While waiting for brunch, I decided to grab a quick hot drink next door. I ended up ordering a hot chocolate and was pleasantly surprised that the Batista did latte art for me. The staff were friendly and the ambiance was nice and cosy. The place has limited seating but overall, a great place to check out. read more

Mercury Espresso - Hot Chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Mercury Espresso located at the corner of Queen St. E. and Morse St. in Leslieville serves up delicious coffee and pastries in a casual and chill space. Currently celebrating their 20 year anniversary this year, this coffee shop has been a staple in the neighbourhood for a long time. I've mainly visited their other cafe in Corktown but the OG location still brings better coffee and community vibes. Came by Mercury Espresso recently where I ordered a cortado. They had coffee beans for sale from local as well as other Canadian coffee roasters. Service was friendly and my cortado was made super well! Staff also mentioned that they're doing giveaways for 20 years where you could win prizes from businesses around the area (so nice!). Seating can be limited if it gets busy so I decided to grab my coffee to go. Overall, a solid coffee shop in the Leslieville area - honestly can't go wrong with going to Mercury Espresso! read more

Quick pop in for a coffee before an appointment. Very quiet and pleasant. Definitely will come back . Ordered a cortado and it was delicious! read more

Mercury Espresso - Cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I enjoy a delicious latte at Mercury this morning. The space is calm and beautiful. The service felt neutral. read more

Mercury Espresso - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love the entrance The design of the front (angle, font) And Coffee is GREAT queen east keeps getting better! read more

having a weak as shit $6 coffee and reading. complained about the coffee. fucking asshole working charges me $2 for an extra shot. this place is a scam. if the coffee is shit, it was $6, just fix it. bloody awful customer service. complete bullshit art on display. last time I came here was a few years ago and it was way better. AVOID. read more

I really feel for the friendly guys that work inside Mercury Espresso Bar! It was so hot and stuffy inside. I was sweating while sipping my Cappuccino ($3.50) with no air conditioning or fans.... I ended up taking refuge on their outdoor patio. Luckily their wifi signal was strong enough, so I have no problem uploading my photos using my Yelp App. I wish there are more electronic outlets, as my phone was almost dead and in great need of charging..... Cappuccino was A-OK! But the things that impressed me the most are the friendly staffs... I will be back! read more

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Ethiopian blend (espresso) is an extra $1 - no biggie. Fast wifi and a/c. Couches are beautifully comfortable Floors and couches are not being vacuumed as much as necessary so I would suggest a grab and go unless you want bugs crawling on you while you are have your morning coffee. I'll be back to get out of the heat but can someone please call the owner who is a more regular customer. First time here for years. read more

My first impression of this coffee shop was the simplicity of it, there is a very open space, some couches and a table to sit at, and lots of natural lighting coming into the shop. My partner and I came to this shop for some cold brew ($4 each). I got the regular cold brew and he got a coconut infused cold brew. We both liked our drinks very much. The barista girl that served us was very energetic and kind, she gave us a little run down of their menu and cold drinks as it was our first time here, even explained to us how they make their cold brew. She told us that their cold brews are made over 14 hours through the glass drip (shown in one of my photos), so catch them earlier during the day because they may run out! Coconut cold brew, was good it has a light coconut water flavour in it, perhaps they used coconut water just for that, it doesn't taste like it had any artificial flavour. read more

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Cute little coffee shop on queen street. Their wifi doesn't too well though. Just enjoyed their coffee but I might go back to try the vegan treats. read more

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I was not impressed, but I know this place always has good reviews. One thing I am surprised at is that customers who come here are very fancy and good looking so as baristas. I do not think this is a fancy place, but people are fancy and stylish. Coffee was not cheap. They gave me old coffee from the pot, so the taste was sour. The bathroom was not clean. They are selling nice paintings. Probably it is very good place for locals. read more

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Horrible service...... absolutely terrible service. However.........their coffee more than makes up for the terrible service. This place has skilled passionate staff that knows and cares about coffee!!!! They just don't smile, so if you're looking for Starbucks friendliness then this isn't your spot. read more

The non-coffee offerings at Mercury are quite uninspired. I gave 'em back my chai because it tasted like water with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. It was replaced by a decent enough hot chocolate. But hey, it's an espresso bar so I can't fault these dudes for much, especially given their exceptional soundtrack which featured some of my favorite early 90's dance hits on my last visit. read more

