I love the #AROMA of it

Hello there my lovelies! 

It’s pretty hot here in Toronto, given the cold winter’s we’ve had I am very pleased. I love to accompany the (newly) hot Canadian climate with a nicely chilled cup of coffee. My favourite chilled blend at the moment is an Iced Aroma Light. 

The Iced Aroma Light is exclusively made at every Aroma Espresso Bar location. Aroma Espresso Bar is Mediterranean-inspired cafe, Founded in Jerusalem in 1994. Aroma Espresso Bar has expanded to more than 165 locations, in 6 countries, worldwide. Countries including Israel, Canada and the United States (yay!). 

Aroma’s coffee is the best that I’ve had for a very, very long time. The flavour is richly full of flavour. Aroma takes pride in their coffee and have created their own signature blends of cappuccino, espresso, filtered and decaf coffee, using coffee beans imported for South America, Asia and Africa. 

Aroma has a roasting facility in Israel’s Valley of Elah. The roasting facility was established with the cooperation of the Ballestra family from Naples, Italy; who has been roasting gourmet coffee beans for generations. 

Aroma, however, is not only known for there amazing coffee’s, they are also known for their incredibly diverse Mediterranean-inspired menu. Being a vegetarian, it is hard for me to find a café with healthy, vegetarian alternatives. I have consistently and genuinely found Aroma Espresso Bar to carry a sense of nutritional integrity with every meal and drink purchase. Aroma starts from scratch every morning in each of their locations, in every aspect of their ingredients. I have never known of a café that prepares every meal fresh and made-to-order. They even freshly bake loaves of bread and pastries, that are then served only the same day as they are prepared. 

Aroma Espresso Bar, literally raises the bar (pun intended), I have honestly never been to such a beautiful establishment. Aroma revives all of my senses, all of my senses become happy just by sitting in the café. Don’t just take my word for it, go and try it for yourselves! When you do, don’t forget to tell me how much you loved it! 

I would love to hear your feedback! Send me suggestions, jokes or even some caffeine at this email address: thebeanmovement@gmail.com

Stay Caffeinated.

xoxo, Amelia

source: www.aroma.ca

Moroco Chocolat Boutique!

Hello my sweet caramel macchiato's!

This blog post is going to be all about two very special events:

#1 There is an Instagram and Twitter contest going on right now for The Bean Movement.
#2 I visited a cute boutique on Yorkville, Toronto this week called Moroco Chocolat Boutique.


So, about that Instagram contest... The contest was to reach my goal of 1,000 followers on Instagram. I was 320 followers away from that goal, I thought it would take by Valentines day to achieve that goal. Today, exactly THREE DAYS later I am extremely happy to announce that I have accomplished that goal, on Instagram I now have 2,000 followers. I am insanely excited about that! Thank you all so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much!! I could not have achieved this without the help of my beloved beans.

Since the goal was achieved, its time for the contest!! From tomorrow (January 23) until February 13th, I want you to:
(1) follow The Bean Movement (if you haven't already done so)
(2) take a picture of whatever coffee you are drinking, from whatever coffee shop its from
(2) rate the coffee experience 1- 5 Bean Points
(3) tag The Bean Movement and hashtag #StayCaffeinated

On February 14th, I will be picking a winner. Will there be prizes you ask? Yes!

The prize are: coffee mug, coffee beans and a coffee gift card!

Rules:
you must be following The Bean Movement on Instagram
you must tag The Bean Movement and hashtag #StayCaffeinated
you must rate the coffee experience 1-5 Bean Points

Check out my Twitter feed for more information on the upcoming Twitter contest.



Now, as I said before this week I visited Moroco Chocolat Boutique. When I got there, I realized that it would be fair if I just spoke today about my experience instead of giving it "bean points" because it isn't technically a coffee shop.

So here I go!

As you all know, last week was more of an adventure then I am used too (ya know, the whole tire explosion situation), but it turned out for the good, because on my way to Nespresso me and my mom walked by a sign (I am a marketing graduate, so I'm obsessed with advertisements.. don't judge me..k?). This sign was not like any other sign.. it was really pretty and fancy; it also happened to say the word "Chocolat" on it aka the only thing I love almost just as much as coffee (almost). The sign was really girly, it had lavender purple cursive writing on it... and it had something to do with chocolate.. so why wouldn't I want to check that place out?

