a fantastic coffee experience with "friends"....

Amici means "friends" in Italian....and this is the name of a great cafe I happened upon on my way downtown yesterday.  The Amici Café and Gelateria has been operating at Hurontario St. and Lakeshore Rd. in Port Credit since July of last year.  In its initial year of business it won the Top Choice Award for excellence, as gauged by respondents throughout the GTA. 

The Cafe and Gelateria is an offshoot of the Amici Sports Cafe on Cliff Road in Mississauga.  Under its current owners, Paul and Serena Rochetti, this original cafe been offering an Old World Italian cafe experience since 1995.

There is only one brewed coffee to choose from, but it’s extremely tasty….a medium roast with rich undertones called the Metropolitan from the Java Works Coffee Co. (small, medium and large all under $2 before tax).  Also, they have more complex espresso based drinks, as well as dozens of flavours of their famous, award-winning gelato.  I'd tell you more about the gelato, but hey, this is a coffee blog:P lol

The Café itself has a modern clean and bright design with metal table and chairs, large windows and  bright green and white tones  throughout.  Also have an outdoor patio to enjoy your coffee, which is where I was writing this piece a couple of hours ago.  A couple of large plasma TVs share news items from the upper walls.

The only drawback is that they don’t offer WiFi (hence me writing the bulk of this blog entry last night on Word Perfect) but that’s a small gripe when weighed against the delicious brew I was chugging back not all that long ago.  I’ll definitely be back for more of their fine coffee....and soon!

coffee from another planet.........

Coming through Guelph this morning, I decided to drop into a Planet Bean Coffee location for the first time.   Me wanting a coffee?  I know you're shocked but it's true:P  Seriously, though it's always an adventure to try coffee at an as yet undiscovered (for me) cafe, and this adventure did not disappoint. 

Planet Bean has been roasting coffee in Guelph since 1997, and the beans are freshly roasted, never stored for any length of time.  They offer a full range of dark, medium, blended roasts, and decaf, for sale by the cup, or in bulk.  Of course, as you'd expect, they also offer an array of espresso based coffee drinks.  I tried out their dark roast of the day, Freedom Fighter, which was rich, flavourful and absolutely fantastic. 

Their coffee beans are fair trade and organic.  They're also a member of the Ethiopian Coffee Network and actively promote Cafe Femenino (which helps Peruvian women coffee farmers to improve their quality of life).  The roasting team are members of the Roasters' Guild, and the baristas at each of the two locations belong to the Sumac Community Worker Coop, which relies on a cooperative approach to running their coffee business.

So, next time you're on your way through Guelph, make it a point to stop by a Planet Bean location.  Go to planetbeancoffee.com for information on locations.  You'll be very glad you did....I sure was:)

a hidden gem right on Lakeshore Road in Burlington........

I was out driving this evening, when I passed by this unobtrusive coffeehouse in Burlington, and decided to check it out.  Lakeshore Coffeehouse sits just before you get to Brant Street on Lakehore Road.  It opened up its doors in 2005.  From the inviting black awning out front, to the pleasant artwork and knickknacks displayed around the place, to the inviting fireplace bookended by two easy chairs, this coffeehouse has a real European feel to it.  Definitely a place you'd want to spend some time enjoying your brew, and I don't know........reading your favourite coffee blog, perhaps? :))

Speaking of brews, they have a medium and dark roast coffee available; on that day they were the Mexican and the Bolivian.  Being a dark roast kind of guy, I chose the Bolivian.  I was not disappointed.  What a sensational coffee-strong and smooth with a pleasant aftertaste.   The barista was also extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the products.

If you're fixated on having a flavoured brewed coffee, none is available, but they do have an ample array of flavour shots to choose from.  Not that big a deal if you're intent on having solely brewed coffee (minus any flavour shot) as the medium and dark roast would satiate most coffee aficionados' desires.

If you're looking for a place to get some work done, whether it's studying, working from home (at a coffee shop), or just indulging in your coffee addiction, er...appreciation, then the Lakeshore Coffeehouse is the place to be.

In the middle of a Mudslide, and I'm not dirty at all.....

An Artisano Mudslide, that is....a truly great chocolate, vanilla and Irish cream flavoured coffee from the aforementioned Artisano Bakery and Cafe.  As a voracious consumer of coffee, especially the flavoured ones, the Mudslide is pure nirvana in a cup.  Ask the staff at the Oakville location....I'm pretty much there every evening........

