My
family supports small, independent businesses over large
corporations. Independent businesses usually have more ethical
business practices that include customer relationships, worker and
hiring practices, and material sourcing. Ethically we enjoy
supporting independent businesses but not to the determent of
quality. Thankfully there are plenty of independent businesses to
choose from. Toronto's Indie Coffee Passport has provided us with
extra motivation to try new independently owned cafes.
The
Indie Coffee Passport costs $25 and entitles you to receive one
coffee drink at each of the thirty cafes listed on the passport. Each
cafe has a list of six coffees from which you have to choose. The
complete list of cafes (and drinks) is included on the Indie Coffee
Passport website. The passport is valid from 1 Sept 2012 to 31 March
2013. Most cafes have a variety of drinks on their Passport menu
including lattes and iced coffees. There is more choice than just
espressos, Americans, and drip coffee! We only bought one passport
because I drink iced coffees almost exclusively. The passport lists
the cafes by area (Kensington, Roncesvalles, ect) which is extremely
helpful for finding a cafe near you while on an errand in the city.
Our
first stop on the passport tour was Joes (250 Sorauren Ave).
We have biked by Joes many times on our travels to Roncesvalles but
have never stopped in. The cafe is located across the street from a
public park and an artist loft which results in a lot of foot
traffic. The cafe caters to the to-go clientele and busy moms. There
are few seating options to allow strollers and running toddlers extra
room to manoeuvre in. The window is lined with an extra wide bar and
stools so that those that want to stay can comfortably people watch
or surf the net with the complimentary wi-fi. Judging by the number
of regulars Joes has successfully based their business model on the
needs of the neighbourhood.
(Source)
The
passport drink I received from Joes was a Cynthia Americano with Misto (named after a
regular!) This is an iced espresso with steamed milk (with coffee
icecubes). Steaming the milk results in a smooth, creamy, and
slightly sweet coffee. It is definitely a different experience than
iced coffee with regular milk or cream added. The man behind the
counter (who I assume is Joe) stated that the Cynthia was a popular
choice amongst Indie Coffee Passport holders. Presumed-to-be-Joe
definitely has a passion for coffee! The only real negative of Joes
is the hopelessly outdated basement bathroom (it has an ugly 80's
bathtub in it!).
No comments:
Post a Comment