I walk towards this breath-taking building (photo below)

and my jaw was so wide you could fit an entire coffee mug in my mouth.

I walked in (starstruck) and confused because I never even thought about the fact that this place was a "salon cocoa bar" aka not a coffee establishment, so would they even have coffee? I walked into the front door (where there was a chocolate shop, look down for picture) and I asked the lady at the counter,  if I could get a coffee. She asked me if the coffee was "for here or to go?" I answered, with a smile on my face "for here."

She then took me inside this beautiful room (look down for picture), gave us (me and my sister) menus and told us our server would be with us soon.

After about 10 seconds of a glance, I already knew I wanted the Cafe Latte. A few minutes went by and this beautiful creation popped in front of me. As the waiter placed the coffee in front of my presents, he continues by saying "your coffee with a complimentary macaroon."  I literally was going to fall off my chair,  I LOVE MACAROONS!!!!!!!

The macaroons were so delicious that we thought maybe we should order ourselves another one.. which me and my sister both did. I had the cassis and my sister had the salted caramel macaroon. We both had heaven in our mouths. I literally didn't think something could taste as good as those macaroons did, so naturally we decided we had to bring some home. 6 to be exact, we bought 6 macaroons to take home to our family. Which btw (by the way) they LOVED.

NOT ONLY THAT! But they also had chocolate hand prints all over their walls of different celebrities that has ever walked through their lavender doors!! SO COOL!

In all, Moroco Chcolat Boutique was wonderful, it's the most perfect place on earth to surprise your beloved Valentine for Valentine's Day (hint hint). It is so fancy and elegant and everything tasted so amazing! Their macaroons were to die for. The absolute best I have ever had (if I was blogging about macaroons, they'd win first prize).




Moroco Chocolat Boutique, I will be back very soon. I promise.





Until next week! xoxo

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

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Nespresso Cafe!

Hello there my lovely readers, me again.

This week has been so crazy, literally crazier then my typical overly-caffeinated life. I really had no idea where to go this week to fulfill my coffee-fanatic needs. I then spoke to my mom, she told me of a "cool" place in Yorkville named "Nespresso." She goes along by saying "Amelia you have to see the experience, you can tell it's Italian design (she was an interior designer in some part of her lifetime).. it's just a beautiful experience." Guys, my mom became emotional, literally with tears in her eyes...So with that, I decided I should give in to my mother's begging (constant begging) and go on a mother-daughter coffee date.

On our way to this magical land my mom describes as Nespresso, we were driving along minding our own business, we stopped at a red light (just like any other normal human being would do at a red light) when all of a sudden, a scary (actually petrifying) man knocked on the passenger window (I was petrified, thinking we were both about to die) and the man proceeds after I screamed in his face by saying "hey lady! You have a flat tire!" As if my life couldn't get any worse, we called the car dealership who then told us that we would need to be towed and the tow truck wouldn't arrive for another 3 HOURS. 3 HOURS!!! Man, was I ever mad.


3 hours (and a bit) later, the tow truck came and we were off set to find Nespresso on foot, just like the "good old days." GREAT MOM, I LOVE TO WALK (there's a reason why I blog about coffee and not fitness). Finally after a 45 minute walk in -20 degrees, we finally found The Nespresso Cafe. Actually, now that I think about it, they call themselves the "Nespresso Cafe Boutique." I have two words to be able to completely describe to you what the Nespresso Cafe was like and here they are: Nespresso understands. Guys, I don't know if you have been to the Nespresso Cafe, but it was worth every flat tire in the world, every minute of waiting, every different type of frost bite I got on my body and every step that I walked in the freezing cold Canadian winter. It was absolutely stunning. (1 Bean Point)

I took it upon myself to post pictures of the amazing boutique and here they are:

The Nespresso Cafe Espresso Bar.

Nespresso Cafe seating. 

Nespresso Cafe menu and monogrammed table. 

