Monsooned Malabar: A Coffee With a Cool History

By Ben

When the British finally came around to enjoying coffee (though not as much as tea, I guess), they looked to their colonies to provide them this vital, vital resource. Temperate India was a logical choice for growing beans, and it became a major supplier.

But the trip back to Europe was a long one by sea, and the beans, stored in the leaky hold of the wooden trading ships, went off, ever-so-slightly. The resulting coffee was mysteriously delicious, however, mellow and dark, smoky, but not too acidic. It was like blue cheese I guess? But not blue, or made out of milk.

Since then, we have made huge advances in having ships that are not made out of wood technology, and so this peculiar kind of coffee has undergone a change as well. Now, beans grown in the Malabar region of Kerala, in India, are allowed to become dampened during Monsoon season before they are dried out and roasted. The process is called, awesomely, "Monsooning." It is the opposite of sun tanning, scientifically speaking. And so, now we can all enjoy Monsooned Malabar, available at your friendly neighbourhood Mercury Espresso Bar for a measly nine bucks per half pound.

The end!

Hey there buddy! I Alice Berg have made it out of the rabbit hole and back to Mercury. As amazing as my time off was, I'm happy to be back in my east end hang out. I'm pulling shots with Damien (my blog buddy) tonight.
Seeing as this is the first blog in a while I would like to take a little time out and say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAMIEN." Our very own Damien turned 25 this weekend (they grow up right in front of your eyes don't they. Well he doesn't look a day over 24. Skin like a baby's....
If you are in the market for beans I tell you "Look No Further!" We have a huge selection bagged up for your take home enjoyment. We have the classics ( Quick Silver, Mad Hatter, Espresso, Decaf s.w.p) as well as a few more feature bean. The Extra butter seems to be going quick. Great if you are into the smooth and dark side of things. There is also the India Monsoon Malabar, and the Yemen Mocha Matari (My very favourite) if you feel like going for something special. The feature latte is the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe- classic.
Damien do you have anything to say?

"Yes I do, Alice. I'd just like to take this opportunity to hate on Nuit Blanche for a quick second. What's the deal? Scotiabank dangles a carrot in front of the Art Rabbit and we're all supposed to piss ourselves with gratitude that our city is 'getting cooler?' Sorry but I'm not convinced. I love art as much as the next guy, and any forum for it is, at the end of the day, a welcome one, but here are some things to consider: 1) ask anyone who's been working on organizing the 'art thing' and they'll freely tell you how compromised the work of the involved artists has been due to the corporate money driving the whole operation. 2) this exemplifies my theory that structurally, it is totally impossible for anything revolutionary or even of lasting impact to come from something so top-down. Almost by definition, top-down culture is synthetic and prescribed. The power of globalizing forces in co-opting independent expression is one of dilution and digestible commodification. In other words, such art can be entertaining and little more. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong this year.

Mercury is a perfect example of the many grassroots movements around the city that are breeding grounds for culture I would deem actually meaningful.

Note: When I turned 25 I immediately became 36% more cynical. Thankfully, my latte art also improved 17%, and my shots are 22% more delicious."

Over and Out
A wall and D bird

G'day fellow coffee consumers and customers,

Alice is on vacation catching up on her sanity. But no worries, Matt, Neil and myself (Adrian) are in manning the ship, pulling the levers and grinding the gears. Good news for all you espresso fans out there: not only are we pulling Kid-O organic espresso from Intelligensia but as of today we are serving 49th Parallel's Elysian espresso which has been maturing in our cellar for the past week. Get it while you can, because after tomorrow's morning rush it's over. Okay, now let us dispense with the java jive.... jingo jango. Ok, I don't really know where Adrian was going with that but now that's he gone I'm left here to pick up the pieces. That's how we roll here at Mercury. We got each other's back. We're like firemen rushing into a burning house in pairs to we make sure everyone makes it home safely and soundly. We've got the best team (in my opinion) of baristas in Toronto. And with great teamwork you get amazing espresso. Trust me, I'm a barista.

Time for some shameless plugs. This Saturday the Barons and Lengthy will be playing at the Exploding Face zine launch. Come out to the Smiling Buddha at 961 College St. just west of Dovercourt on the south side. Like I said, the Barons will be playing, DJ's will be spinning, we'll be painting bikes and most importantly: COME CHECK OUT THE ZINE. It's pay what you can so you can still afford an espresso the next day when you're nice and hung over. I'd love to see you there. Especially you, the cute one.

love,

Alex

"Kid-O's in tha' hizz-ouse".

Doug's been yelling that for the past two days and I must agree with his enthusiasm. It really IS the shizzle. Of course any good coffee can be pull badly so that's why I encourage you to get it pulled here at Mercury. But now, if you're stuck in the west end and you need a hit, look up MANIC COFFEE at Bathurst and College on the north east side where Colbalt used to be. They're rocking the only Synesso and Clover machine in Toronto. I must congratulate Matt Lee on opening an establishment that will set the bar even higher in terms of coffee making in Toronto. I look forward to frequenting his joint and geeking out with my fellow nerds.

Congrats to all the participants at the National Barista competition! I was definitely inspired and hope to climb aboard next year's competition and get some free swag, I mean win some medals (or tampers or whatever). And Kim if you're reading this, you'll always be top dog in my books!

BLast off!!

a

Alice Says: Mercury is really like a '69 two door Dodge Dart...
moving on.

Damien and I are having a marvelous time cleaning and pulling delicious beverages. It's a fantastic day out there sports fans. It might be a touch on the cool side, but the sun is beautiful and the air is fresh. Sounds like walking weather to me. Maybe you all should stand up from your computers/ Blackberrys / iPhones , and take a hop down here for a nice warm drink.

Damien Says:
Here I am! I'm going to shamelessly exploit this opportunity to shamelessly plug the launch party for EXPLODING FACE, the shameless publication put together (in part) by the two most shameless Mercury employees. The party will also feature a live set by the unstoppable force known as Barons and Lengthy... which features another of Mercury's finest. The whole shebang is on September 22nd, which is also my 25th birthday and a Saturday. If you're the kind of person who reads Mercury's blog, then you're the kind of person who's warmly invited! There will also be other radical events that night, like a bicycle painting party, readings by the mag's contributors, and righteous DJ sets. You should come to the Smiling Buddha (just West of Dovercourt on the South side of College) on the 22nd, basically. Do it.

Alice Says: If I were in TO I would be there with bells on. So due to the fact that I cannot attend, I encourage you to go! Have a great night, hang with Damien on his BIRTHDAY, check out a killer band, AND check out Exploding Face.

P.S - There is still some Kid-o left. Get it while you still can!

Over and Out
-D bird and A cat.

That's Right! It's Otis and Alice taking you through Sunday night. I hope your Monday is that much better because of it.
If you pop in Monday you will find a stocked counter filled with ginger molasses/ trail mix / and chocolate chip cookies. And if it couldn't get any better they will be hanging out with Banana Mango and Zucchini Raisin Muffins!! Oh me Oh my.

Feel Like Crap? we have Lemon-Ginger Echinacea Juice (Hot or cold it will surely make you feel better). OR you could try some fresh pressed Lemonade. It's really nice Hot... and ALWAYS made with love. We are all about the love here at the Merc.

We are featuring the Yemen Matari right now. You know what's wrong with this latte? NOTHING! it's awesome.
And a heads up... WE HAVE KID O. Ben says "it's the choice of 9 out of 10 Ninjas", and he would know. So come on down and have an espresso. It might change your life.

over and out
- A wall and Otis

If Neil and I were goats, this is what we would look like. I must say I enjoy this image for another reason... it's like one of those ink blot things... what do you see? crazy dancing goats? neil and alice? A 1987 Lotus? A '69 two door Dodge Dart?

Sleeeeeeeek.


Matt was by with some of his gear for the Barista Championships that are goin' on this weekend and it's some pretty fly stuff. It's like a P.Diddy Party. You'll see what I mean in a few days, when all the innovation comes home to the Merc, but until then, if you want a sneak peak, you better scoot down to the competition this Sunday and Monday at the Canadian Coffee and Tea Show and see how it all goes down. It's serious. Matt's serious. I'm serious. Serious about coffee! It's LIFE, man. In a microcosmic cup. Swirls of primordial brown and white, gradually taking form, solidifying. No wonder coffeehouses are such hubs of art and philosophy: coffee is the very stuff of it.

