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.

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.

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.

Hi

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.

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.

^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?!

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

GUYS ALEX TRAN IS COMPETING RIGHT NOW!

GIVE HIM GOOD VIBRATIONS!

GO TRAN MAN!

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?

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.

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."

'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.

man, coffee is the coolest! i'm a barissss-tah!

yo, cool cats of Mercury, of the frigid land to the North... or at least, Canadian weather is what i'm regularly teased about in my new home of NYC!
thats right... this is the long-lost Amber Fox, the lone barista at Merc who never, ever blogged when i was on the payroll, but am now making a brief appearance to reassure any fears that i'd disappeared completely.... and to bring you this news about the espresso at the gorgeous Mercury:
read here for more:
http://blackcatcoffee.com/blog/?p=27

exciting!!!

in other news, i'm working on a New York Times piece about how much i miss the good humour of Canadians, all your regular customers and your love of espresso... and the wayward 'u' s in Canadian english...

much love
amberista

It's 10:13 and I'm on the set of SEINFELD in JERRY'S KITCHEN!!!!

It's 6:24 in the morning, do you know where your watermelon is?

If you haven't yet seen the artistic talent that has been displayed in the front window at Mercury on Main st, quite frankly I feel sorry for you. Young Matt drew a spectacular killer snowman destroying a city early this month, and then after someone washed the window for no good reason, I replaced it with a delightful array of mystical creatures and magical scenery. If you haven't met me, my name is Tina and I started working at Merc about 3 weeks ago. ANYWAYS,
I got thinking on this dreary Tuesday afternoon as I was looking at the window, that not only am I an exceptional artist, but seeing as halloween is creeping up, I could also kick Matt Davey's ass in a pumpkin carving competition. So Matt listen up, I challenge you to a jack o lantern comp. If you accept we can make further arrangements regarding a time and place, as well as who should judge. I will be awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
Tina

i'm MAINly excited to tell y'alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll bout dis here cofffeeee!!
i just indulged myself in a delectable press ^.^

ETHIOPIAN SIDAMO!!!! TRABOCCA NATURAL!
in short:




so let's do some mathematics...

trabocca + KAYdence =

Hey guess what. Now this is happening:

I especially like the one that says "METAL" in the bottom right hand corner. OH YEAH, I guess I should inform you what I meant by saying "now this is happening."

WE HAVE A CASSETTE DECK!!!!!

TAPES ARE ALIVE. FORGET ALL YOU NAYSAYERS. The technology is far from dead! We're going to be playing a lot more tapes from now on SO GET USED TO IT, OR ELSE! K BUDDY? GOOD. COME GET COFFEE NOW, TOO, OR ELSE I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO YOUR HOME AND THEN TAKE YOUR LITTLE DOG FOR A WALK, NEVER TO RETURN. YOU'LL MISS IT. I PROMISE. YOU'LL BE FEELING ALL KINDS OF MELANCHOLY. IT'LL JUST BE TERRIBLE!!!!!!


-MATT
OH YEAH, ONLY AT MERCURY ON QUEEN STREET, BY THE WAY.

A nice pair.

A Berg pair.

The hot pair.

The pair.

Gee golly. So many durnned jokes to make with pairs. So little blogging time. I went the cop out route of just googleing these images but what the hey, it's cloudy out and I don't feel 100%.

What is, however, 100% good is the pairing of Ethiopia Washed Yirgacheffe and one of our all-spice brownies. To get the full (100%) effect the coffee must be taken (100%) pure and untainted. That way, hopefully, you'll be able to taste the sweet fruity (dates? strawberries?) notes, and it's clean balanced finish. Take a bite of the all-spice brownie right after and you've got a party in your mouth, much like the one we'll have for Bergie when she gets back.

Clothing optional of course.

a

Greetings from the future.
Right now its 12 30 Toronto time... But its 6 30 in the future! the Berlin future that is. Good time for a coffee i bet. I myself have had a coffee...a whole pot. Well really two pots...but whos counting? Sorry to disapoint, but the future isnt all its cracked up to be. No sexy robots to do your dishes (just sexy bergs). No space age silver suits...unless you count the outfit i had on last night...
Well count it down cause Miss Alice Berg has to be making her way back to the Big Smoke pretty soon. Hitting of Leipzig and frankfurt and then...you got it...Mercury!!

what!?!

man, I was going to post a photo to sum up my trip...but it wont let me. figures. well you just have to imagine what it looks like yourself.
and yes Tran...i am wearing clothes!
over and out Merc-ers

Everyone knows about the cat poop coffee, right? It's really expensive, and it's made from the coffee beans that a bunch of cats in some village eat and then poop out so when you drink it, it's all been digested and stuff.





