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| - Ok finally here to finish up my Junction coffee review. I attempted to go to Crema but the place was a little to bottle up for my liking. however upon leaving I asked an americano sipping customer if there is any other good coffee spots in the neighbourhood and she guided me just up the road to Amani Earls Coffee and Tea Bar. Well folks considering I had just tossed a coffee from the other stop, I still needed my caffeinated beverage and This disappointing trip to the junction neighbourhood where I was told that the neighbourhood supports local business and runs big business out of town (tough to believe when Tarbucks and the processed food giant Tim Hortons are rammed packed, unfortunately an all true observation). I finally end up and this little very old school little shop. First things first ; Synesso unfortunately comes with very high expectations that a barista should have some real skills to operate a manual espresso machine.....Let's see. I immediately started asking coffee questions, and right off the bat the nice young chap who goes by the name Justin starting spewing an awful lot of stuff that even an above average barista probably doesn't know or understand (found out later he was also a roaster).....impressed already....expectations are now really high..I ask what he recommends and he goes through a bunch of different options in which he finally says what is your normal drink of choice (easy way for a barista to get out of making a bad drink for someone). I order an espresso (honestly I am nervous when I see one grinder) calibrating for espresso and Milk drinks are two different beasts, big huge beast. I say espresso. He confidently says No prob. I love this chap..no kink in his armour and he is actually quite a nice guy. One thing I was impressed with was with one grinder (Mazzer) the guy had the nerve to say "do you like it pulled short and sweet or 2 oz's of a balanced espresso...... impressed I am, but am I getting on a roller coaster that is great until the ride is over.
Well, first of all he made a few adjustments and thankfully tasted the first shot himself. I say give me a short shot thinking I was going to throw him off his game. No!!! he pulled the shot of Nuts,Carmel, and Chocolate to perfection (didn't even need to read the bag). No really perfect. Considering when I heard what the blend consisted of I was even more impressed a Brazil with different roast profiles (not for an amateur of sorts very difficult to keep consistent). I bought a bag of Columbian El Pariso a beautiful coffee I cupped when I was in Holland and walked out the door today a changed man, really impressed people in this city take there coffee serious.
Thus far this had been the best experience of my Toronto trip and the young fellow had one grinder (get another and the Junction will be the luckiest neighbourhood in the city), my life became simple again. just to make sure, I also got a cappuccino to go (delicious and as his sign says "done the way it should be))
Sorry Huh, One last thought.... what I don't understand is ; I can see a bunch of people walking by with the Tarbucks cups filled with acid rain or a bag full of processed donuts from the other spot across the street, and luxury coffee shop with very comparible pricing, is operating in your neighbourhood. A $2 dollar Americano get with it people, it does not get better than one guy who is passionate about his products, loves to talk coffee (even the tea talk was enlightening). GO TO AMANI EARLS FOR THE GREAT GOODS!!!! keep up the good work!!! I will pass this on to my fellow Americans when they come to Toronto.
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