Hear that sound? It's the pod-coffee war raging. Tis the season for gifting small appliances, and I can't help but feel like we're all finding ourselves on different sides of a battlefield. Since those little capsules of caffeinated goodness aren't interchangeable between brands, the gift of a pod-coffee machine is a bit of a commitment, and folks tend to be pretty passionate about their particular fave. I, for instance, am a Nespresso guy. It's the one small appliance that *always* earns its place on my countertop, owing to a combination of factors including its compact footprint and all-around faboosh design, coupled with the fact that I use it more than just about any other kitchen gadget. That's partly the reason I jumped at the opportunity to check out the new Nespresso Boutique Bar that just opened in Toronto's tony Yorkville neighbourhood. Well, that and the fact that the digs are designed by world-renowned Italian architect Aldo Parisotto of Parisotto e Formenton, who have transformed the space at 159 Cumberland St. into something rather special. Take a gander:  

Measuring in at 14,000 square feet, the Boutique's by no means a small space, but this stunning hanging installation kept my eye  wandering to the soaring ceilings. Photography by Brett Walther.

The menu, developed by Chef Jean-Charles Dupoire, is actually designed with Grand Cru (not wine!) pairings in mind. The light breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings will showcase locally-grown goodies, and will be updated seasonally. Photography by Brett Walther.

 Need refuelling? The back wall of the boutique is dominated by columns of the 21 variations of Nespresso Grand Cru coffee capsules. One of the coolest aspects of the boutique is the station just inside the entrance where you can drop off your used capsules for recycling. A totally fantastic idea that addresses my initial concerns about the pod-coffee movement when it started to take off. Photography by Brett Walther.

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