JJ Bean

I decided to spend my next experience at coffee central aka Commercial Drive. Also known as Little Italy, Commercial Drive is full of authentic Italian cafes and independent coffee shops. The weather was unkind to me this day and because of that, I did not feel like walking far. I decided to stop at JJ Bean. Located on 2206 Commercial Drive, this JJ Bean is one of many JJ Bean’s spread out across Vancouver.

The second I walked in, I noticed this place was a hipster’s* paradise. People dressed in plaid were glued to their mac books, furiously typing away. When you walk along Commercial Drive, you will notice four different types of people: the hipsters, the LGBTTQ crowd, the creepy old men who assume you’re a nice Portuguese or Italian girl (for the record, I’m Greek and Croatian and no, my name is not Maria) and the others. The others can be nice, normal people who you’ll come across anywhere else in the city or the others can be crazy individuals who kindly tell you to fuck off when you ignore their rampant shouting outside the liquor store. But anyway, the hipster’s hang out at JJ Bean.

There was a bit of a line, which was expected. That allowed me more time to check out the “scene”. The place was packed. Every seat was occupied. Obviously, that meant that the place had good coffee and good service, right? Well, I was kind of wrong.

The server, who wasn't too friendly, gave me a smirk and begrudgingly asked what I’d like to order. Well, it looks like I may have found the first café with awful service. Not wanting to be a rude as the server, I politely asked for a cappuccino and requested a medium size. I gave them a 10 dollar bill and they practically threw my change at me. Perhaps I worked at the wrong type of retail, but I’m fairly certain that the server is supposed to tell you how much change you have been given back. I thanked them and they gave me a look like I wished a plague on their houses.

The barista fared better. He actually acknowledged me by my name (well, it did say it on the order) as well as the how’s your day been. I appreciated that more than the lovely server that I just pleasantly dealt with. He then said my name again as he handed me my cappuccino. I thanked him and he smiled back. Well, it was certainly nice to know that not all their staff was not as warm as the weather I longed for.

I tasted the cappuccino. While it was good, it did not stand out to me.  However, I do appreciate the fact it was not weak. It had a richer body to it as well.

JJ Bean left an overall mixed impression. I thought I was in the minority with how I was treated but after consulting two other individuals, they proved my statement to be true by confirming that the service they got was awful and rude too.  Even they enjoyed the coffee as well, they felt that the service wasn’t worth it. I even received a story of how a server rolled their eyes at one of the individuals while they were searching through their purse for change. It was not the cappuccino that left a bad taste in my mouth, but how I was treated.

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*For the record, I don't mind hipsters. I was just trying to paint an image with the people there.

Caffe Artigiano

My next cappuccino craving took me to Caffe Artigiano. Located on 4539 Hastings Street, this is the only Burnaby location.

As soon as I entered the café, my attention immediately was transferred to the barista’s. They were dressed all in black. This was one of the rare occasions where the barista’s at a café had uniforms on. To me, it said that the owner wanted to run a professional establishment.  I made my way over to the counter, ready to place my order. I was immediately greeted by the warmness of my server. She was cheerful, but not to the point where it became overbearing, annoying and fake. As I waited for my beverage to be prepared, my barista made small talk too. It was genuine, which I appreciate as I dislike when conversation is forced. And besides, the wait is not as long when you’re talking to someone.

Out of all the cafes that I’ve been to, Caffe Artigiano had the best décor. It looked like a café that you find tucked away on the streets of Rome or Vienna. The lovely lighting and comfy seating arrangements brought the café to life. It was like I was transported back to the summer of 2005, where I spent 6 weeks making my way through Eastern and Southern Europe. The place had a European ambiance to it and like all the cafes I went to in Europe, it invited me to stay. How could I say no to a place that my ancestors would love? It was absolutely beautiful.

