CALGARY COFFEE SCENE - by Tyler Hagan, Commonly Coffee
TYLER HAGAN, CHIEF COFFEE DRINKER, BLOGGER AND CONTENT CREATOR FROM COMMONLY COFFEE IS BACK AGAIN TO TALK DELICIOUS SUMMER-THEMED COFFEE DRINKS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM HERE IN CALGARY!
The coffee scene in Calgary shows no signs of slowing down!
While I recognize these past few months have been incredibly difficult for many of the local businesses here in Calgary, it’s beginning to feel like there is light on the horizon. As someone who connects with a lot of the local business scene, many small businesses are so thankful for the outpouring of support that they have recently received… and this definitely includes the incredible coffee shops we have here in our city. Calgary’s coffee community has continued to grow since my first feature on this page last summer and that’s cause for celebration.
But I recognize that this summer, more than ever, we need to do as much as we can to support our local economy and I can’t think of a better way than to drink a whole lot of incredible coffee. So I am thrilled to partner once again with Local Laundry who does so much to support local. I grabbed some of my favourite items of theirs that I had hanging in my closet and I set out to snap some pics get well caffeinated in the process.
image courtesy of @bencehorvai
So who am I to say all of this?
My name is Tyler Hagan and I am the Chief Coffee Drinker & Content Creator over at www.commonlycoffee.com, a website based locally here in Calgary that is devoted to being a strong voice in support of the specialty coffee community. I love this city and its coffee scene, and I want to highlight for you some of the best coffee shops this city has to offer along with their creative summer-themed drinks.
I know that for many of us, our summer plans will involve more things locally, and so as you visit some of your favourite neighbourhoods, attractions, and shops this summer, I would encourage you to make these fun summer coffee drinks a part of your summer plans here in the beautiful city of Calgary.
Tyler Hagan, Chief Coffee Drinker at Commonly Coffee
GOOD TRADE CO.
Images courtesy of @goodtradeco
Images courtesy of Good Trade Co. is one of Calgary’s newest coffee shops that opened earlier this year down in the heart of Kensington! I had the privilege to see this place in the various stages of its build-out and I can definitely say that the round seating area with all the windows (they call it the Living Room) is one of my favourite places to drink a coffee in any coffee shop in the city. Good Trade Co. is clearly excited for it to be summer They haven’t just launched a summer-themed drink, but an entire menu called the #SummerVibes Menu. I was torn on this one for what drink to recommend, so right off the bat I’m breaking my own rules and suggesting one coffee drink & one non-coffee drink so that anyone can find something they like.
My summer drink suggestions: Iced Honey Lavender Latte & Honey Lavender Iced Tea
Location: 1154 Kensington Cres NW.
MONOGRAM COFFEE
Image courtesy of @monogramco
No surprise to see Monogram back on this list again for summer 2020. Monogram continues to set itself apart as one of Calgary’s most well-loved coffee roasters. There is never a question of quality when you visit any of their spaces. Each Barista is incredibly knowledgeable, yet equally as passionate to help you grow in your knowledge and understanding of specialty coffee. You can find their cafes Downtown, in Altadore and in Britannia. I want to focus on their Britannia location for this feature as that’s where you can find one of my favourite summer drinks (well can you call it a drink?) Monogram Britannia has a partnership with Made by Marcus (another amazing Calgary business) to offer their soft-serve. So, order up a cup of this tasty ice cream and get a shot of Monogram espresso on top… and voila! This is ONLY available at the Britannia location.
My summer “drink” suggestion: Soft-Serve Affogato
Location: 800 49 Ave SW.
SOUGHT X FOUND
Image courtesy of @sxfcoffee
Sought x Found have quickly become a fan-favourite here in Calgary and with the husband & wife team of Caleb & Kitty behind the bar you will always feel like family when you walk in. Their Centre street café is a must-visit, if only for the fact that it has free parking in the back, but truthfully for the incredible thought and attention they put into each and every drink they make. Ask anyone in Calgary that has been and they’ll tell you how good it is. This summer Sought x Found have created a few incredible summer drinks that are destined to become fan favourites. I promise you you’re going to want to try them all. My personal favourite is called the Cold Brew Mockjito. Imagine with me, house-made organic lime syrup with fresh mint-infused coffee. It’s refreshing like a lemonade, with a healthy dose of caffeine! I swung by to grab this on the very first day it was released, and it did not disappoint. I think I need to get another one right now!
My summer drink suggestion: The Cold Brew Mockjito.
Location: 916 Centre St N.
PHIL & SEBASTIAN COFFEE
Image courtesy of @philandseb
Phil & Sebastian is a local favourite of many Calgarians! Their ongoing commitment to sourcing excellent coffee is apparent in the coffees you can select that are roasted locally in their Simmons Building HQ down in East Village. That café alone is definitely worth a visit or any of their 5 other locations around the city. When it comes to summer there is definitely nothing better than an Ice Latte…but for folks who prefer dairy-alternatives this is the drink you’ll wanna grab when the temps start to climb. Phil & Sebastian are offering their Iced Oat M*lk Latte which is a super-tasty cold coffee beverage. The best part is if you really like this drink you can also purchase it in one of their 2L jugs! This was a really refreshing drink that is a perfect option for anyone who can’t have or chooses not to have dairy.
My summer drink suggestion: Iced Oat M*lk Latte
Locations: 618 Confluence Way SE
CALGARY HERITAGE ROASTING COMPANY
Images courtesy of @2cmadeit
Located in the historical C.C. Snowdon building, this café is full of local history, and is absolutely gorgeous! Pull up to the tables made from actual 100-year-old floorboards from the previous basement and sip on a hand-crafted drink made from their baristas. Just in time for summer, they have recently built a spacious deck that gets drenched in the warm afternoon sun. I would say it is the perfect addition for enjoying those iced drinks and warm summer days. But this year for a summer-themed drink they’ve partnered with Sugar Water (another local Calgary business) to create a coffee cocktail. Yup, you heard me right, this is an adult-bevy! They are calling the Northern Heritage Martini and it sounds delicious. Mike & Jamie at CHRC tell me it’s made with a blend of Espresso & Cold Brew Concentrate with a few secret ingredients, Northern Keep Vodka, and Kahlua, served up shaken in a Mason Jar. It will be made available after their patio party on July 24th where it will be featured along with their entire Camp Cocktail lineup.
My summer drink suggestion: Northern Heritage Martini
Location: 2010 11 St SE
Image courtesy of @bencehorvai
So there you have it! Summer doesn’t seem to last long here in Calgary so get out and enjoy all of these tasty summer drinks at these great local coffee shops. What we do to support local will make a huge impact on the many amazing business here in our city.
If you have any questions about the coffee community here in Calgary feel free to get in touch with me through the info below. A huge shout-out again to the Local Laundry team for inviting me to put this feature together.
One last thank you to Bence Horvai for snapping these amazing pictures of me in my Local Laundry gear. He runs a phenomenal photography/videography company in Calgary at www.bencehorvai.com
Website: www.commonlycoffee.com
Instagram: @commonlycoffee
Email: commonlycoffee@gmail.com
Images courtesy of @bencehorvai