After being completely frozen over *singing the cold never bothered me anyways from the Disney movie, Frozen* we finally go in the warm Nespresso Cafe, there was a hostess at the front desk, who then sat us down at a table, gave each of us a menu and a glass of water with lemon. After I took a photoshoot of the cafe, menu, tables and pretty much anything with the letter "N" on it, the waitress then came (who by the way had a beautiful English accent) and took our orders. I ordered a medium Cafe Macchiato (and asked for it to be as hot as it could possibly be made). (1 Bean Point)

This was then brought to the table: 

And I literally almost fell out of my chair. I was trying to stay cool, calm and collected. I think I played it off well though, don't you worry. The flavour and presentation was absolutely impeccable. (1 Bean Point)

The cost? $7.50. Yes, I know, it was a pretty steep price, but considering the experience it was worth every penny. (1 Bean Point)

There was no drive thru option, but the location was perfect. Nespresso is located right on Yorkville, which makes up for the high prices. (1 Bean Point)

After my amazing cup of coffee, water and chocolate, I took a tour around the Cafe and saw that they actually sell almost all of their machines in their Nespresso Cafe, along with millions of different pods. It was such a cool concept. My mom was right, those Italians, they really do know what they are doing.


I know that I've mentioned this before, but I will say it again. I've been to Italy and I have personally seen with my own eyes what the Italian coffee experience is like, Nespresso nailed it. I have also been to France, and I feel as though Nespresso was an Italian and Parisian cafe styles mixed together. I felt like I was in both Italy and France at the same time (is that even possible?). The presentation, style and flavour was impeccable. Nespresso understands. 

Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point

Price: 1 bean point

Ambiance: 1 bean point

Drive-Thru: 1 bean point

Customer Service: 1 bean point

Total Score: 5/5 total bean points!

Overall, I was extremely impressed by you Nespresso. I love you Nespresso. You make me proud to be Italian. I hope you open up many other locations around the world so we can share with everyone what a true coffee experience looks like. You are classy and fabulous. Keep up the outstanding work. Love you long time. 

Reminder for the medium double-double challenge:
The Good Neighbour: 4/5 Bean Points
Coffee Culture's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Timothy's World Cup Coffee's score: 4/5 Bean Points

LavAzza's score: 0/5 Bean Points
McCafé's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Aroma Espresso Bar's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Faema Caffè's score: 3.5 Bean Points
Second Cup's score: 1/5 Bean Points
Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points



Until next week! xoxo

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
Twitter: @TheBeanMovement
Gmail: thebeanmovement@gmail.com
Google+: TheBeanMovement
Instagram: TheBeanMovement
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Do you have any suggestions to help improve my blog? I'd love your feedback!
Email me: thebeanmovement@gmail.com

Timothy's World Coffee!

Hello there my little mochas!

Random thought of the day, why in the world are we allowing coffee franchises to charge us $0.05-$1.00 more for a different type of milk? I think that is so ridiculous! When you are lactose intolerant or vegan (or have any type of reason for not having regular milk) and you have to pay more for the other milk options. That is so rude! I don't understand the logic at all. It's not the poor lactose intolerant customers fault for not being able to digest the regular milk... why are coffee franchises punishing the already punished? And the vegans, all they are trying to do is save the poor innocent animals lives WHY ARE THEY BEING PUNISHED?! It really frustrates me seeing this injustice. Why are these people being treated so unfairly? I really want to understand.


This week I visited (for the first time ever) a hidden treasure called Timothy's World Coffee! I say hidden because I really didn't know where Timothy's was located. I fixed my location problem with a little app (from the Apple Store) called Yood. I typed in the word "Timothy's" and it showed me the closest location to me, which really helped me out a lot this week.

I went to the Timothy's located inside of Vaughan Mills Mall. The location was a little kiosk (along with a patio) located by entrance number 6.

I thought the kiosk was so cute and decorated so nicely for the holidays (already!) with cute little pine trees (the fake ones, of course) and I'm almost certain there was Christmas music already playing in the background which really set the mood (Christmas spirit anyone?). The Timothy's colour scheme was red, navy blue, brown and white. Timothy's was able to carry their colour scheme nicely through their logo, cups and decor. (1 Bean Point)

When I went to the counter I noticed that they had the Timothy's Keurig pods on display, which was really nice to see! I think you were able to buy a pod to test it out for yourself, but I don't know because I didn't ask (does anyone wanna help a girl out?) The lady at the counter (has anyone noticed that the employees at all the coffee shops have been women) looked like she had her hands full, well her mouth full for the matter... She had food in her mouth as she was serving her customers, which I thought was so gross (especially since a piece of whatever she was eating flew out of her mouth... GROSS!). I (as you know) ordered a medium double-double. (0 Bean Points)

The flavour of the coffee was great! I really enjoyed their coffee blend. (1 Bean Point)


The price you ask? $2.25. SCORE! The price was definitely great. (1 Bean Point)

There was no drive through option! The location in the mall was great, so I don't see why they don't deserve a good bean point for that! (1 Bean Point)



Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point

Price: 1 bean point

Ambiance: 1 bean point

Drive-Thru: 0 bean point

Customer Service: 0 bean point

Total Score: 4/5 total bean points!