As a die-hard coffee snob and unashamed starving artist, I discovered well over 10 years ago that coffee-houses would send me to the poor house. Even including milk, beans, grinders, cups, and high-end Italian espresso machines between my wife and myself we have saved in excess of $25,000 by NOT buying our coffee while out on the town every day. (2 lattes * 7 days a week * 52 weeks a year * 10+ years = ouch!) That being said, if I do find myself in the area, I can't help myself and walk in to have a latte. Not only is it delicious, they have free wi-fi (ask for the password du jour) and the barristas are highly skilled. They still use a proper "semi-automatic" machine where the barrista has to be skilled in the preparation of the ground coffee. (Starbucks switched to "1-touch" super-automatic machines a few years ago). If the barrista's touch is off then you can get a ruined shot... which I've never seen them do. They do have a small selection of pastries but I just come for the beautiful coffee. NB: they apply a dash of cinnamon to the espresso before pouring the milk. This helps richen up the colour of the crema (brown foam on top of espresso) giving the barrista more contrast to work the latte-art. This place will be one of the few places that can make a coffee even the most die-hard coffee snobs like myself can enjoy. read more

Mercury Espresso - Delish! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This cafe caught my eye with it's character. The sign on the window misleads an unobservant passer by offering "Leather Jackets and Sporting goods" This original sign was revealed and then salvaged by the art appreciative owner of Mercury Espresso. Organic and Fair Trade, this eclectic cafe has and individual feel to it while offering a good quality product. Chairs and tables at the side to sit and pause. Good Cappuccino, nice staff. read more

Mercury Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Second spot on the "Kat F - Miss U Crawl" is a place that Kat F. even put her mark on the door. They have a "People LOVE Us on Yelp" sticker on the right door. Look up at the ceiling and notice that they have lights that are probably designed so it's representative of some Solar System. The lights at the counter are made of Kitchen Sinks and like most other Cafes, they have paintings by someone hanging from the wall. Cappuccino($3.25) was the beverage of choice, however at this time I have to say it's not one of my favourite. It was still nicely Crema'ed but you'll notice the larger bubbles all around the top. Another thing is that it had more bitter/sour taste than what I wanted, but I won't take points off from this as I had a Sweet Pie just seconds before this drink. They do have a smallish outdoor seating area. read more

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Americano was fine, kind of bitter and the cup was nowhere near full. Found the employees to be rather short and unfriendly. Could have just been a busy day. read more

I've been remiss in not reviewing Mercury. I found them early on and was readily taken with their quality espresso (Intelligentsia beans) and the groovy, repurposed-building (an auto garage, maybe?) style atmosphere. Like Kat F. noted in her review, they had a cool selection of music on hand. My girlfriend had a latte which she quickly slurped up (in noted contrast to the ones I make her at home, peeving me somewhat, ahem) and I remember my cookie being pretty tasty, too. I'd be a frequent customer if only I lived in that neighbourhood. Of note, I recently had the opportunity to take a "Barista Training Academy" session, hosted at Mercury (at their sister location) and given by one of the co-owners (Matt, I think). It was lots of fun to my coffeegeek sensibilities, and I got to see first hand Mercury's dedication to making a quality beverage. They are definitely part of the so-called 3rd wave of coffee, and deserve to be on your tour of quality coffee bars. read more

Mercury Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

As I walked know, I asked the person at the cash if their espresso was old school nutty tasting or fruity and the person didn't really seem to know. After consulting with the barista, I've been told old school. I was quite excited until I took a sip of the cappuccino...definitely on the fruity side. Although not bas coffee, just not what I personally like. The shop actually looks pretty nice but a bug hot inside. I like the fact that they have a terrace on the side of the building. read more

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3.5 Stars I came to Mercury a number of years ago and was completely turned off by the atmosphere of the place; it just didn't fit my vibe. By the advice of my friend (and best barista in Toronto, in my opinion) I came back to give it another go. The atmosphere is still the same I find. There is nothing wrong with it, but I just don't like the vibe personally. The coffee is good. They have at least one good roaster they sell in Phil and Sebastian and do it well. I just find this place is just a little behind the curve in terms of developing and trying out new things with coffee. For example, cold brew. There are different styles of it, but these guys are just getting it going here. Other places have had it for years. There is nothing wrong with this place at all. It just seems like they are not the innovators that other shops are. It's not bad, but I will not be back. I do wish Mercury all the best! That's it. read more