B

Like the Sax Riff in "Never Gonna Dance Again," Basically
----------------------------------------------------------

sweaty and mental,
Like Some Kind of Disgusting Animal;
cliffside over crashing waves,
I scream this slobbering ode into torrid sheets of wind for thee:


"Mercury! Who loves ya, baby?
You know, it's not so much the crazy beautiful people that traverse your terracotta tiles,
nor is it the delicious espresso that courses through your veins and out your metal pores-
no!
For how superficial would my 'love' be if that were all?
The truth is that I adore, my dear, adore those tiles and those pores,
and with loving gesture and fond caress
do I shammy your every nook and j-cloth your every cranny."

The cooler weather is moving in and summer will soon be out... But if you move to Florida you would miss Mercury too much. Good thing we have hot drinks.

Our feature is the Papua New Guinea Mawari. Its mellow (not so yellow) and you should really try it.

Heads Up!
The Canadian National Barista Championship is this coming weekend! You should come out and watch Matthew compete with Canada's killer Baristas for the National Barista Championship title. It takes place at the Toronto Congress Centre - 650 Dixon Rd - Sunday September 16th from 12pm-5pm. Then the final is Monday September 17th from 12pm-5pm. So if you want to watch the cream of the crop you should check it out.

Now I will spend some time cleaning (and maybe spend a little time lookin' at spiky, weird plants- if i find any). And here is a little something to look forward to... Tomorrow our very own Damien will be writing a very impressive, very amazing blog! SO RAD!

Over and Out
Alice "HARDCORE!" Berg

P.S
Thanks for the coffee and the postcard Angela. You are a real sweetheart. The Merc missed you while you were gone.

It's a lovely Saturday afternoon and Matthew is back behind the bar. Time to crack the whip he says. I agree. Ten points for anyone that can spot what's missing since his return.

Also returning after a long absence is the Papua New Guinea Mawari roasted by Dark City. Matthew would describe this bean as fan-frickin'-tastic. Actually besides that he says it has a nice caramel sweetness, with a nutty aroma and a spotless finish. Kinda like my closes. HA!

Also if you're in the mood for a musical treat, the lovely and talented Jacqueline Rendell will be playing here on Sunday at around 5pm. She just finished printing her new EP and will also be playing at the Drake on Monday night if you can't get enough. Check out her stuff: http://www.jacquelinerendell.com/

Blast off!

a

I believe that this button was created for Ben and I. We are 100% bling.

We've started a new rap group called Lumbajack 2. We've been heard exclaiming 'TIMBALAND' behind the bar.

Think about it.


It's been a GREAT yet busy morning. I think many of you must have read the blog and misunderstood my joke about free beer and pizza. Ha ha... right.

Tomorrow is a Thursday. Will it be a theme Thursday? I hope so. We may even take it to the extreme and make Friday one too. I miss those days.

The Feature Latte is Ethiopia Yirgacheffe
(A Wall drops some Beats) I think it's great, I think it's real swell
it's a cheap thrill that won't send you to hell
We have mad coffee skill so it all tastes better
We're so hot you better take of your sweater
and respect
(Tony here...)Our espresso is never blonde and always brown
Harmony milk that respects the cow and crema that takes the crown
we got mad skills and talent that thrills/we're organic, our milk won't grow off pills.
We pour our lattes freestyle, we ain't about to spoon-feed y'all some swill.
one love...one life we need to do it right...respect
Our skills we check, to protect our rep, so calm and collected as we go tete a tete,
With the latte set, try a cap and we'll bet, by this time next year round you'll drink espresso yet.
It's a finer grind, open up your mind, you'll never find a surer shot, we leave all others behind,
so kindly form a line, we'll serve you all in time
to get to work with a cup of perk from your favourite Merc, sublime.
Word is bond.

Ok so no beer or pizza BUT there is Alice and COFFEE at mercury... so it's not so bad.
We received all of our beans today so the bean shelf is stocked. For all of those who were denied The Mad Hatter Blend or Extra Butter come on it and pick some up (before it's gone again).

special Tuesdays means you can come by and get a special hug from everyone you know along with your coffee, then guy smiley pops up from behind the counter and asks you questions about your grade 5 English teacher... and if you get it wrong, your coffee gets confiscated and given to a homeless child. you might feel sad, but seriously dude, don't be so selfish eh? homeless need coffee too you know.
*That Last part was from Yoni...

Anyway, I hope you all has a beautiful long weekend and I look forward to seeing you all bright and early tomorrow morning. Beer and Pizza anyone?
Oh! and James has not yet had the baby. I'll keep you posted.

A Wall
(off the wall and on the job)

WOW!!!! I found this pic, and I thought it was so cool!! Hawks are so rad! Maybe the best bird out there... but moving on....

No one wants to see Neil dance and that is why he is now taking the reins of this entry. Howdy! Today was truly a Labourious Day, what with all those coffees Alice and I made in the span of three hours. I'd say we made so many that you could fill a swimming pool with them, or maybe a hot tub....I think that's more appropriate for the contents of said pool/tub, although not so appropriate for today's climate. Whew!

Now with the elegance and grace of this here hawk Alice is swooping in to steer us back in the direction of cohesion.

Thank you Neil. IT has been quite a day here at the Merc (as holidays often are). I must give a shout out to Ben and Adrian who gave their all this morning and who still looked amazing by the end of the shift. I should also give Doug a shout out for being so great and good looking.
I'm going to be holding down the fort tonight, so if you feel like winding down your long weekend with a coffee... you know where to find me.

For those of you keeping score out there I have now been orbiting around on this planet for about a week, so I think it's nigh time we erase that "Please Welcome Mr Neil Rankin" sign from the fridge, although Doug has just told me we should keep it. I feel very welcome indeed.

Well loyal travelers, I am off to the races, the bicycle races. See you all when the sun comes up.

Sincerely, Al ICEBERG & Neil Stankin' Rankin.

Captain's Blog, Star Date 29082007:

It has been four days now since I, Neil Rankin, landed on this little planet known as Mercury, the closest one can get to the sun without catching aflame. At first I thought I would need my spacesuit to survive on this terrain made up of espresso and milk, how peculiar it was to discover that I needed no oxygen tank to breathe in this climate.

I find the habitants to be most friendly and very approachable (which is a giant step for mankind compared to the last planet I found myself on). Upon leaving the bubble of my Foxfire space shuttle I encountered a remarkable being known as Alex Tran, he showed me how to use the natural resources of his home planet. I have not been the same since.

Knowing now that I can live off of what this planet has to offer I'm sure I will find myself very happy indeed. I think I'll stay awhile. I look forward to meeting all of Mercury's other inhabitants and realizing the full potential of the planet Mercury.

End Transmission.

blog blog
blog blog


hey sports fans! If you come in and see a new face behind the counter it might just be Mr.Neil Rankin!
Do you know Neil Rankin?
If not, here is your chance!

In other news...
Beans Beans Beans
I'm really keen for these beans.
The Mad Hatter Blend- The best cure for your AM blues! It's got a little extra kick to get your morning started. Think about it... After a cup of that stuff you could look and feel as great as Alice Berg! ooohh baby!
Quick Silver- It's like Ben, but in bean form. Awake but not crazy, not too in your face, and super eco friendly. Great anytime, anywhere.
Espresso- Great as a brew, perfect as an espresso. It's like when Adrian found $20.00 in the street and took me out for ice cream.
Decaf (swp)- Best decaf around! It's like missing a party for a great night of sleep. Sure the party might be fun (especially if I'm there), But sleep is so RAD!
Extra Butter- It's dark, it's rich, and it's awesome. The guy upstairs buys it all the time. I'm Sold!
Ethiopia Yirgacheffe- It's sweet, a bit fruity, and a staff favourite. Great after a meal.

Over and Out
- al ICEBERG

OK, one parting gift. In honour of our new Quicksilver blend, I give you vintage Kevin Bacon in a film of the same title:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWOCxj_qvoI

It is with a heavy heart that I, Nicholas Brown, pen this blog on my last day of employment at the Merc. I'm moving on, but my heart remains with this beacon of light in the burgeoning Toronto coffee scene. It's been about a year since I moved here from Vancouver, and I'm happy to say that this young shop has made a huge impact in a city where orders of "expresso" are still a regular phenomenon (though not here-- our customers are a cut above).

