Indie Coffee Passport - Complete :)

In conclusion, I don't recommend anyone consume 14 espresso shots in one day because as a result last night was pretty rough and I spent the night detoxing. My motivation for covering all the remaining cafes was that I had purchased a TTC day pass and I wanted to get my full money's worth... it just came at the expense of possible heart palpitations. Ah well, only live one eh.

On the bright side, I completed the coffee tour 2 days early. Every cup is marked off as you can see from the completed passport in the picture above. Each shop had their own fun way of stamping my card. I particularly liked The One in the Only Cafe's seal of completion - just a big random scribble all over that little cup - nice.

In all honesty, the tour was really fun and I learned a lot. It gave me an excuse to get out and explore many areas of the city that I hadn't been to before. As I went around I realized there are many more cafes that aren't on the passport that are worthy of a visit too. I think it would be a great idea if more of them participated in the tour next year. My appreciation for coffee has grown as a result and I have hopefully become a bit of a better blogger. Talking to people along the way enforced the fact that our cafes are local hang outs where people enjoy conversing and share thoughts in a comfortable setting, to me these places are the present day versions of the Tim Hortons/Country Styles/coffee pot diners of generations past.  

Stay tuned, new reviews coming soon...  

Rooster Coffee House (479 Broadview Ave)

Well, I didn't think I had it in me, but I managed to make it to my final destination...

Double espresso:

Appearance

Te Aro Eleven espresso blend.  Retro demi tasse cup. Fairly dark brew with deep brown creama. 

Aroma

Bright and fruity – bit of a citrus/floral essence. Warm cinnamon/nutmeg undertone.

Taste 

Compared to the Eleven blend brewed at Crafted by Te Aro, I find it more robust and full bodied here at Rooster.  There is really no sweetness to the pulled shots here.  The bright citrus notes shine through though with a burst of full tongue flavour. The one, two punch to my tongue lingers for a moment before it melts away. This is a great ‘pick me up’ brew.

4.8/5


It’s interesting how the same blend of coffee can vary in flavour between cafes, this goes to show how complex coffee really is. The technique of the barista and the espresso machine itself can alter the flavour even slightly. Then there's the differing water to ground coffee ratio too. Many things affect flavour and make it unique at each shop.

This was a great coffee day, 6 cafes were completed in all. It’s interesting how the café atmosphere varies between shops with the same owner (I Deal Coffee – Ossington versus Kensington) and how the flavour of the same blend of coffee can be unique between cafes (Eleven blend at Crafted by Te Aro versus Rooster Coffee House). For me this was a great way to end the tour and I really didn’t plan for these comparisons to happen on the last day!

So, at last all the cafes are done - conclusions are to follow in a separate post… that is after I recover from the caffeine crash I am about to endure!  

I Deal Coffee - Kensington Mkt (84 Nassau St)

I couldn't get over the fact that we were sitting at a 80s era Galaga table arcade game, I so wanted to try it out, no idea if it works or not! This cafe has waaaaaay more character than the Ossington location, I have noticed this being the case when it comes to the secondary branch cafes that have been opened by Red Rocket and Dark Horse as well - can't beat the originals I guess.

Double espresso:

Appearance
Very dark brew, no creama, no saucer. But it is sitting on a retro video game table - good enough for me.

Aroma
Bright and sweet with warm caramel undertones.

Taste
Dark chocolate with a caramel sharp finish. Lots of lingering citrus-y brightness as well. Definitely packs a lot of punchy bright flavour.

4.4/5

Okay, I have reviewed 5 cafes today, so at 10 shots of espresso, I think I'm gonna crash.... just one left!!

The Tampered Press (256 Crawford St, Unit B)

Back to the Trinity Bellwoods area. Almost missed this shop as it doesn't stand out on the street. The simplicity of the exterior carries inside, where less truly is more...

Double espresso:

Appearance
Espresso here is served in a clear glass - this is cool and unique! Great first impression indeed. When it was served to me, I was able to see the layers of espresso before they separated - this is pretty unique. The double shot here appears to be a larger amount than the other cafes.

