CHLOE Magazine Spring 2016 | Page 246

They’ve got a really cool grungy but still kind of chic thing happening in this area right now and I think the coffee shop adds something great to the neighbourhood. They make all their pastries in house, and they used to wholesale to other coffee shops under the name “flagship.” Unfortunately that ended just under a year ago and now you’ve got to go straight to Capital to get your fix! Their coffee tastes delicious, and the baristas were friendly and knowledgeable. This coffee joint is one you’ll want to sit down and enjoy your morning or afternoon at. Leave some time to sip! This shop instantly gives off the Alice in Wonderland feel. They’ve got bright colours, endless home-baked pastries and even a whimsical espresso machine. Although it’s small inside, the space is enchanting. I can imagine myself reading in here for hours with a delicious slice of cake and cappuccino. Again, something important to me as a customer is the quality of service. There’s nothing more frustrating than walking into a shop and feeling like you’re an inconvenience when asking a few questions. The baristas here where so friendly and chatty. Nic, one of the baristas, told me that all employees have to know how to make all the pastries in case they run out. There’s a massive kitchen in the back, and I don’t even know how many times a day they must bake back there. The sitting space reminds me of a cartoon with the bright colours and furniture. I can’t get enough of it. This place is a must-see! ally go underground to get to this place. Yes, it’s hard to find, but promise it’s worth it! M SQUARE COFFEE CO- 123 Queen St W Now, I need to put a disclaimer on this shop before I write about it. I am a part-time barista at this coffee shop. However, I was a customer at M Square before I worked there, and I love the coffee just as much now as I did before. Located in the Toronto Path underneath the Sheraton Hotel, you’ve got to liter- EMPIRE ESPRESSO- 668 College St I decided to get a ginger cookie whoopie pie with cream cheese frosting in the middle. If you go to this place you’ve just got to buy a pastry. Their espresso was quite tasty. They use Cut Coffee which is based in Toronto and is becoming more well-known. Andrew, who made my latte today has been working a lot on his art and has killer taste buds when it comes to making sure the coffee is being extracted properly on the espresso machine. Just opening up September of 2014, M Square has been successful but mostly unheard of to those outside the financial district. While coffee is M Square’s forte, the cha