There is no shortage of coffee shops and patisseries in Calgary — you could probably get in an Uber blindfolded, ask the driver to stop anywhere, get out and only be a stone’s-throw away from one, or three, or more depending on the neighbourhood.
Unlike the unanimous (and passionate) recommendation for Best East Indian food in Calgary, this topic had our office divided — apparently, we love coffee and pastries — here are our top picks in no particular order:
Yann Haute Patisserie in Mission can be found in a gorgeous yellow house that was built in 1912, or thereabouts and is led by authentic French-trained pastry chef, Chef Yann Blanchard. A few of the things they pride themselves on are their use of real ingredients with no preservatives, additives, or artificial flavours and they charge a fair price for an extraordinary product.
“The Cannelés are a rare treat that you must try!” says our own Carol Pretty. “A soft, tender custard-like center surrounded by a caramelized crust. And if you like almond or chocolate croissants, Yann’s are super decadent. They also sell ice cream and take-home frozen treats like Butter Croissants that come out of your oven warm and perfect and so easy.”
Another favourite of the West Oak Family Office team is Analog Coffee which is part of a family-owned, Calgary-based coffee empire which also includes Fratello Coffee Roasters, and Corbeaux Bakery. As they say, “we have coffee in our blood!”
The entire Prefontaine family is involved in the business and has been since the beginning. Not only is it an incredible local success story, but it is also one that’s close to our hearts — the power of family and working together.
“Their pour-over coffees are amazing,” says Andrew McQuiston. “I always choose something super rich and smooth with layers of depth you just can’t find with run-of-the-mill coffee.”
Kelly Demo adds, “My favourite is the Guatemala Montecristo. Not going to lie, it is not cheap, but if you have a hankering for a great cup of coffee and are willing to splurge a bit, Analog should be top of your list!”
You have a lot of choices when it comes to coffee and pastries in Calgary and these are our top two, family-owned, and independent shops. From Beltline to Kensington to Bridgeland to Mount Royal to the ‘burbs, we’re sure you have your favourites too.
