Cafes
Manic Coffee Knows Their Brew
Manic Coffee is the new cafe on the Bathurst & College block, catering to local hipsters, computer salesmen and firefighters alike.
I stop in on a weeknight with some friends and there's room to spare. We place our order and settle into the always entertaining window seat.
The menu here is short and relatively concoction-free. With few exceptions, it's really all about the coffee. Owner Matt Lee, has a great love and knowledge of his beans and is bringing that to the Manic counter. He's even served up the legendary Panamanian La Esmeralda Special coffee for $15 a cup (and that's actually cheap!), but we're just here for the regular chalkboard offerings today.
The Cappuccino ($3.25), Macchiato ($2.75) and Hot Chocolate ($3.75) are all presented with darling coffee art creations swirled delicately into the foam.
While the coffees are (as we might have guessed) truly as good as it gets, the Hot Chocolate lacked the key element of hot - leaving it a slightly bittersweet mix of tepid chocolate.
Across the table, the owner of a Soy Chai Latte ($3.75) is falling in love with it and offers up his oversized Vegan Pumpkin Cookie ($2.50) to make up for the so-so hot chocolate.
The cookie is soft and pumpkin-y sweet... so fitting for a cool autumn evening. Just as someone remarks that it doesn't seem vegan at all, the barista, overhearing, mentions that she's heard that from others but it's true. They're just that good.
On that delicious note we decide to try something else and go for the Apple-Cranberry Scone ($2.50). Again, I can't help but notice how soft it is. I start to wonder if I'm just getting used to the dry, crumbly *other-coffee-chain* scones that somebody always brings in to staff meetings.
Inquiring, the barista proudly informs me that the scones and some other baked goods are brought in from local baker, Wanda's Pie in the Sky.
I returned the next morning for a Clover drip coffee ($2.50) and another scone, which looks to be the winning combination for starting any day off right. While it's a couple quarters more than I usually spend, sometimes flavour has got to take priority. I'll certainly be back.
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it is the best drip coffee in the city.
and the whole wifi thing, while i appreciate it, it shouldn't be your deciding factor in visiting a cafe. the cafes on campus in some US cities only offer you wifi if you have your own account with their chosen service provider! there's enough hot spots around i'm sure you could sneak some internet. but anyway, more coffee for me then!
they're passionate about what they do and they are not confused at all about about what they're here to do. coffee and espresso is first and foremost what they do.
if you've ever actually dropped in or bought a coffee then maybe you'll see what i see. on a weekend they are packed to the brim with people taking over tables and, dear god, even using laptops without wifi! i've seen tables meant for two with 4 or more people crowded around and enough mugs for at least 2 cups per person covering the table.
the line ups for takeout coffee are long but fast... it's fantastic and a shame that you're missing out on such a tasty drink. what you really need is an internet cafe, now that would be putting your priorities first.
Also, a bit off topic, but folks who dig manic but disdain Starb#$% or whatever -- it's nearly the same thing. One indie, one a chain, but it's all high end coffee joints, so you're splitting a few too many hairs.
I'd be happy to NOT see the cafe fill up with laptops...
I don't think he was saying they coffee was nearly the same. I think he was saying they have the experience of having uppity-nosed people thinking they are took good for plebeian coffee.
It's just coffee, no need to fight over it. And I love quality coffee, but geez people, can't we all get together.
This phrase, if coffee was replaced with beer, bread, meat, or any foodstuff, would illustrate how relative people's standards are. If one insisted on drinking Stella instead of Budweiser, one could be accused of beer snobbery as well.
Manic is serious and passionate about coffee, but not snobbish. The staff are usually friendly, open to answering questions, especially about the Clover, and more trained than the average Starbucks "barista". Some "indie" coffee shops may be snobbish and uppity (I know of a few in Toronto), but Manic isn't one of them. However, since I'm a fan and a semi-frequent customer, my opinion is very subjective.
After I tasted their espresso and cups from the Clover, I learned how good coffee can taste all on its own and what a proper latte or cappuccino should taste like. The first non-scalded milk latte I ever had was at Manic.
