Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters

This is my first visit here. It won’t be my last. I need to try it at least one more time before coming to a firm decision. I arrived and was quickly greeted. As I looked over the menu above the cashier, I was directed to the tiny printed menu they had posted for their other brewed coffee options. From what I read on their website, different coffees get different brewing methods. That’s awesome in my book! I love my coffee toys! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to try one of their other coffees. None of them appealed to my taste. So I went with good old drip coffee. It is a good test. If you can’t make a basic coffee, how can you make something more involved? Right?
I asked for it in a mug and to my delight, they heated up the mug before pouring the coffee. Asked if I needed room for cream and handed me my coffee. As I took my first sip to test it out before I polluted it with anything I did find it a little cooler than I would have liked. Aside from that, I was impressed. Not overly bold, or «too strong», I sipped and discovered a very well balanced coffee. It did need a little more body so I snuck some cream into it, but it’s a very acceptable coffee to drink black.
I settled into a seat at the bar height counter facing the wall. Not my favourite place to sit anywhere, but all the tables were full. The ambiance was perfect. Comfortable, warm, music that doesn’t make your ears bleed. All big components of a successful coffee house in my books. As I sipped away, people have come and gone. I have my back to the walkway between the counter and seating area and not once got beat up by bags, purses and strollers. That really makes a difference! Giving up valuable square footage for customer comfort says a lot.
If my next visit is even close to this one, I could see myself becoming a very devout follower.

I love the atmosphere of this place, I love the quality of their coffee, but I did not love the arrogance of the guy serving us. My mom and I popped by here for a pick me up before a long drive, and I wanted to pick up some fresh beans to bring back for a friend in BC.
Our conversation went something like this:
me: «I think I’ll buy some beans too… Which ones do you recommend? What’s your favourite roast right now?»
Guy: *rolls his eyes a little* «I mean. I don’t know. My favourite one isn’t here, I don’t think.»
me: «Oh, uhh. okay — which is your favourite?»
Guy: «It doesn’t matter, I don’t think we have it. Well maybe we do over here…» *walks to a stand and looks for coffee beans* «No, we don’t have it.»
Me: Okay. uh… cool. Well I guess I’ll get this Honduran one… The tasting notes sound pretty good. Do you like this one?“
Guy: «Umm.Sure. They’re all good.»
So helpful, my mind was blown.
I ordered a cortado to stay and although it was delicious it was made with some super sloppy latte art. Not a huge deal, but I think the expectation is definitely there when you go to a café like this.
All in al though — The café itself is beautiful and cozy, the food we ordered was delicious, and the coffee was good. Just the service could have use a small finessing.

The coffee tastes great but the service is lousy. Yes, the coffee is really good but service is so important when you are a service based business, right?
It is not a feel good coffee shop. The staff are pretentious and snooty. And that includes the manager who stared at me blankly and spoke monotonely while taking my order and money.
It was actually creepy.
There has to be a more service friendly place in Calgary. Oh right, it is called Starbucks.

Seriously delicious café mocha! Nice vibe in there, I think you have to be a hipster to work there though.

Great coffee, not the best spot to work/​study. I really like Phil and Sebastian’s but this location has tables that are too tall to work or study. It makes spending a couple hours here uncomfortable.

Their coffee and hot chocolate is delicious! I find it loud at this location as well as a few others. I usually take it to go.

I love this place! It’s a beautiful café and the staff is kind, knowledgable, and talented! Watching a barista make your drink is incredibly entertaining because of the detail and care they put into each beverage. My go –to (and favourite) drink is a chai tea latte and I enjoy theirs very much. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s smooth, it is everything I want in a drink.
I appreciate that they always get their drinks done in a timely manner and I feel they are fairly priced. Skip your regular coffee shop and head on over to Phil & Sebastians! You won’t regret it. Oh and P. S: I tried the cold brew coffee as well… Yes, it is as good as they say!

I’m going to let you in on a secret. During my last year of undergrad (not that long ago), writing paper after paper after paper and spending multiple all-​nighters at the Taylor Family Digital Library (at the UofC), the only thing that kept me going were the Phil & Sebastian’s soy lattes I bought religiously at Fuel for Gold. My brain juice, I called it.
So to say I’m a little biased in this review is an understatement. I owe these guys my degree, ya know?
But all kidding aside, I am extremely happy that P&S has branched out of Marda Loop and the Calgary Farmer’s Market — even IF this particular location is at the mall. It does get a little busy, especially during the weekends, but I’ve found their cozy seating space particularly conducive to study sessions or meeting people on weekdays between 12 – 4. I mean if you have to be at the mall anyway… right?
The coffee is great. The lattes in particular are a treat; I have the anti-​sweet tooth so I really appreciate how authentically delicious it is, unsweetened and all.

First, I’m going to start by telling you I’m a huge P&S fan.
3 stars is horrendous coming from a so proclaimed «huge fan.»
I love the Marda Loop location, and I love that they do a Holt pop up so I can have them while I work too.
But on a few recent visits to the Chinook location, I’ve been rethinking about this love affair. Let’s break down the points:
–I have yet to have a stellar cup of coffee that didn’t taste… burnt.
–I appreciate the time the barista takes to make a latte leaf… but in the rush of things it usually looks like the abstract version of the norm.
–They are constantly out of grilled cheese around dinner time.
–Why serve salad if it’s going to be one bite worth, crammed in a ketchup cup?
–Why is the front cash girl so grumpy? (Maybe this is specific to me, maybe she hates me).
One thing that is completely out of their control: STROLLERS. omg it’s crowded enough as it is in that small space, why are there so many strollers?! Getting nipped in the ankle by some angry mother is bad enough as it is, it’s like this place is a trap for angry moms to take their anger out on people.
I will endorse the business philosophy and the ideological vessel that makes this business a great success, but I really can’t deal with another visit to this location. Too much disappointment here.
Review #2 of Unilocal’s 30 Day Challenge 2012