Not many coffee companies were hatched in a lab, but that’s the case with Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters. Former college lab partners Phil Robertson and Sebastian Sztabzyb started their eponymous business in 2007. The famed roastery initially ran a stand at the Calgary Farmers Market. The partners now have five locations across the city. I visited their airy Stephen Avenue outpost in Calgary Tower’s shadow, which started in early 2017.

Coffees fall into two categories: exotic or approachable. The downtown coffee bar I visited serves several unique signature drinks. Black & Tonic ($4.50) balances smooth cold brew, sweet tart black cherry juice, and bitter tonic water over ice.