Let's Go Java Hunting in Canmore!
by Shari Bishop Bowes
This little corner of the Canadian Rockies is decidedly coffee-crazy. Evidence of our love affair with coffee is everywhere - from an abundance of coffeehouses tucked away in the cozy corners of Canmore, to the hordes of people enjoying a take-away java on the streets, in their cars, and enroute to a day at the ski hill or an afternoon of gallery hopping.
Canadian coffee consumption continues to rise every year, according to Statistics Canada. In 2002, we Canucks each put away an average of 90 litres of caffeinated beverages. That's over 15 billion cups of coffee a year! While there are no official statistics on coffee consumption in the Canadian Rockies, it's safe to say it's well above the national average. The abundance of great coffeehouses in Canmore makes sure our locals and visitors never have to go far for a great cup of coffee.
Infuso Coffee House
101 1205 Bow Valley Trail
Once upon a time, a friendly architect and his beautiful baker-extraordinaire wife decided to leave behind their city lives and open a unique coffeehouse in the mountains.
That's the beginning of the story for Infuso Coffee House, a favourite haunt for folks who like their coffee gourmet and their surroundings serene and inspiring. Kim and Jelana Eckart wanted to bring a little bit of the city to the country when they opened the doors of their bright, eclectic shop three years ago, and they've done just that. Infuso is a cheering, welcoming environment with touches of sophistication in the art gallery on one long wall, the colour- coordinated lounging furniture in front of the gas fireplace, and the selection of trendy magazines awaiting those with time to kill.
A decadent caramel macchiato gets a finishing touch with homemade caramel sauce, delivered by Infuso Coffeehouse owner Kim Eckart.
Great decorating aside, it's not all flash and atmoshpere at Infuso - the Eckarts take their coffee very, very seriously. On tap are select roasts from Joffee's Coffee in Calgary, a popular supplier for high-end restaurants in the city. Pure Arabica beans are behind the great aroma that hits as you open the door, with medium roasts all the way through the dark, delicious espresso used in specialty coffees. Try their divine caramel macchiato, with homemade caramel sauce drizzled delicately atop a head of foamy milk.
Jelana's baking is a reason alone to make a stop into Infuso, where you can enjoy her cinnamon swirl buns, raspberry and white chocolate scones, or to-die-for pecan squares. Light lunches including soups, salads, wraps and croissant sandwiches offer something a little more substantial.
Tea lovers need not be disappointed either, with a full display of loose teas for enjoying in-house of take-away from Silk Road Tea Company.
Beamer's Coffee Bar
1702 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore
120, 737 7th Avenue, Canmore
There's a buzz going on at Beamer's Coffee Bars that began 10 years ago, when only one other coffee bar shared Canmore's caffeine scene. Mike Beamer began his coffee biz on Canmore's hotel-lined Bow Valley Trail, and soon found great success as locals and visitors flocked in for his Seattle's Best brew.
Flash ahead to 2003, when Beamer and his new partner Darren Boucher opened their downtown Canmore location - a bright and cozy, just-off-Main shop.
If it's possible, Mike Beamer is even more enthusiastic and passionate about coffee than he was a decade ago. Part of the reason has to be hooking up with a hugely popular brand, which is not only the coffee you'll be drinking when you stop by, but also the coffee you can purchase to take away for home brewing. Take-away has become so popular at the two Beamer's outlets that they've become the number one independent retail account for Seattle's Best in Canada.
Both Beamer's locations have fireplaces and comfy chairs just right for enjoying a steaming café latte with the local newspaper. The downtown location is even more inviting, with European style window seats that open up to the views of the Three Sisters peaks and Ha Ling Peak beyond. Breakfast bagels get the morning crowd fueled up, while the lunchtime trade enjoys huge sandwiches, wraps and soups, or, the author's personal favourite, the smoked salmon lox and cream cheese on a toasted bagel. Sweets have their own place any time of day, with muffins, cinnamon buns and blueberry scones made fresh every day.
The Coffee Mine
#103, 802 Main Street, Canmore
Not into the see-and-be-seen caffeine scene? In need of a quiet corner to read, write postcards or enjoy a downtown lunch in a cozy environment? Canmore's first coffeehouse, The Coffee Mine has been a local fixture for more than a decade - and certainly long before Starbucks ever thought of expanding their coffee empire to the Canadian Rockies. The Coffee Mine has a neighbourhood feel to it, evident as soon as you walk in the door on 8th Ave. just off Main. A large bulletin board greets customers with handwritten notices on everything from rooms to let to guitar lessons to Thai massage. 'The Mine' has featured Blends' locally roasted beans since it opened its doors, which explains the wonderful aroma that follows you into the street. The Mine's own baked goodies are on the chalkboard menu, along with some healthy breakfast selections and hearty grilled foccacia sandwiches. Before you finish your café latté or specialty tea, be sure to peruse their mini art gallery along one wall of the shop. Currently featured are the bright, stylized acrylic paintings of local mountain scenes by Canmore artist Lucie Bause.
The Coffee Pot & Curry Stop
# 4, 637 10th Street, Canmore
Visitors to Canmore with a little time on their hands might enjoy the local gossip they pick up at The Coffee Pot & Curry Stop. A true locals' favourite with seating for just a baker's dozen or so, it's almost impossible not to overhear the conversations of fellow patrons. The atmosphere is indeed cozy, but also rustic and charming - and these days infused with the wonderful aroma of steaming curry dishes.
