Warning: this review is tainted with sentimental values.
The Spadina Dark Horse signifies more than just a coffee shop to me. It was my morning destination with the dog, a meeting spot for countless business discussions, a spontaneous campaign office for youth advocacy, where I studied for my M1 and inevitably backed out. This Dark Horse is partly responsible for some of my best and worst ideas. It has such a special place in my heart that we held our wedding here - with hundreds of people who we love, including our two favourite baristas.
Their coffee is great, I love the smooth nutty undertones of their house espresso beans. The milk is always foamed to perfection and carefully poured into hearts or leaves, or even stars. The temperature is also perfect for drinking right away - it's like they understand that when you need coffee, you NEED coffee NOW!
Perhaps it's their proximity to the do-gooder NGOs and social enterprises in the CSI building, but every time I visit, I get a feeling that everything is possible and we can change the world today. That's a nice bonus to go with my cup of perk.