Mercury Espresso - Coffee Pop. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Solid coffee near Urban Post in Toronto. Americano and regular coffee are solid, well brewed and delicious. Our regular during color correction. There's a ton of coffee spots along Queen St here and this is a solid cup to go. read more

This is a real old school joint. It has that slightly soap-box feel of a "animal free" joint, even though thy serve milk. To say it's a diner is not entirely true, it's more of the old school cafe type deal. It's not very big at all, and they have the minimal cafe sandwich board options, but they make a really mean cappuccino or latte and they have soy milk, which means they're aces with me. read more

Mercury Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Super friendly, lots of energy... Must be all that perfectly pulled espresso. Cortado was very awesome. Chocolate chip cookie was pretty good. Decaf Americano was kinda bad, but it's very rare to find a good decaf so they're forgiven. They said it was the best decaf espresso in the city... I can't say I've tried another but if that's the best then that's a sad state of affairs for decaf espresso. I love the taste of espresso, I just don't want to get jittery if I stay for more than one drink. Atmosphere is not the most conducive to working because the unrecognizable (by me) music is a bit loud and people are talking above it, and when the sun set it got extremely cold, but their wifi is fast and reliable. I didn't see any outlets but I didn't stay long enough to need one. I must repeat that their cortado was amazing. It was extremely delicious and one of the top ones I've had. Cortado or flat white and a chocolate chip cookie is my favourite combo and these people did it right. If you want tasty espresso based drinks, here's a great spot. I'll definitely be back (but not when it's too cold out). They're friendly and the espresso is delicious. The atmosphere may not be as nice as the nearby Dark Horse but I prefer this place because they have better cookies. read more

Mercury Espresso - chocolate chip cookie and a perfect cortado. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

For 3 years this was my fav shop in Leslieville, but the Barista quality has been so inconsistent that I won't be back.... and It's not the beans, Cut Coffee is great! Mercury used to be one of the best now I'm sorry to say that if you want consistency you will need to go to Boxcar Social, Te Aro, Rooster or Buds (run by a former Mercury employee). Dark Horse's consistency is gone too, so don't go there either. Only 4 years ago in Toronto a $3.50 coffee used to be made by baristas that loved their craft, now that's become the normalized price for an espresso based drink and with that mentality the quality and consistency has been lost by Mercury. It's sad, because I loved Mercury for 3 years and through 2 owners who were usually at the shop training staff and maintaining quality control that's no longer the case. read more

Great espresso! Bathrooms closed though ... which rly sucked after drinking so much caffeine.

This Leslieville local is a big ol' room that smells like sweet, sweet coffee. It's like a cube of caffeine. Their brewed coffee (pressed actually) is in their own words, "not terrible" so I'd suggest an espresso instead. It's in their name after all -- and they do it very well. I've had a few of the espressos but my favourite is the cortado. On one occasion they made and remade it while I watched in rapt attention as they try to get the pour perfect. Though this might seem amateurish, it's far from that; they just really give a shit about serving a solid coffee. Plus, it's fun to observe what's going on behind the scenes. Though they have free Wifi (the password is on a George Bush playing card) this is more of a chill spot than a work spot. Outlets are hard to find, the music is pretty loud, and the layout isn't too conducive to productivity. But if you want to killer coffee in Leslieville, go here. Do not delay. Obligatory Title Pun: MERCURY will get a RISE outta you. Menu Readability: Two large chalkboards with childlike printing. Need to mention: Everyone who works here has facial hair. Is this a rule or something? What this place teaches me about myself: I can't get enough of the sound of a steaming wand. read more

I can't even handle how bad the service is at this place. I never go in because I know I'm going to leave feeling bad about myself - but today I was in a hurry and it was right there. When I ordered my drink there were 2 guys ahead of me in line, 3 behind me, and 2 working. I got my drink dead last, and when I said thank you I got a "yup" in return. Maybe if the two staff hadn't been reminiscing about the various albums they had listened to throughout the course of the morning (seriously?) they could have focused on serving customers. Oh no wait, they served all the dudes, they just ignored me. If my Americano wasn't so good I would have given this sorry joint 1 star. read more

