Have to admit that I first avoided this place for it's lackluster curb appeal, but curiosity got the best of me. I can unequivocally say that I've retired my Starbucks card. My favorite thing about this place is the beans. I've tried a few and always come back to Celebes Kalossi. In comparison to some, it's one of the pricier picks, but it's so good. When coffee is that satisfying, I don't mind paying a teensy bit more for it. Secondly, the mochas are really yum. This is always my grab n' go beverage from here. I should say that I never hang out at the shop. I like to take my coffee and stroll around Kensington or brew at home. Upon entering the place, I've never seen bodies strewn about as some have described. Just people hanging out (sitting in chairs!) inside or out, catching some sun and enjoying a coffee and passing no more judgement than the rock n republic wearing, coach toting "other" coffee-house crowds. read more

Spring is coming, how do I know this? We have taken the plastic off of our windows and they are wide open for the SUNNYSIDE breeze. In through the window comes the beautiful smell of roasting coffee, a smell that brings me back down to earth, and reminds me of why I live in this beautiful yet over priced community! BEST COFFEE AND PEEPS IN CALGARY read more

The coffee is good no doubt, but it's loaded with what appears to be just friends hanging out around the till. I get it- it's a coffee shop but it's very unconventional and uncomfortable. Maybe some spacing arrangements would fix this. Also the staff isn't very friendly. I went here my first time today, I wouldn't go here again. read more

I enjoy the fact that this cafe seems to attract artist types, students and a clientele that is typically unconventional. The espresso beverages satisfy my taste buds. The employees seem generally alert, cheerful and sociable. it is my go-to place of choice. however, I am disappointed in 3 things, which I feel the owner would do well to take consideration of, for I feel it would improve general custom satisfaction: 1) there is no wi-fi- these days, having internet access is an important element of attraction to a cafe 2) there is a 50 cent charge to add water to an americano...wtf? 3) the presence of the owner seems to be nil- sure, he may trust his employees, which is commendable, but how much does he really CARE about his establishment In short, I like the place, but I question the dedication to really offering top quality service to it's repeat, local community customers. read more

the burnouts are what makes this place awesome. if you're terrified of anarchists, bums, leftists, scenesters, proletariats, homeless people who want to tell you stories about how they were once the minister of finance, people who think differently, you'll hate it here. go to fucking starbucks, donate a quarter to some NGO that pays their CEO $560 000/annum, buy a jazz cd, and sit inside thinking about how informed you **feel** you are. while you're at it, why not feel like an individual by cracking open your apple and dropping $10/hr for wifi so you can surf yelp, what white people like, facebook, browse the lululemon online shop, AND plan your next fucking trip to portland? oh, this place roasts well over 3 dozen varieties of beans which are amazing, and the fresh coffee they serve is cheap but really mediocre. but that's not the point of this place. don't expect a starsucks "barista" to ask you how your day is going, expect someone to just make you your damn drink. oh, and the tip-jar isn't near the cash register, you have to throw it into a bin below the menu-board. i can imagine what all the baby-carriage-pushing yuppies are thinking: "good god, what a dive!" as an urban studies major, i cannot stress how vibrant the outside of this place is. the benches outside this establishment are not physically separated/barricaded from the sidewalk like EVERY single exterior-facing semi-public space in north america. this is great because it allows patrons, those waiting at the adjacent bus stop, and just miscellaneous loitering freeloaders to share a common space. in other words, the operators of this coffee shop are concerned about the public good instead of the constructed interests of their "customers". therefore, the scene outside is fun; great people watching and chilling are had, alongside amazing conversations, provided you have an open mind. i'm no conformist-scene-whore-bohemian type, in fact, i voted conservative in the last federal election. ([EDIT]Dec2011: i really really regret doing that. i was young and extremely stupid in 2009) but damn, i cannot stress how good diverse places like this are to the identity, counter-gentrification, and salvation of beautiful areas like kensington. i'd really say this place is an anarchist cafe, but really, this place doesn't seem like the type that wants to adhere and conform to one group ideology or another. this place is simply something truly urban that you can never find outside of the inner city. it is real. read more

The Ro, okay is a place where some really amazing folks come together, all walks of life, all types, international, both in coffee and people, if thats what you like than come to the Ro, if you like a good cup of coffee and you like to sit in an area called a courtyard, or some might call it a beach, than go to the Ro. If you like a small tiny environment with coffee being roasted in situ, and a quality soundtrack in realtime being played, while you sip a delicious coffee, next to your friend, with the glow of the sun in your face, than go the Ro. If you are concerned with your image, well, it ain't what you got, it's how you do it, if you like to treat your body to a good cup of coffee made by some really fine people, like you and me, and who actually know a thing or three about real life and a fresh cup of coffee, than go there. I happen to paint all the time, and Ro coffee made with love and care really goes a long way, and you know they can tell you about where the seed grows, that is if you want to know where your stuff comes from, the drip brew is dynamite, the espresso is dynamite, some days really amazing other days good, which is still amazing and we are lucky to have these kinds of spots in calgary, seriously people, like life, remember? and I might add there is real Art there, real in that it is real and you can even talk to the artist who made them and who knows maybe you might be inspired by this very person, or maybe choose to help support local arts in Calgary which is pretty awesome when you think about it, or whatever floats your boat, so go to the Ro, if thats your thing. Mahaloness read more

The best coffee you can get. Period. This place will turn you into a coffee snob. All coffee is roasted onsite. Tasty stuff indeed.

Been consistently awesome the 16 years that I've been going there. Buy freshly roasted grounds , you won't regret it.

Our favorite place to go for a Americano & a stroll. The espresso has always been prepared with excellence.

Best coffee shop in Kensington, hands down. Despite being tiny, somehow it feels like there's always enough space for people to pull up a seat, read a book, make a drawing, or just chill out and drink a coffee (or two). A true Calgary staple. read more

Unique in Calgary. You will not find a better selection or variety of roasts. This is the ONLY place I buy coffee. You may pay a little bit extra but coffee lovers couldn't care less. This is THEE place. read more