ask me a million more questions if I just say latte?"

"No."

2009-05-06T18:24:00.002-04:00

Hey metal, Neil Diamond will always be harder than you.

If you can decaffeinate coffee, can you re-caffeinate it as well?

The first person to discover cow's milk must have felt really awkward when he started telling people what he found out.

Mothers use the word 'funky' to describe things that you should like.

Honey is bee's puke. Think about it.

Why do have to be so mean all the time, House?

Syphilis can make your nose fall off.

Fake noses were very en vogue in the 1700's.

2009-04-22T16:33:00.003-04:00

Hi.

I'm going to whisper this blog so that I won't offend anyone.

I'm not as animated and charming as Neil, innocent and creative as Matt Davey, witty and sharp as Damien, mysterious and lovely as Robin, sweet and commanding as Katie, slick and laid-back as Doug Hayter, or as intellectual and articulate as Ben but I do enjoy pulling shots. It can be a therapeutic experience when every element falls into place just the way you want it to. You forget, for a moment, all the drama and chaos a service establishment attracts when you focus on what made our place so successful in the first place.

I've been here for three years and overall it's been pretty smooth. Dealing with personalities (all kinds really)has taught me a lot about patience but has also rewarded me with the privilege of getting to know some wonderful people.

We won't always click. But that's okay. I'm sure you'll understand if I'm having an 'off day'. I understand very well that it's my job to deal with people but don't expect me to force it. I don't believe customer service should be polarized. We can deal with one another as human beings. No more no less. I can make a personal promise to everyone to do just that.

On a more serious note, coming in tomorrow from Intelligentsia is the Anjilanka, Organic Bolivia single origin Black Cat espresso specially selected for 2009 United States Barista Champion Mike Phillips. It boasts green grape and fig flavours that give way to a juicy finish and a crisp acidity. We'll have eyes rolling and tongues wagging all day.

Holla.

-Alex

2009-04-14T14:15:00.006-04:00

In the advent of the birth of Doug and Loris baby, I started thinking about how integral babies and their moms are to the entire mercury espresso bar biz-nass. In order to commemorate this relationship I would like to draw upon certain similarities between babies and coffee (yes, I am actually going to do this and yes I am a loser).

Here we go, first picture. Babies love espresso bars! I mean come on! He's munchin' on it!

Next photo! In the coffee business, the porta filter carries the delicious grounds from the grinder to be extracted into pure espresso from the machine. In real life, the grinder is like the womb and the porta filter is like the baby carrier from which you extract so much joy!

Photo three: fake-babies aren't real, just like decaf coffee isn't real!
finally, here's something that we can all enjoy!

-Matt

2009-04-01T07:03:00.001-04:00

Still tippin' on foe foes:

Toronto's Best Latte Art

Thanks for the write-up, Caroline!

2009-03-30T10:35:00.001-04:00

YEAHHH!!! FUN AT MERCURY WITH MERCURY!!!!

Come on down to queen street, the only store with two injured employee toes!!!!

2009-03-20T11:08:00.002-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLIEVILLE MERCURY!!! CONGRATULATIONS ON THREE GREAT YEARS. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU TO THE BEST BARISTAS IN THE CITY: ALEX, BEN, NEIL, DAMIEN, MATT, KATIE, DOUG, AND ROBIN.... YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

2009-03-17T18:06:00.005-04:00

so, while our fellow Leslieville residents are busy patting themselves on the back for facing down the consumerdisneyland giant known as 'SmartCenter Inc',
let me take a moment to pat our superduperskilzladen staff here at mercury, on the back, for getting this little write up on pg 65 of the April issue of Toronto Life Magazine :

Best Caffeine Jolt

"Coffee nerds can keep their $15 cups of Esmeralda. We'll take one of Mercury's carefully crafted lattes($3.95). Chocolaty, rich and smooth, their Black Cat beans make the best espresso in the city."

so to the best staff in the city, we say a huge, heartfelt thanks, for doing what you do, and doing it as well as you all do it! you guys rock!

BTW - the Black Cat beans come from Intelligentsia, who are just one of the great roasters we use at the shop, and who i might add, are also pretty freaking good at what they do. So thanks to them too.

2009-03-04T17:39:00.005-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS LESLIEVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!