I may live in Parkdale, but I'll still be making the regular bike ride across Lakeshore to visit, sip a cappuccino and stoop it (that is, until Winter rears its ugly head).

So fare thee well young Mercury. It has been a pleasure.

Today Mercury Espresso Bar welcomes young Damien Zielinski to the fold- the latest in a hallowed lineage of lucky employees. He was reportedly heard to remark "this is, perhaps, the greatest day of my young life." With unstoppable vigour and an enthusiasm impossible to deny, he has surely embarked on a life-changing and irreversible transformation process.

"I used to work for a Starbucks on campus," said Zielinski, 25, "and you better believe it was a different scene. When you're used to serving McEspresso to University of Toronto slaves all day on behalf of a multi-national corporation, it's amazingly refreshing to begin serving a product you believe in to people you respect (and on behalf of people you respect). I look forward to approaching Mercury's Elektra with an attitude of humility, diligence, reverence, and love that will hopefully manifest itself in delicious shot after delicious shot of organic Fair Trade espresso. I take this position and the positivity that it allows me to spread in the Leslieville community very seriously, and plan on working very, very hard."

Back when the Hudson's Bay Company (a private business) owned most of Canada and 'venture capital' was counted in beaver pelts, suffering for fashion was an everyday business. All those beavers found their way, eventually, into hats-- fuzzy, felted top hats. It took a special kind of hatter to process the pelts, to remove the hard, spiny hairs using mercury-- a toxic element-- day after day after day. As we now know, mercury (the element) is something that we don't want to have too close or prolonged contact with (I'm contrasting this, of course, with the establishment of the same name whose blog you are perusing, where you want to be all the time, obviously.)

The long-term effects of mercury were known back then but tolerated due to the lack of any other effective way of treating the furs. Those few who practiced this process slowly started to show the symptoms of mercury poisoning: drooling, sweating, and general dementia. They are best remembered in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, in the form of the Mad Hatter.

But humanity has had a much longer relationship with mercury due to its perceived magical properties, which were readily seen in its liquid state at room temperature. Alchemists prized this integral tool, using it liberally in their studies of transmutation, and quacks dosed their patients with this miracle cure, the solution to all cases of syphilis, cancer, mumps, flu, plague, pox, ticks, lice, demon possession, and general wifely disagreeability. This was the power of Quicksilver.

Hey, it's a darn good day for a good ol' cup of espresso. Y'all should try it in a ceramic cup, considering paper ain't all that great of a seasoning.

C'mon down y'all.

Hi. Did you miss me?

Taste of the Danforth is in full effect this weekend leaving Leslieville a desolate wasteland. Well, wasteland is kind of an exaggeration but that IS the theme of this blog.

We've got a Mexico Oaxaca Sierra Madre Del Sur for our Featured Latte. It makes me feel like wearing a poncho. No one can be in a bad mood while wearing a poncho. I was thinking of getting sombrero too. Imagine that! Having a sombrero/poncho combo, I'd be off my tits in happiness!

Mercury is also out on the hunt for a few good baristas. If you know anyone who has prior espresso bar experience we'd be happy to meet them!

Ghostface Killah is blasting from the stereo right now and Doug and I agree that he's the best Wu-Tang member. If Doug was a member it would be him. I think I would be Redman. Which member would you be? Ten points for anyone owning up to be ODB!

love,

a

Alice: OH! Well hello there, I didn't see you come in. Let me just put on something a little bit more....

Matthew, Sasha, and I are just hanging out here - I guess we are "working" not "hanging" but "whatever". If you'd like to join in on the fun you know where to find us.

NEW NEWS!
We now have biodegradable lids! So once you have had your fix you can toss the WHOLE CUP into the green bin. AWESOME! Oh and a little reminder, if you bring in your own cup we take 25 cents off. We don't have to use a cup, you get a deal, it's win win!
well anyway, Green Shift says the cups take about 50days to break down. I say you test them. Not that I think they are liars or anything (because I don't), just that it might be sort of cool to see if its true.

Sasha: Hi! We at Mercury are also excited to announce that we are implementing a new method: The PK Dosing & Tamping Method. Pioneered (sort of) by Matthew Taylor, this should cut down on coffee waste, increase shot consistency, and elicit fascination, confusion, and crypto-mockery. It's all we talk about. That and our lids. We blogged about them the other day, and then again today. We're really excited. We might blog about them tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Oh, and we've got some delicious Ethiopia Harrar in as our feature; it has earned the coveted and rare thumbs-up from Alice Berg. Not just any coffee gets the Alice Berg thumbs-up.

-S and A

Hi, internet!

Woah, it's hot today. I know that it's been hot before, and that I've frequently written about it being hot, but woah is it ever hot. Woah. I expected my morning cappucino to spontaneously combust, and when I ran out for ice today, I felt as if I was going to melt into the pavement. However, at Mercury, we are not dissuaded by the heat - we consider it a test of our dedication and our incredible tanned physiques.

For clarity's sake: Our retail beans are now being stored and ground behind the counter. This will result in less delightful Three Stooges-style blundering, and it's really a better setup in all respects.

Also, we now have biodegradable lids! How exciting is that? SO EXCITING! Everything that your coffee comes in can be tossed in the green bin now. Well done, GreenShift!

Come sweat it out and biodegrade with us. We would like that.

-Sasha

Behind the counter stand Alice and Sasha; friendly, helpful, prompt, occasionally sarcastic. Filters in hand, fingers at the register, ducking in and out of the dishwasher, they are prepared to serve you a variety of delicious beverages.

But beware: When the night comes, or when the store empties, they become scurrilous rogues. They give each other makeshift tattoos behind the lemons, air guitar with unprecedented ferocity, and sashay about like a pair of trapeze artists.

Come and order our coffee, and marvel at the quality of our work and the seamless nature of our public personae. But all the while, remember that underneath lurks something primal, something savage, something else.

-Sasha, who read Where The Wild Things Are like three times last night.

VERSUS BLOG POST -- SASHA VERSUS BEN

Round One: Ben

The Scene: Mercury Espresso Bar, Saturday afternoon. A bustling day; the scent of fresh espresso is in the air, the buzz of anticipation of caffe latte, cappuccino, and americano presides.

Ben: Hark, on the horizon! It is Matthew, carrying divers delectables! Prithee, who is it who rides with him?

Alice: It is not who, Sirrah, but what! Could it be? A Mazzer Major! The Grinding Grail!

Matthew: Yea, it be true, one to join the other we have already collected upon our travails. With two, we shall be nigh unstoppable.

Yes, friends, two Mazzers; Speed, Power, and Flavour are with our heroes. Come and see them rejoicing and frolicking, grinding fine coffees and pulling impeccable shots.

Round Two: Sasha

I am here in the warm, comforting environs of Mercury, with a song in my heart, a twinkle in my eye, and espresso on my lips. (This doesn't look as good as it sounds.) We also have a new sign above the door; for maximum enjoyment, order your cappucino, stand in the doorway, sidle a couple of feet to the right, look up, and bask, then come in to enjoy your coffee. (This looks just as good as it sounds.)

As for coffee, you're in luck, as we're featuring the ever-popular Yemen as our feature bean, which unfailingly offers a smooth, rich cup of coffee. Also, for espresso, we're featuring the perhaps-even-more-popular Kid O, which is powerful and rich enough to knock a man down at fifty paces, yet just as smooth as Alex Tran. Alex Tran on a good night. Alex Tran on a good night, with the moon above him, shining just so, stretching his arms to yawn and seamlessly loop an arm around your shoulder.

It's pretty good, I guess.

-Sasha


ROUND THREE BEN GRINDS ESPRESSO IN GRINDER HAHAHAHA HE WINS

Hello. If you aren't doing anything Monday night and you're feeling a little high strung, come out for a bike ride with us. We're going to meet here at around 9pm and bomb around the city for about an hour. Where we're going has yet to be determined but the more the merrier! And maybe we can turn this to be a weekly thing!

alex

Well kids... the day has come... WE HAVE LEMONS!!! Big deal, I know. I will go to the store to by ice, and then we will be open for business (lemonade business I mean).

