I love the aroma of coffee. When it’s brewed in the morning to jumpstart my nervous system or sipped as a latte in the afternoon as a snack. Some nights I go to bed looking forward to morning and the smell of that fresh brew wafting into my nostrils.

But, for me, coffee’s taste always seems to fall short of that heavenly smell. Unless we’re talking cappuccino. Nothing – absolutely nothing – beats the taste of a good cappuccino.

I’ve become a bit of a cappuccino nut. Maybe it’s a phase – or perhaps an unconscious response to my mild to moderate sleep apnea – but I find myself looking for good cappuccino wherever I am.

Last week, while in Toronto, I went looking for the best cappuccino in town and found this great post that guided me to the Sam James Coffee Bar. Turns out the number one rated spot was 2 minutes from my friend’s house so I stopped by. The cappuccino was splendid. But the photos in the BlogTO piece sure made the setting look nicer than it was. I drove by the small storefont on Harbord St. (right at the top of Clinton, where it comes up from Bloor, for anyone familiar with this part of town) a coupe of times before seeing it.

The whole experience inspired me to do for Edmonton what this piece did for the TO cappuccino scene. So far, I have only my experience to go on, but I am asking you, dear reader, to help educate me where I fall short. Please share any spots you know in Edmonton that offer authentic, high quality cappuccino.

So, here are the top tier spots in Edmonton to enjoy a really good cappuccino.

Transcend

In many ways, all my cappuccino needs could be met by Transcend’s exceptional roast and two locations (with a third opening soon downtown).  The flavour is superb and the setting, at least in the Garneau location, is cool and relaxed. The southside location where they do the roasting is small and not as suitable for lingering, but if you need a hit they have the goods.

• Transcend Argyll, 9869 – 62 Avenue, Edmonton
• Transcend Garneau, 8708-109 Street, Edmonton

Credo

Conveniently located on hip 104 St. downtown, Credo really has a nice offering. The cappuccino is consistently well-done and it’s a comfortable environment to meet and talk for a while.

• Credo, 10134 – 104 Street, Edmonton

DaCapo

The cappuccino is great and the stylish decor complements it very nicely. Since this “lifestyle cafe” offers a full menu, the more traditional seating and tables lend themselves to getting some serious work done between sips. (And their website is by far the nicest.)

• DaCapo, 8738 – 109 St., Edmonton

While some people may favour one of these over another, they are all good and each one belongs in the top tier of Edmonton’s cappuccino vendors. There is a second tier where the offering is good – but not this good – and they include:

• Tesoro Caffe Bar, 11244 – 104 Ave., Edmonton. What this place doesn’t offer in flavour, it makes up as the meeting spot for business types downtown.
• Italian Centre North, 10878 – 95 St., Edmonton. An original purveyor of fine Italian delicacies in town, my cappuccino there was good as was the accompanying sandwich. I’ll be back.

Help me finish this work in progress. There must be more great cappuccino in Edmonton and I want to find it. I welcome your comments and suggestions.