Cafes
CSI Coffee Pub
CSI Coffee Pub is a new coffee house (no forensics involved — I know that's what you were thinking) situated on the ground floor of the Centre for Social Innovation in the Annex.
Funny enough, the new cafe has been stationed less than 10 feet from a ready supply of free coffee, available to all CSI members. But that hasn't seemed to matter much; CSI Coffee Pub has been pulling espressos practically nonstop since it opened for business about four months ago.
The Centre for Social Innovation is a communal workspace where members pay for a particular package that suits their individual needs. There are three CSIs in Toronto, but this one on Bathurst is the host of the newly minted CSI Coffee Pub.
There's no dividing line separating the cafe from the workspace, which poses a bit of a problem. CSI Coffee Pub is open both to CSI members and people off the street, but the workspace, technically, is for members only. In other words, you're really not supposed to grab a latte and pull out your laptop and work away the afternoon (though the WiFi password is plastered on the wall) unless you're a CSI member, though staff has not (and will not) ask anyone to leave. That's just not their schtick. But the issue is complicated by the fast that CSI Coffee Pub does not do take-out, meaning you pretty much have to sit down to enjoy that latte (unless you bring your own cup).
"We're still trying to figure it all out," barista Jordan says, fielding my questions while owner and manager Erin steps out to run errands. "We want to make the space available to everyone, without cheapening the value of a CSI membership."
The cafe certainly has its appeal. While I'm not sure what's brewing in the free carafe on the next counter, CSI Coffee Pub sources its beans from Merchants of Green and offers fresh sandwiches ($7.50), soups ($5.50), and salads ($6.00), along with baked goods from OMG. Green is the cafe's principle (hence the no take-out), with a bar made from recycled barn board and bread for the sandwiches delivered fresh from Woodlot by bicycle each day.
I enjoy an Americano ($2.25), which comes rich with a thick reddish-brown crema and bold, earthy flavour, while Jordan tells me a little more about the cafe. "Our meats for our sandwiches come from Rowe Farms and our milk is organic," he says, adding that customers have the option of almond or soy milk with no extra charge. "We're really focused on natural and organic wherever possible."
For those who have spent the day at CSI and are looking for a little caffeine-free detox, the cafe also offers a green smoothie ($4.50) and vegan eats, such as its multigrain sandwich with dandelion pesto, cucumber, sprouts, tomatoes, and other veggies. The cafe is currently open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. (look out for breakfast specials!) to 6:00 p.m., though Jordan says hours may change. Of course, when you find yourself in need of a jolt and it's after hours, there's always the free coffee — just a few paces over.
Photos by Morris Lum
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http://www.blogto.com/arts/2012/06/who_writes_all_those_fancy_restaurant_chalk_boards/
good thinkin'
-My name is Erin, I am the owner of the Coffee Pub at Centre for Social Innovation. Robyn says I "went for a walk", but I was actually riding my bike to run errands for the Coffee Pub, which I do once a day for 45 minutes during my 12-13 hour work day. Robyn came unannounced- I'd been waiting for a call from her all week to tell me when she was coming. I was really looking forward to meeting and talking to her, so I rode back as quickly as possible and missed her by 30 seconds, literally. I asked blogTO 3 times to have her call.
-We are our own company within Centre for Social Innovation and have set up shop in their amazing, good-vibin' space. While CSI is a place for paying members, the ground floor level IS open to visitors now that we've come in. We are working with them to make the transition from "members only" to "visitors welcome" in a non-invasive way to the paying members. That means the "free for members only" coffee hasn't moved yet, but is due to make its way to another floor of the building where only paying CSI members can access it. In July, the newly built meeting rooms on the ground floor level- next to our shop- will be bookable online by anyone who wants to reserve one, so we're using that as our deadline to be ready for an influx of non-CSI members. We plan to provide catering for these rooms once they are up and ready.
-We have been open for 4 months, not 2.
-We don't offer paper cups, but you may certainly take our coffee to-go if you have a travel mug with you. Coffee is super portable! In fact, many of our small business neighbours take our in-house mugs with them back to work and bring them back to us the next day! It is our mission to create a paradym shift in the coffee industry, which is currently responsible for huge amounts of paper product waste. We think that people deserve better than that :)
-Our sandwiches and full lunch menu were just launched earlier this month. Sandwiches are $7.50 and come with a side of greens from the New Farm in Creemore. In fact, we know exactly where all the produce we use comes from... small farms within about 100km of Toronto. And yes, bread from Woodlot gets picked up daily by bike by me or one of our two staff- Jordan and Andrew. We also pick up our meat by bike from Rowe Farms on Bloor in Annex too.
Hope to see you at our counter! We promise an awesome and most delicious experience, complete with smiles!
-Erin, owner of CSI Coffee Pub
see you soon!