Adrian slept in today so I called our dear friend Ben over to help me out. Here is what he has to say:

He says nothing because he disappeared into thin air after consuming 10 espressos in a row. I thought I saw a brown blur whiz by and catch a cup falling off the counter but I can't be sure if that was him. I guess I'll find out what happened to him when I see him on Saturday. Peas out

What the heck is this? Is this rain? It doesn't feel like it? If you stand really still it feels like the rain is rising up from the ground and floating sideways, creeping towards you like dirty old man. This kind of weather really gets me down. I love a good rain fall but this is something else. Is it mist? Fog? It's cheating us out of our summer sun is what it is. Kitties hate this weather too! It's impossible for them to avoid something they can't see.
Mercury, however, is dry. Dry and inviting. Come in we can talk about bikes. I LOVE talking about bikes. Maybe it's because there's so much I don't know. Biking around in Toronto gives one lots to chat about. So if you're sick of getting soaked by mystery rain today, stop by for a coffee.

We still have no Lemons. Because of this we have no lemonade. Pro Organics is inspecting them right now, and once they pass the perfection test, they will be carried over on the backs of giant owls. Because of this, fact, they will arrive in the night time and be here in the morning. Sorry. I miss our lemonade too.

I'm not trying to get your hopes up... we will not at any point be serving hot dogs, hot doug's, or beef patties.. but I thought I would share this image with you. If ever you find yourself in Chicago I say go to Hot Doug's The Sausage Superstore and
Encased Meat Emporium and pick up a real one.

Matthew and I are working today, and then in comes eve for the night shift... so if you feel like chillin' out... just saying.

A bunch of us went out to see the Final Fantasy/ Do Make Say Think show Sunday night. It was really Rad! It was quite windy, but I think the wind made the show sound even better. I also have to point out that our little buddy Sasha might know everyone in the world! ok, maybe not the world... but he sure does know a lot of people. If you want to make the long list of people who know Sasha come on into Mercury.

That's how I roll
- Ali bear and M dog

Hey Kids,
If you haven't packed up and left town you can always come hang out at Mercury.
we have got lots of treats to eat like


-Banana, Apple cinnamon, and sunflower zucchini Bran muffins
-Spiced Brownies
-ginger or chocolate chip cookies

We have a new artist hanging this month. Her name is Renee Nault. She is cool. They are cool too. We like her. There are goats. Lots of goats and goat like things. I like them. They are cool.

The Feature Latte of the week is the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. If you have tried it before you know that it is awesome...
and if you haven't I really think you need too.
I like it... just saying.

It reminds me of this one time...
I was walking with Adrian on Queen west, and he was all like "you are the best!" and I was all like "No, You are the best!" and then we went on for like 10 min talking about who really was better....
So it's like that in a latte. Your latte will keep telling you "YOU are the best!" and you will say to your latte "No, YOU are".

That's how I roll
- A "Wall" Berg

"Doing dishes is like breathing."

-Amber Roga-Fox 4:01 pm June 20th

Hi internet! It's a deliriously hot summer day here at Mercury. It is throughout Toronto, I imagine. But I couldn't tell you. We're handling it though, Alice is sipping some basil lemonade, I have a smoothie, we're doing calisthenics, we're making iced coffee, it's getting okay.

Our patio is a real thing now! Before, it was just an imagined social construct based on a haphazard outdoor arrangement of tables and chairs. Now, it has a fence around it. You can come by and sip your cappucino on it and feel all the more cozy and secure. Try it. You'll like it.

Also, I'm officially letting the public know that as self-appointed Mercury Organic Espresso Bar Chess Champion, I am taking on all comers. If anyone successfully contests my title, they will be rewarded with fame, bounties of fresh fruit, and maybe a laurel wreath (or a pigeon trophy if Ben crashes into one that day). Let me know. I'll defend my title anytime, anywhere; and by that I mean at Mercury, when I finish my shift, if I haven't gone skipping off somewhere.

Really, why aren't you stopping by? Stop by.

Love always,
-Sasha

Ok... word on the street is that tomorrow we will have spelt coconut/mango AND spelt chocolate chunk muffins! It's always nice to know there is something to look forward to in the mornings. We also have in some spiced BROWNIES! If I were Paris Hilton I would say "that's hot" - but I'm not- so I won't.
New News
-If you haven't been in this week, we are featuring the Yemen Mocha Matari. It's like taking a walk with Adrian on a dark August night (so dreamy)... or like a bike ride with Alex at sunrise (if he could get up that early)... or listing to some eco friendly band with Ben (I'm not sure what an "eco friendly band" is, but I'm sure Ben does)... well whatever... all I'm saying is that it's a nice coffee and if you haven't takin' it for a spin you should.
-I saw Graham Powell today! In Mercury! OMG MAN! CTFM or RTFM or whatever man! I was so happy and so shocked I almost FO*. It was crazy. I was all like "LOL" and he was all like "I know" and I was all like "BRB" cause i needed to make sure I looked ok cause it's not EVERY day you see GP**.
*Fell Over
**Graham Powell

That's how I roll
-Alice "Honeycat needs ice" Berg

OH and a shout out to our dearest Josh! The Merc crew is singing you Happy Birthday right now (in our minds).

12:47- A heart was broken, then a bird flew into a window. Lipstick Machine was seen riding their bikes along Harbord st. The trek down to Leslieville was rather uneventful even after stopping at the Yung Sing bakery on Baldwin st.

1:23-After 3 glasses of water at Mercury I could once again smell the wonderful aroma of coffee being ground. Everyone sitting in the cafe seemed to be enjoying the sounds of the Land of Talk.
All regrets of missing You Say Party We Say Die at the Horseshoe last night flew out the window after that first sip of liquid gold. I wondered what I would play at the shop today.
Metal and lethargy don't mix well.

1:56- I wished the lead singer of Foxfire Forest a Happy Birthday as he headed off on his bike with a coffee in hand. I thought about when I took a nose dive trying to negotiate a Slurpee in one hand and a tempermental bike in the other. No good can come of this I said.

Outrageous.

So the toilet-flusher-handle broke today (someone wanted to flush REAL HARD I guess), and resultantly I was sent out on an odyssey I'll not soon forget. I biked west to regal hardware, only to discover they had closed about fifteen minutes before. Reluctantly I turned around to head to the Home Depot, when a PIGEON flew into my face. I saw it, as if it were in slow motion: here, the bird, swooping low over the street, now fluttering wildly to wend-- just barely-- over a passing van, stalling in its ascent and dive-bombing at my cringing, unprotected face. I felt its oily wings whipping at my nose and forehead, and then, as soon as it had begun, it was over.

Some uncouth individuals have suggested that I ought to have licked it.

I find this idea abhorrent.

Anyway I got the handle at the Home Depot so now you can use the facilities as needed.

Ben.

A new retro-fitted machine just appeared when I started my shift today and I must admit I was very excited. The extraction time, and temperature were the same but for some reason it just felt different. My ristrettos are sweeter than ever but again, it may just be all in my head. Someone asked me what the difference was between this setup and the old one.

Hello my little dears, it's Eve here.
You probably see me lounging about Mercury more so than actually behind the counter, but that's why they love me here, really.

The weather is a litlle grim today, but I suppose it's a acceptable price for all the flawless days we had all month! I keep hearing about this great cafe in Stockholm that actually takes crummy weather quite seriously. The interior is entirely lit with specific daylight lamps and all the furniture is white. I'm quite sure you get a white robe aswell. It's purpose is to add a little "Summer cheer" for the duration of the long and dark nordic Winter months [which is actually the only time it's open] due to the large statistic of citizens who suffer from the seasonal depression. The owner got the idea from his own therapy! What a thoughtful guy.

Well anyway, maybe we don't have wonderful sun-happy interiors but Alice, Matt and myself here are always glowing that way. So come by. Go, go go!


/eve

Light! It's the hot-button issue. Let there be light, we say. Doug informs me that Monday we'll be closing at 3pm to put in the new lighting. Please forgive us: we'll be back and better and brighter the next day.

