If most Edmontonians were asked to name the first Swede who came to their minds, the majority of us would say “Mattias Ekholm.” (Unless, of course, you’re of Swedish heritage and name yourself; but, heck, you’d probably say Ekholm, too). And when it comes to Swedish-themed treats, well most of us would (sadly) point to the IKEA cafeteria as our reference point.
But a new cafe, located across 104th Street from Strathcona High School, may change that. Strom Coffee shares space with a tattoo parlour and a hair salon, but it’s still an open, airy space — with minimalist wood benches and tables and a few lounging chairs. There’s a selection of hair-care products along one wall, next to the poster of Swedish horses, a national symbol. It’s kinda wonderfully surreal.
The menu is still under development, and the staff assured me that soon there will be a wider selection of Swedish treats. The cafe opened in April, and it’s clear that the place is still finding its legs. What it does have is a selection of Scandinavian-style coffees and, of course, your espressos and lattes as well.
It was a warm day, so I ordered an iced kanalkaffe. Kanel is Swedish for cinnamon, and this drink really packs that flavour. It’s not subtle. It’s coffee with cinnamon sweet cream (you do NOT need to add any sugar) and cold foam. Order it with a side of ginger and raspberry cookies for dipping. Cinnamon and coffee is a very Scandinavian thing; Copenhagen’s Kanalcafeen is a famous spot that traces its history back to the mid-19th century.
And, yes, Strom Coffee also has lingonberry lemonade.
It’s a great airy spot, and I look forward to when the menu is more fleshed out. I did not get a tattoo, but I thought about it for about three seconds.
Strom Coffee
Strathcona Junction | 7225 104 St. NW, Edmonton | stromcoffee.com