We don't carry that. That sounds gross.




BUT we DO have, this week, super-special-like, some of 49th Parallel's India Devon Estate, which is actually picked and eaten by Rhesus monkeys. See, they love the little cherries (see fig. 1)

figure one: nom nom nom nom nom

that the beans are actually the seeds of, and so they pick them, at the height of their ripeness, eat the fruit, and spit out the beans. It's nature's quality control. Like how they say on TV, "picked at the perfect point of ripeness"? Except that the guys on TV are obviously lying. If they wanted to get perfectly ripe fruit, they'd have to hire monkeys. (see figure 2)

figure two: duck, you sucker.

Anyways it's a beautiful coffee, with a nutty aroma and a sweet chocolate-y, hazelnut-y finish. Try it in a press!

And while we're at it, we really should mention that we've got the #2 coffee in the whole wide world right now, Nicaragua's Limoncillo. We've already sold out on half-pound bags (which were $35 for the half-pound, if that kind of stuff impresses you) (see fig. 3)

figure three: blangin'

but you can still get a tasty taste in a press in store! It's a remarkably full-bodied coffee that still retains delicate notes of jasmine and citrus, with a creamy finish. It's like a tasty truffle, but not one that pigs hunt for. But wouldn't that make an awesome end to this blog post? All come full circle, from animals making poo coffee to coffee that would taste great to animals that smell like poo? How much can I talk about excrement and still keep my job?

And now....here's my long overdue answer to my previous post's question:

It...

Was...

The...

Amount...

Of...

PRECIPITATION!!!!! (So far this summer, and that was back in August or something).

Congratulations to all who participated, you will all receive a complimentary "Participants' Ribbon"!

Thanks for playing. Drink coffee. Often.

Forever yours,
Neil "Stankin" Rankin.

I JUST SOLD THE LAST BAG OF EXTRA BUUUUTTTTEEERRRR THAT WILL EVER BE SOLD IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT.



Now you will have to add your own.

Try Dark City's Mörkstad instead. Fruity, winey, spicy! A lovely full flavour that lets you taste the beans, not just the roast. And if you really need a darker coffee, we'll always carry Intelli's El Diablo.

Hey internets. My name's John and now I work at the Main Street Mercury. I think this is bitchin. I work in another coffee shop in Schomberg (you've never been there, have you? It's nice. Schompton, we call it.) Anyway, the other shop's called Grackle Coffee. I drink a reasonable amount of coffee.

Hi!

Hey guys, this is young Matt. I am just blogging to show you this movie poster. Really that's all. Look at the juxtaposition of that skull. Check out that sweet typeface. So perfect. Whoever made this poster had the bollywood horror film market cornered, I'm telling ya. Such a beaut.
Oh man, Tofu just walked in. Have you seen this guy?
Last week he had a 'stache going on and he looked like a psychology professor.
Check out this other image. I think it's a box. Actually I'm not sure. I really enjoy this picture. Just think of the effort that the photographer had to make not only to keep himself from deleting it, but to upload it to his computer AND post it on the internet. Trooper!

So there I was, in the middle of the wild jungles of... northern Ontario. Surrounded by exotic... cottage-dwellers. Making my coffee in.... a percolator. OH YE HEART OF DARKNESS

While I was 'roughing it', as they say, everyone coming down to Merc@Queen has been enjoying a particularly pleasurable batch of Ethiopian Sidamo. I keep hearing how great it is, how sweet and berry-like the aroma, how chocolate-y the finish is. So, I got some more-- we'll have the Sidamo for another few days beyond the norm.

But wait! There's more!

There are some really fine coffees coming out of Ethiopia right now, and we want to share them with you. Next up, later this week, we'll be introducing a Yirgacheffe (or, if you prefer, Yergacheffe) single-origin espresso, roasted by Origins (the purveyors of our fine new espresso blend, which you've had if you've ordered a short of espresso, a macchiato, or cappuccino). Then, come the weekend or so, we'll be putting on another Sidamo, also courtesy of Origins. This one, it has been assured me, is out of this world, so plan a trip down.

