I must echo the sentiments of Rockies, blader and peterthepiper: Big Mountain Coffee has the best espresso in Calgary. Wade and George, the baristas, pull the best shots in Calgary, and their shots are every bit as good as ones that I have had in cities with a real coffee culture. Therefore, the espresso is good on both an absolute and relative basis. I look forward to the weekend when I can go there for a shot.
Big Mountain also has excellent beans for making espresso at home.
Some bad news on the Big Mountain front. They are giving up the retail operation as of August 1, they are going wholesale only it appears. More information will be available at their (under construction) website http://www.bigmountaincoffeeroasters.ca/. A big loss for coffee lovers in Calgary.
I want to thank Wade and Georgina for bringing their vision of great coffee to the Calgary scene. Wade pulled a remarkable shot, and would talk coffee for hours. Georgina, your brownies are amazing. I loved the shop, loved the coffee, and you guys were some of the nicest people I have ever met. I hope for great things for your new operation, and know that your espresso will always have a home in my grinder. When I ever get back to Calgary.
I guess we can wait to see what Uprising brings us...
We were just in Calgary and checked out a couple of areas like Kensington, and 17th ave. SW to find good coffee. I was dissapointed. I ended up filling my take out mug at the Roasterie on 10th and not hanging in the cafe the morning we left. Didn't want to suck up a bunch of cigarette smoke with my coffee(not used to that anymore being in smoke free Vancouver). Despite them roasting their own coffee I wasn't impressed with the taste. Even Saskatoon has more and better cafes!
John_Manzo Senior Member Joined: 5 Aug 2005 Posts: 305 Location: Calgary Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra Microcasa a Leva,... Grinder: Baratza Vario Vac Pot: none Drip: presspot Roaster: nada (yet)
Posted Fri Aug 5, 2005, 8:29pm Subject: Re: Espresso in Downtown Calgary
Well, at least Calgary offers some choice, as against the 170+ Starbucks that litter Vancouver.
On 17th, you should have tried Caffe Beano. I have no idea why you settled on the only smoking coffehouse left in the entire province, but I have a theory that Vancouverites will only pay attention to evidence that confirms their worst stereotype of Calgary. So you chose the most disgusting place you could find. There are something like 14 cafes in Kensington; you could not have tried them all.
I agree, Saskatoon is better than Vancouver for coffee.
Posted Wed Oct 19, 2005, 1:58am Subject: Re: Espresso in Downtown Calgary
There are some great coffee shops in Vancouver, if you cut through the dross. Try Coo Coo coffee on Richards and Drake (I think - it's opposite the Choices supermarket anyway). Café Artigiano was great too.
I'm going to be living in Calgary for a few months next year so I'm a bit disappointed to read this thread!!
John_Manzo Senior Member Joined: 5 Aug 2005 Posts: 305 Location: Calgary Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra Microcasa a Leva,... Grinder: Baratza Vario Vac Pot: none Drip: presspot Roaster: nada (yet)
Posted Thu Oct 20, 2005, 8:10am Subject: Re: Espresso in Downtown Calgary
You should be a bit inspired, not a bit disappointed. The question was about espresso downtown and some idiot from Vancouver disses Kensington and he does not even drink espresso. Why should you be disappointed? Listen to the people who live here not somebody from Vancouver who is already predisposed to hate this city. I'm just as qualified an aficianado as anyone on this board and I promise that you can find good espresso here. I will make it for you in my kitchen if you can't find it anywhere else.
Calgary has the same assortment of chains (and they are on every corner, this is one of the most coffee-saturated cities I have ever seen) downtown as does any other vibrant city but does have its indies and its espresso aficianados. Downtown try Il Caffe di Caffe Mauro, Bumpy's (the former Big Mountain- with the same espresso and much, much better food), Thistles, The Secret Cafe, and for a chain whose espresso I love (and that gives its baristas some valid training) please check out The Good Earth.
The Planet on 4th, Tumblebeans on 14th St in Bankview, Caffe Beano on 9th just off 17th SW, Kaffa in Marda Loop, Higher Ground in Kensington (yes it's a bad bean but they pull great shots), look for Agustino to open very soon in Kensington too.
Finally, I contacted Caffe Artigiano and they confirm that they are seeking a Calgary location.
Anyone care to report on the current state of affairs in Calgary? I'm coming out for a few days and would love to hunt down a decent espresso. Perhaps there have been some new developments in the last three years.
John_Manzo Senior Member Joined: 5 Aug 2005 Posts: 305 Location: Calgary Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra Microcasa a Leva,... Grinder: Baratza Vario Vac Pot: none Drip: presspot Roaster: nada (yet)
Posted Sun Sep 27, 2009, 8:44am Subject: Re: Espresso in Downtown Calgary
The situation now versus that in 2005 is stunningly better and I will admit that I was an utter know-nothing back then afraid to take my medicine. The scene here sucked.
Today? One of the best coffee scenes in North America. Check out my blog (under "coffee" on this page obviously) for the coffee directory as it currently stands and have a good visit. http://jfmanzo.wordpress.com/calgary-places/
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