Aroma
Mild and milk chocolate aroma. Quite silky smooth with a hint of cinnamon spice.

Taste
Very balanced and easy/pleasant to drink and sip. I find it very smooth and almost creamy in texture. Mouth feel is balanced with a slight spiciness at the finish. A nice blend that I would return for.

4.6/5

Just 2 cafes remaining to review!

I Deal Coffee (162 Ossington Ave)

Now a bit north up the street for the next...

Double espresso:


Appearance
Extremely dark brew, dark marbled creama. Fair trade and organic beans roasted by IDC. Served in a saucerless Demi tasse.

Aroma
Quite roasty and dry with slightly sweet notes.

Taste
Surprising light and smooth with no lingering robust flavour like I expected. Sweet brown sugar flavour intensifies with each sip. A well rounded and balanced coffee.

4.5/5

A solid local cafe with a quiet vibe. The church pew seating is a nice design feature. I am interested to see how the Kensington location compares to this shop.

Crafted by Te Aro (135 Ossington Ave)

Next up... the sister Te Aro location ...


Double espresso:


Big Bro espresso - roasted at the Leslieville Te Aro Roasted cafe- it's a blend of beans from Guatemala, Brazil and Sumatra. Served with a shot glass of sparkling water.

Appearance
Retro Demi tasse cup with shot glass of water. Dark rich marbled creama, dark brew

Aroma
Very spicy, herbal undertone - I pick up oregano, basil.

Taste
Dark chocolate with a distinct spiciness comes through. I pick up the herbal undertones that are noticeable in the aroma. Right off the bat I taste a brief sweetness at the very tip of my tongue, then this melds into a rich dark chocolate balanced mouth feel. There's no lingering after taste or flavour, my mouth is clean a moment after the bright finish.

Another tasty brew, I love that it's roasted locally - a great plus!

4.4/5

After I talked to the super friendly barista, she offered me a shot of their other espresso called Elevens blend - how could I refuse?!

Appearance
Lighter creama than the big bro, still a dark roast.

Aroma
Sweet like white chocolate, with a pleasant orange/ citrus undertone.

Taste
Surprisingly not sweet, which is more to my taste. Balanced and clean, I like this one a bit better than the big bro.

4.7/5


Great little shop in Ossington, definitely worth a visit :)

Linuxcaffe (326 Harbord St)

Just a short jaunt from University of Toronto, this Bohemian inspired cafe certainly strikes me as unique with its no frills atmosphere, there's not an ounce of pretentious-ness here at all. I am happily reminded of the cafes along Queen St West by coming here. Or I could be on Cambie St in Vancouver.     

Double espresso:

Appearance
Served in a retro cup, they use Ideal Coffee espresso roast. Both of Ideal's cafes are on the list of remaining cafes to visit, so expect their reviews to be coming up. Light Caramel creama - just faintly floating on the surface, a solid dark brew

Aroma
Brown sugary sweet, almost a hot caramel aroma. Slight under tones of milk chocolate and a hint if spice

Taste
Over all nicely balanced, I pick up some sweet fruity cherry essence on the middle of my tongue. Finishes with a lingering noticeably dry sweetness on the back of my tongue.

This us a pretty decent bouquet of flavours happening here. I like how the cherry notes really jump out at me, this alone makes for a unique and memorable brew.

4.2/5

Very friendly staff, definitely worth a visit!

The Green Grind (567 College St)

Back to Little Italy, where Manic Coffee is nearby and it was the first cafe I went to as part of the Indie Coffee Passport. The Green Grind is another cafe operating in the sustainability niche, as they get all of their beans from approved, qualifying suppliers. The cafe is bright and modern, they have a large table that caters to lap top toting patrons. 


Double espresso:


Appearance
Served in cappuccino cup. Dark thin creama. They are using a locally roasted complex blend of coffees from Mexico, Indonesia, Guatemala, Columbia, and Brazil for their espresso shots.