It's not simply a method of caffeine delivery at Manic -- it's something to be appreciated with a flavour of its own. Manic also has the only Clover in town right now -- a sad state considering that Ottawa has at least four, if not five and the size of Toronto.
Those photos were taken at least a month ago, judging from the pumpkin, and isn't reflective of how busy Manic is now.
Tservice can be slow especially in the morning and when there's a rush of people, since the Clover is a single-serve machine and they only have a two-group Synesso for espresso (i.e., only two shots can be made at a time). However, they now have an urn for drip coffee, which should speed service up a bit. As for rudeness, I've never experienced it at Manic, but I'm not discounting it because the staff are human and have bad days.
When a friend and dedicated coffee lover told me of the arrival of a cafe along College with a Clover system and the only line on Esmeralda coffee in town, I have to say I insisted it couldn't possibly this awful spot I'd tried, but alas, now I see that this is in fact the case.
Maybe I, too, caught them on a bad night, but based on my experience I sure as sugar would not trust this place with a coffee that retails for $15 a cup.
Your grasp of coffee knowledge seems as firm as your grasp of proper English.
Also, there is no way you could've received a long espresso or "lungo" even if you bribed the barista.
Perhaps, you should take all the hot air you blow and use it to foam your own milk if you're that disappointed.
And as far as the WIFI thing goes, would it kill you to bring a book?
As for the quality of coffee? Comparing them to Starbucks would be like comparing a Philly Cheese Steak to Kobe beef. While i do at times enjoy the former, the latter is truly in a league of its own.
The place down the street Kahawa Coffee has wifi. I used it a couple of times and the coffee is great. She roasts her own beans in house.
LOL This is Toronto with its own coffee culture. We are not in Paris or Vienna - deal with it. Sophistication and pretentiousness are two very different things people
over and out!
J
Leave your laptops, whip out a real newspaper, grab an excellent cup-o-joe, and relax. That's the way this coffee was meant to be had, and I applaud Manic for their choice.
Look for a tall guy with a moustache.
Go in when he's working and have a cappuccino, its the best I've had anywhere.
Congratulations Sam!
we left frustrated. i would still love to give them another chance, now that we know the correct system, but i do have to say starbucks has much better customer service.
With that said, Manic is not about "following the cattle", and it's no surprise that you still think customer service is better at Starbucks.
I would assume that a multi billion dollar corporation has the money to invest in to customer service training, and setting up their stores so its really really easy to order.
I'd rather choose a coffee shop that invests their money into training their staff on the coffee, and buying top of the line equipment and beans instead of superfluous candy painted "order here" signs, and fake "yes sir, what may I get for you sir" service.
Manic is a coffee bar run by real personalities that know their coffee, and will gladly help you when you're ready to loosen up and try something other than whitebread with ketchup and mustard, if you know what I'm saying.
Don't go in if the girl with the black hair and lots of ugly tattoos is working.
She makes the worst coffee at Manic, and was extremely rude to my friend and I.
Everybody else there is generally great, and can make amazing coffee, but don't waste your time if that girl is working.
I haven't seen her the last few times I've been in, so maybe they fired her.
You can tell by Anonymous' post by the type of personalities that work and visit the coffee shop. Insulting others because they simply would like a little common courtesy. Sad!
The owner seems like a really good guy....can't say that about the rest of them.
I don't think buying out Clover will help improve Starbucks coffee. Their roasters are still not that great. It's not going to improve the burnt taste of their coffee.
Move away from Toronto.
As a Sommolier i will say that Intellegencias espresso is hollow, short on the palate and lacks structure.
It's gotta come from across the world no matter how you cut it.
As a barista, I would say Intelligentsia Black Cat espresso is one of the sweetest, well rounded espressos, with a consistent flavor profile no matter the season, remarkably forgiving to work with, as well as being one of few espressos capable of holding up its flavor to larger volumes of milk/water dilution.
When made properly, its like syrup with notes of dark chocolate, cherries, oranges, caramel, all spice, and a floral bouquet .
It would be amazing if a local roaster would step up to the plate, and fill the need for quality sourced, consistently roasted, unburned, properly packaged, roast dated coffee with knowledge and support for its customers in the competitive modern coffee industry.