Oh, and if a feature latte isn't your cuppa, ask us to make your cap or espresso a feature. These beans were roasted with the intention of being served as espresso, so they hold up spectacularly.

According to Metric Conversion
Three hundred & fifty-two point eight millimeters (352.8mm)
is equal (=) to
Thirteen point eight eight nine seven inches (13.8897'')
(The Metric System is correctly known as the SI system- standing for the International System of Units and has been since 1960. Just thought id throw in a few little know facts).
So whats the answer Neil???
Why can't I know?
So now you're keeping things from me? I knew it from the start Rankin... you're just no good! But you do take some fine looking photos...

THREE HUNDRED & FIFTY-TWO POINT EIGHT MILLIMETERS.

Whoever comes in with an answer as to what I am referring to you will get a free glass of "something" from me, NEIL. I'm here at Mercury on Queen until three o'clock today. Come on down if you have any ideas. First person in (with the correct answer of course) wins!

So brave the rain and come on down!

See y'all real soon.

-Neil.

Hey Mercurians,
I have a questionae for yas...what exactly is the holiday that occured yesterday? I know it's a civic holiday but seriously what kinda holiday is that? I'll tell ya lame. i couldn't put ma darn cheque in the bank because they had no envelopes what-so-ever. Thanks civic holiday. I'd rather have a honda civic that's all customized, with spinning rims, those blue undercarriage lights and pretty much too fast too, furious... maybe even thrice fast, thrice furious, tokyo drift. If you catch my drift.
I just wanted to espresso meself. Oh well holiday pay is time and a half, so I'll just sit on my cheques fer now. I guess I enjoyed my stay-cation. I did see Sabastien Tellier in concert last night after work and it was thrice fast, thrice furious......
TOKYO DRIFT?



__Alex L.

Neil,

SORRY BUDDY!!!
Here's a kitten:




Really sorry!!

-Matt

Dear internet, wonderful series of tubes.
This is young Matt (better Matt) just filling you in that tomorrow morning is Amber's last day at mercurée. I think she's going to hang out on the west side of this continent for a while and then make her way back to New York City where she'll be working at café grumpy.
Amber, sorry if you have any stalkers. I kind of just filled them in on your itinerary.
OH WELL.
I THINK FOR THE REST OF THIS ENTRY I AM JUST GOING TO TALK IN CAPS LOCK AND WHORE SOME STUFF. WE GOT SOME MEXICAN OAXACA, MAKE SURE YOU MISPRONOUNCE IT AS "OAKS-A-KA" WHEN YOU ORDER, BECAUSE THAT MAKES US PRETTY GLAD. ALSO WE ARE USING ORIGINS FOR CAPS AS WELL AS SHOTS NOW, BECAUSE IT RULES. TYPING IN CAPS MAKES YOU FEEL POWERFUL, BUT ONLY IF YOU HOLD DOWN THE SHIFT BUTTON WITH YOUR PINKY (WEAK) FINGER. CAPS LOCK IS FOR SISSIES.
OH DAAYYUUUUMMMM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME SWEET NEW PHOTOGRAPHY DISPLAYED ON THESE WALLS. IF YOU LIKE SEEING DAVID MILLER IN NYC, GET DOWN HERE IMMED.

PLEASE COME DOWN AND SEE AMBER TOMORROW. BRING HER GIFTS. ALSO, BRING ME GIFTS (ANYTIME), BUT MOSTLY JUST BRING GIFTS, SMILES AND TEARS FOR AMBER. SHE HELPED MAKE MERCURY WHAT IT IS TODAY WITH HER EXPANSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXCELLENT PERSONALITY, AND I'M NOT KIDDING. WE WILL ALL MISS HER DEARLY BECAUSE SHE IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!

-SLUGGER

EDIT: I accidentally thought that yesterday (Saturday) was Sunday. Amber isn't actually going until tomorrow (Monday). Sorry about the confusion.

Buzzword of the season: stay-cation - to take a vacation in the place in which one dwells.

Hilarious I know. But with soaring gas prices the marketers have concocted this crazy combination of consents and vowels to cure us of our crappy constant. I don't know about you guys but I've had a blast this summer. Zipping around the city on my two-wheeled pedal machine has prevented any such desire to get away to a far away beach resort surrounded by people who remind me how tans can go horribly wrong.

