Coffee in the morning is a non-negotiable for me. No matter how many times wellness influencers try to sell me on trying their root-based alternatives (I won’t) or the idea they’re just as effective as a double-shot of espresso (they aren’t), putting on the water for my French press is still the first thing I do each morning.
But even I, a strict adherent to the cult of caffeination, can sometimes tire of the same old bean-meets-dairy (or alternative) being served at the hundreds of coffeeshops across the city.
Lucky for me (and you), then, that Edmonton’s got its share of bold coffee choices, too. So, here’s what to try and where to try it for those of you in search of something off the beaten path.
Coffee has such deep roots in the cultures that inhabit the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula that it’s been listed as part of the region’s cultural heritage by UNESCO. It’s no wonder, then, that Arabic coffee, characterized by hints of aromatic cardamom and bitter, dark coffee brewed in dallahs (traditional Arabic coffeepots), is some of the best in the world. And thanks to a thriving diaspora, this unique take on coffee culture is having a bit of a renaissance here in Edmonton.
Turkish Coffee House
Downtown | 24 Perron Street, St. Albert
Mokha Coffee House
Greisbach | 344 Admiral Girouard Street, Edmonton | Yemeni Oasis: Mokha Coffee House
A traditional Mexican coffee, Café de Olla is prepared in a traditional earthen clay pot that connoisseurs of this variety say is essential to enhancing the flavour. It’s typically brewed with coffee grounds, piloncillo — an unrefined cane sugar — and cinnamon to bring spice to the sweetness. Some add orange peel, anise and cloves, too.
Frida Urban Taqueria
Westmount | 12411 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton | fridaantojitos.com
ch. Cafeteria
Grovenor | 14802 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton | Ch-Ch-Ch-Chocolate
Ethiopia is where the coffea arabica plant originated, making it the de facto birthplace of the brew. Those familial ties to much of the world’s favourite drink has meant the smooth and flavourful profile of Ethiopian coffee has been widely adopted. However, just because you’re drinking an Ethiopian brew from Starbies doesn’t mean you’re getting the true Ethiopian coffee experience. Culturally, that requires a Habesha coffee ceremony.
This involves roasting green coffee beans over an open flame in a pan, then grinding the beans, after which it’s brewed up in a jebena — a traditional boiling pot. Grounds are brewed three times, and is typically mixed with sugar and sometimes salt or traditional butter and served alongside popcorn and other snacks.
Lalibela African Restaurant
Strathcona | 9920 82 Ave, Edmonton | lalibelaafricanrestaurant.com
Habesha African Market (in bulk)
Central McDougall | 10418 107 Ave, Edmonton | A Newcomer’s Guide: Where to Get Food from Home
This southeast Asian recipe comes from Hanoi and is said to have been created during the 1940s when milk was scarce. Brewing a cup usually involved beating egg yolks together with sugar, and sometimes condensed milk, to create a rich foam over which hot or iced coffee — typically from Robusta beans — is poured. The result is a foamy and aromatic drink that will give even the most decadent of frappuccinos a run for their money.
You can find this speciality coffee at many of the city’s Vietnamese restaurants where it may be best consumed after a heaping plate of noodles.
Chi & Em
Strathcona | 10542 82 Ave, Edmonton | chiandem.com | New and Notable: Chi & Em
CÔ CHÍN Saigon
McCauley | 10632 100 St, Edmonton | cochinsaigon.com
Mãi Mãi Viet Street Kitchen
Terwillegar Towne | 14221 23 Ave, Edmonton | Best New Restauratns 2024
What rootin’, tootin’ Alberta speciality coffee list would be complete without mentioning cowboy coffee? You’ll typically hear about this from old timers and ranch-hands in southern Alberta, who nostalgically wax on about the joys of drinking unfiltered coffee grounds.
But the thing is, it’s actually pretty good. One big secret is that a good cup of cowboy coffee should include finely ground eggshells — added as a way to reduce the coffee’s natural acidity.
There’s nowhere that serves this style of coffee on a menu, but there is a company that sells the egg-shell infused coffee in bulk, so you can always brew up a cup at home. Just make sure to check your teeth afterwards.
Sandyview Farms
Yellowhead Industrial | 155 South Ave, Spruce Grove | sandyviewfarms.com
