Out & About #152 | Little Nicky's coffee

There's just a certain something about independent coffee shops in the downtown area.
I can't quite put my finger on a defining characteristic, though I can confirm that the latte art (which I believe, after conducting a bit of research, should actually be termed "microfoam art") spotted at any of these locations surpass Starbucks by far.
 
While I generally found that it was best to rely on major, tried-and-true chains in the suburbs, I must admit that this theory applies in reverse to the general metropolitan Toronto area.
Starbucks never ceased to provide me with a sense of familiarity whenever I was travelling within North America – though please do yourself a favour and don't ever visit their Asian counterparts. However, I've found that their standard, sugar-laden options have constantly failed to impress as of late.

Cold drinks are seasonal products here, and rarely offered during periods of chilly fall temperatures if at all. But in reality, the commuting lifestyle leaves very little iciness to be desired. When not trekking through the PATH in hopes of being able to manoeuver out safely, I've found myself longing for steaming cups of hot chocolate or mocha to spread warmth throughout my insides.

(Side note: I recently found an infographic classifying coffee drinkers by their preferences in caffeinated beverages. And with mochas being my most common choice, I'll have to grudgingly admit that the creators are, indeed, correct.)

Little Nicky's Coffee has been on my to-go list for a short while; conveniently located behind the Gap on Queen St. W with a larger-than-life size pointing you in the direction of the otherwise hidden café, it seemed absolutely fitting to drop by one frigid early afternoon.
 
Are there customers that visit coffee shops to order drinks void of espresso and tea? Indeed, there are – you're reading a post written by one of those strange creatures.
On the morning of my first visit, I had already consumed the necessary dosage of caffeine to ease the woes of my morning struggle; thus, I opted for a tongue-scalding cider.

​It was filled to the brim with warm, subtly sweet goodness.
 
The return trip to shelter was unbelievably windy, but the cider provided an immediate soothing sensation, making the journey much more comfortable than it initially would have been.

Technically, the name "mocha" doesn't appear on the menu at all; I had begun to order a hot chocolate with a shot of espresso when the member of staff taking my order at the cashier corrected me. Between the two drink cup sizes available, I had the option of adding one or two shots of espresso.

​Round 2 of Little Nicky's took place approximately some few days later, but this time with a mocha.

The price point difference between the "regular" and "large" (why isn't it simply called "small"?!) cups was minute, so I decided to opt for the larger size with one shot of espresso. Within a few minutes, a 16 oz cup that had been filled to the brim was delivered on the other side of the bar. A lovely, curled leaf had been even been poured on the surface of the beverage using the 3.25% cream spotted on the counter.

The hot chocolate to espresso ratios were absolutely perfect! Exactly as requested, the mocha had been concocted to resemble a hot chocolate with one shot: milky, chocolatey, and just slightly caffeinated. My sole complaint is that it cooled off a bit faster than anticipated; within one hour, it had become lukewarm even though the lid had been not been removed once.

My third visit to the classic, checkerboard-tiled coffee house took place immediately proceeding the second. After experiencing the wonderful mocha from the previous day, I took to ordering a half-dozen of their famed mini donuts, along with a drink that would stimulate my sleep-deprived senses: a flat white with a hint of chocolate syrup.

"So you want a mocha?" I was asked cheerfully.
"Yes, but just with a higher amount of espresso than chocolate." was my reply.

The bartender nodded to show understanding, and then asked for my name as he was noting down my order on a cup for the baristas to read and execute; it read "fw, 1/2 choc."

I took to taking photos until a voice poked into my thoughts. The two baristas had been conversing about customers' orders as this occurred. 

"She wants it half-sweet." declared one of the baristas.
It was at this point that the second barista, who was closer in proximity to waiting spot in line, inquired, "Was it too sweet for you?"

Barely snapping out of my daze, I somehow managed to utter an absentminded "Pardon?"
"You were here yesterday right? You ordered a mocha?" he asked, much to my surprise.
"Yes, in fact. I did!"

I could barely the baristas' faces, yet he remembered my order amongst the unfathomable number of customers' that had walked through the shop's doors. It was an incredible feat to imagine, and I instantly appreciated the extra attention that had been paid to my orders.

Slowly recovering from fatigue, I explained, "No, it's since I'm feeling more tired today, so I want a higher espresso to chocolate ratio."

This made sense to him, and he continued to create the drink as I had requested.​

The popular mini donuts offered at Little Nicky's were made-to-order, but despite this, I received my half-dozen fairly quickly. As my name was called to pick up the freshly-dusted cinnamon sugar mini donuts from the cashier side of the counter, my mocha/flat white had been delivered on the other side.
​
While the previous two visits had been speedier, I had no problems with using my wait time to snap photos of the interior. Had I assumed the role of a businessperson on a short coffee break though, Ritual would have be helpful to have on-hand.

Donut-containing paper bag and mocha in hands, I proceeded to seat myself at the nearest window seat.

The mini donuts were still warm! Having just been removed from the conveyor belt and tossed in light layers of icing sugar and cinnamon, the sweet (and slightly sticky) aroma gently oozed out of the bag when opened.
Priced at $2.75 for a half-dozen or $4.00 for the full twelve, I truly believe that there are fewer alternatives that can deliver great, fresh baked goods at such a wallet-friendly price.  The donuts were wonderful: a soft, still-heated interior was encased in an circular shell boasting a bouncy crispiness. These sinful little pieces was especially tasty when paired with a touch of sweet sugar dusting and devoured with an extraordinarily accurate order of coffee.

The barista had actually expressed a slight annoyance with the finished latte art, pointing out that one section had been unintentional. Perhaps my eyes just haven't been trained enough to distinguish between a superior creation and its less superb counterpart, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying the art.
The heart was very cute, and the trail left behind almost made it seem as if the heart was attached to a larger component and was being flown as a kite. Regardless, I loved the  both the original mocha formula as well as the caffeine-upped version; both were of amazing quality and possessed commendable flavours of chocolate and espresso. 

As an added bonus, for all orders under four dollars before tax, you can expect to walk out without having to pay tax. (And oh yes, they have also stable Wi-Fi for cafe-goers looking to complete work.

With such praiseworthy products,  friendly service, and a convenient location, I think it's safe to say that Little Nicky's shall continue to be a cafe that I will be frequenting over the next few months, given that weather is decently mild. Perhaps I'll even have enough room to try their rotating selection of baked goods next time!

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