Speaking of soaring gas prices, coffee farmers in Kenya (God-bless their hardworking souls) have felt the pinch even harder than a mere inconvenience to their vacation plans. They've got this 'stay-cation' dance down. And replace any sort of 'cation' with business as usual producing some of the best fruits in the world with reduced staff, double the shipping costs, and half the profits. No, they aren't saving for a sandy retreat, they're trying to feed their kids. Would I pay $14.00 for a half pound of Kenya Gaturiri Auction Lot? Hells yeah. Nevermind the logistics of supporting whatever, whatever, whatever, I'm not going to preach, it's just effin' amazing coffee. It's smells like a steaming plate of bolognese sauce. Mmmm savoury!

Try it. Or piss off to Miami and join the other douchbags working on their 'tans'. (In the nicest possible way)

a-tronic out

I'll ask you this...
what is it like to be Alice Berg in Berlin?
I feel that only one person could answer that question... and that person is me.
HI GUYS! HI MERC STAFF! HI MERC REGS! HEY THERE ALL YOU BEAUYIFUL PEOPLE!
So i have to get this out of the way... I miss the coffee. i REALLY miss the coffee. I'm not saying that i havent had a good cup (there have been a few) but i miss my mercury.
Berlin is amazing. I'm here for the next few weeks hanging out with friends and my twin brother.
To be honest i have no idea how you kids are cause the blog hasnt filled me in. so here it is, my plea, start writing blogs!
So I guess i should keep my blog post PG 13.... so ill just put a * to keep it short and sweet
i have been going out all the time. Last night we ended up at this sorta underground club and didnt make it home before the sun.*
I had an amazing time in London. I went to sports day (really an event that all jobs should have). It was a day put on for my friends office- the idea is that you go to this big park and play games like football and tug of war. But really you go to drink. My sports day was a 12 hour marathon where i kept up my drinking with 5 british guys.** All i can say is this- naw...maybe i can't say anything.***********
Paris was beautiful. I met up with our merc friends Aaron and Craig for a few hours. So nice to see them (you guys are really amazing. so nice to meet up in paris!). I spent lots of time walking around, drinking a beer and reading in parks.
Then came Vienna. Rain. So much rain.
And then prague... really old, really beautiful.
And now its Berlin for a while.
Adrian- sorry i have yet to take a photo with batman. I'll make sure to take him out tonight.
Ok...well hope you are all doing well. D.H and L.M.D... I miss my kittens.
I'll try to keep you in the loop, please do the same.
So to all the merc- ers....
Hi from Berlin.

Hey, Hey, Haaaaay,
Me noma es Alex, last name Lee, if yer awunderin'. This is me premiera blog, for all y'all blog-diggy-dawgs. New to the Merc-family, I've been workin' at the Merc. on Main for over a month now and yes I sointenly enjoy it! Business has been pickin' up at the Mercury on Main, my latte art has been improvin'. I've created some feathery deals, some onion hearts, and got some pretty good contrast goin'.
Now I don't know if y'all heard, but are havin' a GRaNd oPEnInG on Satyerday, JU-LY the twenty-sixtha!! Tatooine is sparsley populated, and we are gonna turn this mother out! Those are 2 definate facts that you can count on. Soup Kitchen Line Up and Cameron Whitesell will be rockin and boppin non-stoppin for yer musical pleasure.
A signature drink throw-down will most likely blow our collective minds straight outta our collective skulls! If you miss this not only will you be an L7, straight outta squaresville, your tears will flood the streets causing catastrophic casualties. Thus, for the benefit of humanity, mandatory attendence is necessary.

Soooooooo... ever wonder how we got so good at makin' the drinks you love to quaff? The key, of course, is persistence, practice, and constant production (you know how busy it gets in here sometimes). But we're constantly evolving our procedures and methods, choosing new coffees, and learning new techniques, and a large part of this is because of the dialogues we take part in with other coffee houses. Knowledge grows by sharing, the the coffee industry has made progress by leaps and bounds in recent years through the networks of friendships and professional relationships that form at competitions and expos all over the world.