No Big Box in our 'hood! Great news. This means no Walmart. What a relief, eh? It just goes to show that a great community, filled with great INDEPENDENT businesses can beat the big guys. Way to go!!!
Here are a couple links in regards to the OMB decision:

The National Post reported with this:

http://tinyurl.com/bq8t5j

Make sure you read the comments following the article. It's already generated some emotions from both sides of the fence.

Time for a long awaited pat on the back. Way to go everyone!

2009-03-04T13:58:00.002-05:00

Greetings everyone,

My name is Adam and I just started at the main street location. I love coffee, writing and jazz.
I look forward to meeting everyone and learning the ways of a true barista.

I am excited to meet everyone and get into the full swing of Mercury.

Adam

2009-02-27T19:12:00.003-05:00

Hey.
It's friday night.
It feels like the surface of the moon down here at mercury on queen street.
Cold.
Desolate.
Devoid of any life.
What are you, as a customer, a regular, an astronaut going to do to rectify this?
This is a problem. Don't tell anyone. But I have just found a way to freeze-dry espresso. One catch- it comes in a tic-tac container and tastes like oranges.
Are you in?
Bring me a sandwich.
Just kidding, I have no need for a sandwich.
Here's something for you to gawk at:

Yah!
mercury fun club!!!
Peace guys!

lethargic peace!

goodbye!
sayonara!

matt

2009-02-26T09:01:00.002-05:00

We are coming at you from a wireless keyboard! Wireless ! Keybooard ! ! ! Nice huh? Today's hot topics include:
-living in a post apocalyptic wasteland
-espresso skate video
-pulling shots with our eyes closed
-glimmering spokes on bikes
-free shirt that may be too small for me
If you are interested in any of these things, you might want to look at the picture below:

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?
OH DO YOU LIKE ORANGES? EXCUSE ME, PAL. i DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO CALL THE SHOTS HERE!

ANYWAY, NOW THAT I HAVE ACHIEVED SOME LEVEL OF FEROCITY I AM CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO TELL YOU THAT I AM PULLING MAD-BANGER SHOTS TODAY SO COME ON DOWN AND LET ME SELL YOU SOME OF THE GOOD SHIT!!!

-MATT

here's alex:

In regards to:

'living in a post-apocalyptic world' - What would your parents do? Would you be with them? Or leave them to fend for themselves? Are jet-pack gangs a good idea?

'espresso skate videos' - Dumbest thing ever?

'pulling shots with your eyes closed'- Really? I mean, REALLY?

'glimmering spokes on bikes'- I'm just not getting my hopes up yet. Not until I ride to work in cut-offs.

'free t-shirt that may be too small for Davey'- No one needs that.

And see-ya.

2009-02-25T13:31:00.002-05:00

i love crazy people... i think. crazy people who drink coffee are amazing because the caffeine gets them all riled up and excited and next thing you know they are telling you about their daughters' car that was broken into and they could have killed her, not to mention that all the bums and homeless are ready to strike any chance they get because theyre desperate because there's a global recession and god only knows what will happen next... aww geeze. if your day has been fairly boring so far, i suggest you come to mercury immediately.

2009-02-25T08:40:00.003-05:00

hi. i'm hailey and i work at mercury. oh, and i'm awesome. well, i don't know, perhaps i am. you can come in and see for yourself.

hi. ok, so, this is my first blog becauseee, i'm new. it's my third day and i can kinda make a heart now. well, more of a deflating floating heart- like the one on kanye's heartbreak and 808's cd? yeah, like that. soo, come on by, visit me. i'm really nice. really. so, if you've ever walked by and asked yourself, "hey. that place looks cool. and the girl in there also looks cool", why not come in and say hey. in fact, don't just say hey, wave, or, do a lil dance- it'll brighten my dayy. just like i'll brighten yours with a deflated heart latte =) oh. and even if you don't decide to come in today, do a lil dance in front of the window anyway, i'll wave back.

2009-02-23T16:05:00.005-05:00

Here's some news, our loverly barista, John, will be leaving us this Friday. We will miss his delicious bevies and lustrous beard. He is moving on to clear pastures of guitar lessons and musical sunsets. As John rides his bike into the dusk, Running Down A Dream by Tom Petty will be faintly heard in the background. Goodbye John...

