Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters

Founded by two engineers, Phil Robertson and Sebastian Sztabzyb, the company grew from an early farmers market stand into one of the city's defining specialty roasters, and the Simmons Building location doubles as its head office and training lab. The century old former mattress factory sits right on the Bow River in East Village, sharing the building with Charbar and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery, so the smell of fresh bread and grilled asado drifts through the same brick and timber space as the espresso bar.

A custom 45 kilogram roaster built around a restored 1961 Probat runs on site, visible from the cafe floor, feeding the rotating single origin and espresso blend program sold in bags at the counter. The training facility next to the bar runs public brewing classes and tastings, and the riverside patio is one of the better outdoor seating stretches in the neighborhood on a warm afternoon.