Coffee - A Worldly Addiction

Coffee Shop (Merriam, Megan. 2012)

I am fully addicted to coffee, and would be lying if I said a good cafe wasn’t one of the first things I looked for when landing on unknown territory. I don’t know if it’s a comfort thing, or what, but there is nothing better than a warm beverage to make you feel at home - no matter where you are in the world. My hope for this post is to assist those looking for an international caffeine fix (and to ensure it's worth cutting into their latte factor!)

First off, I have to give a shout out to my favourite coffee shop here in Calgary. Caffe Artigiano serves by far the best espresso I have ever been so privileged to drink. It is an Italian-styled coffee house, with two locations in downtown Calgary. The cafe originated in Vancouver where you can find 11 in the area (including Victoria). They offer a variety of beverages, baked goods, sandwiches and soups. One of the main selling features for me (other than their brilliant espresso bean) is that they offer an almond milk substitute, which is the best substitute for latte lovers who don’t include dairy in their diet (much healthier than soy as well!).

The Coffee Club is an Australian coffee shop, with locations across the country, as well as in New Zealand and Thailand. It's a pretty big franchise, so it's an easy spot to find and they are very consistent in the quality of their products (I think I went to 10 different locations along the east coast of Australia and do not have a single complaint). They may or may not have the best chai tea latte I have ever tasted, and they have the most amazing selection of light breakfast and lunch/dinner items. 

The Coffee Store on Maui makes an awesome chilled coffee beverage: 1 shot of Kona espresso, fresh banana, ice and soy milk. It is the best way to get your caffeine fix and still enjoy it in the Hawaiian heat! They also carry a huge selection of Kona coffee, which make for awesome gifts to bring home to friends and family with similar coffee enthusiasm.   

Illy, Piacenza (Merriam, Megan. 2012)

If you ever have to venture down to Houston, TX, The Flora & Muse is a cute bistro/bar and coffee house located in CityCentre. It is a bit girly, but if you find yourself in the area, it’s worth grabbing an americano to go, or stay to smell the flowers!

Illy has a really nice location in Piacenza. Some of you may be familiar with the brand, as they distribute coffee products worldwide, however their expertise just can't be justified until you visit them in Italy. The ambiance in Piacenza if comfortable and they brew a perfect cup of medium roast Arabic coffee. 

Please, please, please comment if you have a hidden gem of a coffee shop to share! I am willing to take a trip to the other side of the world if I have to!