stephen_wood Junior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Thu Mar 21, 2013, 12:00pm Subject: Canadian Coffee Scene
Hey everyone, i've often browsed through the forum as a guest but just joined as a member and have a couple of questions to ask! I've always had a real passion for anything coffee and i'm currently training as a barista in my hometown near Brighton, England. However i'm off to Canada for a year in October and i've noticed that the Canadian coffee scene seems to be pretty buzzing, my main aim would be to find barista related work whilst i'm out there...So with that in mind, is anyone able to reccommend some great coffee spots in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver. Any help much appreciated!
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,483 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Sat Mar 23, 2013, 8:28pm Subject: Re: Canadian Coffee Scene
Stephen, welcome to CG. Perhaps if I moved your thread to the Western Canada Forum? There's only Eastern and Western, no "Central." :>D You can't post it yourself, or you'd be "Cross posting" a no-no here.
OR, we can let it ride here a little longer. Consider my bump, and your ensuing greeting back to me as a couple of "Bumps!"
Winnisk Senior Member Joined: 4 Jan 2013 Posts: 12 Location: Moonstone Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill Silvano Grinder: Vario
Posted Sun Mar 24, 2013, 12:31am Subject: Re: Canadian Coffee Scene
Hi Steven,
I don't live close enough to a city to enjoy getting out to enjoy coffe often; however, I was out west skiing last week and we were staying in Canmore which is in the Rockies about an hour outside of Calgary, near Banff. They have a great cafe there: Communitea - http://www.thecommunitea.com/communitea_cafe/home.html - that I can't say enough good things about.
Not only was the espresso delicious in both places, but the service was first rate. There was an obvious commitment to quality and a sense that the staff were all enjoying what they were doing.
I would highly recommend both. It sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned. I am sure you will love it!
Posted Tue Apr 2, 2013, 2:51pm Subject: Re: Canadian Coffee Scene
I would agree with Analog coffee shops . . . they really pull a great shot!
Winnisk Said:
Hi Steven,
I don't live close enough to a city to enjoy getting out to enjoy coffe often; however, I was out west skiing last week and we were staying in Canmore which is in the Rockies about an hour outside of Calgary, near Banff. They have a great cafe there: Communitea - http://www.thecommunitea.com/communitea_cafe/home.html - that I can't say enough good things about.
Not only was the espresso delicious in both places, but the service was first rate. There was an obvious commitment to quality and a sense that the staff were all enjoying what they were doing.
I would highly recommend both. It sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned. I am sure you will love it!
JohnLyn Senior Member Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 234 Location: Golden, BC, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Mini Vivaldy Grinder: Vario Drip: Bonavita Roaster: Toastess popper
Posted Wed Apr 3, 2013, 6:43am Subject: Re: Canadian Coffee Scene
There are definitely a number of great cafes and the list is getting bigger. And you have options for either city or rural.
Calgary: Phil and Sebastians have some of the best roasted coffee in canada and have at least a third place finnish in barista comps. Kawa coffee also takes their coffee seriously. I know there are others....
Then.... small towns in mountain paradise!
not quite in the mountains but a great small town in Cochrane. Java Jambory runs a Synesso, serve Phil and Sebastians and are serious about the shots they pull.
Jasper, best coffee is in the laundromat. They are rocking a slayer and serve Fratello bro's. They need some help to pull a better shot but they do take it seriously.
Canmore has two quality places: Communitea - Synesso and Iteligencia coffee; Mercato, La Morzoco and Phil and Sebastian's coffee. There is also a french bakery serving Fratello bro's but they need help n the machine.
Revelstoke, there is a place called La Baguette. they serve parallel 49 and also take their shots seriously. Olivier also has a location at the ski hill, one with a la morzocco, the other with a Synesso.
Invermere has kicking horse coffee. not my favourite but they are serious about their roasting and they serve great coffee at their location. they are using a number of brew methods and are the only place I have seen in BC using syphon. Their machine is a La Spazialle commercial.
Nelson, Oso Negro is legendary in the old school style. They roast their own and again, I think they need help with their straight shots but none the less, they are not a disappointment. The use a La Morzocco.
Rossland, Alpine grind is serious but a little inconsistent.
Cranbrook, I was talking with the owner of Hot Shots and they want to improve their coffee with better beans and hopefully some training. Great location but they need some help for sure.
Kelowna, Cherry hill roasters is more on the traditional side and not all the baristas are trained but they are not too bad on the Aurelia.
My town, Golden, has a roaster and two comfortable cafe's, great scenes but lousy coffee from the machines. Come here and start a trend towards great coffee.
Then there is Vancouver. Search the site, you will find some GREAT cafes. My fav at this time is Revolver. I love how they take the coffee they serve seriously and have a lot of fun with it. They are serving Phil and Sebastian's.
Thank you. It is just fun to discover cafe's wherever I go and get to know the owners and baristas. Can't go wrong on bike through ab- bc. I love the mountain communities.
Posted Wed Apr 3, 2013, 7:31pm Subject: Re: Canadian Coffee Scene
Well, being from Golden, it doesn't get more beautiful than that! A great golf course too!
JohnLyn Said:
Thank you. It is just fun to discover cafe's wherever I go and get to know the owners and baristas. Can't go wrong on bike through ab- bc. I love the mountain communities.
stephen_wood Junior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2013 Posts: 20 Location: London Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Thu Apr 4, 2013, 12:52am Subject: Re: Canadian Coffee Scene
Thank you for all your help everyone! You've given me a lot to research. I found a great new brew bar in Notting Hill, London, yesterday where the head barista is Canadian on a working holiday, so listed a few places for me also!! :)
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