drwoo Senior Member Joined: 8 May 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Toronto, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Miss Silvia , Saaeco Via... Grinder: Rancilio Rocky , Braun... Vac Pot: thinking of one Drip: Bodum FP ,Phillips , Melitta... Roaster: FR+8
Posted Wed Jun 23, 2004, 5:23pm Subject: Fabulous espresso blend in Toronto!
Heard about a great place in Kensington Market called "I deal" & stopped in around 9 am to try an espresso . A hole in the wall place(cafe) with a big roaster & neat looking triple pull handled Victoria Arduino behind the counter. Had an amazing espresso that the owner said was a light roast blend of Ethiopian Harrar, Yemen mattari and Indonesian Sulawesi. Very sweet & smooth , no bitterness at all. Nice crema on top . Has a nice selection of green beans to sell also. One day soon I'll get a home machine.
I usually have an americano at I Deal. I find it hit and miss...depends on who pulling the shot. This place is proof that just because you roast it yourself and have a funky old lever machine, doesn't mean the espresso is great. Don't even think of anything involving milk...they haven't figured that part out yet.
But it sure is appropriately Kensington grunge atmosphere...and beats the hell out of places like Jet Fuel.
eyalkatz Senior Member Joined: 2 Aug 2004 Posts: 2 Location: toronto Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Aug 2, 2004, 10:13pm Subject: Re: Fabulous espresso blend in Toronto!
I love i-deal. There are other good places in Kensington Market as well - Louie's at the corner of Augusta and Baldwin, and Moonbean Cafe at St. Andrew's and kensington Ave.
There is some discussion in-progress, specifically about these places in www.kensmarket.com
HEDGE Senior Member Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Canada Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Isomac Rituale Grinder: Mini Mazzer
Posted Wed Oct 27, 2004, 5:15pm Subject: Re: Fabulous espresso blend in Toronto!
Sampled Toronto's offerings last weekend while visiting. Didn't like and don't recommend "I Deal": burnt tasting espresso <blech!>, no flavour options available, and cafe too lacking in ambience/cleanliness/comfort for my tastes.
Had a beautiful-lookin' mocha at a cafe in Distillery District, but taste was nothin' special.
Tried assorted other cafes but to no avail. Toronto's "baristas" still need to learn what good coffee is all about, I think.
Posted Wed Oct 27, 2004, 5:57pm Subject: Re: Fabulous espresso blend in Toronto!
Yeah, you can say that again Scott!, this place in Dan's report that we went to was a complete joke!..., sad.. {:-( Read Dan Kehn's report here: "Re: Searching for must-see cafés in Toronto"
KGB Senior Member Joined: 5 Apr 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Toronto Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Oct 29, 2004, 12:54am Subject: Re: Fabulous espresso blend in Toronto!
"Tried assorted other cafes but to no avail. Toronto's "baristas" still need to learn what good coffee is all about, I think."
" Yeah, you can say that again Scott!, this place in Dan's report that we went to was a complete joke!..., sad.. {:-( "
Ah take it easy guys (what is it with over-zealous Toronto bashing anyway????? )
Aren't you describing 99.9999% of any establishment anywhere on the face of the planet that has an espresso machine ?
Unlike places like Seattle, life does not revolve around whether the cutting edge barista techniques are being utilized yet....we're too obsessed with perfecting dim sum and rotis still. LOL
Before we start relegating cafes that roast on site and do what cafes are REALLY supposed to do...promote social behavior...to "coffee hell", try remembering why the word "GEEK" is the operative word here.
There's a difference between constructive discussions on the finer points of espresso extraction, and downright self-righteous buffoonery.
And I doubt any of you who profess to trying every one of the 82 million places with an espresso machine in Toronto can really say you have "done" the Toronto espresso scene.
Not that it matters, because you are right...you don't need to try every place in Toronto...I have already spent more time, drinking more bad cappas in more places Toronto than anyone...and other than b Espresso on Queen E, nobody here really knows how to make it the way "we" like it.
"and cafe too lacking in ambience/cleanliness/comfort for my tastes."
Trust me...you obviously don't "get" Kensington...that atmosphere you find "icky" is about as deliberate as it gets...it's not for everybody...and they like it that way.
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