Aroma
Brown sugary with a slight floral essence. Bright/citrus with a distinct earthy roastiness. Pretty decent balance of the main characteristics of both a light and a dark roast.


Taste
Quite full bodied, flavour hits the front of my tongue with a big bright punch. Roasty flavour lingers for while at the end. I didn't expect this much full body boldness from a blend that's mostly from central America where typically the coffees are medium roasts. I would call the finish a bit dirty as the roasty heaviness hangs around in the back of my throat minutes later. Definitely a coffee to pair with a fruit pastry like the apple bar they offer (in background of picture above).


3.9/5


Very chic interior with an amazing mural, goes well with decent a brew.

Merchants of Green Coffee (2 Matilda St)

This place strikes me as being off the beaten path, but looks are deceiving. Upon entering the store I see burlap bags of raw coffee beans and hardly any food for sale - it's obvious the focus is strictly on the java here. The whole place smells of the lively richness of fresh roasted beans - I'm in heaven!

Double espresso (short):

Appearance
Served in Italian demi tasse. Dark syrupy with marbled creama.

Aroma
Carrying the shots to my table the intoxicating rich aroma tickles my nose. Pretty balanced warm spicy/sweet with light earthiness.

Taste
Very balanced and satisfying shots that again have a slight earthiness to them. Zero bitterness, and a nice smooth mouthfeel with a hint of roasty goodness right at the finish. This is high quality stuff - everything is balanced and there's a lot of rich dark chocolate flavour.

I think this is the day of awesome coffee as this one is excellent too and just a bit better than the last one. I can't find a flaw with it actually - superb!

5/5

Well, roasting their own beans and therefore keeping a tight grip on quality control really pay off here.

This place has a solid focus on the quality if their coffee and they do it really well. I definitely recommend it.

F'Coffee (641 Queen St E)

Right next to the Carroll St streetcar stop, sits F'Coffee in a quaint strip of shops. The staff are cheery and the atmosphere is very chilled. I really like the decor which is white walls with vintage advertisement posters for companies such as Canadian Pacific and the now defunct TWA.

Double espresso (short):

Appearance
Not served in demi tasse cup, instead in a unique campy floral design cup, with oval saucer. I like.


Aroma
Sweet floral bouquet, with deep rich milk chocolate notes. Slightly spicy, like nutmeg/cloves.


Taste
Bright and punchy at the front of my tongue. Very smooth texture, like creamy milk chocolate. Only slightly lingers on the back of the tongue with a whisper of roastiness. Overall a very easy drinking espresso, with no harshness to speak of. Even as I take my sweet time finishing it, the espresso shots retain nearly all of their flavour, I have no idea how they achieve this as it's atypical of the roast.

4.8/5

This is the highest score so far, I really enjoyed this one and I love how the rich decadent flavour lasts until the final sip - amazing!

The One in the Only Cafe (644 Danforth Ave)

It was a treat to return to this cafe which is located a few doors down from the apartment I first lived in when I moved to Toronto 3 years ago - shout out to the Paradise Bar & Grill, which I had the *cough* pleasure of living over top of! This cafe opened shortly before I moved, so I am happy to see they are still buzzing with business.

The intriguing thing about the place is how it feels like it's been there for decades. Intelligensia Coffee is the supplier for these guys. They add cinnamon to the ground coffee before it's brewed - nice touch, and it's noticeable in the espresso...

Double espresso:

Appearance
Dark, golden caramel creama

Aroma
Bright, spicy - dominated by the cinnamon

Taste
Again, bright and crisp - very punchy/robust at the start. Has a distinctively clean finish, no lingering flavour on the palate.

3.5/5

With nice local art on display along with live music events, this place is a true local gem.

Te Aro Roasted (983 Queen St E)

This one is also in Leslieville - wow, this area is a real hotbed of cafe activity. 

The staff here are really friendly and they offered me a shot glass of sparkling water to go with my espresso - what a nice touch.