While it was not the best cappuccino I’ve ever had, it certainly was one of the more memorable ones.  The tones left on my palette were pleasant and the flavour was distinct. My friend allowed me to help myself to her caramel macchiato and it was absolutely delicious. It was like there was a flavour firework in my mouth. The caramel tasted real, not synthetic or fake. The sweet taste of the caramel and vanilla was a perfect compliment to the espresso. It was like the perfect marriage in coffee heaven. I have been officially convinced to go back and try their caramel macchiato. After all, there are only so many cappuccino’s I can drink and I’m sure that not everybody who reads this blog drinks exclusively cappuccino anyway. So if you want me to try a particular beverage at a particular cafe, let me know in the comments.

Would I recommend Caffe Artigiano? Absolutely. If you want an authentic feel of Europe, both in your cup and café, than head on down to Artigiano. I hear they have the best Spanish Lattes in town so if you want a twist on the classic latte, than go grab one next time you're in the area. After all, with such a flawless caramel macchiato, it’s hard to go wrong with a Spanish latte.

 

Elysian Coffee

My next java craving lead me to Elysian Coffee. Located on 590 West Broadway, Elysian is one of numerous cafes located on the stretch of West Broadway. While riding the bus to a Christmas party, the sign caught my eye and as I passed it, I made a promise to myself that I would stop there on the way back, which is what I did.

I was instantly greeted by the smile of the server. So far, the place where I’ve had genuine small talk was Kafka’s. However, one cannot expect all café’s to live up to Kafka’s standard. I brushed that aside, as there have been instances where I wasn’t even served with a smile. I immediately placed my order (a cappuccino, no less) & paid. I was surprised at being charged $3.75. That was the most I’ve ever been charged for a cappuccino, especially that size. I’ve been to cafes where I paid that amount for a 16 ounce, instead of the standard 6 ounce. While surprised, I chalked it up to location. Don’t expect for things to be cheap on West Broadway. I returned the smile that I was given and made my way to the counter where I’d wait for my cappuccino.

As I waited for my cappuccino to be made, I took in the décor. It had a lounge type feel to it. You could sit in the stool & people watch, or you could park yourself in one of the booths. The latter would be more appropriate in a group setting & the former would work better if you were alone. Well, unless you prefer to not face the individual(s) that you are having a conversation with. It was your average café look. Like Blenz or Waves, it’s the perfect place if you’re a student, studying for that test or finishing an assignment. I’m assuming that’s the clientele that frequents Elysian.

With minimum eye contact and a low voice, my barista put my cappuccino on the counter. Eager to try my inspiration for this blog, I took my cappuccino in my hands and headed back onto the streets of West Broadway. I took my first sip & was greeted with the taste of bitterness. While the initial sip was pleasant to my palette, the after taste sadly was not as enjoyable. While I’m no cappuccino connoisseur, I’ve drank enough of them to pick up on certain flavours, notes & lately, if my cappuccino is bitter or not. However, this was my first visit, so I’m not going to set my expectations too high. There have been instances where my second visits to various cafes have been more positive. I will certainly return & if I notice any significant differences, I will certainly address them in my next blog posting.

If you’re a student or just anyone who wants a place to get their work done, than come on down to Elysian Coffee. The vibe will make your studying or assignments that much easier to do.

 

Suggestions

Are there any cafes/coffee shops that you want me to visit in the future? Leave a comment with the places that you want me to visit (if there's more than one, name the location/address) & I will go to there and write a review for you. Some places that I'm planning to review and visit in the future are:

Milano Espresso Bar & Gelato
Continental Coffee
Caffe Artigiano (4539 Hastings Street)

I primarily stick to cafes/coffee shops in East Vancouver but I'm hoping to go all over Vancouver & Burnaby. Thanks!

Revolver Coffee

Last night, I visited Revolver Coffee, located in Gastown on 325 Cambie Street. It's fairly new, barely three months old. It's owned by the Giannakos family & it's the sister cafe of Cafe Crema, located in West Vancouver. Word of mouth has convinced me to try this cafe. Not only that but as someone of Greek decent, I tend to support businesses run by Greek people. Guess it's a cultural thing.

The first thing that caught my eye at Revolver Coffee was the decor. It has a retro feel to it, yet it has a modern twist. It had a New York vibe to it as well. Instead of having your typical tables splayed across the room, it had these suspended like benches that gave it an intimate feel. It made your visits with your friends more personal. On the wall is a picture of the world. It was a nice change compared to the one colour walls found at most cafes. While I do wish I was able to stick around to take in more of the vibe and ambiance, I was really impressed with what I felt and saw during my brief stay.