Which brings me to my next point-- did you know that the Central Regional Championship of the Canadian Barista Championships is happening this weekend at the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place? It's going to be an intense weekend of competition featuring skilled Baristi from all over Ontario, competing for a place in the national competition. Come out and root for Damien and Alex as they bring their A game and wow a panel of judges. There are going to be tonnes of exotic coffee drinks made, too-- I've heard rumours of outlandish ingredients mixed with gusto. It's something you don't want to miss!

About a year ago I was going around Leslieville postering for the Fringe Fest when I happened upon a little espresso bar on the South side of Queen at Morse. While I intended only to find a place in there for a poster, what I really found was a place for me.
Getting to know everyone here at Mercury (not to mention the coffee, which seems also to have it's own personalities) has been a wonderful part of my life. So much so, that I decided to stay awhile. So next time you visit Merc@Main, don't be surprised to see me behind the counter.
If, by chance, you haven't yet gotten a chance to visit Mercury East, this is your perfect excuse! Whether you come to sample the pressed coffee (available in the mornings from 7-10), or to meet that friend who you always mean to see (but don't because they live all the way in the East end), or just to tease the noob, we're happy to have you.
Cheers, Hannah

Hey Matt! (Taylor).

Blog you!

In lieu of a bona fide blog today I leave this as my last sentiment as I exit 915 Queen Street East.

Adieu!

-Mischievously yours, Neil (Rankin).

Hello, Jamy again
Today at merc 2 (main and gerrard) it was pretty steady in the morning but quite slow now.
Last friday after closing we had a little get together to taste our new espresso blend from origins.
We took some polaroid photos throughout the night that's now under the glass on our table for all our "for here" customers to see. Also we had a latte art competition where myself, my sister carolyn and her good friend stef we chosen as the judges the good old fashioned way, picking names out of a hat. Damien from the merc on queen took the bronze, my lovely manager alex tran had the silver, and Sam from Manic Coffee won the gold... and the 40 bucks.
Today I made my first half decent latte, and now ill go back to practicing
ciao

I'm no good with good byes. In fact, if I could ever get away with it, I just leave functions without saying a word to anyone. I figure I'll see them again soon. Yet I must at this point note the significance of the departure of our beloved Berg, Alice.

There's really no other way to put this so simply; Mercury will not be the same without you. Nevermind the endless smiles, the silly-willies, the brilliant anecdotes. Nevermind your beaming personality, loving attention, your cat-like reflexes. You are so much part of Mercury as the beans are. We will endure our amputee condition for a while, endure, but not forget, and then prevail. We must. Such is the way when it rains, we'll get wet knowing that eventually we'll dry off.

Feel free at this point to share your favorite Berg stories.

We'll be holding a Berg-off ceremony at Betty's on King at Sherborne on Tuesday around 5pm. Contact staff for more details.

Hello; my name is Alice DiBergi. I'm a filmmaker. I make a lot of commercials. That little dog that chases the covered wagon underneath the sink? That was mine. In 2005, I went down to Greenwich Village, New York City to an espresso bar called Electric Banana. Don't look for it; it's not there anymore. But that night, I was introduced to baristas that for me redefined the word "Pull and Pour". I remember being knocked out by their... their exuberance, their raw power - and their punctuality. That bunch was Toronto's now-legendary Mercury Staff. Two years and two shops later, The mercury staff is still going strong. And they've earned a distinguished place in Espresso Bar History as one of Toronto's loudest joints. So in the late fall of 2007, when I heard that Merc was opening a new shop called Mercury "Smell the Glove" on Main, and was planning their first of 2 new locations after 2 years, well needless to say I jumped at the chance to make the documentary - the, if you will, "rockumentary" - that you're about to see. I wanted to capture the... the sights, the sounds... the smells of a hard-working espresso bar. And I got that; I got more... a lot more. But hey, enough of my yakkin'; whaddaya say? Let's boogie!

Well kids. If it's a blog referencing Spinal Tap... it's got to be a berg original.
Its just gotta be!

Costa Rica, now closer than a flight over seas. If you missed our delectable press this morning don't you fret! Give us a few minutes and this stellar coffee will be awaiting your lips at the rim of your cup, with it's indulging flavors practically jumping out of your mug straight down your throat.
Not impressed? Well then, I think we have just the thing for you. As of today Mercury on Main has a splendid twist to our lattes. Featured Latte?! Now please, please tell me what this magnificent drink you speak of is?!
Well here it is folks, one of the most flavorful beverages your taste buds can anticipate. Presenting to you the infamous Bali! This tempting drink will bring you into a euphoric bliss conquering your mind so you believe you're swimming in a sea of nutty goodness.

