Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 21:14:31 -0700 (MST)
From: Tudor Oprea
To: Aaron De Lazzer
Subject: good coffee in vancouver
Hi Aaron,
Reading your article on CoffeeGeek about the state of espresso in
Vancouver did nothing to cheer me up after a fruitless search of the UBC
area for something that wasn't directly comparable to liquefied rubber and
tar. Ordering an espresso at the Bread Garden in UBC gets you a shot
of "espresso syrup" mixed with hot water from the steam wand. I was
dumbstruck. Of course it was 7:30 in the morning and the line was pretty
long, but espresso made from syrup? I barely got my money back.
The epitome of cluelessness came from a Starbucks barista who informed me
that all the coffees they sold were roasted wherever they were grown -
"So Sumatra is roasted in Sumatra, Yukon Blend is roasted in the Yukon..."
I backed away quietly, and haven't returned since.
Have you found any genuinely good, quality coffeehouses in Vancouver? I
saw you mention Commercial Drive -- a bit out of the way, but I'll keep it
in mind. Any others? I may have to put together a list for likeminded
pilgrims :)
Regards,
Tudor
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 14:42:12 -0800
From: Aaron De Lazzer
To: Tudor Oprea
Subject: Good coffee in Vancouver
Hey,
I can relate to your search for great coffee in the Vancouver area and I
hope that my experience will simplify your quest and save you a lot of money
along the way.
For coffee out at UBC i suggest you bring a thermos of your own. Worst case
scenario is getting a cup of DRIP coffee from Starbucks (never espresso).
The bucks brew a pretty handsome cup of drip coffee if you like a dark
roast...
Try the Bean around the World on 10th for the drip too. Their standards for
drip are as good if not better than Starbucks although they are a franchised
store and i don't know if standards are being maintained. Never get
espresso from them there or any of their other locations...always been a
disappointment for me.
For best results go outside the world of UBC.
Downtown stop in at Caffe Artigiano. They have 2 locations, one at Pender
and Thurlow and the other on Hornby across from the Art Gallery. Personal
feelings aside they do the nicest job for anything espresso...it's worth the
trip.
The other place for an espresso for you to try is called "Mario's Caffe
Express" or something like that on Howe just north of Dunsmuir downtown.
Again personal feelings aside he pulls a drinkable shot...or at least he
used to.
For consistently drinkable espresso head to Commercial Drive. There are no
GREAT places although there are some good ones. Caffe Napoli... have an
espresso if Julie is working, if she's not do not get coffee. At Caffe
Calabria if the old Dad is working get an espresso, if not do not get
coffee. If you have an espresso machine at home get some whole bean from
Turks...their house espresso blend called Bizarro. They can't pull a decent
shot despite their coffee being really good-roasted by Milano. This coffee
a couple of years ago was what I pulled the BEST shot of espresso ever from
at home. The coffee has changed of course but i am generally pleased with
the coffee that Milano roasts.
Finally JJ Bean is a good bet for both drip and espresso. There is a
location in the Granville Is. public market (get Tina to make you the best
latte you've ever had), at Commercial Drive and 6th (perfect for setting up
the books and doing some studying although there are usually a lot of people
there) and of course at Powell and Victoria is the mother ship with a coffee
shop at the front and the roasters easily visible at the back. All the
shops have solid staff, the drip is great (especially at the Powell St.
store...I worked there and dialed it in extra special) and the whole bean
coffee can't get any better. We/they use the best green money can buy and
the coffee is the freshest in the city by a country mile.
Hope this helps.
Aaron