Phil & Sebastian Coffee Company, Calgary Farmers' Market, Calgary I cannot say enough positive about the shop. The equipment is absolutely first rate along lines we have not yet seen in Calgary: Anfim grinders, a La Marzocco FB-80 espresso machine, and, and this really shocked me, a Clover by-the-cup brewing system. This hit Vancouver last year and it makes outstanding coffee a cup at a time using a proprietary system that is akin to a french press in principle (but not at all in practice- you have to see this baby in action). I never expected to see one here because most brewed coffee fans are perfectly happy with vac-pots and the like, and because (mainly because) a Clover costs $11,000. I sampled an Ethiopian Hecha and it was great- but I came for a cappuccino. P+H use Hines Public Market (from Vancouver, first in Calgary with this bean) espresso blend for their espresso-based drinks (the Clover brews various varietals from a roaster in Denver (Novo Coffee), all very close to the roast though, no worries about stale beans here).

Shots are mottled beauty, pure espresso porn. Cappos are absolutely perfect, heavenly, 5 oz and perfect temperature (no scalded milk, no scalding cup), smooth, not a bit of sugar needed. P+H practice on that La Marzocco for a while now and it shows.

I can finally say with absolute confidence that we have a pure coffee purveyor that can go toe-to-toe with the best in Vancouver. yes, we still have Bumpy's, which is outstanding, but is still not purely or even mainly about coffee. We have the sublime Java Jamboree in Cochrane, but Cochrane is quite a jog for many of us. Communitea in Canmore- outstanding, but a stretch to say it's a Calgary spot.

Cappo was $3.50 and very, very much worth it.  3/4 lb packs of their espresso blend beans are not cheap at $13 for 12 oz but when you consider the cost of shipping from Hines per se (or making the trip to Vancouver) it's not that bad- quality beans are never cheap, but coffee is still almost too-good value. It's a fair price for above-fair-trade beans from great roasters.

Two complaints: First, the place is shockingly busy, with a lineup sometimes 15 deep, but it's good to see Calgarians appreciate quality, and that P&S are so successful. Second, the shop is only open when the market is open, which is only Fri-Sun most of the year.

Review by: John Manzo

Posted: Friday, September 28, 2007