a color story: colored coffee lids

I dropped my brother off at Billy Bishop airport. This errand allowed me to break free from my routine schedule — Toronto was my old home after all. Right before we both said our goodbyes, I let him know that if he forgot anything I wouldn’t come back to drop it off. We both knew I was serious because I rarely picked up phone calls — I rarely followed up after the end of a favor. I had other things to attend to. The intersection of Bathurst and Front (maybe Lakeshore) was in the vicinity of my favorite coffee shop on Ossington. It’s been some time since I’ve been in that area.

I drove up Bathurst and made a left on Dundas. North of Trinity Bellwood Park one could find free parking for an hour on the neighborhood streets. Luckily, I found a convenient spot within minutes of my search. The 20-degree weather with mild sunshine greeted my reappearance in the area. I felt a warm buzz as I walked down Ossington.

A familiar face stood in the open-concept cafe. Without the trademark hipster hair, I saw my favorite Japanese barista, Yoshida. I thought he went back to Japan forever. His Ali-like reappearance felt like the coffee shop was opening for the first time — which felt odd now that they were expanding to other stores. Yoshi’s Toronto return felt like a restart button.

His appreciation for Toronto culture, humble attitude, and his self-taught English language education accumulated to the most human social interaction I have ever encountered. Don’t be fooled- this soul doesn’t like to be misguided or taken advantage of. Yoshida can sense a negative vibe immediately. Of course, one can only try to match his coolness but just appreciate the wavelength that he’s on. It’s slower, longer, and lingers on even after the caffeine intake. His humanity was his cool factor — it helped that he was Japanese, hipster-looking too.

I ordered an Americano and we talked. Even after five minutes, I noticed how much of an asshole I sounded. I rarely talked about his return and his why. He even had to interrupt my ego-driven conversation with a quick remark. I had to take a step back and let the man speak. His story was always more interesting with the gentle effort of his translation. Another person entered and her name was Navrose. She talked about her recent creative project — a short movie in which she collaborated with other creatives. I couldn’t believe I entered this space. Why don’t I surround myself with more creatives? Oh, I forgot. I sold myself to the “devil” and I know the true roots of the craft come from solitude and patience.

Then, Yoshida mentioned about the business increased ever since I stepped in. “Don’t inflate my ego. It’s already big as it is,” I replied with hands gesturing a big ball around my head. I even added a funny comment that once it gets busy I’m out — it wasn’t my scene. We both commented on how funny that was. I even recalled using that quote from a previous conversation with Yoshida. I wondered if he remembered me saying that — could that moment be lost in translation? I doubt the notion because the “coolness” of that remark was on Yoshida’s wavelength.

While we were on the business social thread, I suggested applying colored lids like jimmy’s coffee with yellow. It was pretty much free marketing or a subconscious note to pick up coffee. Whenever I saw a yellow lid on the streets, I thought of making a trip to Jimmy’s. The owner/manager whom I haven’t made acquaintances with yet jumped into the conversation and retorted the idea. A coffee lid was just a coffee lid. I added that the white lids with 135 had a timeless look.

Out of nowhere, Yoshida asked a question that struck a deep chord. “Are you producing music?” I told him that I created some for marketing purposes. But for the sake of it, I haven’t in some time. I wished I shared the album I produced but I knew he was into hip-hop and drum beats — it wasn’t a right fit. At that moment, I felt compelled to produce a beat tape. A tape that reassured Yoshida’s appreciation for Toronto culture. It was, however, a challenge that I never faced. I still felt compelled.

135 Ossington wasn’t about the coffee. It was about the people — the coffee was only the medium. Did I mention that I talked to three complete strangers during that hour's visit? I paid a deep price as I overshared some things about myself.

Time passed and Arnell, another coffee patreon, mentioned the time. I noticed that my free street parking limit passed, so I relocated the car. I took the opportunity to get Yoshi a gift from Monocle. I dropped it off -there were too many people inside anyways- and officially welcomed him back to Toronto. But I didn’t feel like it was enough. As I was listening to a Solange album on the car ride back home, the beat tape idea was in the back of my mind. It would have the same vibe of re-entering and feeling reset by my recent coffee shop experience. I wanted to bottle up that magical moment. Could I possibly translate it into a beat tape? How would I plan this out?

one: finished with all the errands for the time being. I am in the area. I should visit vibe…

two: show some face…

three: a nice surprise

four: americano

five: gentle conversation

six: talking with a stranger

seven: my big ego

eight: welcome back

nine: the compliment

ten: till next time

titled 135

Instrumental with vocal chopping. drum and bass-driven. Something that Yoshi would be like “Worth every penny flying back to Toronto”.

The beat tape photo will be (pictured).