2009-02-19T06:22:00.004-05:00

woooooooooossssssshhhhhhhhhh!

phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht

ssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifffff

rrrrrrrrhhhhhghghhhghghhghgh

pifffffffffffffffshhhhhhaaaa

behhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

awoooooooooooooooooooooooooo

2009-02-12T11:54:00.001-05:00

One day without a Mercury Coffee..... Need I say more?

2009-02-06T07:14:00.002-05:00

FIRING BAKALAK

Yo if Zielinski's on tha mic then i gotta ATTACK
i say the way a shot should be is OVERPACKED
dense puck, fine ass grinds to be EXACT
groomed clean, tamped firm, busta never RELAX
here's the TRUTH of your SCOOP styles NINCOMPOOP
my steez rocks three piece SUITS yours is gross HIRSUTE
never call me to a battle cause I'll take the LOOT

2009-02-03T06:43:00.002-05:00

GUYS.
THIS MORNING I WAS PRIVY TO A RARE PHENOMENON. AS PER USUAL, I PRANCED INTO WORK IN MY PECULIAR WAY, BUT SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT. THE AURA OF MERCURY ESPRESSO BAR HAD CHANGED.
I REACHED FOR MY CARBON-ALLOY, THRICE FORTIFIED, TITANIUM CORE SYNESSO PORTA-FILTER, DOSED MYSELF A SHOT, AND LOADED IT INTO THE ESPRESSO INITIATION VESSEL.

WHAT I WOULD SEE NEXT WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER.

THAT'S RIGHT. I WITNESSED THE RECURSION OF A SHOT OF ESPRESSO WITHIN ITSELF. NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THIS!
I EXPECTED TO SAUNTER INTO WORK AND DO EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO MY REGIMENTED ROUTINE, BUT THIS RARE SPECTACLE HAS ENABLED ME TO SEE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. THIS ENRICHING EXPERIENCE HAS AWAKENED THE ESPRESSO BEAST WITHIN ME AND I NOW FEEL CONFIDENT AS A CONTENDER IN THE ESPRESSO BATTLE.

DAMIEN.

THIS IS A RESPONSE TO YOUR CHALLENGE.
I ACCEPT!

2009-02-02T10:31:00.003-05:00

G'day! G'day!

This weeks feature coffee on press up here on Main Street: Tanzania Peaberry-Northern Burka Estate, as roasted by Dark City Coffee Company. The general consensus? A well balanced cup with notes of apples and chocolate.

Wondering what Peaberries are?
Peaberry, also known as caracoli, is a type of coffee bean. Normally the fruit of the coffee plant develops as two halves of a bean within a single cherry, but sometimes only one of the two seeds gets fertilized so there is nothing to flatten it. This oval (or pea-shaped) bean is known as Peaberry. Typically around 5% of all coffee beans harvested are of this form.

Peaberry beans roast differently from the corresponding flat berry beans, hence to ensure an even roast, in high grade coffee, peaberry beans are separated.

Peaberry beans are widely reputed to roast better than flat berries, being said to roast more evenly, because of their rounder shape minimizes sharp edges, and rolls about the roasting chamber more easily. However, some sources claim that the effect is minor, and that the major benefit of peaberry beans is that they have been carefully selected, which is essential for optimal quality, regardless of bean shape.

The only case that can be made for a real “Peaberry difference” that affects the cup is the way a peaberry tends to behave in the roast chamber. In a fluid bed roaster it will “roll” easier and rotate better in the hot air stream. In a drum or air roaster, it will transfer heat a little better from the exterior to interior of the bean due to the fact that peaberries usually have higher bean density. But these factors have a minor influence on the final cup results.

Thank you Wikipedia.

2009-02-01T12:16:00.003-05:00

Well, Dizzy Bone just killed the game again holla atcha boy whaaat?

You see, I, Damien Zielinski, "the Fat Villain," just discovered a brand new grooming technique to pull the most honey-creamingest ejacula* that coffee could ever be. It's a synthesis of the Tran-Spoon-Chop and the Scott Rao Dogbone Dig, and it's been murdering the morning army like 300.