Well, Kadence, that was a mouthful. I'll keep it brief on my end and say that I concur with all that the K-Fabe has said.

THUNDERSTRIKE!!!!!

Come on in out of the rain and enjoy some warm warm beverages.

See ya round!

Over & out,

Kadence & Neil.

Yo, my name's Jamy and I was recently hired here at Merc.
Im pretty sure I'm the youngest here at 15 and have been here for two weeks.
So far, since I'm working at the new place at Main and Gerrard, it hasn't been too busy.
Alex has been my main trainer or whatever and its been pretty fun so far, except waking up early on Saturday but you gotta work hard for your money.
But yeah overall working in the mornings is pretty nice, not too stressful.
Ive gotta say I love my lattes, and I dont usually like my coffee black. But the press today is Bali 'paradise valley' and its pretty refreshing and clean, and I can hear alex saying it has low acidity. I've actually been to Bali just over a year ago, monkeys everwhere, climbing my mom to get her food. I wish a could go back mmmm so warm but now ill just enjoy their coffee right here in mercury.
Come by and say hello, hopefully soon I'll learn how to make some good coffee. Right now im just the lemonade lady and cashier.

Hey bros, does, foes, 'n' joes, y'all can't say we don't slang the good stuff. I got a lil extra for you today-- we're pumpin' out sweet juices from Origins, to the order of their gorgeous espresso blend. Flowery bouquet, drizzles of chocolate and red fruit, with a mocha finish that'll sing from your belly all day long. We're talking pure Handel, all triumpant ringing of angels in the heavens, none of that Wagnerian Götterdamerung in the pit of your gesamtkunstwerk.

Ch-check it out: Word to our homies in Chicago and LA, Intelli. I was laying my eyes over BoingBoing Dot Net today and I'd be frontin' if I didn't tell you Intelli makes a couple guest spots, showing my brothers at home how to brew honey nectar. Check yourself before you wreck yourself below.

If the videos don't show up on this page, check them out here and here.

Brazil, Brazil....

you can't drink cherry soda cause they got to fill their quota,
and the way things are they better never will!
Cause they got a lot of coffee in Brazil.

When your ham and eggs need savour,
Koffee ketchup gives them savour,
coffee pickles way outsell the dill,
Oh they put coffee in their coffee in Brazil.

No tea, or tomato juice-- you'll see, no potato juice. (Vodka, I guess?)
Cause the planners down in Santos all say "No, no, no!"
The politician's daughter was accused of drinking water,
and was fined a great big fifty-dollar bill!
Yeah, they got a lot of coffee in Brazil.

Doo doo do doo doo do do do doo.....

Brazil.....Brazil.....

What a fine coffee you've produced
Thanks Intelli for introduce-
Ing me to the beans of

Brazil......

Doo doo do doo doo do do do doo...

Fazenda Do Sertao.
Fresh from Brazil.
Like a big stick of butter. Melted into a perfect cup of coffee. The temptational aroma will send tingling vibrations throughout your tongue, leaving you satisfied and craving another sip, if not another mug.
Brewed up in your very own french press, availible today at Mercury on Main.

Come on down! Or Up! Or over....Wherever you come from it's worth the trek to 126 Main Street. Kadence would be pleased to meet you. As would I.

Your humble and loyal barista's here at Mercury :]

See, that's just not cool. Much like PDA (public displays of affection), stomach cleavage, and swastika tattoos, there are many things you shouldn't do in public. Getting caught on camera with your manager's filthy sausages in your nose ranks high amongst the aforementioned faux pas. I know you think you're trying to be edgy but facial orifice exploration is just plain annoying. If you really wanted to shock us, try out a new self-satisfying technique while doing your best Amy Winehouse impression and document that for us.

Speaking of satisfying, we're serving French Press coffee up here at Main and Gerrard from 7-10am. This week is an exceptionally well roasted Kenya 'AA' from the Karundu Estate. It's subtle floral notes, with a clean finish, is so addicting that Amy herself would ween herself off that good stuff just to get seconds of this fine cup of joe. Well, maybe not but it is THAT good. Test me. I dare you.