Timothy's you really are a hidden treasure! 4/5 on a coffee shop that I have never been to is amazing! I really enjoyed the entire Timothy's experience. I will be back!



What do you think? Have you ever had a taste of  Timothy's? Let me know! I want to hear from you!

Next week's location........ Coffee Culture! See you next week!

PS: stay tuned fellow coffeeholics! December is on its way. And with December around the corner, that means there's something special that happens in all of the wonderful coffee franchises. Can you guess what's so special about coffee shops in December? You are not going to want to miss it!



Reminder:

LavAzza's score: 0/5 Bean Points
McCafé's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Aroma Espresso Bar's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Faema Caffè's score: 3.5 Bean Points
Second Cup's score: 1/5 Bean Points
Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points



Until next week! xoxo

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
Twitter: @TheBeanMovement
Gmail: thebeanmovement@gmail.com
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LavAzza!

Hello again my little caramel macchiatos! I hope that you all are keeping well!

Throughout the weeks I have been getting questions regarding WHY I would take one coffee experience and create an entire brand perception right of the bat. My answer to this question is simple:

The coffee industry is very, VERY competitive these days. I swear there are millions (not a fact, maybe just a sprinkle of exaggeration to set the mood) of different coffee companies trying to make it in this very competitive industry and just cannot make it out alive.  Through my own experiences, I have learned that every time someone walks into a location; to any sort of retail establishments they are looking for the whole package. Customers want a clear balance between price, quality and experience, but are being manipulated by marketing ploys to believe that a certain coffee brand is better without giving the other shops a fair chance. Many of the now popular coffee establishments "pride" themselves for wanting to provide an amazing customer experience, so in turn are able to jack up their prices and say that they are not only paying for the coffee, but also for the coffee-drinking experience. Now, my job as a coffee-blogger (and coffee lover) is to sort out those who really are not providing the "coffee-drinking experience" as they promised. I hate to be lied too, and I would hate for anyone to be taken advantage of. That is why this blog is a "movement"; my goal is to provide customers the knowledge they need to be able to distinguish which coffee franchises are worth their money, and who is not worth their money. Now, I am not saying in any way that even though I had a great experience in one place, it means everyone will have that same experience (and vice versa), I just want to bring awareness to the fact that everyone should get a fair chance in proving themselves to their customers and that every experience counts. You only get one shot at a good first impression.

Now onto the good stuff,

This week I took a trip over to LavAzza and man, oh man do I have a story for you! Buckle up!

Now as many of you already know from past blog posts, I am Italian and have been to Italy. I have also had the pleasure of having a real Italian coffee-drinking experience. LavAzza is an extremely popular Italian coffee brand, so when I went to their location I was expecting to see the typical Italian coffee-drinking experience I had in Italy. I was sadly mistaken.

I walked into the shop (by using their wooden, broken-down stairs) and saw the lady working at cash which on the phone with one of her friends. Not only was she on the phone with her friend, but she was also watching a work out video on the giant flat screen tv the LavAzza location had. When the lady saw that I was ready to order I asked if she could serve me a medium double double, she told me that they didn't have that on the menu, but the "caffè macchiato was just like it". I ordered the caffè macchiato, she then says "do you want this size or this size" (while holding two cups that look to me like they were the same size) I answered "whichever is suppose to be the medium". The lady then turns to her large coffee machine and starts pressing buttons and pauses. She then turns to me and says "oh, I forgot. It's a slow day, so I am cleaning the big espresso machine, but this one right here is just as good." Without a second for me to answer she started up her Keurig machine and presses all the buttons necessary. I then look at her and ask if the Keurig coffee pods she was using her at least LavAzza, she said yes. I looked on the Keurig website, and they do make LavAzza coffee pods (thankfully).  (0 Bean Points)