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The new owners who took over the original location of Blends Coffee Roasters (see accompanying story) quickly added a favourite dish to the Canmore culinary scene. While they're not open for dinner, their curries, homemade soups and sandwiches, samosas and onion bhaji have become lunchtime favourites. Savvy customers have even begun to show up for dinnertime takeout before the shop closes. If all you're after is a rich cup of delicious coffee, Blends coffee is the brew on offer here. The full selection of the local roaster's beans may also be taken away by the pound to enjoy at home.
Tim Horton's
1729 Mountain Avenue, Canmore
Tim Horton's coffee is no Starbucks-double-double-skinny-latté-grande, where you're shocked at the paltry change you get back from a $5 bill. "Timmy's" as its known to locals - and we mean locals from Grand Falls, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia - is for folks who like their coffee straight up, fast-food cheap, flavourful and hot. It's walk-up-to-the-counter or drive-by coffee at the Canmore location on Bow Valley Trail, just perfect for the late start to the ski hill or the early morning pre-hike java jolt. Tim Horton's is named after its original owner, the glory years' NHLer of the Toronto Maple Leafs who died in a car crash in 1973 at age 42.
Timmy's coffee is the drawing card for most folks in need of their caffeine buzz, but the 1,900 outlets of this Canada-wide chain also serve their famous donuts, "Timbits" bite-sized donut holes, other sweet stuff and lunch staples like soup, sandwiches and chili in a bread bowl.
Their special blend of coffee is also available in grocery stores all over the country.
Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. (two locations)
830 Main Street
6A, 1306 Bow Valley Trail
The Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. has one of the smallest and busiest outdoor patios in town - just a few tables streetside on Main. But seating shortage aside, this is the place for people watching, sipping a cappuccino while petting your dog under the table, or generally becoming "one" with Canmore's mountain-casual style. On cooler days, or when the patio is full up, head inside to join the throngs of coffee-lovers in this large, open and usually very busy downtown coffee house. (The Bow Valley Trail location, which also doubles as the bakery for their delish bagels, is usually much quieter and more peaceful, with the same menu available.)
Locally roasted Blends Coffee is the brew in demand here, from light roasts to go with your morning muffin or bagel all the way through dark, divine espresso to be enjoyed with something sinfully chocolate from their dessert selection.
The Bagel Co. is perfectly situated for those who need a break on the way home from a few hours' cross-country skiing, or who'd like a steaming café latté while taking a break from shopping downtown.
Bagel sandwiches are popular here for obvious reasons, and delicious enough you'll be packing a baker's dozen when you leave.
Summit Café
#200, 1001 Cougar Creek Drive, Canmore
A true local's hangout, Summit Café is often a bit of a surprise when discovered by visitors. It's tucked away in the residential neighbourhood of Cougar Creek, a small shop that's part of the only commercial development in the area.
The Summit's secret lies in its reasonably priced hearty breakfasts, along with a variety of coffee roasts from Canterbury. It can be tough to get a seat inside - or even outside on their picnic-table terrace - on a weekend morning. The specialty here is breakfast and lunch items with a decidedly Mexican flare. Huevos rancheros are served all day.
Once they find the place, people are known to drive out of their way to get a foamy café latté to go, while in-house baked goods such as cookies, squares and muffins are well deserved treats after an active day in the mountains. Cozy is the best way to describe the Summit, with its couch and fireplace at one end, rustic wood décor, warmly coloured walls and tables that put you elbow to elbow with your neighbours. Don't be afraid to ask to share tables that aren't fully occupied - that's the kind of place it is.
Village Bistro
#2, 718 10th Street, Canmore
A wee bit out of the way on Canmore's secondary commercial street,the Village Bistro is well worth the trouble to find it. Tucked a block off Main Street next to a secondhand outdoor equipment store, the Village Bistro is a combination of gourmet and homegrown all in one. Owners Jurg and Margaret Weber have a fine dining background, with breakfast and lunchtime offerings reflective of a high level of culinary skill. But if it's sweets you're after, you won't find better delights that these. Chocolate almond croissants, raspberry cream strudel, chocolate and lemon ricotta tartelettes and rich home puddings go very well with the gourmet Blends coffees. Hearty breakfasts and lunches at very reasonable prices attract a steady local clientele, along with the fortunate visitors who find the place. For lunch, try the croque monsieur baked sandwich, with ham, cheese and bechemal sauce combining for a rib-sticking midday repast.
Starbucks Coffee
112, 1240 Railway Avenue, Canmore
If you can get beyond the 'barista-speak', Canmore's relatively new Starbucks is a pleasant spot to grab a grande double nonfat caremel macchiato. Or maybe just a coffee.
Starbucks is definitely the giant in the North American gourmet coffee industry - but just one of the many fine spots to enjoy your favourite bean in Canmore. Starbucks opened on Railway Ave. in front of the Safeway grocery store a year ago, offering a coffee experience familiar to millions. Rustic tile flooring and warm colours make for an inviting atmosphere, framed by large windows with great views of the mountains. Starbucks is a good spot to go for some coffee education, as they offer reams of pamphlets on coffee in all its varieties. A retail operation lets you take away everything from a pound of their feature blend to a Barista cappuccino maker on sale for $389 Cdn.
You've got lots of choices for your favourite cup, mild through smooth to bold coffee concoctions with descriptions that will make you think you've stumbled into a high-end wine bar instead.
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