Sometimes, change is sweet.

The candy emporium rechristened The Candy Kid and Red Bush Tea and Coffee Company has opened a spacious storefront in Kensington filled to the rafters with sweet things and delicious bevvies. Barrels of salt-water taffy line the door, and hard-to-find candies, old-fashioned favourites, and varieties from all around the world fill the bins throughout the shop.

Enjoy fresh fudge and Turkish delight with a hot cup of coffee, or tea and let the sugar high set in.

The Candy Kid and Red Bush Tea and Coffee Company, 225 10th St. NW, Calgary, 403-804-4311.

You pride yourself on being a devoted friend, partner and employee but sometimes, a little cheating has its perks.

Recently launched, the YYC Coffee Disloyalty Program is the brainchild of two former baristas and inspired by similar programs in London and Toronto.

The challenge: within six months, visit at least seven of the 10 participating cafés (eight are in Calgary, one in Cochrane and one in Canmore) and get a stamp for each java sipped. When you’ve collected seven stamps, head back to the first café where you picked up your “disloyalty card” and get a coffee on the house.

There's no shame in sipping around.

For participating cafés visit www.yycdisloyalty.com

Post holiday, fall mornings usually mean one cup of Joe is not enough, so why settle for just one café?

True to its name, Chiasso Coffee Company, is creating a racket with its second location (a third and fourth are on the way). The 17th Avenue café is a cozy space with apple green walls and a Buddha, silver horse head and cuckoo clock thrown into the décor mix. 

More important, the bold Americano passed the taste test, as did the breakfast picks: the Almost Famous breakfast sandwich ($5.25) and the Crack of Dawn chicken wrap ($7.95).

Now for that second cup.

Chiasso, 843 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-228-1005 and 308 Fourth Ave. SW, Calgary, 403- 266-7595, www.chiasso.ca

These days, we’re seeing double downtown with the opening of two new coffee hot spots.

Located on Stephen Avenue, the second location of Ramsay’s beloved Caffe Rosso opened last month. Roomier than their original, it’s more business than casual but expect the same fresh-baked goods and delectable coffee.

Three’s a charm for deVille Luxury Coffee and Pastries with a third location in Fashion Central. Beware: the big booths will suck you in into a day of coffee sipping and watching shoppers emerge from the newest fashion spot downtown.

Caffe Rosso, 140 Eight Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-971-1800, www.cafferosso.ca
deVille Luxury Coffee and Pastries, 807 First St. SW, Calgary, www.devillecoffee.ca

A sleepover with a new friend (wink, wink) can lead to a slightly uncomfortable "coffee or tea" morning conversation.

But with the ingenious Coffee + Tea Maker by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa one pot can make either hot beverage depending on taste. Filtered within 10 minutes, up to six cups of coffee or tea can be made at once and the space-saver is also a conversation piece. At £150, it’s not exactly budget friendly but Fukasawa’s award-winning designs (he’s worked for Muji and Samsung) are considered collectibles.

And if it turns out your breakfast companion isn't your cup of tea, make his coffee to go.

At the Design Museum Shop, www.designmuseumshop.com

You say coffee, we say Phil and Sebastian. The beloved Calgary Farmers’ Market duo just opened their first coffee shop in the heart of Marda Loop.

The sleek and narrow space has distressed wood floors, funky chandeliers, communal wood tables and a wrap-around bench that extends the length of the café. The lime espresso machine, surrounded by pretty young things typing away on their Macs, adds an impressive pop of colour.

With half a dozen delectable coffee offerings and a small bites menu in development, we'll be spending a lot of time with the boys in the loop.

Phil and Sebastian Coffee Company, 2043 33rd Ave. SW, Calgary, www.philsebastian.com

The newly revamped Vendôme Café is catering to caffeine-loving Sunnysiders once again.

Brought to you by the folks at Teatro, the café’s hearty menu is perfect for a cold day and includes delectable goodies like goat cheese and beet salad, rich butternut squash or tomato soup ($9.95 for the combo) or a ham and cheese croissant with gruyere and emmenthal ($6.95).

But it’s the stunning black-and-white photos adorning the walls that add the right amount of edge and modernity to the historical space. Photographed by Jason Eng with art direction by Shea Kerwood, the three photos on the right wall are of the lovely Calgary model Ania B. (centre) and her equally stunning parents.

We can’t promise you’ll look as chic as them sipping your java but at least you can try.

Vendôme Café, 940 Second Ave. NW, Calgary, 403-453-1140.