Double-double take? The federal election drops by the coffee shop

There is perhaps a no more iconic imageofthis marathon election campaign than a simple cup of coffee. The elixir transcends political boundaries, appearing in all three of the major parties' campaigns.

Java has kept the leaders and their staffers fully fuelled, provided the perk-fectphoto op and a coffee-related incident even caused one candidate to bow out.

• Tim Hortons: Backdrop for political photo-ops of all stripes
• Dictionary of Canadian politics aims to demystify obscure lingo

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair ignited somecoffee controversy on Tuesday, when he revealed that he prefers aStarbucksbrewto Tim Hortons.

"The espresso at Starbucks has really been fuelling this campaign," Mulcair said in an interview with CTV, though he quickly addedthat some of his aids have madelate-night trips to Timmy'sfor a box of Timbits.

Some Twitter users were shocked that Mulcair would snub a national institution.

But that revelationshould comeas no surprise toastute campaign watchers.

While Mulcairhasn't had any photo-ops at Tim Hortons, he hasactually donned the signature green apron of a Starbucks barista, stopping in at the Erin Mills Town Centre location in Mississauga, Ont., in August.

But it isn't all about Starbucks.

Mulcair's made a few other photo-op coffee stops, including atCoffee Culture in St. Catharines, Ont., and at Revel Caf in Stratford, Ont.

One of his early campaign ads was even set in a coffee shop, with imagery of a cafopening for a day, coffee cups being stacked on top of each other instop motion and Mulcairsitting alongside a steaming cup of joe.

With all thisjava, one journalist called him out for his peculiar pronunciation of his beloved espresso.

A Canadian Press reporter claimedthat Mulcairmakes the common mistakeof pronouncing the Italian staple as "ex-presso."But social media quickly came to his defence.

The Conservatives even seem to be using coffee in their attack adsagainst Mulcair.

A Toryflyer critical of Mulcair and NDP policies features, somewhat strangely, a prominent coffee stain on its faux NDP platform document.

The Liberals have been getting their campaign coffeefix as well.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has been photographed serving up espressos, coffees and donuts several times on the campaign trail, including at Rustic Bakery in North York, Ont., and at aTim Hortons in Gatineau, Que.

Trudeau has been the subject of coffee controversy, too, because hedoesn't even drink it.

Back in 2013, Trudeau told a reporterthat he does not indulge in coffee. The revelation caused all sorts reaction, and some seriousbacklash, online. It promptedTrudeauto address the controversy publicly on Twitter.

A Liberal spokesperson confirmed toCBC News Wednesdaythat despite the demands of this lengthy campaign, Trudeau still doesn't drinkcoffee.

Meanwhile,Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is a fixture at Tim Hortons.

He's made several campaign stops at Tims around the country during the campaign, including one in North Vancouver, B.C., and another inGananoque, Ont.

Parli, an onlineCanadian politics dictionary, has even coined theterm "TimHortonsvoter,"in a nod toHarper's Conservative base. The dictionary says these kinds of votersareknown toembrace theTimsbrand and tend to pit themselves against the so-called elitist"Starbucks voters."

Harper worked the counter at the Gananoque, Ont.,Tims and caused quite the stir.

RAW: Stephen Harper makes campaign stop at a Tim Hortons

9 years ago

Duration 0:45

"Tell me what to do, just dont let me handle the cash," the Prime Minister jokes as he serves coffee to supporters in Gananoque, Ont.

While getting ready to serve some customers, Harper said, "tell me what to do, just don't let me handle the cash."

After a video of the instance was posted, the line was mocked on social media.

But the most famous coffee cup belonged to another Conservative and it didn't even have coffee in it.

Jerry Bance, the service technician andnow-former Conservative candidate, shot to social media stardom when it was revealedhe wascaughtpeeing into a mugthree years agoon an episode ofCBC'sinvestigative seriesMarketplace. The internet wasquickto dub the instance#peegate.

Bancewas quickly dropped from the Conservative slate fornot being truthful during the candidate screening process, but the infamous incident continues to be mocked online.