The coffee scene in Calgary has exploded in the last year or so and I'm happy to provide this overview for the coffee geeks among us. In addition to all the expected chains (Calgary is the second largest market for Starbucks, per capita, in Canada with 98 outlets, including licenced concept ones, as of today- that's almost triple the number, proportionally, in the Toronto market) and too many terrible ma-and-pa "second wave" indies, Calgary has at least five shops, four in the city proper and one in the western suburbs, that adhere to third-wave principles and do some damn fine latte art to boot. No, this ain't Vancouver or Portland, but pound for pound Calgary's come over to the quality side with more gusto (including customer support that's mind-boggling at times) than most cities its size. We have it good here, finally. The best shops, in order of their ages (oldest to newest), are as follows: 1. Java Jamboree in in Cochrane, which is a pretty cute NW suburb of Calgary with a twee, western-themed town centre. But JJ is in a hideous strip mall and gives no indication of the glory inside. JJ was the first coffeehouse in Alberta, and the second in Canada, to purchase a Synesso. They brew beans from 49th Parallel and Josuma (in SF). Latte art photos cover the walls, and the owners LOVE to talk coffee. It’s like a dream. 2. Bumpy’s (8 St b/t 10 and 11 Aves SW) has really helped to raise the bar in Calgary since its opening in September, 2005. A lot of people know it more for its excellent food (and rightly so), but coffeegeeks flock here for fantastic espresso prepared with a brand new Elektra Kappa, with beans from Big Mountain and 49th Parallel. Baristas are among the best in town; superb latte art, and this is the first place in town to regularly offer single-origin espressos. A class act. 3. Phil & Sebastian Coffee Company is, like Java Jamboree, a pioneer in bringing new equipment into Calgary; in their case, a Clover brewing system. Their espresso machines (yes, current setup is two machines) aren’t seen very often in these parts; a La Marzocco FB-80 and a Synesso. Thanks to P&S we now have a regular source in Calgary for beans from some the reputationally great Novo Coffee in Denver. Their location in the Calgary Farmers’ Market (former Currie Barracks) is neat and convenient, but terrible for conversation. For coffee, though, it’s peerless (just about). 4. Caffe Artigiano has opened its first Calgary location and its first outside the Vancouver area at 332 6th Ave SW in the new Centrium building. Beautiful, bright space with the same delicious sandwiches and other food (try the yogurt parfait) as at Vancouver locations. This one has a four-group La Marzocco FB 80 and Calgary’s second Clover, and is open, heavens be praised, seven days a week, currently Sat and Sun 8-5, as well as weekday hours 6-6 M-W and 6-7 Th-F. 5. Kawa Espresso Bar opens TOMORROW (May 16, 2008) at 1333 8 St SW. This is the urban spinoff of Java Jamboree, with the same 49th/Josuma beans, the same three-group Synesso as well as two Clovers, but in a gorgeous, polished Beltline setting, with a wine bar to boot and hours tentatively until 11. This place makes Artigiano look funky by comparison. In the space of a couple of years we've gone from one third-wave shop in the fairly distant suburbs to five. In addition, Calgary's venerable Good Earth chain has stepped up its coffee program of late (all new NS Aurelias in its 12 locations), as has the always-cool, but until recently always-horrible-coffee-serving Caffe Beano. Kawa's opening is epic news for now, but look for at least two more Artigiano locations as well as a proper downtown or downtown-ish caffe for Phil and Sebastian.