I call it the Golden Comet Circle Flex, and it involves using the round DOSING CHAMBER lid that nobody ever uses for anything, usually. Then, when the 'bed' of coffee grounds in the filter looks like it was lovestruck by a divinely proportioned asteroid sphere**, I let the scimitar-bevelled U.S. STANDARD tamp slide sexually into the filter and Bammo, lock and load, and get this- DON'T PRE-INFUSE***. Then I pull a shot better than Katie, Ben, Matt, Doug, Neil, Robin, Alex, or any of those other dudes could EVER do, put together, on steroids****. Then YOU drink it and it goes straight to your pants. Fifty thousand points, right???? A million.

*noun
**Michael Crichton
***natural wetness factor effect
****Not in a million years, if it was 1999, if their lives depended on it, if their plane was going down, if there was no tomorrow, if their collective baby was trapped in a locked Subaru.

2009-02-01T08:28:00.001-05:00

Ben's last shift is today, bye Ben, no Ben, NO!

2009-01-28T12:34:00.003-05:00

Dear Mercurialites,
BEN IS LEAVING...Aussie Ben, to be more specifical. His motherland harkens his return. I know you will all miss him so come and visit him before he leaves. I believe he will depart for his mystical pilgramage upon his noble, magenta, wing'ed stead next Wednesday, but if I am incorrect about the date I will holler back in your general vicinity.
So gather all ye Mercurisians, from and wide and bid this fine gent his proper adieu! Main street may be close to the bitter border of harsh Scarberia, but try to brave the arctic climate. In the southern region of Queen St. it may be warm, sunny, tropical and picturesque, but cart yer butts in and say bye, if you can. Oh yeas and order thoust a macchiato.
---------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------
--------------------------
----------------
--------

2009-01-19T09:59:00.004-05:00

Well, I don't know how Main Street can compete with Queen's previous post. Those guys are so zany and majestic. Hey! Did you know some of us LIVE TOGETHER? How about that? Did you know that Neil has never taken off that tiara? He sleeps with it on! And from my bedroom I can hear Matt's eye a-twinkling. It drives me nuts. Twinkling all night.

Hey! Our featured latte is the confusingly-named "Panama - Baru Indian High Estate". It's a bit dark but hey, I like it. And our featured press (at the more civilized Main Street location) is "La Amistad" from Costa Rica.

I have never seen this movie.

2009-01-14T10:19:00.005-05:00

O yah!

Cum on doen to mecury expresso bar! we have coiffees from other worlds! lol.\

we have stuff from south oif mexicoah, also, please try one of our lates!1

-matty davey

p.s. try an shot of expresso too///

nile here to take offer form matty. yah yah yah o!!! we loves it here more than anyweres. better then manich (where is that even allemagne?) bester then darck hoarse. better then rockit full. more better than even super poplar starbank!!!! we heart cofeee over here in the east land! ok. by by!

heart heart heart, nile ranking.

ok, free turrnip juices for every 10th commrade!!

2009-01-11T10:26:00.003-05:00

Now I know that hardly any of us could contain ourselves when we heard of those dearn resolutions that the afore mentioned "sisters" deemed to create an art/blog piece with.
We shall see what the beach populace aims to do or not to do. Brace yourselves folks, this should be the ride of your lives.

WARNING:If you are sipping a hot beverage please put it down and swallow whatever coffee remnants thar be in your mouthhole. You may be so enthralled by the anonymous secrets confessed that your lap be scalded or you spray the liquid in you mouth upon the monitor. Don't say I didn't warn you. Read with caution.
LET

US

BEGIN:
-To set healthy boundaries in my life and gain internal strength!(insert happy face here)
-Have more manicures(pedicures too!)
-Use more exclamation points!!!!!!!
-GO GREEN
-Quit smoking
Eat healthier
-GO PURPLE!!!!!
-Finish implementing getting things done x get organized
-LOVE ALL, SERVE ALL,
-Tell the Aussie he's gorgeous! and sweet and oh-so-pretty
-Dear Mercury,
I resolve to dump 50lbs by getting up to Main Sq.'s treadmill everyday for four months -done it before- can do it again.
-To have realistic resolutions
-Quit smoking
Do volenteers hours
Be more optomistic
-Too dissregard correkt speelling and gramar altogetter
-
-TO WITNESS MY EMOTIONS - So I can respond and not react(smiley face, heart, peace sign)
-To waste lots of paper writing resolutions
-I resolve...First and foremost to have FAITH...to go with the flow in FAITH and
to organize my
1.home-office
2.finances
3.Goals for 2009
And then.....to have more FAITH.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
-Stop taking things(and people) for granted
-Become "in"dependant!
-To shift down from Type A to Type A-
And that is the heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, mesmerizing peak into the minds of the masses.