The store was all painted in a royal blue (when I say all, I mean all. The outer bricks were also royal blue to match the inside). The inside of the store was modest, with broken mirrors on the walls; coffee machines and coffee beans were on shelves along the back of the store (still in their Canada Post boxes). There were muffins sitting on a plate on the cash desk that were not covered. The tables and chairs were black. Honestly, it was disgusting. The only thing that was new-looking was the menu. (0 Bean Points)

The flavour, oh man. It was awful. I couldn't even describe it to you, it was just so bad. (0 Bean Points)


This price for my Keurig "LavAzza" coffee was ridiculously high. $3.95 for a cup of coffee that I could have made at home with my own machine. (0 Bean Points)


The LavAzza location had no drive thru options and zero parking, so I had to park in an apartment building's parking garage. (0 Bean Points)


Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 0 bean point

Price: 0 bean point

Ambiance: 0 bean point

Drive-Thru: 0 bean point

Customer Service: 0 bean point

Total Score: 0/5 total bean points!

LavAzza, what happened? I was so looking forward to our encounter, but you have failed me. Please take my words of criticism and allow yourselves room for improvement. When you guys are great, I will be back.



What do you think? Have you ever had a taste of  LavAzza? Let me know! I want to hear from you!

Next week's location........ Timothy's! See you next week!

Reminder:
McCafé's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Aroma Espresso Bar's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Faema Caffè's score: 3.5 Bean Points
Second Cup's score: 1/5 Bean Points
Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points



Until next week! xoxo

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
Twitter: @TheBeanMovement
Gmail: thebeanmovement@gmail.com
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Faema Caffè!

Hello my fellow coffee drinkers!

Thanks for reading up about the madness we call the coffee world. Coffee is a crazy thing, or a crazily amazing thing to those who love it as much as I do. I don't know about you, but when the time comes that my lips touch the cup filled with coffee, or when I wake up in the morning and the first thing I smell is a freshly brewed coffee, or when my mouth is filled with its first sip of caffeine; is when I am the happiest. So as you can imagine, this journey so far,  has been a great one for me.

Now, before I get to the good stuff, I just wanted to clarify what happens to coffee shops that don't have drive-thu options. Coffee shops that don't have a drive-thu are still eligible for a perfect score, if and only if, they have a great location. As an example, Illy Caffè didn't have a drive thru option, but they were amazingly located in Yorkdale mall. The only issue I had was with their "patio" it was located at the side of the store and wasn't set up in an inviting manner. If the patio had been more inviting, they would have received a full score. Any questions? Send me an email! I'd love to hear from you.

This week, as you may all already know, I visited Faema Caffè.

I really liked the Faema Caffè concept and thought their coffee tasted great. Faema really captured the Italian essence of what a coffee shop should (and does) look like in Italy. It has Italian floors (I actually have the same flooring in my kitchen) the bar area was clearly designated and nicely displayed all their Italian food options. In the back of the store they had many different types of Faema coffee machines and coffee beans displayed for sale and their tables and chairs looked exactly they way they do in Italy. The only thing I can complain about in the ambiance is that I had absolutely no idea where I was suppose to go to order my drink. There was no sign and no one greeted me at the counter to show me where I was suppose to line up. ( .5 Bean Point)

Once I figured out where to order, I ordered my medium double double. The employees were so sweet and started a conversation with me.I told them that I had my mom waiting in the car, and that I going to call her to see if she wanted a coffee and they told me it was no problem, they could wait. They then asked me if I had ever had their coffee before and if I wanted any milk other milk option, they even put cocoa sprinkles on top of my coffee. (1 Bean Point)

The coffee was not cheap folks, it came to a total of $3.95. I understand that the market they are targeting is more of an older audience who know how to appreciate the Italian heritage behind the actual coffee, not the typical fast-food on-the-go coffee places I'm used too. (.5 Bean Point)

The coffee was worth every penny, I think the words my sister used to describe her cup was "it almost brought me to tears" she's a little dramatic, but the flavour was really great. (1 Bean Point)


Drive-Thru option was not available and the location was not the greatest. I went to the Faema located beside Vaughan Mills mall, it took me a good 20 minutes to be able to find the store because there are so many of the same buildings that look exactly the same that I didn't know where I was suppose to go. The parking lot was also completely full, thankfully my mom drove and waited for me in the car. (0 Bean Point)


In all, Faema Caffè was a great place! I loved everything about it except for a few minor details. All I think they need is lower their prices (even just by a little), make it clearer where people should line up and lastly, put their logo on their cup! Good luck to you Faema! I am rooting for you!


Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point

Price: .5 bean point

Ambiance: .5 bean point

Drive-Thru: 0 bean point

Customer Service: 1 bean point

Total Score: 3/5 total bean points!

What do you think? What do you like about Faema Caffè? Leave a comment, I want to hear from you!

Next week's location........ Aroma Espresso! Stay tuned folks!

Reminder:
Second Cup's score: 1/5 Bean Points
Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points



Until next week!

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
Twitter: @TheBeanMovement
Gmail: thebeanmovement@gmail.com
Google+: amelia.plastina
Instagram: TheBeanMovement
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Second Cup!

Heya my little bundles of coffee beans!

Special thanks goes out to all my followers who have sent me special requests of coffee establishments they want me to visit this week! From all the requests the majority of readers asked if I could review one particular place, this place being..... SECOND CUP.

So, as requested, this week I visited Second Cup and I was absolutely appalled by this particular store I visited. It was by far the worst establishment thus far.

This was my first time (that I can remember) ever going to Second Cup, I was expecting it to be similar to Starbucks and the ambiance was similar to Starbucks. The only difference was the Second Cup location, I felt was a cold and more sterile then Starbucks. I felt as though they were trying to be like Starbucks without actually copying them and it just didn't look good, warm and inviting; the way I think they tried to make their design. The store resembled my grandmothers house, it was really weird. Everything, and I mean everything, was either dark brown or white. There were dark brown couches with dark brown tables and chairs everywhere, there was also a random white wall standing on its own with an old-fashioned dark brown clock on top of it. In all, the ambiance was completely off, when I first walked into the establishment I felt like it was dull and boring and it made sense why I had never been there before; the music was so quite I didn't even notice there was music on at all; until I took the time to really listen.. it was just, in lack of better words, dead. (No bean point)

When I lined up at the counter there were two people ahead of me in line and there was only one employee working at the counter. The poor girl looked as though she was so overwhelmed that she was going to pass out. Finally, it was my turn (I had been in line at this point for over 15 minutes waiting) I first said hello and asked her why there were small symbols beside the Second Cup coffee blends, she then told me she had no idea why there was those "weird designs" she then told me how she was the worst person to ask because (even though she was working) she hadn't been a trained employee yet. I continued the conversation by asking her if she could make my medium double double with almond milk, she said "one second let me ask" I then see her leaving the counter and asking someone (who I thought was a customer) if she could give me almond milk with my coffee. The employee at the counter then came back and told me she could, she punched my order into the cash register and it came to around $7.00 and I looked at her (very confused) and asked why my drink was so expensive, she then looked and noticed she had put the wrong drink in the cash register and charged me for it twice. She proceeded by changing the order and charging me the correct amount: $2.15 for my medium double double. (no bean point)

Once I received my coffee, I wanted to see why she went to a customer to ask if I could have almond milk in my coffee, I then realized that it wasn't a customer she asked, it was another employee who was laying on the couch talking to one of her friend. I figured it was an employee because she was dressed in all black and wore a Second Cup apron. She decided it would be okay to lay out and relax while this poor girl who hadn't been trained yet was taking all the orders and making all the drinks on her own. This employee (who I would assume was there to train the girl at the counter) was sprawled out on a couch, during business hours, talking to her girlfriend and absolutely not doing her job. I was/am infuriated. (No bean point)

As I was about to sip my coffee I noticed my coffee cup was ridiculously dirty and it wasn't from my hands, it had been dirtied from who knows what before I bought it. Once I went home I put my coffee in a glass cup and drank it. The only good thing I got from this experience was the poor girl made a pretty good cup of coffee, so good for her. ( 1 bean point)

Although the flavour of the coffee was good, I think it was highly over priced considering how my experience went. If it were up to me, I wouldn't go back to any Second Cup location for the rest of my life. It was that bad. (no bean point)

No drive-thru option available. No extra points allotted due to poor location and nothing to substitute the drive-thru option. (no bean point)

Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point

Price: 0 bean point

Ambiance: 0 bean point

Drive-Thru: 0 bean point

Customer Service: 0 bean point

Total Score: 1/5 total bean points!

What do you think? Have you ever tried Second Cup? Let me know!

Next week's location.......... Faema Caffè! Stay tuned!

