Completely agree - had high hopes, but feeling disappointed. Just not great coffee.
I'll have to go check out the new crema, I'm sure it will just take time for it to catch on.

Also, should start a new string, but who's been to new crema???

Dropped by for a coffee - it's ok, not as good as crema or some of the other espresso bars in town (sam james, manic, te aro, dark horse). They went with the usual out-of-town beans, but no real point of difference. Good for this end of town i suppose. And will get there with more training behind their machine.

I recently had a shot of big bro at their main st location and it was amazing. The barista knew what they were doing. The people here are so friendly! I think it's fantastic they're opening a new place, and I'm glad they will have a menu. Great they are going down that route.

I agree. Every cafe should be putting a double shot into their drinks. The only places that don't are the likes of the chains like starbucks, etc...

I don't really feel very impressed thinking this owner went to over 50 roasters. Seems a bit silly, really! Don't they use coffee from Classic Gourmet? I mean, come on....you're not going to pull a mind blowing shot using classic. It's just impossible.

i can't believe you would put voulez vous in the same category as the others you mention? You have to be kidding. I mean, it's a nice little cafe and all, but they are not coffee focused like the indie coffee scene in toronto.
Crema is really one of the best in TO.
Te Aro's espresso is incredible, and I don't feel that the flavours are lost in the cap or latte. It is amazingly creamy, chocolaty, and full bodied.
Mercury is also great, although I prefer the black cat. Their new blend is very bright, and several of my coffee buddies have also confirmed this.
Manic is also great, again using black cat, which is just amazing.

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Crema
3079 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P1Z9, CA

I don't know where you get your info atomeyes, but it has not been proven that a darker roasted coffee has less caffeine. Here's a good resource for you:
http://www.roastmagazine.com/backissu...
If your latte was too hot, you probably didn't get a good idea of what the espresso actually tasted like. When milk gets burnt, it changes the flavour of the entire drink. That's why milk steaming is so important.

I really like this place. I think the staff are well trained, and I think the owner really knows how to make good coffee. Not sold on the beans, but still, it's well made.

I agree, Rooster has great coffee. And also a great vibe. Super chilled.

Currycue - have you tried Broadview Espresso? Interested in what you think of that place...I think the owner pulls a really good shot of espresso.
I also think you are being harsh - in fact, I was in Te Aro the other day, and they have scored some pretty high in the coffee review with one of their feature single origins. I think that gives them huge credibility about their beans.

The best coffee that I've had in Toronto is from Te Aro on Queen East. The espresso blend here has the most amazing sweetness to it. They have also won some awards (forgot what exactly) for some of their single origin offerings. I really like Peter at Communal Mule - they use counter culture. He is a no nonsense kind of guy, but pulls a mean shot.
Oh, and Crema is just amazing - they use Parallel 49, Terroir, and Te Aro.

I checked this place out the other day. Beans here are great, and the service is also really good. Much better than Si Espresso. And I would say better than the Perk as well, although I have to say I had a pretty fine drip coffee from there the other day - hadn't been there for a while, and was pleasantly surprised.

Another good one to try in this area is Broadview Espresso. Pull a really nice shot, and it's a small but comfortable and relaxing place.

I back up Manic. It is a great spot and the owner really knows what he is doing. Cherry Bomb is also one of my newly found favourites. THis place just has a good vibe. Really nice people work there.

I'm really not into Stumptown. I think they have done an excellent job branding their company, but like most micro roasters, they have expanded fast. Among the coffee community (I come from Portland), many of us feel they have dropped their standards. There are much much better micro roasters that are local in Toronto, you just have to stop being sucked into what you think is cool.
I would much rather follow the model in most big coffee communities, and seek out an independent that sources and roasts top-notch beans. Then you know you are getting fresh, quality beans.

This place is not connected to Baby on the Hip. It is owned by a couple from New Zealand. It has been gaining alot of popularity among locals, and others as well. They offer a very good espresso blend, as well as some top notch single origin coffees.
I go between Te Aro and Dark Horse in that neighbourhood. They are both great places to relax, and serve very good coffee.
I particularly like that Te Aro roasts their own beans. I asked one of the baristas about the air roaster that they used, and he gave me a very good explanation.
Overall, I think that this place is a great addition to the Toronto coffee scene, and what's even better is that they are offering public coffee cupping sessions! Yes.

I agree Alvino!

I think Sam truly makes an exceptional coffee, just didn't love the beans. A great experience to watch the siphon though. Wish he had more seats as well - I want to sit down and at least have 10 mins to enjoy my coffee.

I always prefer going to a cafe that also roasts their own beans. I do find that many of the roasters in Toronto seem to prefer a very dark roast. I find this really takes away from the flavour of the bean.
I've enjoyed a few coffees from Ezra's Pound, and I really enjoy the "air roasted" beans at Te Aro. They definitely do a lighter roast, and I recently tried one of their "feature coffees" which was an organic fair trade el salvador bean. It had some very interesting characteristics. I also tried their Kenyan coffee, this was very citrusy, which I really enjoyed.
I have tried Green Beanery and Merchants, but did not enjoy their coffee.
I think we are lucky to have some up and coming roasters in Toronto that are going to really drive up the standards.