2009-01-07T08:19:00.003-05:00

Here at Mercu-tech we'd like to give a few guidelines to help ensure an enjoyable stay at our establishment while taking advantage of our complimentary wireless.

1. Please come up to the counter and ask us for the password card. The timid employees don't like to be yelled at from across the room and it may cause them to spill hot beverages, perhaps in the yeller's direction. By accident of course.

2. Please return the password card once you have gained access. There's only one card and, more often than not, more than one user on the premises. This would allow everyone to gain access and therefore pit everyone in the same bandwidth-reduced environment.

3. Please make a purchase before asking for the password card. This is the whole point of offering complimentary wireless. You see, we live in a capitalism society where NOTHING is actually 'free' and things that are offered as 'free' act as a lubricant for an initial purchase thereby negating actually giving anything away for nothing in return. You dig? Muffins are only two bucks, you cheap bastard.

4. Don't surf porn. I will see. And I will make fun of you.

5. Ditto for online gambling. Except I'll wait for you to build up your take and pull the plug on you.

6. If you really have to use our bandwidth to stream Gossip Girls, please use headphones. You WILL lose the volume battle and will be forced to watch your stupid show with subtitles.

7. Please don't download torrents. Similar to the online gambling, I'll wait until you're almost done and pull the plug on you if I even let you get that far. We have important browsing to do.

8. If in any event you spend more than 4 hours here you may be forced to become chummy with the staff here and proceed with a first-name-basis relationship with some. Some symptoms may include: ridicule, hugs, bad jokes, puns, laughter, etc.

If you proceed in accordance to these guidelines your stay at Merc-tech should be a prosperous one. Any complaints regarding our complimentary wireless can be emailed to itsfreeyoucheapo@douche.com

2009-01-02T10:24:00.002-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR
up at merc on main where as usual it is pretty slow, We sisters, jamy and tina, are discussing new years resolutions. besides the typical 'stay away from trans fats' and 'be nice to your neighbour' we want to know what all of you are going to do for your resolutions. So we have created a new years resolution box where you can write down your resolution and let us know- anonymously, what you plan to do... or stop doing in the new year. Its just for fun, and we are going to make some sort of art/ maybe blog about the answers you give us!!!
so come in drink some caffeine and share your plans for two thousand and nine

2008-12-18T12:41:00.002-05:00

Hey y'all,
Just wanna tell y'all bout this here new coffee we gots in. The Zirikana, Rwanda is a deliciously robust bean with hints of vanilla, toast and sweet fruity amazeration. If Hunter S. Thompson were still alive he'd be sippin' on this sizzerp with a dash of some fine whiskey. I don't think it's from that hotel that Don Cheadle worked at, but what do I know.
I definitely suggest that y'all cart yer arses to Merc and give this mother a try.
Also, we have a fun stamp and now all of our cups proudly display our logo(that's Greek for logo).
A.L.<><

2008-12-11T13:44:00.003-05:00

T'is the season for puppehs in winter clothing. If there is one thing I love more than sipping on a warm, rich, delicious latte at my beloved workplace, its seeing a baby dog wearing a custom made knitted toque!

2008-12-10T11:47:00.005-05:00

This guy asked me today for an espresso over ice. I was like, "Isn't there enough ice out there for you? Who needs to be more cold?"

Seriously. I remember how cold it was last year... this time round, we've got the curtain, we've got the heaters, we've got the fans. We're ready. It wasn't even cold this morning when I came in. I was surprised. I took off my four sweaters and it was still temperate. I think we'll make it through the winter.

Speaking of which, our hours (hour ours) will be changing a little for the winter months-- as of the 14th, we'll be closing at 8pm instead of 9pm, 7 days/week. Since no-one seems to come in at that time (hence the change) I doubt it'll matter. Am I right?

Also take note of our HOLIDAY HOURS:

DEC 16 -- CLOSE @ 7 (cause we got to get with the holiday spirit + bust out the party, you know?)!

DEC 24TH -- CLOSE @ 5!