Reminder:
Last week: Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Two weeks ago: Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Three weeks ago: Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points


Until next week!

Stay Caffeinated.


Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
Twitter: @TheBeanMovement
Gmail: thebeanmovement@gmail.com
Google+: amelia.plastina
Instagram: TheBeanMovement
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Illy Caffè!

Ciao my little shots of espresso! 

What's with the Italian? Well, this week I visited Illy Caffè. An espresso brand all the way from my home land of Italia. I'm not sure if any of my loyal readers have ever been to Italy or come from an Italian culture, so for those of you who don't know; In Italy, espresso is apart of the Italian culture and life style. Every meal in Italy involves a cup of a nice espresso to help digest the plate of pasta (or pizza) they just ate.

With all of that being said, Illy Caffè was absolutely amazing. Best coffee I've had in a very, VERY long time (ever since my last trip to Italy). As I drank my $2.65 medium double double it took me back to the mountains of Tuscany where I sipped my cappuccino thinking about how I really wished there was an Illy Caffè in Canada. My dream came true.

This week I visited the Illy Caffè location at Yorkdale mall.  The overall look of the coffee shoppe was so beautiful and modern. The Illy colour scheme is red, brown and white. The shoppe was inclosed in glass walls and had many tables and chairs overlooking the mall halls. (1 bean point)

When I entered the shoppe I was greeted almost immediately. Once I was greeted, the Illy barista took out a sheet of paper and asked me for my order, he then proceeded to write it down on the paper and started making my drink, as he was making my coffee, he gave the sheet to the cashier who then cashed me out. After a few short minutes, the barista gave me my drink and directed me to the table behind me; so I could put my own cream or milk. (1 bean point)

For a luxurious Italian coffee brand, the coffee's price was very reasonable. (1 bean point)

The coffee was absolutely delicious. I could, for once, actually taste the favour of the actual coffee bean. I don't know how to describe how great it was, but I can honestly say it was the best coffee thus far. Way to go Illy! (1 bean point)

Unfortunately, there was no drive-thru option provided. Seeing as it was located in a mall, and they had no other option, I will award them half a bean point for the convenience of their location in the mall (right before the food court), unless anyone objects. (.5 bean point)

Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point

Price: 1 bean point

Ambiance: 1 bean point

Drive-Thru: .5 bean point

Customer Service: 1 bean point

Total Score: 4.5/5 total bean points!

For right now, Illy's only location is in Yorkdale mall. I am really hoping they will start to expand and become one of Canada's leading coffee franchises. They have my vote!



What do you think? Have you ever tried Illy Caffè? Let me know!




Next week's location.......... IS YOUR CHOICE! send me an email (or comment on below) to let me know where you'd like me to visit next!

Reminder:
Last week Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Two weeks ago Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points


Until next week, Arrivederci!

Stay Caffeinated.


Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
Twitter: @TheBeanMovement
Google: thebeanmovement@gmail.com
Instagram: TheBeanMovement
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/thebeanmovement

Starbucks!

Hey my little beanies!

This week I visited Starbucks.  Now, Starbucks is known for their different types of seasonal drinks; who knew they even offered "normal" coffee? Well, I for one did not. With that being said, This week when I ordered my double double coffee; I have to say I had a great experience!

For those of you who don't know, Starbucks is known for being one of the more expensive coffee brands around the world. Starbucks is not only a coffee brand, but also a fashion statement. The question is: is Starbucks really as good as they say they are? Are they worth the prices they charge?

When I went bought my coffee the line up was long, and it took a while to make my drink. What I found impressive is all the employees were very kind and seemed to really enjoy their job, which made me really enjoy being there. (1 bean point)

When I received my drink, it was at the perfect temperature so I could drink it right away. The coffee tasted really good! One thing I really liked about Starbucks is they give customers different milk options so they can really deliver to a very diverse group of customers. ( 1 bean point)

The store was very coffee- themed which was cool to see. They had art work that had been made with coffee burlap bags. Starbucks also has very pretty decor; their stores are filled with cool couches and wooden chairs. The Starbucks locations are very appealing to the eyes, you can very clearly tell they worked very hard to please the consumer. (1 bean point)

The Starbucks location I went to didn't have a drive-thru. (no bean point)

Starbucks is good, it is also high-priced. I would say that Starbucks is too expensive compared to their competitors since they are a fashion statement, that is what keeps them alive. (no bean point)



Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point
Price: 0 bean point
Ambiance: 1 bean point
Drive-Thru: 0
Customer Service: 1 bean point

Total Score: 3/5 bean points



In the case of the double double coffee I had from Starbucks, I'd say that it was not worth the amount of money I payed for in means of flavour, but if I take everything into consideration, they do provide great ambiance and customer service; which makes the entire Starbucks experience perfectly worth every cent.

