| Top Ten Caffeine Haunts | |
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Whether your beverage of choice is a hot cup of coffee, a steaming cup of tea, or more select choices such as lattés and iced Italian sodas, Edmonton offers a wide choice of cafés and coffeehouses. Here, in no particular order, are the top ten coffee and tea haunts. Some names will be very familiar, while others are definitely worth hunting down.
1. Second Cup - One of the two major chains in the city, franchises exist all over town. Lots of coffee selections and the kids love Italian sodas. My personal favorite is the Creme Brulée, especially iced! 2. Starbucks - The other major chain, also with many city franchises. They have one or two coffee selections of the day, while the rest of their menu consists of confection-type drinks like their famous Frappuchino. 3. Steeps The Urban Teahouse - No coffee here, but the wide selection of teas available for sniffing and fresh brewing will make a tea lover out of anyone. Steeps is sespecially noted for its Chai lattes, both hot and iced. 4. Urban Fare - Located in the Crestwood neighbourhood in the west end, the fact that this upscale grocery store also has a coffee bar is getting to be one of the area's best-kept secrets -- until now! The prices are surprisingly reasonable. 5. Sugarbowl Café - With two locations, one near the High Level Bridge and the other just off of downtown, the Sugarbowl has long been a hangout for the artsy community. 6. Tim Hortons - A Canadian institution named after a hockey legend, Tim Hortons is the place to go for coffee and a doughnut. Their iced cappuchino isn't bad and a lot cheaper than the equivalent at the other major chains. 7. Java Jive - Located at the University of Alberta, many alumni remembers the cram study sessions accompanied by Java Jive's brew. If you ever find yourself on campus, it's worth checking out. 8. Grabba Jabba - Although there are fewer locations now, Grabba Jabba has a good selection of coffees, although at least one outlet that I know of was bought out by Starbucks. 9. Booster Juice - OK, it is not a coffeehouse as such, but this franchisee of fruit smoothies does have one mocha selection that is extremely rich and creamy. As well, they offer chai lattes and fresh fruit juices. The perfect place for when one is in a health conscious frame of mind. 10. Denny's - The best restaurants to get coffee are often the ones that specialize in breakfast dishes, and Denny's is no exception. With four locations in the city and 24-hour service, this is the most economical choice of the bunch, as the coffee cup has no bottom.