DEC 25TH -- CHRISTMAS DAY, WE ARE OPENING ALL OUR PRESENTS AND THUS NOT "PRESENT" AT THE STORE ((IE CLOSED!!))

DEC 26TH -- OPEN 9 TO 5!

DEC 31ST -- WE CLOSE @ 5, NEW YEARS YOU KNOW?

JAN 1ST -- NEW YEARS DAY, CLOSED... YOU'LL WANNA GET YOUR FIX BY THE POUND BEFORE HAND

All other days at usual. That means by the way, we are only closed on the 25th and the 1st. We are open 363 days per year.

2008-12-09T15:51:00.003-05:00

I have to say I'm quite excited about the mercury xmas knees up. I could be wrong but I imagine the night going a little something like this... everyone arrives feeling slightly uncomfortable with the queen crew on one side and the main posse on the other, perhaps someone throws out a diss which brews into a electric boogaloo type altercation...

Just as Alex T starts to top rock the Mill St beard guy would bust in and wearing a Hawaiian shirt, insisting everyone 'lighten up', spraying the broads with keg beer and high five'n the bros...

but i could be wrong.

2008-12-05T11:49:00.001-05:00

Even though I have never fought anyone (other than my brothers) in my entire life, occasionally I get a real kick out of imagining myself beating up some jerk really bad. I don't know why, maybe I am a sicko and you shouldn't talk to me. Or maybe you feel like that sometimes too. Anyways when I came into Mercury one day and heard that some skanky bum stole all the money out of the tip jar when someone wasn't looking, my mind began racing, imaginging all sorts of kick ass fight moves that I would put on that bum if I ever got the chance...

2008-12-02T06:53:00.003-05:00

There is concern in some mercury circles that the below economic hysterical xenophobic witchhunting trend will continue.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24557872-2902,00.html

help end the madness by coming and enjoying a post 2pm coffee at the main store to put certain staff at ease.

2008-11-27T17:09:00.004-05:00

PRETTY GOOD TIMES

Things are pretty great at Mercury, we got a new Kenyan coffee that we are hooked on
We've been grappling with how to describe such a delicious coffee, it's really amazing stuff

I'd say it's smoky and sweet, with a gentle acidity and a tobacco finish, Damien would tell you about the rich stewed tomato finish and a citrusy sparkle

But really we can't do it justice, you'll just have to read between the lines to see how much we love it

2008-11-16T11:19:00.002-05:00

To illustrate the *ahem* uniqueness of the respective stores, I will list a quick and easy-to-read guide:

"a rush" QUEEN ST- A mass of customers that swell at peak times causing a delay in service, usually around the mornings.

MAIN ST- Anything more than three people.

"offensive music"
MAIN ST- Anything with swearing or anything derogatory

QUEEN ST- We haven't found anything yet.

"I'm going to get food"
MAIN ST- Going next door to James' apartment and looking real sad.

QUEEN ST- I'm going to Reliable.

"I'd like a regular coffee please"
MAIN ST- "Would you like a press or an americano?"

QUEEN ST- "NO"

"weirdos"
QUEEN ST- This one time I was offered a blowjob for 20 bucks

MAIN ST- This one time someone asked me how I was doing.

"overstaffed"
QUEEN ST- 4 people behind the counter and no room to fart

MAIN ST- 1 person at 5 pm on a weekday

"being edgy"
QUEEN ST- Calling a customer an asshole out loud and having them laugh at it

MAIN ST- Eye contact

Thanks for reading.

2008-11-09T15:29:00.002-05:00

The Month Of The Moustache.

As some of you may have already noticed WE ARE GROWING MOUSTACHES. That's right, Mercury employees have banded together to strengthen the appearance of our upper lip. For what great cause do we fuzz up our faces I hear you ask?
Well there's this little thing called MOVEMBER which is happening right now. What it is is, you see, you grow a moustache and raise money/awareness for prostate cancer.
So come and support us as we agree to looking silly for the next twenty odd days. Or just come in and see for yourself all the peach fuzzy goodness that's sprouting atop these mouths of ours.

And buy some damn coffee while you're at it! Just be wary of the 'stache when you go to sip that cappuccino.

2008-11-05T10:10:00.002-05:00

OMG IT'S GOLDIE HAWN!!!! SHE'S LIKE THE CUTEST THING EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrr.

