Somewhere in St. Albert

So here I was thinking that it would be fun to just drive around St. Albert while Ev was in music class and just randomly find a coffee shop and try their cappuccino. Seemed like such a great thought.

Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the place (but they serve this Cherry Hill Coffee, whatever that means) and it wasn't very good. Not the worst I've had, but a far cry from the level as of yet. I didn't finish it, it cost way too much and I was late picking up Ev from his class.

Such a great idea in theory. Did not execute the way I had envisioned in my mind.

So, I do not recommend that coffee place in St. Albert on the corner of that cute little street kinda by the main road but off of it slightly. If that makes any sense to anyone.

The Italian Centre

There are a few reasons why this blog is turning out to be a really great project for me. One is that I get to try all sorts of cappuccinos. Some great, some not-so-great, but still, all part of the experience.

Second, more often than not somebody will recommend a place for me to try and then take me there, so I rarely have to judge the cappuccino by myself. Makes it way more fun.

And third, it is getting me out and about Edmonton. I am trying out all sorts of different places which are all over the city and so I am finally learning how to navigate Edmonton. Did you know there is a high level bridge AND a low level bridge?

Well today was no exception. I had never been to the Italian Centre so it was really fun to check out the market first. There's not a lot that can put you in the mood to drink a great cappuccino like shopping beside a little old Italian lady buying mozzarella.

And then there was the cappuccino. I won't declare it to be the best .... just yet. But it was as close to perfection as I have come. A smooth drink in a small cup. It was so good that I actually felt like I could have had a second, which must be a good sign. And it was $2.25. The cheapest I've paid thus far.

It seems, dear other cappuccinos in Edmonton, that the Italian Center has thrown down the gauntlet. Will any other compare?

Holt Renfrew

I know what you are thinking (and by 'you' I mean all 2 of my readers). You are thinking, Holt Renfrew? Seriously? You went for a cappuccino at Holt Renfrew? But I googled 'best cappuccino in Edmonton' and Holt came up. Being true to the blog I decided I can't judge a cappuccino until I tried it. And I also knew that it was made with illy coffee so it had a fighting chance.

Well, are you ready for it? Amazing. This cappuccino was one of my (can I admit this?) favorites. The main issue with it was cost. It was $4 for a cappuccino about half the size of most (and those were around the $3 range). So I won't be frequenting the Renfrew for it. But it was so good. I didn't need any sugar and it had absolutely no bite to it. It came with a sprinkling of some kind of nutmeg/cinnamon mixture on top (a far cry from foam art but at least something) and it was in a small cup.

I hate to say it but this one will go near the top. Only the price will hold this one back from being the best one I think. There is something inherently wrong with paying $4 for a drink that really would have cost them, oh, $0.50?

But seriously, it was so good. So good.

Credo

Okay, so I have progress here. Credo. Small cup and foam art. And, lucky for Credo, I have lowered my expectations significantly. I am now expecting to need to put sugar in. And I have learned that there is such a thing as a Wet Cappuccino and a Dry Cappuccino. I believe this was a dry one, therefore I expected to be kicked in the throat when I drank it.

And so, lucky for Credo, I actually thoroughly enjoyed this cappuccino. I didn't even want the sugar I had brought over until I was half way done it. It was smooth, but still had some bite to it. I like more foam, but I don't think you can get a foamy cappuccino and foam art. I think it is one or the other.

But this one was good. Honest to goodness .... good. I read a book and drank this down to the bottom.

I think the race, as it stands, is between Credo and Duchess.

Mandolin Books and Coffee Company

I am realizing that coffee is like red wine. Some people like their wine bold and strong. That to them makes a good red wine. I, on the other hand, like it smooth. I want to enjoy my wine without having to *cough*. That *cough* doesn't look right. I am trying to explain how, when you drink something strong you kinda hit your chest and goes *ah hem* or something like that. Anyways, I don't like my wine to bite me back.

Same goes for coffee. Some people out there (I can't imagine who but they must be out there) must love their coffee full of this *cough* or *ah hem* bold flavor. Not me. I want my coffee to be smooth. Every coffee so far (save The Duchess for the most part) has needed some or a lot of sugar. So this leaves me wondering ... Is This My Fault? Am I Just Too Picky? I think only time will tell. But I will plug away and keep trying.

As for Mandolin Books, well ... I will just say this:

Neither myself nor my friend finished our cappuccinos

and

*Ah Hem*

Three Bananas Cafe

Poor Three Bananas. There were problems with this cappuccino from the get-go. I had had a bad one there a couple of weeks ago so I already expected it to be mediocre. I was in a rush (I was eager to visit The Artworks before I had to pick up my daughter from school - priorities right?) and so I had to get it To Go. Blech. Coffee out of a cup made of paper. Blech Blech Blech. And it was abnormally small. The above picture doesn't do it justice but for what I paid for this cappuccino I thought it would have been slightly larger or at least phenomenally better.

Sadly I was disappointed on all fronts. Bitter coffee, the cup melted in my mouth as I drank it (did I say Blech yet?) and I had to douse this one in sugar.

My fun challenge has taken a turn. Maybe this is rock bottom and the only way to go is up?

The Wired Cup

Having always hated Edmonton (note: this is an inside joke) I never really found myself investing in unique and interesting places to go so when I took on this challenge - given to me by myself - I needed help. I needed someone to point me in the direction of new cappuccinos. And so, soon enough, I found a source. This source has given me all sorts of fun places to try. And so, thanks to said source, I went to The Wired Cup.

This was my first cappuccino from a coffee shop that I had never heard of before. I had no idea how to get there (what in the world is this Connors Road?) and had no idea what to expect. First sip .... bitter! I don't know what has happened to Edmonton espresso beans, but all of my cappuccinos thus far have had this bite to them. This one was the strongest. The foam was great, thicker than most. And after I put in a healthy dose of sugar it tasted so much better. It was in your basic white cup again, but this one was more bowl-ish than cup-ish. I prefer cup-ish. Mainly because I can't finish a bowl of coffee. It was fine, totally fine.

I think I will know when I find that perfect cappuccino because it will go down smooth. It won't bite me back. It will be in a small cup and it will have foam art. Are you out there perfect cappuccino?

Transcend

Transcend was my first cappuccino that was brand new to me. Never been to the shop, never tasted their wares. First off, I am realizing how importance the ambiance is. This shop is funky. You can see the place where they roast their beans right beside the till, there is a TV that tells you all about the farmers that Transcend buys from, and everyone working there looked ridiculously cool. Before I even drank my cappuccino I was sure I would like it. Brilliant Transcend.... Brilliant.

Next my cappuccino arrived in a brownish colored cup (my first non-white cup) and had foam art! Real, live foam art! I immediately pulled out my iphone (which fit in perfectly with the other people who were fiddling with their iphones) and took a picture.

Finally it was time for me to take a sip, and it was great! No surprise there. It still had a bitter edge to it (maybe they all do and I just didn't know?) so I once again had to use sugar. I didn't find it creamy like the Duchess one - it had very potent coffee flavor to it - but I enjoyed it. The cup was too big (for me) so of course I didn't finish it and it cost a dollar more than the one at Duchess. But it had foam art! Super cool.