TORONTO - Hot tea and mellow tunes collide as Second Cup chains around Canada put the coffee shop singer back in the coffee shop with the introduction of their Cafe Music Series.

Canada's cherubic singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith headlined the first of the intimate gatherings at Second Cup's Yonge and College location, infused with a living room vibe thanks to an oversized white candle, dimmed lights and a soft-spoken, though astutely funny, Sexsmith.

Performing for a quiet and appreciative crowd, Sexsmith dug into the vault to play fan requests and offered new tracks from his tenth studio album, "Time Being," while apologizing for the deluge of large ad posters inside the store, splashed with his face and name.

Canoe Live: Watch video of Ron Sexsmith's Cafe Music Series performance here

Sexsmith also headlined the first Music Series in Montreal on September 15 - which he described as less of a spectacle inside of a pseudo-mansion - and will be followed by other acts in the coming months.

Karen Gold, VP of Marketing for Second Cup, explains that selecting other performers for subsequent coffee nights was based on the type of music they played and how it would fit in with Second Cup's vision: Melodic songs with lyrical depth that evoked the coziness of local java shops.

This fall, the Music Series will focus more on up-and-coming musicians, with Toronto songstress Melissa McClelland performing two shows, Francophone singer Veronique DiCaire and all-girl Canrock troupe Shaye playing other select locations.

Adding to their musical synthesis, online downloads of selected performances, as well as other artists, will be made available on Second Cup's website and CDs will be a permanent in-store feature, with a focus on Canadian content.

Now knowing the difference between an espresso and a cappuccino isn't be the only sliver of culture inside the coffee shop walls.