SHE'S LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST SHOT OF ESPRESSO IN THE MORNING AND THEN IT'S ALL CUTE AND STUFF AND TASTES GREAT AND THEN KURT RUSSEL COMES ALONG AND IS ALL LIKE GOLDIE!!! GOLDIE!!! BRING ME A BEER. AND YOU'RE LIKE, WHY GOLDIE? WHY?!!!?! BUT THEN YOU WATCH LAUGH IN AGAIN AND EVERYTHING IS ALL BETTER AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER SHOT OF ESPRESSO AND IT'S NOT REALLY THE SAME AS BEFORE BUT AT LEAST YOU HAVE LAUGH IN, YOU KNOW? AT LEAST YOU HAVE LAUGH IN.

2008-11-04T06:24:00.001-05:00

2008-11-02T23:00:00.005-05:00

We've started bringing in coffee from a great roaster called Novo Coffee. We just brought in some Single Origin Espresso: Ethiopia Sidamo, Gololcha. I've never really tasted an espresso like it before. It's a very earthy, almost herbal, and little or no sweetness. But it does have great balance is quite full bodied.

Coming Soon from Novo to a Mercury closest to you:
Elita Capitan - Piedras Candela, Panama
The tasting notes say "deep, buttery, raisin"
I guess we'll soon see. More details to come.
For now, come on in for a taste of the Sidamo.
http://www.novocoffee.com

If the Sidamo's not what you fancy, the there's always the old faithful Espresso from Origins. These guys are roasting some great coffees right now. I think most of us have enjoyed the Ethiopian Coffees that we've been getting. There have been loads of really fruity flavours... especially blueberries. Right now at Queen Street we have the Papua New Guinea, Waka Jawaka. It'll be coming up as a Feature Latte there as well. Good 'ol Origins. Up on Main Street. We've got a great Colombian coffee. Colombia La Valencia Mercedes Supremo.
http://www.originscoffee.com/

And this Black Cat has been knocking my socks off consistently for weeks now. As a shot or a cappuccino, these guys have got this blend nailed down! A really tart black cherry attack on the first sip and after that , it's all chocolate. Awesome!
http://www.blackcatcoffee.com/

And as always , we've got a couple of great blends from Dark City Coffee Roasters. We've got our Mad Hatter Blend. Great balance of nuttiness and sweetness. Great to consume in any method. Pull it as a shot or try it as a french press. It's all good. The Decaf Espresso is a good one if you can't handle the jitters of the Gololcha. It's one of the only decafs I've had that actually posses any coffee taste.
http://www.darkcitycoffee.com/

You too, can serve these great coffees as well as a few others to your loved ones at home. All you have to do is get down to the Mercury of your choice.
Choice One: 915 Queen Street East, between Logan Ave. and Carlaw Ave.
Choice Two:126 Main Street, at Main and Gerrard. What's the major intersection you ask? well... Main and Gerrard. Take the 506 Carlton streetcar East from College or Carlton or Gerrard or wherever you are, and take it until Main Street. Walk south on the west side for about ninety-two seconds and your there. Both'll have whole beans for sale from all roasters. Prices range from Eight Dollars and up for Two Hundred Twenty Seven Grams. And all beans are as ethically grown and purchased as you can get. Most of the farms are dealt with directly. This means the Roasters are meeting the Farmers. What a great idea.
See ya.

2008-10-30T08:04:00.002-04:00

1.Ask Neily-poo,
I was with him when he found this awesome (i think it was polish)prog-rock vinyl, a while back.
2.I know it's hella cold this morn.
3.mmmmmm......Novo, Gololcha is delissioso!
-Alex L.

2008-10-30T06:17:00.003-04:00

^Earliest prog band^

IT'S SO EARLY.
IT'S SO COLD.
RECOMMEND SOME GOOD PROG ROCK TO ME.
I HAVE, AND WILL BE LISTENING TO "HEART OF THE SUNRISE"
BY
YES
ALL
MORNING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FREEZING IT IS?!