It just isn't so, or all the best cafes in Toronto would be using such a roaster.
Believe me, any cafe owner would love to save the shipping costs, but it's about QUALITY.
FYI, 49th Parallel and Origins are both in Vancouver, technically further than Chicago, therefore a bigger carbon footprint, if you wanna get into semantics.
And don't even mention Kicking Horse.
6 month old Grocery store coffee for $17 a pound?
You're better of saving yourself the upset, and buying some Folgers. It would be about the same quality, for like 1/4 the price.
As a Sommolier, you should stick to wine.
A few weeks ago, a few of the top chefs in the city cupped black cat and 49th and found it have no consistency. These are non objective opinions from individuals who are classified as Super Tasters!
You see the difference in the wine world is that we don't care where it comes from or the story behind the product, we only care about what's in the glass. Coffee should be the same.
Also, Coffee, is currently re entering the growth phase of the sales cycle do to the reintroduction of new physical, complex physical and abstract attributes.
I would love to talk to you about your experiences in the Coffee world as it would assist me with my PHD Marketing.
Thank you
Thats just the truth, not a trend or a game of favorites.
Classic coffee is stale right out of the bag.
End of story.
maybe so if you enjoy an atmosphere full of people glued to thier laptop computers. Personally, i prefer a cafe that focuses solely on good coffee and profound, personal social interaction. way to go, Manic!
Interesting tidbit: Starfucks bought out the Clover manufacturing company in 2008. No more sales, parts or service for independent business. boo-hiss.
Thanks for your time,
TCG
grow up.
If you enjoy some of the best coffee in the city, then it shouldn't matter. perhaps these "hipsters" are just individuals with a similar interest as you.
respect them, and maybe you'll learn something about yourself.
I finally went to check it out with a friend.
First of all I know don't really know much about coffee. Although I worked at one or those franchise coffee shops for while and I adored working there. And I drink instant coffee with sugar and coffee whiter at home.I could hear the screams. This is what I know for ME, when I have good coffee I can drink it black or with just a bit of help.
Why am I telling you this. Cause I want to point out the most basic of things to all those people who are screaming at each other. Coffee is Just a Drink People! Sure we want our stuff to be good, environmently friendly and blah blah blah. But it's still a drink.
This is what I got from Manic. Clover Brazilian coffee $4 something, my friend Clover Kenyian. Although I am not going to ever spend that on coffee again. Too rich for my blood. However IT WAS GOOD !!! I drank my coffee BLACK! I am not sure if it was because of the famous clover machine or because it was brewed right or because it was the right roast or bean for me. I tried my friends, I liked mine better. Thus my thinking it was the right bean for me.
Will I go back Definatly although I don't think I will be drinking $4 coffee any more. The place was Clean, large good place to chill.
I have no experience with their lattes or cappuccinos, so I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience Jo. But I would definitely recommend giving it another shot. Definitely try a cup of Clover. You'll be glad you did.
My only complaint is that they don't really have any gluten free products. I've noticed some great cookies popping up at a few other cafes in the city. Manic should really jump on the band wagon!
Back to the matter at hand: Manic is awesome. I went there for a Clover cup of Kenyan and it blew me away how different from standard coffee it was: it tasted like tomatoes and red berries with no bitterness at all. I've never experienced the flavour of coffee as fully removed from bitterness as possible, and it's addictive. Every time I am in the area I try to grab a Clover cup of something. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it yet.
My hands are pretty ugly so no big deal. Just a warning, they serve their coffee hot!
Why do you bother wasting your time posting useless comments on a board where everyone obviously likes coffee? Do you enjoy being antagonized for attention?
Sure!!
xoxox
ps, coffee still sucks. you take yourself waaay too seriously!
Love you!!
I am a Torontonian currently living in Sydney, Australia. The cafe culture here is huge in comparison to Toronto, and guess what? No cafes have wifi available! The cafe culture here is about coming and enjoying a great coffee and relaxing. Most cafes have communal tables so you can sit with total strangers and spark up a conversation. Also, most Australians have never even heard of drip coffee, and oppose the idea of having chains of cafes.
Toronto needs more cafes like Manic, Dark Horse, and Balzacs...