Appearance
Black and syrupy, with dark creama

Aroma
Intoxicating dark chocolate and roasty goodness 

Taste
Starts out with a surprising sweet punch at the front of the tongue, then heads into a caramel/ brown sugar bouquet that's slightly spicy. It finishes on a lingering dark chocolate note - wow, what a profile of flavours!  

5/5

The decor is really modern and calming. I noticed a poster on the door that says every Friday they have customer coffee cuppings. This is a pretty unique idea and it helps to build the romance associated with the whole coffee experience.

Red Rocket Coffee (1402 Queen St E)

My first thoughts upon entering the original Red Rocket cafe in Leslieville is that there is a boat load more character at this shop compared to the newest location at the Verve condo (Wellesley st e). Guess it's true when they say its's difficult to copy an original.

Double espresso:

Appearance
Very dark brew, light caramel creama

Aroma
Intoxicatingly sweet and roasty warm 

Taste
Full body smooth, very smooth, luxuriously spicy. Lingers for a moment at the back of the tonque and then leaves palate feeling cleansed. Solid espresso flavour that is well balanced. 

4.5/5

The staff are friendly and we chatted briefly about the passport - they cheer me on with reassurance that I can take down the remaining 10 cafes before the end of the month - I can do it! 

The guy at the cash just completed his card here - wow! Coincidence?

10 left to go...

Ground Level Cafe (1496 Queen St W)

The staff here are very friendly and chatty - this is nice. Half the treat of going to a cafe is the service and this is where the Indy cafes really out shine the corporate cafes. I appreciate this attention to detail.

Double espresso:

Appearance
Medium dark, very foamy creama,  watery

Aroma
Roasty, sweet- caramel

Taste
The medium body aroma carries over to the flavour, there aren't any lingering flavours or much depth to the taste profile here. It's not offensive, it's just too light for what I expect of a full bodied espresso. For some reason they have no demitasse cups to serve their espresso in.

Unfortunately the cafe lacks a real espresso machine, they are making due with a home espresso machine - how they could keep up with a rush of orders is beyond me. The taste profile just isn't there, there's no comparison to the variety of flavour you get from freshly pulled shots.

They aren't fresh grinding their beans here either and this is a big pet peeve with me. It's just not the same!

2.5/5

All things considered, there's a lot of room for improvement with the coffee here. They just aren't taking espresso as seriously as the other participating cafes on the Indie Coffee Passport.

However, they are doing a great job with their customer service, but I'm here for the brew!

The Mascot (1267 Queen St W)

This place is right in the heart if the West Queen West arts scene. The decor is really unique - lots of neat historical relics from Toronto's past decorate the place. The furniture appears to all be salvaged from various places - I'm sitting on a child's classroom chair and I notice others sitting in old movie theatre chairs and desks similar to mine. I like how spacious this place is, most cafes are cramped. The Barrista was friendly and nice. I like the random old store signs in here - one is for Biltmore Hats apparently 'the Royal hat of Canada' at one time. There are lots of reading materials in the form of magazines (Utne and The Economist to name a few) - they are all for purchase.

Double Espresso:

Appearance
Calico mixture of creama and rich coffee, syrupy

Aroma
Roasty sweet with extensive floral bouquet

Taste
Well balanced! Not over powering  in any flavour - definitely an enjoyable sipping espresso. The dynamic floral and roasty flavours come through and compliment eachother really well. Leaves the palate clean on the finish, yet is full bodied.

5/5

I really enjoyed the experience here - it's refreshing and special, I would recommend this place to my friends.

T.A.N. Coffee (992 Queen St W)

I am truly amazed with the coffee roaster at the front of the store, and I'm in luck because they are roasting beans. The smell is intoxicating and wonderful. Unfortunately, the espresso was pretty sub par and took an eternity to get from the rude employees that don't greet the customers, nor apologize for the wait.

Double espresso:

Appearance
Looks like watery sludge, no crema, grey in colour and very oily. I don't think it was made correctly because it only seems to be one shot.

Aroma
Bitter and heavy, very slight caramel.