What do you think? Leave your comments below!


Next week's location..... Illy! Tune in Next Thursday for a new blog post! 


Reminder:
Last week Tim Hortons score: 2.5/5 Bean Points


Until next week, adios!
Stay Caffeinated. 

Don't forget to follow me on Social Media! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement

Twitter: @TheBeanMovement

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/thebeanmovemen

Instagram: TheBeanMovement

Google+: thebeanmovement@gmail.com

Tim Hortons!

Hello my loyal coffeeholics!

Here we are again, week two; a lot has changed since we last spoke. 

I now have 113 Facebook "Likes", 91 Instagram "followers" and 44 Twitter "followers." I just want to give you all a big thank you! It means a whole lot to me that you are all spreading the word and following me. 

Now, on to the good stuff. This week I went to Tim Hortons, and let just say I was actually very surprised. 

Timmies, as most Canadians, is my go-to place. I typically absolutely adore the flavour of their coffee and I especially love their new dark roast blend, but this week when I payed Tim Hortons a visit; I ordered my typical Double-Double (Dark Roast style, of course). I  then noticed that my coffee was extremely sweet. Turns out, it was a triple triple. The lady at the counter wasn't very happy with me noticing her mistake, and when I started talking to her about my love for coffee and about my experience with the Dark Roast (and how I usually adore it) she looked at me, starred looking very unimpressed.. which I thought was pretty rude. By her reaction, I did not think it was my place to ask for a new coffee; so I left. 

Since during past visits I've had the Dark Roast Tim Hortons Double-Double, and since I know it is usually wonderful, I will give them .5 of a bean point. 

Who can complain about their price? I know I can't! I payed: $1.65 for a medium double double. (bean point)

The ambiance of Tim Hortons sort of sucks. I am not a fan of the layout they set for themselves. Everything in the store typically looks old and dirty. Their colour of choice is brown, which is fitting since coffee is also brown. However, I believe they over use the brown colour. (NO bean point)

Drive thru option: Available (bean point)

The customer service at Tim Hortons failed for me this time, sorry. (NO bean point)

Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: .5 of a bean point

Price: bean point

Ambiance: 0

Drive-Thru option: bean point

Customer Service: 0

Total score: 2.5/5 

In all, I was left unimpressed by Tim Hortons. If it were my first time in their establishment, I don't think I would go back. Usually when I buy a coffee, I'd like to at least hear a good morning or see a smile on at least one person's face; since you not only pay for the product, but also the customer service, and in this case they were both majorly lacking.  Tim Hortons' prices are not the most expensive, but according to what I payed for I do not think it was worth the money.



NEXT STOP...... Starbucks! Tune in next Thursday for updates!

Ciao for now! Stay Caffeinated. 

Don't forget to follow me on Social Media! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement

Twitter: TheBeanMovement

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/thebeanmovemen

Instagram: TheBeanMovement

Google+: thebeanmovement@gmail.com

Welcome to the Bean Movement

Hello fellow coffeeholics!

If you are like me, and can't go a day without your freshly brewed beans, or your day cannot possibly begin without a cup or two of coffee. Then I am the blog for you. I'm here with all your tips and tricks for all your coffee needs. You may be an Espresso, American, Dark Roast, flavoured coffee, latte, or Colombian brewed coffee lover- whatever gets you through the day. I'll be here to keep you all updated on all your local coffee needs.

For the next couple of weeks I will be going to coffee shops in Toronto; comparing the flavours, prices, ambiance, drive through options and customer service. Each category gets one point, also known as a bean point, if satisfied. If I am unsatisfied, they do not get the point for that category. The highest possible score is 5 bean points.

The rules: I have to go to a different coffee shop each week and order the same drink each time. The beverage of my choosing is a medium double double.

NEXT STOP……Stay tuned, I will be posting every Thursday with updates.


Who has the best coffee? Follow me on my journey as I find the best coffee in Toronto!

Stay Caffeinated