What is the best coffee shop chain in Canada? (prices, shops)

[Andy Key]

Guys, I moved to Canada (Ottawa) a while ago and still can't find good coffee shops in the town. Second Cup, Starbucks and Bridgehead are not good. Coffee tastes like crap and interior looks like a shelter for the homeless people. One place I found is Planet Coffee near ByWard market - coffee is just okay, but it is dirty inside and the desserts are bad.

[mikeinalberta]

Good Earth is an Alberta based chain that will be expanding to Ottawa in the near future. It has pretty good coffee.

Otherwise, there must be some independents that are decent. I don't know much about Ottawa, but a google search show Café Delices serves Intelligentsia roasts while the Illume Espresso Bar serves Phil and Sebastian's and 49 Parallel. Quality ingredients, anyway.

[pdw]

Tim Horton's is always busy for a reason.

[Natnasci]

The best are usually not large chains. Smaller chains in my area are also very good. Some are

Welcome | Caffè Artigiano

JJ Bean Coffee Roasters

[botticelli]

Originally Posted by pdw

Tim Horton's is always busy for a reason.

yes, so are Dollar Rama and Walmart.
not necessarily because of quality.

[BMI]

Timmy's

[weltschmerz]

I'm not much of a coffee drinker. Last time I had Starbuck's coffee, it tasted burnt, bitter and nasty.
A Timmy's Double-Double never disappoints.

[NorthYorkEd]

Tim Hortons is low-grade trucker swill.

Best bang for your buck is either McCafe from McDonalds or Red-Headed Roasters from Wendys, if you can stomach the mess, general chaos, and slack-jawed disinterested counter staff. Prices are cheap but the quality of the brew s high.

[GTOlover]

Originally Posted by weltschmerz

I'm not much of a coffee drinker. Last time I had Starbuck's coffee, it tasted burnt, bitter and nasty.
A Timmy's Double-Double never disappoints.

Agreed Timmies is my fav Coffee also even if the line ups are long in the morning it is worth it IMO

[Average Fruit]

I don't drink coffee, so I can't comment on the quality. But if you want to try another Canadian chain, There's Timothy's (not to be confusedd with Timmie's- aka Tim Horton's). However, if you didn't like Second cup, you might not like Timothy's, I enjoy second cup's drinks (not coffee) more than Timothy's, but their coffee may be better, who knows?

For an independent shop in Ottawa, there's Blue Bird Coffee in the ByWard Market.