Ben

(I'm new.)

first, i would like to thank everyone for bearing with us as we try and get through this phase of renovations. it has taken a little longer than we had expected (it's renovations, they always do). but we are in the home stretch, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

and speaking of light, and all things light related...

in spite of what some of the baristas here believe, we are open until 9 pm... everyday. not 7 or 7:30ish "because of the lack of light" which seems to be the current "reason" going around. with the number of windows we have now, the natural light alone lights up this place like a friggin' cathedral till 8 or 8:30ish (i mean it's not like we live in the arctic where the sun sets at some ungodly, way-too-early hour). and not to mention (but i will) the 3 sink lights that do work and have always cast more than enough light to sweep from in the past.

so, just for the record, our hours are :

7am to 9pm 7 days a week.

there may be the odd time that we have to close for something unforeseen but we'll do our best to try to keep on top of things so that doesn't happen too frequently, and if we can, we'll give you as much notice as possible (though that sort of goes against the nature of something "unforeseen"). we will do our best.

again, thanks for bearing with us.

Hi! I'm Sasha, I'm new here. Currently I can push buttons and take your order, soon I'll be able to push other buttons and make your espresso. I'm being trained (disciplined) under the watchful (unforgiving) guidance (yelling) of the other baristas.

It's a beautiful Saturday - the skies are blue, it's warm, the coffee is fragrant, and it seems like we're done with torrential rain for now. I'm sure you want to go for a swim or a bikeride or plan a picnic or a softball game, and you should! Go do that. Leave your homes, get off the internet. After you've picnicked, come by for a coffee. Renovations are going smoothly but not all of the lighting is installed, so we're open until Alex can't see the machines (7/7:30ish).

We would love to have you!

-Sasha

Long time no blog!
Well... Things have been a bit crazy here... We are almost done the renovation work... a few lights and new windows, and we are set. Come take a look (if you have not been in already).
Oh! we also have some new staff members! Amber (watch out for your bikes...i hear she likes to take them on joy rides), Sasha (cute in a high school mod kinda way), and Ben (cute in a super eco friendly kinda way). They are all really super cool and fun, so come in and say hi to them.
We again have the Kid-O as the feature espresso. Those who like it, like it a lot. I am one of "those" who likes it. We also have the harrar on tap..um..i mean bar...umm...well anyway, that one great too.
I have been here a long time and I think I'm going to OD on coffee... i guess that's what the picture is all about. If I were a man in a yellow shirt...it would be me.
Well that's all the news that's fit to print/ I can't go on like this for much longer.
See you all soon.
-a L i C e
that's how i roll

Hey Honeycat, It's cat fight thursday! So if you missed out on Fake Blood Friday, this is your last chance to see fake blood on Eve and myself. I guess this is what happens when the two girls on staff work together.
In other news...
We will be closing early Monday May 7- Friday MAy 11. We are doing some renovation work here in the shop, and will be closing at noon. So for those weekdays we will be open from 7am- 12pm. So come out and hang out, just come and hang early.

Right now the feature latte is the Yemen Mocha Matari (Yeah Man!).
I dig this one a lot, and if you miss it as the feature, you might want to grab some in bean form. It's my favourite to drink at home.

That's how i roll
-Ali cat

As the Raptors head into game 2 tonight I am forced to wonder if their performance would be enhanced by the power of coffee. Not just any coffee, but Mercury coffee. I can see Bargnani sipping on a cappuccino, or Chris Bosh downing a single shot mocha right before a game. I can't see Sam Mitchell getting too amped up before the game just cuz he'll already be on edge, but on his off days he'll be drinking Lactose-Free Lattes. Caffine is, after all, a LEGAL performance enhancing drug. I would totally volunteer to be their road-barista. I would scout out the best quality shops across North America before every game just in time to see the fruits of my labour transformed into alley-oop dunks. if only. Go Raptors!

a

Salutations,

Well, it's the beginning of another week here at the Merc AND BOY is this place hopping. Matt and I both feel like we got caught with one foot off the Merry-go-round today. That being said, please feel free to hop on into Mercury and try an ICED beverage (we have ICE)! Ice is a marvellous state of matter and anyone who has read Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Hundred Years of Solitude knows exactly what I'm talking about. How would you react to your first encounter with ice? What would you think? How would you feel? Discuss! Shucks look at me I'm rambling again. Some of you might be interested to know that we're spinning some classic Pixies tunes at the moment. Others might be excited to hear that Vicki baked croissants today and will hopefully will gives us all a repeat performance for tomorrow.
- "Spring has Sprung" said the Walrus. "Don't Jump the gun" said the carpenter. "Don't shoot me I'm just the messenger" said I.
-Adrian

Ladies get out those halters, guys bust out those camo shorts, patio season is in full effect. Well, at least for this weekend anyway. Please be advised our hours will be changing to 7 am to 9 pm EVERYDAY starting next month. Also, tomorrow our Iced drink menu will be back.

I'll be pulling shots of Kid-O all weekend until it runs out so come in and get it quick. Our Ethiopia Sidamo is having an identity crisis; it thinks it's a blueberry. But you'll have to find out for yourself. My new signature drink has also been finalized, but again, you'll have to come in and ask for a Trendy Sunshine in person.

The patio is out, though we don't have the luxury of a fence yet but I'm sure you'll be able to deal with that. Grab an iced cold fresh pressed lemonade, park yourself on one of our chairs and enjoy molting season! Let the games begin.

a

This is just a test.
I will come back very soon and re write some of this post. So in fact, it might be better than just any other post... for you see, you get to read it twice!
haha.
The Feature Latte: Ethiopia Sidamo from Dark City
The Feature Espresso: Kid O Organic Espresso from Intelligentsia
News: New grinder. it's really nice looking. It says Espresso Italiano on the side. It makes the other grinders look slow and old school. It's the belle of the ball. Matthew has a new toy.
-Barista Competition...Matthew 4, Alex 7
-Don't you just love Quinoa? I really do. Just saying.
-Heads up. Don't know if anyone has said this... but Vicki is our baker. She has her own place now. it is called new world organics. If ever you are in need of organic baked goods, she is your lady. 647-435-4885.
- I still have to take a side on the hubba bubba chewing gum issue. The new stuff it a big let down.

That's how I roll (for now)
-Alice "Honeycat" Berg

Okay, I have finally broken. After drinking the perfect shot of the 49th Parallel Epic Espresso the other day, I have to admit it is one of the most, if not the most delectable espresso I have ever had. I cannot wait until it returns!


Eve

Hey, Nick here. I guess it's not too often I post on here, so it's time to make all that up. I was recently called the "most elusive barista in Toronto," and I guess that's not so surprising all things considered.

It's my first shift back from a brief, hectic trip to Vancouver. I got back just in time to catch the Eastern Regional barista championships, where our very own Alex Tran and Matt Taylor represented. I laid low this time out, the combination of my recent Western sojourn and the fact that it's bloody end of term and why the hell would anyone schedule a barista competition at end of term? (Hello, what's the number one college job? You fill in this one: ________).

It was awesome to see Alex and Matt represent, and they came out in full force. Alex had the Mercury mainstay Dark City in tow, while Matt opted for the fantastic 49th Parallel Epic Espresso (I admit my bias: I used to work for 49th, but seriously-- it's the best espresso in Canada, maybe even North America). Also competing were my bros Matt Lee, who had the brass to pull out a Mazzer Major grinder at an event sponsored by Elektra!; and Sam James, who works at Cherry Bomb and has only been at this thing for 6 months. Matt Lee had Intelligentsia Organic Kid 'O', which comes as no surprise since he reps Intelly for Toronto, while Sam had his shop's blend of Dark City, which he had doctored with some Yirgacheffe for good measure.

I'm not going to give a blow-by-blow, except to say my boys made me proud. Both Matts had very impressive signature drinks-- Taylor had a nice combo of blood orange, espresso and amaretti; Lee had a cappuccino infused with rosemary, ginger and grapefruit rind juiced over an open flame! Sam was all pro in spite of his rookie status-- his performance was one of the most polished of anyone there (even though he re-pulled a shot and adjusted his grind mid-competition! What balls, and he stayed under time). Alex's laid back delivery and impressive latte art similarly belied his rookie competition status-- nice job.