For those who love coffee, perhaps a little too much (hee hee), Mercury Espresso Bar is one of Toronto's main go-to cafes for the best of that liquid black magic. I think what makes Mercury such a hit with coffee drinkers is that not only are their baristas knowledgeable about the coffee they serve and quite skilled at pulling espresso shots or getting the Chemex brewed just right, but also that the owners are hardcore coffee geeks who are always on the hunt for the tastiest roasted coffee beans. In fact, just recently Mercury switched from Intelligentsia coffee, considered one of the best suppliers of roasted coffees in the world, to Terroir Coffee located in Acton, Massachusetts simply because the owners felt the beans superior. Any which way, the customer stands to win with a yummy cup of coffee. Not only, they welcome customer feedback so that they can fine tune their offerings. Prices are on par with other indie coffee houses. The establishment is small but cozy and unpretentious. Staff are friendly and enthusiastic. I will knock'm a half star though for not having any regular brewed coffee available for take out past 4PM (they're open till 8PM). With considerable competition in the area Mercury still stands out and I recommend you dropping by. 4 1/2 stars. read more

Buyer beware... if you are not a coffee hipster you likely will have a pretty ugly experience. So if you are not a COFFEE Snob and one of the "DUDES" like behind the "BAR" expect unexceptional, surly, better than thou service. If you don't want an ESPRESSO beware of anything else they might serve... Today a plunger with a bit of cream in it totally curdled not the cream but the coffee... the "BARISTA'S" explanation... the coffee is too citrus and I the paying customer should never have put cream in their exceptional product. My question why did you make the plunger in the first place??? The whole experience simply left a gross feeling... and to boot the server "DUDE" didn't even offer me my money back. OH WELL There are many many more places along the street. I will enjoy the sunshine in the park with a take out from 7 or 8 other places... This version of a coffee shop would do far better on the west side of Queen... read more

The eternal debate among Leslievilleans is where to go for their coffee - Mercury or Te Aro Roasted? The little grungy guy or the spacious giant with fresh roast in your face? Being exposed to loud indie music, or trusted moody pop? Random bluegrass double bass or monthly cupping seminars? Though I don't live in the area, I definitely sink a lot of coin into Leslieville. Since my life has yet to revolve around a stroller, Mercury is typically my preferred spot of the two, despite having a pretty significant stamp card at Te Aro. When my favourite barista at Crema (Yonge & Bloor) migrated to Mercury, I followed him because apparently it was one of the best placed to obsess over coffee in the city. Not that the environment or people have much to do with their espressos. The drinks at Mercury are at the top of the Toronto espresso food chain. They are the rulers of the Serengeti, so to speak. Try a cortado and you will see. It is thick and creamy with a balanced flavour that brings out the espresso but softens the bitterness. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise; Mercury is worth a visit. read more

Eh, I'd say this is the cafe equivalent of Ronnie's in Kensington. The staff seemed totally uninterested in actually making my americano and more interested in talking with people (who weren't me.) Look, I'm all for the discussing the merits of neck beards and ideas on how to make our skinny jeans even skinnier, but at some point I would like my coffee. The interior of this place is very unique. I liked the look, especially the paintings on the wall - I also appreciated the 'no cell phones at the counter policy.' Everything here has that retro/vintage look that hipsters get super hard for, and there is a surprising amount of seating for such a small place. The other patrons were an interesting mix of hipster, people who looked like they couldn't afford a 'coffee time' coffee and yummy mummies (nice.) There was also actually a guy there who was dressed in all black with a stack of philosophy books beside him. At $3, the americano was pretty tasty, though not the best I've ever had. I'll probably back at some point (possibly with some nietzsche and an ironic tshirt) read more

I am a serious espresso drinker. Mercury is an espresso bar. I ordered the eponymous drink and it was one of the highlights of my week. A nice roasted initial sip that ends with an amazing fruity aftertaste. Perfection. After I finished my drink, I went up to the barista and thanked him for sharing his craft. He thanked me for making his day. Trust me, the pleasure really was mine. read more

This is my five star coffee place. I started this review 3 months ago and that's all I wrote. The good: - 1% feature cappuccino - the coffee - the staff - the anal leakage cartoons The bad: - the undesirable presentation of the food I always think about buying.. but never ever do - the failure of a nuitBlanche coffee snow cone ferris wheel (fail again. almost -1 star for that but... I did start this review 3 months ago and it's not like I would have logged in to update it if it were already posted.) I will go here again. You can probably cross paths with me here. read more

