Second Cup

Forgot how nice and close this place was! The line moves fast and the service is friendly. I sometimes treat myself to a caramel corretto with whipped cream but they also have a good selection of other non fancy coffees as well. Their Italian sodas and frozen hot chocolate are some of my other favorites too (especially in the summer).
Three stars instead of four because it’s pretty noisy and I had to shout at my colleague across the table to carry on a normal conversation. Also, the open layout is not conducive to deep, private conversations because chances are, you will run into someone you know.

My Coffee was good but my breakfast sand which was cold. They have the sandwiches sitting out and they put them on a panini press which doesn’t heat it all the way up.

neat little place to chill with a friend or solo, perhaps with a laptop as i did during my last visit. the service was friendly and relatively fast. considering it’s in the middle of the financial district, i was surprised by how spacious it was and how easy it was to find a seat. if you like to people watch, the barstools by the windows (though keep in mind this is an underground path location) are great. bonus: free wifi

I had an Americano from Second Cup (not this location) the morning after I first arrived in Canada. A few sips in, I texted my coffee guru friend back home saying that the coffee in Canada was crap!
Thankfully, my opinion on Canadian coffee has improved greatly in the year that’s passed, but I stand by my opinion on Second Cup’s espresso. Their brewed coffee, however, is very nice in comparison.
I had never tried their food before, so while running errands in Scotia Plaza this morning, I decided to forgo my Starbucks or Tim Horton’s breakfast sandwich and try a similar option from Second Cup instead.
I noticed that the ham and cheese sandwich I picked up was noticeably smaller than the Starbucks equivalent, but for the exact same price. I didn’t have time on my short break to overly think about my choice however, so went ahead and got it.
The three (?!) staff members who dealt with my simple request for one item did not smile, and none of them said please or thank you.
The sandwich was very underwhelming and the ham tasted really, really greasy. I’ve worked in the industry before and am under no illusions about how overly processed these things are and how disgustingly far in advance they are made. However, at least the competing breakfast options at Starbucks and Timmie’s taste amazing. The slimy ham and boring, soggy bread of the Second Cup option however, tasted as unhealthy and generic as its means of preparation and shipping.

Good, fast and friendly.
On many days the owner will have your order ready for you by the time you pay. And MUCH cheaper than the close-​by competition.

The unofficial Scotiabank meeting room! On a given day/​time, you will see many bankers congregating in serious and /​or casual conversations over coffee. The franchise operates efficiently and the service is top notch. Even with long line-​ups, they service all customers with a smile and speedily.

They support international students with working holiday visas who take pride in working there. This makes ordering enjoyable because they really doing their best.
This SC in particular is quite small but if you can get a seat you’ll stay longer than expected. Comfortable, stable wifi, windows for walls, Bay Street type cliental.

My first experience at Second Cup was this past week in Toronto, and I am certainly a FAN!
Skip Tom Hortons! Don’t even think about Starbucks!!!
Go straight to Second Cup!

In most Bay Street towers, there’s always high traffic and loud noises, especially around lunch time, which probably adds to the stress of having a Bay Street job. There’s no way for anyone to have any Zen or down time in the financial district! And we all need to recharge at the midway point in order to keep on trucking until it’s finally time for us to go home and sleep and repeat our daily craziness.
However, this Second Cup is not so bad as the crowded food courts in the financial district. It’s spacious and I always manage to find a table to myself so I could enjoy their delicious coffees with a book. I take a late lunch, so probably that’s why I can always get a seat, but I took lunch at noon this week and I still managed to find a seat and table to myself.
I’m always here, so all hail me, the Dutchess of this Second Cup! But if you could be so kind, try not to come here during the off peak lunch hours, I like my space. =P

Second Cup has taught me today not to experiment. I don’t frequent this location as often as I do during holiday season. It’s because I’m usually jonesing for their Holiday Tea (side note: I literally had one Christmas where it was all I asked for and got enough to last me till the following holiday season.). However, I walked in today thinking I should try something new and my eyes rested on eggnog latte. I love eggnog!, I thought so as soon as it was my turn to order, I placed it awaiting creamy goodness.
What I got was a cup of coffee.
That’s what it tasted like for the 6 sips I took. The first was in shock. And the rest were because I hoped the eggnog would kick in eventually.
Now, the service at this Second Cup is top notch. When they’re busy, they have an efficiency at getting through long lines that astounds me (take notes, Tim Horton’s!). I’m usually in and out in less than 10 minutes. When it’s slow, these people genuinely like working there. Or they’re just really chipper. They’ll joke around with each other and with you and give good recommendations on baked goods. I also love that they can make certain drinks to your specifications, like a lactose-​free hot chocolate – or ho-​cho in the (my) pretentious world of hot beverages. So I’ll keep coming back. I just won’t experiment again. (Nicole side glances at the fake nog latte on her desk, cursing its existence.)
Postscript: All purchased fake nog lattes were harmed in the making of this review.