Coffee-house culture has a rich history. It goes back centuries — to the great coffee halls of London, Paris, Vienna and Budapest. These were places where caffeine fueled conversations about politics, literature and even provided the spark for revolutions. The idea of the coffee house was that it was a place for discussion, where complete strangers could get to know each other over a game of cards, or as part of a larger discussion about whether the king should have his head lopped off or not.
And Stopgap Coffee should be a place where that tradition is carried on. Opened just after COVID restrictions were lifted in 2022, it has become a quiet mainstay of the residential area just west of the core, close to the towers that overlook the river valley. It’s located on the main floor of the historic John T. Ross residence, and smartly incorporates the historic elements of the home into a space that feels like it was made for conversation.
There’s a selection of baked goods on offer, some baked by the folks at Stopgap, and some provided by Chocorrant. I order an Americano and a house-baked cheese and onion scone. The coffee is smooth, and the scone has deep flavours that are like rolling all the best flavours of a French onion soup into a baked good. On top are crispy onions with a drizzle of syrup, a mix of sweet and savoury that makes a great accompaniment to the coffee.
Next to the coffee bar is a great room, where there are board games, a few tables set by the windows, and then a great long table in the middle of the room. It is made for coffee conversation.
There is only one free seat open at the long table, but the tables are filled with people staring at laptops or phones, headphones on. They’re all lost in their own little worlds. Maybe there’s a great novel being written, here. Maybe not. While I am there, only one conversation begins, and it’s about how fast it takes a chicken’s body to stop flailing after its head is hacked off.
With a historic location, and a great selection of caffeinated beverages, Stopgap Coffee has all the ingredients to be the great Edmonton coffee house. Now, it’s up to us to unplug and, well, talk to people. It’s not hard, folks.
Stopgap Coffee
Downtown | 9749 111 St NW, Edmonton | stopgapcoffee.com
