While the south side of Edmonton doesn’t have the majority of its coffee shops concentrated in one area, excellent coffee can still be found south of the North Saskatchewan. Whether you stroll down Whyte Avenue or head to the Mill Creek area, you can enjoy a top-notch latte from these stellar coffee shops.
Located in the heart of Garneau, this hip café is always packed with people from the neighbourhood, and people who wish they lived in the area. It’s close to the university, so a lot of students come here, but you’ll also find moms who eschew Starbucks here, enjoying a cappuccino. They serve up strong coffee, organic gelato and sorbetto, carefully crafted pizzas, wine and beer. Pair an Italian iced coffee with one of their gorgeous rosemary scones for the best breakfast ever.
The flagship location of Wild Earth Bakery and Café has a rich history in the area — the building has been around since the Great Depression — and it continues to act as a hub for the surrounding neighbourhoods. They serve fair trade coffee, fresh baked goods, wraps, Panini, sandwiches, soups and quiche. They even offer coconut milk for lattes now! It’s a great spot to enjoy an Americano or cappuccino while checking out a little piece of Strathcona and Mill Creek history.
Every cup of java at Good Earth Coffee House & Bakery is the result of a lot of hard work and ethical trade practices. The company has partnered with their roaster, Fratello Coffee Roasters, to buy coffee beans directly from the farmers who grow it. The café serves espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos and more. If you are in desperate need of a caffeine boost, try their High Test — a double short shot of espresso poured over brewed coffee.
The renovated 109 Street location of Remedy no longer has an upstairs, but the main floor is now open concept, with a lot more seating available. The coffee and chai remain the same as always — delicious, decadent and perfectly consistent. Other coffee shops may waver with their taste and quality, but Remedy never does. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and stay open late (they’re licensed!), so get comfy with some of the cushions they keep by the tables — you’ll be here awhile.
This Italian espresso bar is located on the main floor of the Roots on Whyte building, making it the ideal spot to stop in for a pre-workout java jump or post-meal cup of joe. They offer a variety of coffee drinks, including espresso, café coretto, café con panna, cappuccino, latte, Americano misto, café canadese and more. Plus, they’re licensed, so you can add a shot of Baileys or Kahlua into your single origin drip coffee.
The staff carefully prepare exquisite single source Colombian espresso using an Italian hand-pressed espresso machine. If you prefer drip coffee, they offer Colombian Toledo, Sumatra Mandheling, decaf Colombian and their own special holiday blend coffee. This licensed establishment also serves amazing gelato, sorbettos, tofulatis, salads, soups, sandwiches and hot entrees. But, most people come to this Whyte Avenue venue to enjoy a coffee and some tasty desserts. The prime location also makes it ideal for people watching.
Transcend Coffee, started by Edmontonian Poul Mark, is known for roasting some of the best beans in the city. They roast small batches in their 1950s Probat UG22 roaster, which was restored in Holland just for Transcend. Sip on their espresso blend or Gachatha coffee, which has flavours of peach and mango, plus a dark chocolate aftertaste, in their southside café. You can take a bag of your favourite blend home with you, plus any equipment you need — they sell grinders and brewing machines, too.