In a neighbourhood with 5 very good independent coffee shops within walking distance, Mercury is my favourite. For me, it's all about the coffee, and this is where Mercury shines. My drink of choice (an Americano) comes out perfect, with a natural sweetness to it and just the right amount of crema on top. After being exposed to a daily Americano from Mercury, I found it difficult to have one from places like Starbucks again. This place truly turned me into a coffee snob. It does make a difference which person makes your drink. I find some employees at Mercury do a much better job than others. There are two things keeping this place from a 5 - first, it 's incredibly hot in there with no air conditioning. I'm told they might have it this summer, so we'll see. Nobody wants to come out sweating after going into to grab a morning coffee. Second, they made the sizes smaller. Yes, I know it's the same amount of espresso. I liked the larger cup. It allowed me to grab a large, go for a walk, and have it last for a while. read more

I've stopped by here for brews every now and again, but a few weeks ago decided to "dine in" and partake in a macchiato, a definite luxury for somebody who is lactose intolerant! It's really annoying when places carry soy or almond milk for coffee drinkers to pour as a milk substitute but don't offer lactose-free milk to still get that excellent foam-age for lattes, cappuchinos or what have you, but Mercury won me over by offering it for my macchiato and then making one that was totally kickass. What resulted is a happy little camper reading Michael Chabon with a rich, nutty, sweet macchiato at the low-bar table. Warning to ladies in skirts: the stools at the high-bar table are made of BURLAP and will itch you through your tights, BELIEVE ME. read more

This is a neighbourhood gem! The folks at Mercury know their coffee. Love love love love love their americanos. They recently changed the size though..."it's the same amount of espresso..now with less water". Either way it's definitely delish and worth visiting. It's a little cold now to use their patio - but it's definitely a crowd favourite! PS. their ginger cookies are amazing read more

As I meandered around Leslieville, I realized that there was absolutely no shortage of espresso bars. I'm not exactly sure what it was that enticed me about this shop, but my friend and I decided to go on in and give it a shot. With absolutely no preconceived notions about the quality of this cafe, I was immediately quite disappointed with the level of customer service. It wasn't necessarily that they were rude, but they just weren't that personable. Perhaps the service would be different if I were a local and/or a regular. Given that it was a rather hot day in the city, I asked the barista if any of the espresso-based beverages could be iced. The response was anything but clear, and a tad bit condescending. Anyways, I went along with an iced latte, and the quality and richness of it definitely made up for what was lacking in customer service. I think this cafe has a LOT of potential, especially given its awesome location and great selection on its menu. It's incredible how far empathy, emotional intelligence, and conversational capital can go in a cafe setting. So long as this cafe makes a concerted attempt to improve these aforementioned elements of service, I would definitely come back and try some other beverages. read more

Great customer service, affordable prices very clean business on the inside, would highly recommend this place if you're ever in the Leslieville area. They treat people with respect and they make awesome drinks read more

These people take their coffee seriously. They won't even serve a macchiato, cortado or espresso in a to-go cup. You gotta drink it there, the way it should be. I'm a fan. read more

I'm really torn when it comes to my feelings for Mercury. On one hand, the espresso lover in me wants to rave about their place. They are true lovers of their craft and its reflected in their beverages. Whatever you decide to order, the likelihood that you will walk away with a finely crafted beverage that is incredibly delicious is very high. I'm personally a fan of their lattes and cortados, which have never disappointed me. The staff is also knowledgeable and friendly, and can generally answer any question you may have without pretensions. On the flip side; while a purveyor of fine espresso they may be, a warm and friendly atmosphere for sitting in is something I've consistently been left without. I love to sit and enjoy my espresso beverages in a nice and friendly environment, and that's often why I opt for the much more inviting Te Aro just down the street. Every time I've gone to Mercury, the music has been at an uncomfortably high level. Paired with their lack of sufficient AC in the summer months, sitting inside proves to be far more arduous than I'd like. To sum it up; if you're looking for a quality espresso to go, Mercury is a great bet. If you want a good, relaxing environment to go with, maybe head for neighboring spots Te Aro or Darkhorse. read more