Ken Gordon Makes Kick-Ass Espresso

Street Level Espresso is a tiny space that sits maybe 8, with some room for standing. Sandwiched in between the iconic Dutch Bakery and a shoe repair in the downtown core, Street Level attracts a diverse and devoted crowd in search of a good hit of caffeine made by Ken Gordon, aficionado of the bean.

I go for the macchiatos, others for the mochas, the cappuccinos or the lattes. The menu is simple, all bevvies are double shots and one size. It fits all.

Personable, funny and deeply creative, Gordon has been making great coffee for the last 22 years. His career has been enhanced over the years with stints as a courier, cook, guarder of Christmas trees, karaoke host, women's roller derby referee and trapeze acrobat. He's also an escape artist, able to wiggle his torso through a tennis racket - although he's a bit rusty at the moment - and can get out of a straight jacket hanging upside down. I'm not sure if this has made him better at making coffee but it has made him a fascinating individual. He is currently studying modern dance, is a confirmed espresso drinker, a whiskey and cocktail aficionado, involved in cycling culture and a staunch supporter of the Island Chef's Collaborative. Oh, and I do believe he speaks a variety of languages.

His coffee shop is part club house/meeting place where you can enjoy a cup of java and shoot the breeze with Gordon or one of his cohorts. Maybe kick back and listen to some tunes from Ken's record collection .....

.....buy a Lomo camera (he also teaches pinhole photography and can answer questions about the process), or maybe enjoy some breakfast cereal.

Gordon's fan base encompasses chefs, artists, musicians, dancers, suits, writers, a reformed bank robber and a suitable assortment of scallywags. He notes that a visit from Jim Murray, author of the Whiskey Bible, was one of the most memorable at the cafe. "He was able to detect the country of origin of 3 out of the 5 beans in the (coffee) blend," says Gordon, " and said it was the best espresso he'd had in years - better than France."

The coffee at Street Level is sourced from Discovery Coffee, a local roastery. "It's got a nice spice and limey-ness to it" he says, " I'm able to pull cinnamon and cardamon notes out of the flavour profile."

That said, I think I'll have another macchiato.