For all of the professionalism these guys put out, I sure wish it could have been reciprocated by the organizers. Sound problems, a lack of video projector (jesus, the crowd is bored enough watching person after person make coffee, the least you can do is give them a close up view and audible vocal levels!), extremely drawn out lags between competitors and especially during the lead up to announcements, and fluctuating temperatures in the venue wreaked havoc on the day. I'm holding out for the Canadian Barista Competition this September in Toronto. It'll be a more professional event, and I bet all of the judges will even be coffee professionals! Still no certainty if they, unlike some this weekend, will manage to listen to competitors' instructions for how to consume signature drinks, or even drink more than a sip of each beverage. But here's hoping!

Oh and FYI-- I'm pulling shots of Epic Espresso in the shop today. Got a little bit left, you don't wanna miss this stuff. Such a sweet, syrupy bottom end, it's a very nice straight espresso. And I'm out.

What a relaxing Sunday.
I love waking up too early and taking in the extra minutes by looking out the window from my bed, waltzing into work and just being in an exceptionally good mood. You should all try it some time. I hear it lowers blood pressure and enforces hapiness. But so does wine anyway, for those who might be late risers.

So come by and take advantage of all the smiles, because we all know I'm far too serious most of the time.

Eve

Hello everyone!
What a crazy day! Thanks for stopping by, and we apologize if Alice and I weren't so full of sunshine to each and every one of you, but we were very busy! Always remember we love all of you.

We've also just run out of the Organic Epic Espresso from 49th Parallel Roasters. If you haven't had a chance to have some, don't you worry! We'll very likely get some very soon.
(I personally am not too fond of it, I really missed the really great sweet under tones of the Dark City blend.)

And speaking of sweet things, I can't stop reminiscing about Vicki's absolutely, wonderfully, incredibly, delicious croissants. And yes, they really do deserve all those adjectives. If you ever see her, tell her they're amazing... and that she's amazing too... for making them so good.

It's a fine day here in Leslieville.
Well first things first....
1. For the next few days we will have a Feature Espresso in the grinder. It's the 49th Organic Espresso from the 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters. It's made of carefully sorted coffees from Brazil, Ethiopia and the South Pacific. Very unique and wonderful on it's own or with milk. Medium body and high sweetness. Well, that's what the package says... so come in and see what you think. I dig it. The espresso I've had from them is some of the best I've ever had (and that's not on the package). So come in, have an espresso, maybe I'll have one too, and then we can both feel jacked all day long!
2. The Canadian Regional Barista Championship is this Saturday (April 14). If you want to see Alex rock to Barons and Lengthy and Matthew roll to Do Make Say Think then be there or be square. So come support the merc, and the guys behind the bar.
3. I went out a few nights ago (anyone who saw me the next morning knows it was a crazy night), and I saw a band I really like.
They are called Mariposa.
They are really swell.
They are my pick of the week.
Go to www.myspace.com/mariposawilleatyou or go to the EP Release @ the NOw Lounge w/ Foxfire Forest April 21st.
4. Barons and Lengthy are playing tonight at Sneaky Dee's (that's Adrian's band...you know the guy who works here with the big eyes and the sharp smile...). Well I'm going to be there...and it's going to be awesome. All the cool kids are going and so can you.
5. The Feature Latte right now is the Yemen Mocha Matari. We think it tastes like a night out with the Merc staff... on second thought it tastes nothing like beer and smokes...
It's more on the chocolaty side of life. Come in and try one.
Well that's all the news that's fit to print. See you at Mercury.
-Alice
that's how I roll.

G'day! G'day!
SO! It's set and final and this is it. Alex & I will be competing this Saturday in the Canadian Central Eastern Barista Championship at Steamwhistle Brewery (255 Bremner Blvd., just south of the Sky Dome). I think there's around 15 or 20 competitors this year from all over Ontario. Come on out and see some of the best baristas in Canada do their thing. See what kinds of crazy concoctions they've come up with this year. Also........ if you can stick around, there will be some rockin' and some rollin' after the comp. My band, Soup Kitchen Line-Up will rock yer socks off with some good 'ol country fried rock 'n roll. So come one come all!! It's free admission and probably something you've never experienced before.
Rock On!!
Matthew

(There should be a photo here... but I'm not so good with these things)
This Is Alex and Eve. They Work Here. Now When You Come In And They Are Working You Can Say
"Hey I Saw You On The Blog!"
that's how I roll
-Alice

Yeah! So if you didn't make it down to the shop this weekend you missed a good time. There was face painting, bands, cake, and coffee roasting. The rain didn't stop this crew from having a good time.
Thanks to all of you for getting us through our first year. Cheers to many more good years of Mercury!

If you walk by you might find some fun cartoons of goats in rocket ships and cars... This is because we want to get the Goats outta here! The goat fund is back on, and will be going strong until Friday. We are raising money to buy goats from Oxfam Canada. For more info go to www.oxfam.ca , or stop by and we can tell you all about it.

I'm working the close tonight... don't let me go through it alone... come and hang out.
That's how I roll
-Honeycat

I've now officially been here over a year now and I must admit, I still love it. We all have our days here and there but all in all it's been a fun ride. Pulling shots still have that element of excitment and the novelty certianly has not worn off yet. The owners are sitting around enjoying some wine while I blog away. I put on some Beastie Boys for them to jam on but I don't know if they're paying attention. That's one of the things I enjoy the most about working here. Anytime anything gets me down I just go on the playlist and rock out to just about anything I please. Music should not be taken for granted and we all appreciate that.

My favorite Mercury moment so far has to be at our Christmas party. I have so much respect for James especially after our drunken dance party outside Morning Glory at 3am. How many people can say their bosses party harder than anyone else they know?

Cheers to everyone I work with and our fab bossmen crew. You guys sure know how to live.

a

It has been a while kids!
I was givin' a talkin' to the other day about my lack of posting on this "blog" thing. So here we go, get ready, get set, a blog by Alice Berg.
News (that's fit to print)
-Barons and Lengthy are playing a show tonight at the Drake. They play at 11pm, cover is $7. This is also a special night because it is their EP release/ give away! That's right! so if you come out you will not only get a wild night of fun, but a free CD too. Wow!
(For the cats out there that don't know... Barons and Lengthy is the band Adrian plays in- That angry young man with the good looks and big eyes). So come see How the staff spends their time after hours.
-If you have been inside the shop, or read this blog, you will know that we are having a Birthday party this weekend. I'm just saying... if you want to have a good time, listen to some (way) cool bands, eat some cake, and have me paint your face, you should come in. Mad Party!
-Matthew is not in today. He has gone to get his hair cut. Some of you might not see this information as news worthy, but I assure you it is. This kid has not had a cut in what seems like forever. I said he should get corn rows. I don't think he took my advice... but you never know.. maybe he did...You'll have to come in an see for yourself.
-Alex Tran is in love with me. Just Kidding. I put that in to see how many of you would really read to the bottom of the page.

It's sort of slow today. We still have lots of treats, and rez and I would love you all to come in and keep us company. I'll even do a little jig.
I guess that's all. I have nothing left to say. I hope you liked my blog today.
That's how I roll
-Alice Berg

Our espresso, at least this batch, is very fruity. No, I'm not trying to make some dumb joke, it quite literally tastes like fruit. Blueberries to be more exact. Matthew pulled me a double ristretto as I was getting into the afternoon groove, and the first thing I noticed when I put my lips to the cup was an overwhelming aroma of fresh blueberries. Matt had also exlaimed that this particular batch we have from Dark City is probably one of the best. So if you're into ristrettos come down quickly. Tastes generally vary from batch to batch, not significantly but there are subtle differences. After a year of drinking the same blend you start to notice these things.

Speaking of which, our 1st birthday is 'ore yon knoll. In two days to be exact but our celebration will be on the weekend of the 24-25. We're gonna have bands, a live roasting, and Alice will be doing her best impression of a make-up artist. It's gonna be a ball. Come on by.

SO!
March 24th is quickly approaching us. That means celebrations at Mercury. Come on down and spend the day celebrating the beginning of spring AND Mercury's first birthday. We'll have coffee, face painting, live music and more! We might have some coffee roasting going on so you can try some very freshly roasted coffee! Come one! Come all! and watch the amazing Alice make a goat appear right on yer face! She's THAT good!
Some bands that will be playing are:
Cam(Morning Glory) - Sunday
Andy McGorman(Local) - Saturday & Sunday
Baron's & Lengthy(Adrian fr. Mercury) - Sunday
Randy and Friends(Leslieville... REPRESENT!) - Saturday... I think
Soup Kitchen Line-Up(Matthew fr. Mercury) - Saturday
.... AND MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 14, 2007...... Steamwhistle Brewery...... Ontario Barista Championship.......
come out and watch Mercury's top 2 compete. If you're lucky, you might get to see Jackie from Morning G,ory take a stab at the regional championship belt as well. That is if you're lucky.
..... more details will follw soon.

