Manic Coffee Knows Their Brew

Was excited to go in, but when I did I asked if there was Wifi and they said no. Wifi in a cafe is as standard as a bathroom. I'll be back when they get it.

i just wanted to note that the relevance of the clover coffee, beyond being the only machine of its kind in toronto thus far, is that it is a single drip coffee maker that can get you a cup in 40 seconds.

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!

Well, their business model may work for them with no wifi. And pay-wifi may work other places. But I and many others will look for the ones that provide it for free, or with Wireless Toronto. Wifi is essential infrastructure in a cafe.

I believe the owner was quoted in one of the papers saying they will never offer wifi because it takes away from the cafe experience. With a lot of empty seats (whenever I walk by), I wonder how long he sticks to this policy. I guess he is banking on a lot of people wanting that $15 cup of joe

i feel like i'm sticking up for manic... but because i put flavour first, i really can't say anything but good things about these guys.

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.

Anyone else found the service too slow (and a little rude)? The last time I was there I had to leave without a coffee because it was so slow.

purlease....if you want wifi i am sure there's a starb*#!z@ around the corner, if you want fast water downed brown dish water that passes for coffee on this continent go (see previously mentioned for wifi seeker), if you want coffee come here, clover was worth every penny although they did burn my double espresso, but hey willing to give them another go given that they actually know what an espresso is thank heavens!

fred> I think I did say I'll go to "the cafe down the block," but thank you for restating my position.

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 have to disagree with the previous comment on "it's nearly the same thing" between somewhere like Manic and a cafe like Starbucks. As a black coffee drinker, there is absolutely nothing I can have at Starbucks. Chains like that cater to people who like their frothed, creamed, flavour-shot and drizzle type concoctions. Now, there's nothing wrong with loving them, but you don't need to start with a nice aromatic coffee when you're adding all that jazz. At Manic, no matter what I've tried black, it was flavourful and smooth... and that's everything to me in a cafe.

I have to agree with Tanya's comments - I don't mind Starbucks when I'm in the mood for something sweet, but when it's all about the espresso, Manic Coffee has yet to disappoint me.

I'd be happy to NOT see the cafe fill up with laptops...

More important than the wifidebate - is any of it Fair Trade?

Are you people daft? It's "intelligentsia" coffee. For all you people who need wifi, I'm surprised no one looked up "intelligentsia" coffee. Don't look for wifi if you can't even look up his business model with a simple google search from home. I didn't realize sophisticated "wifi-ers" would look past something so obvious....

Kathy > better than fair trade - Intelligentsia buys from farmers direct, vs a broker. You can google them and see.

Jen is right - 'Fair trade' is not the be all and end all when it comes to fair coffee buying practices. Many small coffee roasters would rather buy direct from the grower and don't bother with the official 'fair trade' and 'organic' labeling. My brother-in-law's coffee shop saves up all the tips for the year and takes all the employees on a coffee-buying trip to Costa-Rica, Panama, Ethiopia, etc where they go to coffee bean auctions, meet the small, independent growers, and help set up contracts with them directly. I've been desperately trying to find somewhere worthy of taking him for coffee when he comes to visit - I'll definitely check out Manic!

"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 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.

"...they have the experience of having uppity-nosed people thinking they are took [sic] good for plebeian coffee."

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.

I popped in out of the cold a couple of weeks back, not having heard the hype about the Clover or the Esmeralda, but still finding the experience disappointing. Witnessing the barista's lackadaisical approach to foaming the milk, I steered clear of a cappuccino and ordered an americano. Instead, I was served a lungo, and haughtily informed--over my protestations--that this was the same thing. I know I should have refused it, especially seeing as by now the crema was already ancient history, but nevertheless I left with my sadly underwhelming coffee.

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.

H, how about posting your real name if you're such a coffee expert?

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.

WOW! I love the presentation of the coffee - I have been a Starbucks customer for a long time..but people that are comparing MANICS to starbucks - they are t2 different leagues...

What you say is true, Garry, but you must credit "H"s use of the expression "sure as sugar". Doesn't quite make up for the complete lack of credibility in his/her comment, but my point stands.

The coffee is great, I really like the cups -- that makes a difference for your coffee.

And as far as the WIFI thing goes, would it kill you to bring a book?

I think the no wi-fi policy is a great touch. We've become so removed and insular because of computers, internet, cell phones and crackberries, that its rather nice to have a local spot where people can congregate and chew the cud. The world doesn't need anymore anti-social misanthropes. If anything, this model will probably encourage more business than it does detract.

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 beautiful thing about capitalism is that we as consumers have choices! Starbucks or Manic (and the avenues to which we chose to socialize)

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.

"Are you people daft? It's "intelligentsia" coffee. For all you people who need wifi, I'm surprised no one looked up "intelligentsia" coffee. Don't look for wifi if you can't even look up his business model with a simple google search from home. I didn't realize sophisticated "wifi-ers" would look past something so obvious...."

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

after reading all of the above, i have come to a conclusion about general toronto coffee drinker... all i've been reading is bitching about how there is no internet?!?! it is a coffee shop after all so you should be concentrating on how good your coffee was!!! although i've never been to Manic, i can safely say that matt lee has gone through a great length to introduce specialty coffee in toronto and you spit in his face?!?!?! I visited toronto just last year and have experienced toronto coffee scene (or lack of it). I dont think many of you that criticize lack of internet know what coffee is in the first place ...! sorry just a little pissed off, and Matt, good on ya for not having internet, all it does is take away the social aspect .. look at ritual coffee in SF, no soul in that place ..
over and out!

Just wanted to see if you guys bashing starbucks but lovin' the clover knew about the investment mr. shultz made into the machine. I believe he is now the owner of that company and will be installing them in starbucks locations if there test locations prove it successful. Just wanted to see what people thought about the big bad baristas at SBUX using this beloved maker of our favourite beverage.

J

No wifi = No visit? That's the single dumbest thing ever. I'm hooked to always-available internet, don't get me wrong. But once in a while, its refreshing to be able to go into a cafe that sticks to its guns about offering the best coffee experience without enticing people with wifi.

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.