Another coffee that is equally enticing is their Christmas Blend, which combines chocolate and orange notes to produce a brew that is out of this world.  It's available later on in the year....you know, at Christmas:P  They also offer dark, medium, light and decaf roasts, as well as more elaborate coffee drinks.  There is also a full service food menu, where you can indulge in breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The first Artisano was opened in Etobicoke in 2006 by brothers Mike and Joe Simeone.  Truly a Canadian success story, this excellent Bakery Cafe has expanded to seven locations as of early this year.  You can go to ArtisanoBakery.com to find a location near you. 

Go check one of them out yourself, and experience a Mudslide......a whole lot of fun and you won't need a clean up afterwards.

a "bird's" eye view of a coffee shop up North......

Robin's Coffee and Donuts is a great franchise quite prolific up in northern Ontario-as omnipresent as Tim Horton's is down here in southern Ontario.  They're also quite abundant in eastern and western Canada. 

The Robin's story started with one coffee shop in Thunder Bay 37 years ago, and has since blossomed into over 130 locations across the country today.  By 2016, that number is expected to surpass 300 franchises.  .  They offer a signature blend, a fair trade organic blend and a Swiss water decaf blend.
They are privately owned and are 100% Canadian.  Score one for Canada!

Their signature blend coffee is wonderful, made with 100% Arabica beans.  Dare I say it's better than a Timmy's.  In fact, it most often kept me going on those long drives between northern towns.  Although Tim Horton's was not as prevalent, if there was a choice between Tim's and Robin's, I'd go for the Robin's ....it's that good.  Petro Canada fueled the van, Robin's fueled me.

The next time you're up north, and I mean waaay north (farther than Muskoka:PP) grab yourself a genuine treat and sample some Robin's coffee.....it'll make you drive faster and farther than you ever thought possible:))


***On a more serious note, I'd like to take a moment to remember all the brave souls who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.  Please join me in raising a cup of your favourite coffee to them.  Their memory lives on forever.***

An unroasted coffee bean by another name.....

What is an unroasted coffee bean by another name?  Why, they're called green beans. 

What are green beans?  They're coffee beans that have been hand picked, wet processed, dried fully and then crushed to make our favourite brew. The major difference between regular coffee and green coffee is that green coffee is not roasted whereas brown coffee that people usually consume is roasted. Green coffee beans stay much fresher in an unroasted state, therefore produce a fresher brew.  As of 2010, Brazil was the world leader in the production of these types of beans.  We love you Brazil!

So, what am I going on about all this stuff for?  Well, "Green Bean" Coffee Roasting Co. happens to be the name of a magnificent cafe in Oakville's downtown square.  It celebrates its 20th year of successful operations in Oakville next year. 

They usually offer two types of coffee daily by the cup; Costa Rica and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.  My favourite is the Costa Rica, but the latter is also very good.  I usually alternate them when I go there to do some writing.

As you would expect, you can also purchase their beans by the pound.  They also offer a full array of coffee drinks, teas, and an expansive food and desert menu.

For a fresh experience, as well as fresher beans, make your way to the Green Bean.... for coffee you won't be disappointed in:)

Yes, I've Bean There.......

Downtown Oakville has a number of fantastic coffee places, a few of which I'll profile in further posts.  One of these is Bean There Gourmet Coffee Fine Tea, located north on Reynolds St. just off  Lakeshore Road in the downtown core. 

Owned by Brett Titus, one of my Dad's long time running partners, the coffee at this establishment is superb.  The beans are from Reunion Island Coffee, and they offer a whole slew of different roasts and flavours.  These are available by the cup ($1.38 for small to $2.35 for extra large) or for purchase by the pound ($12-13/lb). 

My favourite is the Vanilla Hazelnut and the Privateer Dark (dark roast).   You can also get more complex coffee drinks (cappuccinos, lattes, mochachinos) if you so desire.  An ample food menu is there to choose from too if you want a bite to eat with your coffee. 

Overall, a highly recommended coffeehouse if you're hanging out in downtown Oakville and need a quick pick me up of the caffeinated variety.  Tell me, is there any other kind? lol

Can I get away with one more cliched phrase?  Alright.......I've Bean There, done that.....and you should too!

Cafe Nirvana in Bronte

CJ's Cafe is an amazing little cafe tucked away in Bronte, near the harbour.  It's located on Lakeshore Road, on the south side, just before you get to Bronte Road. 