We'll keep you posted on all the fun and activities coming up.

See ya!
m.

G'day! G'day!
The Central Eastern Regional Barista Championships are quickly approaching us. I believe April will be the month to watch for. Guaranteed, there will be 2 of us from Mercury competing. Stay tuned for more details. You will all find out details as I do. Also, tje first GTA Latte Art Championships will be this May. Keep tuning in as well for more details. This ones gonna be exciting. We're all working on the fine tuning of the the designs we do here. Watch out for Adrian's SWAN. It's taking shape quite nicely and looking more impressive by the day.
Now on to Mercury's business.....................
We are turning a year old on March 20th. Seeing as it's a Tuesday, we will be holding the festivities on the 24th and 25th. Live music, coffee and more coffee!! Possibly an outdoor roasting demonstration if we can swing it...... from the green bean to the cup. Keep checking in for more details.

Talk to you soon!
Matthew

Matthew Taylor will be attending the Food & Beverage show tomorrow if anyone wants to stop by. He'll be getting drunk and pouring latte art at the Zuccarini booth and if you're really lucky, he'll be drunk enough to reveal all Mercury's secrets! Hmm... drunken latte art. I wonder if it's like Drunken style kung-fu and a whole new discipline of latte art is discovered after a certian level of inebriation. I'll be the first to volunteer to test out the effects alcohol consumption has on latte art. I know, I know, it's rather noble of me to put myself in this position but you know what? I'll take one for the team. Several would be even better.

a

It's 8;13 pm on a frigid Sunday night. I just cupped Idido Misty Valley Natural Ethiopia Yergacheffe (yet another variation on the spelling) roasted by Intelligentsia in Chicago. Idido Misty Valley has some of the best coffee that I've exposed my tastebuds to and this particular one is no different. It's overwhelming my mouth with fruit salad flavours that range from tangy Passion fruit to the subtle flavours of grape drink (not juice exactly but in a good way). Screw the Super Bowl, I got the best half-time show going on here.

Up next, also from Intelligentsia, is the Cruz del Sur Direct Trade Organic Peru. Damn, I think I over brewed it. I was so busy ranting and raving about the Misty Valley that I let the Peru sit for a minute too long. Let this be a lesson to all you french-press novices, one minute can make all the difference. The chocolate notes are incredibly prevalent but I'm not sure if that's supposed to be right. Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow and let you all know.


love,

alex

My quest to bring consistant Tiger Stripes continues. I find the 'aussie' dosing method to be more effective in this case...at least so far. I'm open to other suggestions but right now it seems to work the best. For those who aren't familiar with 'aussie' dosing, it is a method that requires you to tap the porta-filter as you dose. This allows 'over-dosing' of grinds into the filter to get more of the sweeter notes in the espresso. I suppose the name refers to it's origin but there could be some hidden meaning that I'm unaware of. Someone enlighten me.

Nick again. Don't worry, today's blog won't be a diatribe-- just having a mellow afternoon, pulling shots, watching my latte art (finally) get back to speed. Not where it was over the Summer, but it's getting there. More importantly, the shots are pulling beautifully. Which gets me to a point I wanted to make (oh no! we're in diatribe territory!)-- latte art. Being from Vancouver, I've become accustomed to latte art being no big deal. It's something you learn how to do, even take pride in, but not the coup de grace. We're still in the business of making coffee, you know? Latte art is presentation, but that's about it. I guess moving to Toronto has got me thinking again because latte art is still relatively new here, and I feel like a lot of shops are at a crossroads-- some want to forget about it, considering it an excessive, extravagant, and ultimately unnecessary accoutrement. Others want to dive in whole hoard, working so hard at their rosettes that they neglect to notice their espresso just extracted in ten seconds. So I was happy to find out today that in the upcoming, still somewhat nebulous TBA Toronto latte art competition, taste will be a factor. Bring it on! I look forward to pouring dynamite latte art into beautifully extracted shots of espresso (the best part, right?). More info on this bad oscar when it comes. And don't forget, regional CBCs are just down the road...

Hey this is Nick. If I look a little tired today it's because I just arrived from an overnight bus ride back from a long weekend in New York. While I was ostensibly there for academic reasons, I made sure to get some coffee geeking in. For those that don't know, New York has a pretty awesome coffee scene right now, owing a lot to some crucial people at Cafe Grumpy, Ninth Street Espresso, and Gimme! Brooklyn, to say nothing of the great things happening upstate, notably Chris Defario at Carriage House and Gimme's main Ithaca locations. I got the chance to pop into Grumpy's brand new Chelsea location and it was a sight for sore eyes-- two Clovers, a Synesso, and some fantastic selections from Counter Culture Coffee and Ecco Caffe (apparently Ecco's own Steve Ford was in doing a cupping that morning, but I unfortunately missed him). After downing a CCC espresso and a delicious Kenya off of the Clover, I left with a half pound of their Cup of Excellence Nicaragua #8 winner from Luis Vasquez-- compared with the Kenya's fruity dominant notes that veered into tomato soup territory as the cup cooled, the Nicaragua was a pleasant contrast with persistent nuts and caramel and a mellower acidity that gave a very warm, pleasant impression.

Cupping notes aside, the trip gave me an even stronger sense of what can happen when a small number of enthusiastic people get together to build a scene. New York's specialty coffee scene isn't large, but it's growing-- recent New York Times articles and other media attention (Martha Stewart!) has driven the boom, but it has most to do with the positivity and group spirit these guys have built. Different shops aren't competing, they're supporting one another and in turn creating an infectious energy. I want to see this happen in Toronto, and I know it will, but there's still too much fracture and fragmentation-- baristas and owners competing rather than supporting one another (let's not confuse this with barista competitions, which tend to foster mutual respect amongst the coffee community). I for one would like to see more cross-communication, knowledge sharing and support. In a city as big as Toronto, there simply aren't enough top-notch specialty coffee shops for there to be any logic in trash talking and avoidance. Let's make a scene, guys! This goes for anyone out there, if you want to come in and talk coffee, or invite me to check out your shop, hit me up here-- I'm in the shop Mondays and Tuesdays, and I know I can speak for everyone at Mercury, we want to build on something that is already gaining momentum. The Pacific Northwest has been a model for years, but it's inspiring to see a city as close as New York create something in such a short amount of time with such a relatively small group of motivated people. Let's make this happen, Toronto.

Gosh it is COLD out there today!
"Very fresh" Graham might say.
Anyway, ReZ and I are hanging out listening to some cool new tunes (Right now we are playing Johnny and the Moon, Raising the Fawn, and Ugly Casanova) and drinking coffee. If you would like to join in on all the fun you are more than welcome.

Just to let you all know...
Mercury will be featured on CBC's 'Living in Toronto' today at 1pm. If you have a chance to watch it please do, and then feel free to come in and tell me how it went.

That's how we roll,
A - R

I'm obsessed with Tiger Stripes. No I didn't get a new hat. Nor am I trying to push any fashion boundries. I'm talking about the stripes that mark a well poured espresso. If they appear on your next ristretto you won't even have to taste it to know that it'll be delicious. Yet, on the other hand, if the stripes are absent it doesn't necessarily mean that the shot is bad. I wonder why. But bare with me coffee lovers of Mercury, I might take a little more time re-pouring your double espressos just to get that tiger's stripes to appear. Like I said, I'm obsessed right now.

a

Hello this is Eve and as the new addition to Mercury, I feel inclined to let you all in on my exclusive plan to take over and transform the wonderful neighbourhood cafe into a giant ant farm.

But that will not be in a good while, so I presume I might elaborate about myself a little bit. As coffee ranges as one of the several obsessions in my day to day life, I'm really enjoying being part of reinventing people's concept of quality and knowledge and even the joy of simplicity when it comes to the aromatic substance.

I live in the neighbourhood, so working at Mercury has also been a great pleasure and an excellent way to discover my own area all over again. (Nevermind that it has been quite convenient whilst committing to early morning shift.