Taste
I don't really want to drink this, it doesn't look very nice. It has a very bitter taste, and oily texture. There are grounds in my cup too which sucks.

1/5

Not overly impressed with this place, mostly because of the terrible service. The unique-ness of having on-site bean roasting is neat though. Perhaps this is just a place to buy fresh roasted coffee and nothing more.

Quaff Cafe (668 Queen St W)

After 5 minutes in this place it's pretty clear that they have a lot of regulars and that's nice to see and is an obvious fit with the neighbourhood. The food they are making smells phenomenal and I really like the massive chalkboard menu wall. I can't help but admire the the vintage Italian Elektra espresso machine.

As usual I ordered large black americano. I don't find it has any robust flavour, tastes pretty watered down and I did order a double. Regardless, it's smooth and has a decent mild flavour. I'm left wanting full strength espresso and that's coming up next.

Double espresso:

Aroma
Very sweet brown sugar with floral accents. It's hard to ignore the freshly baked spinach pie smell that is teasing my nose.

Appearance
Very watery, tons of light and foamy crema.

Taste
Unlike the americano, the espresso packs a real quick punch to the front of my mouth/tongue. Very robust and rich flavour for a moment and then very little is left behind. I would discribe the flavour as spicy with dry very dark chocolate notes. This one is surprisingly complex with layers of flavour.

4/5

I'm very caffeinated now.

Green Beanery (565 Bloor St W)

Second cafe of the day. Ordered a pricey ($4.43) cafe mocha with my passport. Staff is curt and not very friendly - two thumbs down for customer service here. About half the store is dedicated to raw coffee bean sales and coffee related equipment - this is quite impressive.

The mocha is tastey - dark rich cocoa flavour, but not much coffee taste. Seemed to take a while to prepare so I guess that's reflected in the higher price. I'm not much of a mocha guy as I find them too sweet, but this is nice, I just want more espresso taste.

Double espresso:

Appearance
Very dark, watery, decent marbled crema

Aroma
Robust, and intense, roasty and slightly sweet with a hint of spiciness

Taste
Packs a strong punch at front of mouth/tongue, roasty and dry, spicy notes linger on whole palate. I pick up some brown sugar sweetness after a few sips. This is a decent shot.

3/5

The service is definitely lacking here :(

Cafe Novo (1986 Bloor St W)

Dental surgery was on Tuesday and I am eager to get back on the cafe review wagon, so off to High Park and Cafe Novo...

The staff here are super nice and friendly. The place is very bright and airy too. They have been open 10 months and some interesting attributes that definitely set them apart from other cafes I have been too:
1. Bring your own cup and get a discount - but you can actually leave your cup at the store for repeat visits!
2. In the back of the house they have a huge chalk board where people have written quotes and messages to others about meeting up for the next board game night - like a hard copy Facebook.
3. Patio - being away from the downtown core allows them this nice luxury for the summer months.

I ordered a large latte. Nice balance of espresso to milk, very creamy so I suspect it was made with whole milk - the best. Yum. No latte art here, but who really cares eh? Served in a tall glass, not a mug - fine with me.

Double espresso (Classic Gourmet Coffee - Toronto):

Appearance
Super dark, syrupy, light caramel crema

Aroma
Light roasty, layered slightly sweet floral

Taste
Very smooth and leaves palate clean, slight robust punch at finish. I pick up a dark chocolate flavour, no bitterness to speak of. Leaves a lingering warmth of flavor back of tongue

5/5

I really enjoyed this one!

Bisogno Espresso (61 Sherbourne St E)

Okay, didn't think I could handle more coffee, but here I am at another cafe. It was only a short walk from the last one, so I did it. This place is cool, right now I am sitting on a vintage couch that must have been rescued from another era, all the furniture is from a by gone time - pretty neat.

Ordered another americano (the shakes will start soon) - it's much darker than the last one I had only an hour ago. Very roasty flavored with a hint of caramel sweetness - this is great espresso too. This one lingers a bit on the palate - quite deep and rich.

Now for the cold walk home...