Iqaluit - It's the best part of waking up - at least that's what the makers of one brand of coffee would have us believe.

Whether or not it's the best part, a cup of coffee is a necessary staple in many Nunavummiut's morning routine.

Darcy Kadlutsiak-Devries serves up a cup of joe at Fantasy Palace. While working there over the past year she has developed a taste for the Irish Cream variety on their menu. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

It's true of Mike Giles.

"It wakes me up. I make mine a little strong," he said, adding that he usually consumes two to four cups a day.

For Joe Nowdlak, coffee is also a pick-me-up, particularly after a night of indulging.

"It gets rid of my hangover," he said, smiling. "It does."

Nowdlak said he prefers his coffee from Grind n' Brew or Fantasy Palace. But he's not into the flavoured stuff, just regular with cream and sugar.

Asked how many cups he drinks daily, he replied that he couldn't count them all.

"Lots," he said.

Like Nowdlak, Pitsiula Kilabuk orders regular coffee with cream and sugar, but she likes hers from The Caribrew.

She said her habit consists of five to six cups per day.

"It relaxes me and it tastes good," she said, adding that she was starting to get a craving for java just by talking about it.

Jolly Atagoyuk, from Pangnirtung, was playing hockey in Iqaluit over the weekend. He tried the coffee at the arena and assessed it as "not bad."

When at home he usually buys a cappuccino or some coffee originating from Colombian-grown beans at the Northern Store, he said.

But his limit is usually just two cups a day, otherwise the caffeine makes him shaky, he said.

Iqaluit's Nellie Juralak is a fan of rich English-toffee cappuccinos from the Quikstop on Apex Road.

"You don't need to add sugar, it already has everything in it," she said of the sweet concoction. "It's just a habit; good tasty cappuccino."