IN Toronto magazine

Located in the heart of Leslieville and perched on the high end of coffee snobbery in Toronto, is Mercury Espresso Bar. This place is so intense that it warranted a warning from my dog-walking companion who lives nearby the first time I walked in. He turned to me just before we entered and said, “Be careful, they’re like the Soup Nazi for coffee.” But Mercury lives up to its reputation of offering the best coffee in Toronto, or at least that’s what the whispers in other posh coffee shops like Dark Horse and Blondie’s will have you believing. It seems there is no cup of Joe quite worthy of the title “excellent” without the footnote, “almost-as-good-as-Mercury’s.”

In terms of space, there’s not much to it. Located on a cozy corner of Queen St E between Morse and Logan, Mercury is a tiny couple-a-seats kinda place. In the summer they post up a few chairs outside as well.

They sell fair trade coffee in 100 percent biodegradable cups (you can buy it by the pound to take home as well) and have daily specials that they keep customers abreast of on their website and Twitter accounts. There’s also great organic muffins and other biscuits for take away. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and can sometimes come off as snobby hippier-than-thou types — but meh, so’s the lady at the Chanel counter in Holt’s — that’s part of the charm.

I wouldn’t spend hours lingering here, although I’m sure some people do. Since it’s a bit small and clearly built for speed and volume it’s not exactly a spot for meeting, more for meeting up. But they sure do make a great cup of coffee and if I lived in Leslieville, I’d bet dollars to donuts I’d be in there every morning en route to work. It’s a flavour of the neighbourhood spot that isn’t easily replaced. And until I find a better cup, turns out Mercury Espresso Bar is the best coffee in town.

Mercury Espresso Bar 915 Queen St E. (647)435-4779. mercuryespresso.com.