Alex: So that's Eve everyone. She's a gem isn't she? Using words like 'whilst' should motivate just about anyone to come down and chat with our aspiring barista. Who know what crazy word she'll use next!

love,

Eve and Alex

CoffeeGeek - Is This the End of the Barista?
I just read this article and I must say that it distressed me a little. The labour and commitment it takes to produce great espresso will soon be nothing more than a laughable sidenote when fully automated systems start to improve. Read this article and pray with me, dear reader. Armageddeon is coming.

a

The tamper handles we use here at Mercury are called the Radical Pro. They do look a little strange at first but after a little adjusting, I'm thanking the stars (or whomever decided to order them for us). They encourage proper technique and let me tell you, after pouring 100 or so espresso a day, I need all the help I can get. It simply does not allow shortcuts because of the way it's designed. You could try to fit your palm over it in a pinch but you'll find very quickly that it's really not worth it to cheat. Any barista complaining about carpal tunnel syndrome (or whatever you want to call it) will want one of these. While it doesn't cure anything, it certainly is great preventive measure. No offense to the traditional Reg Barber designs of course.

I would also like to take the time to welcome our newest barista-in-training, Reza. From what I can tell Reza is an eccentric character with an innate ability to pour good espresso. Either that, or I'm a good teacher. I'm inclined to believe the former. ;)

love,
alex

So I come into work today in the morning an I find the Yemen Mocha Matari on this week's feature menu. Coffees from Ethiopia tend to, as the name suggests, have a chocolatey, cocoa-y aroma. This one is certianly no different. There's a wonderful, lingering aftertaste that fills the mouth with a hug. Not just any hug. A hug from our very own Alice. Yes, that's what this coffee tastes like. It doesn't make a great espresso (as most single origins usually don't) but the low notes really combine well with milk. Coming from a non-milk drinker that's saying a lot.

happy Christmas hang-over people

love,

alex

Twas the day before Christmas, all the creatures were stirring, and no barista, not even a customer could figure out why. "The goats, the goats!" they kept shouting, "Look into the sky." A whole herd of them could be seen from the patio, bleating through the sun drenched horizon.
Eight goats will be purchased thanks to everyone's contribution. You guys truly went above and beyond the call. It's heartwarming to know that so many people care! If that isn't what this season is about then I don't want to know. Cheers all!

-The A-Team

Bam! So I haven't been writing about coffee much lately so that's what I'll do today instead of the usual random rants.

We just all had a cup of the Mexican Chiapas made with our French Press and I must say it's a decent cup. It's kinda smokey, and has a syrup-y aftertaste. It's not that great as an espresso, but then again, I'm discovering that most single origin beans don't make great espressos.

We're also now using new tampers that are better for avoiding carpal-tunnel. They're gonna take some getting used to but it won't be that hard considering the amount of practise we get in a day.


Well, that's about it I guess. Oh, one more thing: we have a new chocolate espresso cake. It's so far untouched. Will you be the first?

Cameron is going to be playing very soon, come down for a piece of chocolate espresso cake, a cup of Mexican Chaipas and let Cameron entertain you tonight!

love,

alex

p.s. Alice is the undefeated chess champion of Mercury. Someone PLEASE come down and shut her up. please. pretty please. (she still talking)

Hey champ!

If you missed live music this sunday you might want to hang your head in shame (for shame!). Cam the man and friends (including our Mercurer Adrian) rocked the place! Cam played me my favourite song -twice- and the group of them were awesome together (like fish and chips). So be sure to come out next sunday and see it all go down first hand. It's always a good time at the Merc.
In other news...
New week = New feature Latte
My advice for this week is to try something new.... like, maybe the latte (hint hint)
or if you are feeling really out there check out espressoporn.com - it's hot!

That''s how i roll...
-Alice "honey cat" Berg

WORD ON THE STREET
-This weekend we have a super swell feature latte- the Papua New Guinea!
So if you are in the mood for a treat, this is it.
-Just a reminder that Friday and Saturday nights are Rock 'N Roll Vinyl Nights. Now thanks to a freaking awesome donation they are better than ever. Vinyl Lives at Mercury.
-Barons and Lenghty (Adrian's band) are playing a show this Saturday (Dec 2) at the Savannah Room (294 College St.- just west of Spadina). It is a Fundraiser for Issue (Alex's zine)and is a Pay What You Can event. All the cool kids are going so you should too!
-Sunday is live music night. It should get going around 8pm and end around 9:30pm. So come out, grab a coffee, and listen to some cool tunes.

It's a new week and no blog has been posted since my last one. So here we go again, dear reader, on another wacky Alex-themed adventure. We'll thrash, crash and burn through our newly aquired vinyl. Thanks to the lady who brought them in! I want to know your name so I can name a drink after you! Tell me tell me tell me.
So much vinyl, so little time. Come on by and help out. I can't choose anymore.

a

Ah yes... As I type a goat is appearing on our west wall. He looks crazy and unstable. Perfect for Mercury. I wonder what's on his mind?

Matt and I are just hanging out with a gang of high-school kids who are sharing one cookie. Yeah they're good cookies. Damn good.

Cameron will be making sounds at the Mercury tomorrow night. Come on by and check it out if you got the time. I might make an appearance. I might not. I'm just unpredictable like that.

a-tron-o-matic-al

Holla back ya'll. A-Train reporting live from Mercury. Starbucks is open and we'd like to say hello. Hello.
We've a new toy here in our little shop. It's a bottomless porta-filter. What IS that you ask? Well it's like the filters we use normally but the only difference is that the bottom is cut off exposing the bottom of the basket. This way, every little aspect of our dosing and tamping is revealed. No more hiding. Not that we did before. Come and join the fun.

a-tron-o-matic-al

G'day, G'day!!!
Matthew here.... If good coffee and good rock 'n roll is what you're into, then you have come half way to the right place. All you need to do now get off youthewr butt and come down here to 915 Queen Street East, right in the heart of beautiful Leslieville(the greatest neighbourhood in Toronto). Up this afternoon are the dynamic duo: Alex Tran(sistor radio) and Ashley "the Countess" McFarlane. Come on in for some damn fine espresso and the wonderful treats of Vicki. Bring your laptop and take advantage of the free wireless while sipping the city's finest cafe latte. If you're lucky, Alex will play some good 'ol rock and roll vinyls from our own personal stash, or maybe you've got one or two at home you'd like to hear. BRING 'EM ON DOWN!! Tell a friend and have some fun here at Mercury!!

L8R SK8R!
Matthew

WHAT the flyboy? So your delicious Mercury beverages now come with 100% more love! Who knew we could fit any more goodness into those 16 oz cups but we found a way. How is that going to affect the taste? Only you can answer that question.

Being open till 10 pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday has given us more time to cradle, nurture and coddle our espressos. The secret is love. Mad, mad, love.

Here's Nick:
"I make espresso."

There you have it folks. How can you not be impressed by a man who takes his job SO seriously that he can't waste ANY time to make elaborate his thoughts. Good on you Nick.

One love!

alex

It is an awesome Sunday night here at the Merc. We are all getting ready for the live music to start...
(Alice says:) That's right! Merc now has live music evey Sunday night from 7pm-10pm! So come in, grab a coffee, and listen to some killer tunes!
(Drew says:) Right now it's pretty laid back. We're just playing some Blonde Redhead over the stereo system. So ya -- come check out the show tonight. Matthew's group should be pretty sweet. Or take a look at the new photo installation.
Now that we have the record player I'm trying to think of some rock records I should bring in to spin while I work. Watch for our vinyl nights where you too can bring in your tracks and play some tunes. Oh ya -- and have some killer coffee.

your friends
Alistair and Drew man

Hey, this is Nick, I'm the new guy (started 5 minutes ago), so I guess after making a couple of capps and an espresso it's time for my first blog. I just moved over from Vancouver where I've been making coffee for a few years and it kind of took over my life. Been out in Toronto for about 2 months now (came here for school, my first time living out East since I was five) and it looks like I've found the right shop to get my game back. If you're in the shop on Thursday or Friday and you see an unfamiliar face, come say hi! I'll be pulling shots, pouring latte art, and brainstorming a sig drink-- any suggestions will be appreciated.

it's been over a week and in case you were wondering... doug's still the best.