Coffee Drinks in Canada

Tim Horton’s is ubiquitous in Canada. With more than 3,000 stores in the country, there is one for every 10,000 people. In Calgary, I visited five in the downtown district within blocks of one another. All were busy, and everyone seemed to be enjoying their drinks. Ordering a coffee at Tim Horton’s requires a different, simpler language than most Americans use. The standard cup of coffee is a “double double,” or a cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars. The cream is the first, the sugar second. So a single double would be one cream and two sugars; a double single is two creams and one sugar … you get the idea. However, the temperature was 70 degrees, and I wanted to try Tim Horton’s new iced coffee. A creamy vanilla sauce was added into a glass of ice, which was then filled with cold, iced coffee and finally topped with cream. It was cold and creamy, and not too sweet — perfectly refreshing. For a small, I paid $1.39, which seemed like a great deal. 

Continuing on my tour of downtown Calgary, I stopped in to Caffe Artigiano, a small café chain from Vancouver, British Columbia, that is known for its excellent coffee, outstanding service and relaxing atmosphere. I had visited Artigiano in Vancouver once before and was interested to see how the new location compared with the original.

Artigiano makes a big deal about its coffee and drinks, and rightfully so. Unique coffees from around the world can be ordered by the cup or purchased by the pound. These coffees are the best of the best. The Panamanian Geisha, for example, is sold for more than $10 a cup and $107 a pound! I ordered my customary mocha and watched the barista make the drink. His motions were smooth and deliberate, and he took extreme care with every step of the operation. He preheated the portafilter handle before filling it with espresso. He watched the shots until the crema started to lighten and stopped without overextracting flavor. He added the chocolate syrup to the bottom of the china cup, followed by the espresso. Before adding the milk, he sprinkled some pure cocoa powder on the espresso. (As I drank it later, I could taste the dark cocoa powder.) He then poured the milk into the cup and finished his latte art design with a flourish. The drink was excellent, not sweet, with a good chocolate flavor and perfectly balanced among the chocolate, coffee and milk. 

I enjoyed tasting the two drinks from two very different operators, spanning the range of coffee merchants. Both made a great beverage, yet each was distinctly different. Tim Horton’s offers quality and value and has become an iconic part of Canadian daily life. Caffe Artigiano distinguished itself and flourishes by emphasizing the highest-quality coffees and an atmosphere that invites savoring one’s drink and relaxing. I’m glad there is room to enjoy both.