Find it on Fourth: Coffee Shop Crusade

The days are getting colder, and there’s no better time to find your next favourite coffee shop on Fourth Street.

Whether you’re a black coffee connoisseur, and pumpkin spice pro or a matcha maestro, there’s something for everyone! So, let’s have a dig and see what’s on the menu, shall we?

It’s impossible to talk about coffee in Calgary without mentioning Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters. With a cavalcade of creative blends - so many they’re divided into ‘core’, ‘spotlight’ and ‘uncommon’ on their website - you’re sure to find something perfectly suited to your tastebuds. One of their flavours even won gold at last year’s Global Coffee Awards… not what you’d expect for a coffee roasting company from Cowtown. 

Even more interesting, on their journey to find the perfect process for roasting coffee, Sebastian and Phil themselves - who are also electrical and computer engineers - took three years to create an innovative machine which treats the coffee exactly to their specifications, so you know that first sip will always deliver.

Similarly, another business heaving invested in its coffee processes is none other than Abbey’s Creations, which uses a very particular, tempurature-controlled method of blending and pouring in order to give a coffee experience like no other; and, if you do manage to burn your tongue, you can always cool it down with a good ol’ scoop of ice cream. Sidenote: their coffee ice-cream actually contains coffee and taste unbelievable.

If you’re looking for a chance to unwind on your lunch break or just open your ears to some new and interesting music, I Love You Coffee Shop has been partnering with Inner Ocean Records to showcase a collection of incredible vinyls across jazz, electronica and lots of off-the-beaten-track genres to broaden your horizon. On the coffee front, however, they’ve got all kinda of everything to start your day of right, or just keep the cold away for a couple of minutes. Either way, you’re sure to have an incredible drink in a fun and unique atmosphere.

Looking to try something a little more exotic? Jara Cafe is sure to satisfy your tastebuds with refreshing brews, flavoured lattes and a unique blend of breakfast staples and unconventional bites to brighten up your day (even if the sun isn’t shining).

Further down Fourth Street, Purple Perk uses organic, Rainforest certified coffee, which basically means they do not contribute to deforestation in any way and ensure coffee farmers are properly compensated for their efforts. To top it all off, they offer a wide range of brews across coffee-shop staples and sweeter Vietnamese-inspired sips which are sure to put a smile on your face.

A newer addition to the street, Paris Baguette has an immense variety of coffees, including a specialty seasonal menu which right now includes a croissant latte, an iced apple caramel matcha latte and a pumpkin sweet-cream cold brew… wow!

Looking for something a little more Parisian? A step into La Boulangerie feels like you’ve stumbled in from the cobbled streets of the City of Love itself. Relax in their bohemian atmosphere, take in the smells of freshly-baked goods and treat yourself to a sip of coffee made with love.

If you’ve got time to sit and have a quick bite, OEB Breakfast Co has a truly mouthwatering menu, not to mention their very own artisan-roast coffee, which is available at any of their locations across Canada. They also use ceremonial-grade matcha in their matcha latte, and if you’re planning on more of a boozy coffee they have their Bailey’s Coffee, Spanish coffee (with Kahlua and brandy) and their Monte Christo (with Kahlua and Grand Mariner). 

Red’s Diner is also the ideal spot for a quick drip coffee, as well as some hearty food to help with a long day, a great post-workout or - depending on the night before - the ultimate hangover cure. Likewise, if you’re hoping for a quick drip coffee on the go, Circle K will always come in clutch when you need them most, while Seattle’s own Starbucks is just a hop, skip and a jump away for your artisanal coffee needs.

Whether you prefer your coffee decaf, drip or just warm enough for the perfect first sip, Fourth Street has just what you’re looking for.