Duchess

Since I was stuck at home today with two boys and had to be back in time to help my daughter change into her figure skater Halloween costume by noon, I decided to stay local and go to Duchess for cappuccino number 2. Phew, this is hard work.

First off, as cookie cutter predictable that Starbucks is, Duchess is the complete and utter opposite. It is the only bake shop of its kind in Edmonton. So it already has an upper hand. But, wanting to stay true to my challenge, I did not let the cute decor and unbelievably tasty treats sway me. Although I did order a scone. Melted in my mouth. Delish.

Now, on to the cappuccino. I have had a cappuccino there almost every week since it opened and I have always enjoyed them. The foam is perfect and the drink is delectable. I still added a little bit of sugar, but barely. And it is also the perfect size. Anyone who knows me will know that I rarely finish a drink. There will always be a few sips left. I don't know why. But not with a Duchess cappuccino.

Overall, I would take this cappuccino over most on any given day. So as of right now, it goes to the top of the list.

Starbucks

The first capp that I decided to try, simply because of location and convenience, was from Starbucks. It was exactly as you would expect a Starbucks cappuccino to taste. The foam was pretty good, the coffee was a bit on the bitter side and the cup was just plain white. Nothing fancy but also nothing terrible.

One might even say it was mainstream. I didn't add sugar, but should have. It needed a bit of a punch.

But, here's what I have to say about Starbucks. It is consistent and reliable. I knew what this coffee was going to taste like before I ordered it. It is because the cappuccino that I ordered in Edmonton is made the exact same way as the one ordered in Dubai or apparently at a new location built exactly on top of where the Berlin wall used to be.

Just what you'd expect from the SBux; building random coffee shops everywhere in the world, but serving the exact same coffee wherever you end up. Reliable, but not necessarily phenomenal.