Our Toronto’s coffee culture is unique. We deeply love this beverage and savour it at any place and time of the day.
Most of us cherish the ritual of starting our day with a steaming cup of coffee and contemplating the day ahead. Coffee catalyzes our social interactions, whether casual chat with family, friends, or neighbours over a cup of coffee at popular coffee chains like Tim Hortons, A&W, Starbucks, or McDonald’s
We don’t have to be at coffee shops or Cafes to enjoy these coffee brews; right on the street sidewalks, while on the bus or riding the subway, we are holding on to these coffee cups as if we were holding on to our dear lives.
One sunny weekend morning, I witnessed a heartwarming scene outside Tim Horton’s on Guildwood. A group of seniors, some in wheelchairs, were gathered around a concrete planter, engrossed in lively conversations over their cups of coffee. This scene, a testament to the vibrant coffee culture in Toronto, is a common sight across the city, especially during the pleasant weather we’ve been enjoying.
Coffee is undoubtedly the favourite drink of people in North America, and Canada is one of the ten countries that consumes so much coffee a year.
These days, coffee shops and cafes offer an array of different coffees. As I’ve observed, Canadians don’t have preferences regarding their coffee; they will take it whether it’s creamed, flavoured, or dark.
It’s common in Toronto to see people enjoying their coffee with a side of muffins, cookies, or sandwiches. Pairing coffee with food is a cherished part of the city’s coffee culture, whether it’s a quick breakfast on the go or a leisurely lunch at a coffee shop.
In some food courts in the malls surrounding Scarborough—the Scarborough Town Center, Eglinton Square, and the Cederbrae Mall—many people, primarily seniors, are visibly seen drinking their coffee while bantering endlessly.
The caffeine in their coffee gives them the energy to have this never-ending conversation. The caffeine gives them the power and anxiety they need to exchange ideas lively or remember their past.
Coffee drinking has a role in the workplace. When I was still actively involved in journalism, we consumed a lot of coffee while writing. We needed that caffeine to trigger the release of adrenalin in our body, helping us do deadline writing as fast as possible.
Years ago, reporters would sip coffee and smoke cigarettes while writing, but when they set up the air conditioning units in the office, the bosses banned smoking except coffee.
Although Canada does not grow coffee, this widely consumed beverage has been in this country for years, and reportedly, it has been in North America since 1668.
A good friend, Basile Rosario, a Canadian of Italian origin, said that sipping coffee makes him fully awake.
“The coffee gives me the right boost, energizing my body.Before sipping my coffee, the first thing I do is to smell its aroma and when it smells good, I’m sure the coffee tastes good too,” Rosario said.
With today’s technology—free Wi-Fi and laptop outlets—available in coffee shops and cafes, these places are no longer simply for sipping coffee. They’re places where people can chat, make business transactions, and study school lessons over some cups of coffee.
These coffee shops and cafes are conducive to doing some mental activities because caffeine is a good stimulant for lively conversations and mental callisthenics.
In Ontario, employers are not legally obliged to give their employees coffee breaks, but some do, probably because they know it’s good for them to have coffee breaks. When they return to work, they feel less stressed and re-invigorated.
Well, my friends, I will make a bet as I end this article that you are also sipping your hot coffee right now as you read this piece with gusto.