Always a great selection of coffees (both by the cup and sold per pound), they're all 100% organic and fair trade.   My favourite in the Cafe Femenino,  but of course I'm also a sucker for the flavoured coffees, so the Vanilla Hazelnut offered here is beyond reproach. 

And yes, there is a CJ!  A local artist when she's not tending to her cafe, her bright and vivacious personality always make it a pleasure to come in for a coffee (and if you're in the mood, a nice selection of food items too).

Seriously, do yourself a favour and hightail it over to CJ's Cafe!

Whole Foods.....NOT just for organic foods

Do yourself a favour and stop by the Allegro Coffee Espressobar at Whole Foods market on Cornwall Road in Oakville.  Their coffee beans come from the Allegro Coffee Company and they are 100% organic and free trade.  They always have a few different types of coffee to choose from daily, so you can really indulge your "coffeeholic tendencies".  Perhaps that's just me:P   

My personal favourite coffees are the Mexican Zaragoza (with hints of cocoa, bing cherry and citrus) and the Guatemalan Antigua (with notes of chocolate, toffee and citrus).  You can buy it by the cup ($1.88 for the medium, $2.30 for the large) or in bulk ($15.99 per lb).

The next time you're out shopping for any organic wares at Whole Foods, make sure you grab a coffee you'll remember for quite some time.

A Broken Cup that holds good coffee......

I was up in Chapleau this summer, which is about 2 hours east of Wawa, on my way to Wakami Provincial Park.   Historically a division point for the Canadian Pacific Railway and home to the largest Game Preserve in the world (7000 square kms) the town now if fairly small and rather uneventful. 
But as usual, I wanted to get a coffee, so I tried out what turned out to be a wonderful little coffee shop on Birch Street East (their main street) in town.  It's called the Broken Cup Coffee Shop, and their dark roast coffee is absolutely incredible.  They also offered a light and medium roast which I'm sure were equally good.  For nearly a toonie, a way to ease the boredom and experience a taste of heaven on the streets of Chapleau. 

Grocery store coffee anyone?

Stop by Longos' own Aromate Cafe at Dundas and Trafalgar in Oakville for a real treat in a cup.   Their Aromate Black coffee is absolutely outstanding.  The large size (or Supremo) is only $1.50 so its also a really great value for a really great cup of joe.  Not only is it enjoyable and affordable, it'll keep you wide awake through the drudgery of your weekly grocery shopping.   Bottoms up!

Going Loco in Gore Bay....

Another great place to enjoy coffee is in Gore Bay, on Manitoulin Island.  It's called Loco Beanz, and its a small chain of coffeehouses across the island.  They have two other locations in Little Current and Manitowaning.

Their coffee comes from St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters, whose beans are all 100% fair trade certified.  I tried the St. Joe's Maple Magic, one of their flavoured coffees, and was extremely impressed.  My Dad tried out a dark roast, Winter Solstice, and positively raved about it.  Coming from a man who is not all that keen on coffee to begin with, that is certainly high praise.

To get there, just go north from the GTA on Highway 6 to Tobermory, on the outermost tip of the Bruce Peninsula, and take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry across to South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island-total crossing time two hours.  Then drive northwest on Highway 542 to Gore Bay (or to the other two towns).

Loco Beanz is definitely worth checking out if you're up that way in the future. 

Superior Coffee (as in Lake Superior)

If you're ever up in Marathon, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Superior (between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay) do yourself a big favour and try Rodney's Drive Thru:)) 

Best coffee I've had in a long while.....it's right on Peninsula Road (their Main Street) of Marathon and is part of a small grocery store on your left hand side driving in, almost directly across from the Marathon Harbour Inn.

Seriously, it's almost worth the drive to Marathon in and of itself!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello everyone;

Welcome to my blog....GroundUpBeans...a blog all about the best coffeehouses I've visited and will visit into the future. 

My name is Mike and I'm a writer living in Oakville Ontario.  I graduated from Journalism school at Ryerson in 2006 and have been freelancing ever since.  My work has appeared in the Ryerson Review of Journalism, Sharp Magazine, and on the website for a global security company, FinalImage.com.  My passion (some would say obsession) with coffee over the years has finally prompted me to write about it. 

I hope you enjoy the posts on my coffee adventures over the coming years, and that you'll join me in sampling all the very best "ground up beans" (coffee) that abound around us.

I hope you're all having a terrific weekend,  and again, welcome to GroundUpBeans!