2008-10-24T16:02:00.015-04:00

So I'm here on my day off and I want to write a blog about the new and improved black cat direct trade classic espresso, but Amber Fox beat me to it. She's already posted a link to the blog dedicated to it, but I don't see why I can't just keep you updated. For instance, did you know that we have now fully transitioned into using it? And did you know that Intelligentsia has posted a video on coffee from the Fazenda Conquista plantation in Minas Gerais (which they plan on introducing into their black cat blend later on this year)? HUH DID YOU KNOW THAT? Uhhh, here's the video:

MORE:
Intelligentsia, in an effort to render themselves more transparent (not like ghost-transparent, or overhead projector transparency), are starting this new platform of selling coffee in which they are labeling the blends that are in season (big duh, right?). Their mission statement for in season beans essentially reminds us that coffee is like any fruit or vegetable in that it too has on and off seasons. In order to fully enjoy a cup of coffee to it's fullest, you should be able to taste the vibrancy and tastiness that the beans were so painstakingly selected for in the first place. This is why there are no more than 10 months between harvest and sale for these in season beans. Right now at mercury the coffees we have for sale in half-pound bags that bear this new mark are the Kurimi Ethiopian Yergacheffe and the Los Inmortales of El Salvador.

ANYWAYS, I highly recommend you come down and try a shot of the new(er) black cat. It's really good. I don't know how to end a blog.

HERE IS A LINK DUMP:
http://blackcatcoffee.com/blog/
http://directtradecoffee.com/
http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/
http://inseasoncoffee.com/

-mattttttttt

2008-10-21T15:31:00.000-04:00

GUYS ALEX TRAN IS COMPETING RIGHT NOW!

GIVE HIM GOOD VIBRATIONS!

GO TRAN MAN!

2008-10-20T08:11:00.002-04:00

I've only been at MercOnMain for an hour and a half, but I'm definitely sensing this is a different world. It's east. So very east. I think once you pass Greenwood or thereabouts you go through a portal and it becomes the world where everyone's exactly the same BUT THE RUSSIANS WON THE COLD WAR AND WE'RE ALL TALKING RUSSIAN AND WE DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT IT IF IT'S WHAT YOU DO ALL DAY EVERY DAY??
Whereas at Queen we make french press coffee for a small elect of connoisseurs (that is: anyone who wants one), at Main there is ALWAYS french press to be had. It's utopian, and really it's the end of a historical materialist imperative, a rational maneuver to bring coffee to the people. Is good, no, comrade?So come and join us, comrade, in our worker's paradise. Why wouldn't you? You're not counterrevolutionary, are you? You wouldn't want to upset the ComIntern Committee on Coffee-based Beverages With Or Without Milk, da?

2008-10-17T13:02:00.000-04:00

Why is cheese so durn tasty??

Why can't I stop eating it??

I feel lethargic and oh so in need of a nap. See what you have done to me cheese???

I recommend checking out the Leslieville Cheese Market if you want to feel my delicious pain. While you're at it, why not get yourself a big ol' gulp of a latte over here at yon spro bar de la Mercury? Ain't nothin' like relaxin' on the PAT-I-O as the summer weather wanes, a cheese sandwich in one hand and a latte in t'other, is there?

To whom do I pose these questions? Is it you dear reader? Why don't you tell me?

Good night & God Bless.

2008-10-14T06:20:00.006-04:00

HERE WE ARE AGAIN, NO?

ANOTHER LANKSGIVIN', WASTED.
FOOD HANGOVER (MAYBE BEER HANGOVER???)

I'M SEEING DOUBLE HERE!!!

I WILL ALSO FIGHT YOU.

AND ONCE I WIN I WILL DRINK A WINE BOTTLE FULL OF COFFEE AND TRANSCEND TRADITIONAL SPECIES BOUNDARIES AND BECOME "PRIDE BEAR."

2008-10-12T07:48:00.005-04:00

'Tis Sunday, my turkey-fun-day!
Happy thanksgivies to all yous mercurians...
It's a pity some of us have to be at worky, all 9-5'in on the holiday like Dolly "the chest" Parton.But I'm gonna give ya some straight talk, and not sugar coat it baby, also quotin' the Dolly-Mama. If I were you, and I mean you personally, i would indulge in a pipin' hot cup los immortales with my punpkin pie. It's especially delish lately!
--Alex L--
p.s. Who else friggin' loves Jakey-poo's new gesture?
I know I said friggin',but really the "I don't know" gesture is melting my daern heart like a Cat Stevens song.