The service was friendly. The gentleman who took my order had a smile on his face & a happy tone in his voice. I've been to cafes where the server seemed hostile and bored so this was a welcome change. Good service is rare in Gastown too. The barista was friendly as well. Not only did she serve me my cappuccino, but she served me a warm smile too. When I thanked her, she acknowledged me back.  Having worked in retail, I know the importance of making the customer feel valued and welcomed. There is one cafe that is notorious for being rude as of lately and sadly, while their cappuccino is great, the service turns me off. Luckily, Revolver's kind service has made me want to return again and when I return, I will stay long enough to fully enjoy what Revolver has to offer besides their amazing coffee.

The cappuccino was flawless. It had depth to it. Perhaps it was their choice of coffee beans or the way they roasted their beans, but it had a different taste to it. It was a welcome taste to it. It had strength, but not too much where it made you feel nauseous or made your hands shake. Every sip was smooth and inviting. It was a perfect compliment for a chilly Vancouver evening, a lovely accessory. And this may sound weird, but it felt like the cappuccino brought Gastown to life. It was more vibrant. It seems like the cappuccino woke up my body and mind.

My only complaint was that I could not stick around on my first visit to fully appreciate everything besides their cappuccino. I will however, be back soon. I hope you check out Revolver soon. Take the time one afternoon (it closes at 6 everyday except Sunday, when it's closed all day) to visit Gastown and stop to get coffee from Revolver. And the Christmas season is the perfect time to go, as Gastown comes to life with the lights. Gastown restaurants are notorious for usually being busy so the best way to pass the time is to relax at Revolver and just enjoy life.

Next Adventure

Tomorrow, I will be going to Revolver Coffee located in quaint Gastown. It's a fairly new cafe & if you want to read an experience from a java junkie, than check out my blog.

Kafka's Coffee and Tea

I'm going to dedicate my first post (well, besides the welcome one) to my favourite cafe, Kafka's Coffee and Tea, nestled on the corner on Main and East Broadway. Just over a year old, Kafka's serves the best cappunccino's, latte's and mocha's that I have ever tasted. When you walk into Kafka's, you feel like you're walking into your best friends kitchen. The vibe and ambiance is warm and welcoming. Instead of taking your coffee to go, it invites you to sit down and enjoy every sip, which is how coffee is meant to be enjoyed. It seems to taste better when you have time to relax and sip instead of downing it on the go. I've spent countless days and hours here, whether it was catching up with friends, finishing assignments or doing some extra credit work. Hours feel like seconds there and it's almost like time stands still.

While the ambiance makes me stay, it's the coffee that keeps me coming back. I'm a simple person with a simple taste in coffee. I don't like fancy orders or fancy beverages. Don't give me an extra shot, extra foam, extra hot whatever beverage. Don't substitute, don't add, don't subtract. Luckily, Kafka gets that. They serve simple, classic beverages.  I'm a cappuccino girl and these guys make the best cappuccino. It's not subtle, but it's not strong either. It doesn't require sugar. The only thing a Kafka's cappuccino requires is someone who appreciates a good coffee. Every sip you take is better than the last. The smooth, simple taste puts you at ease and instantly relaxes you. It's perfection in a cup. It's the kind of cappuccino that would make Luigi Bezzera proud. Most importantly, it's the kind of cappuccino that keeps me coming back.

I have to give a shout out to the barista's. I have experienced more friendlier, kinder and warm service anywhere. That includes not just the food industry, but retail and any other guest service oriented service as well. These barista's have a genuine interest in forming conversation with the customers. It goes beyond the casual, "hey, how are you.", which has become a standard greeting wherever you go. They are not pretentious or rude or fake. It's not forced or faked and it feels like you're striking up conversation with one of your friends, not someone who you're paying to make your beverage. They make the effort to know you and if you frequent Kafka's as much as I do, than they make the effort to get to know your name and address you with it as soon as you step up to the counter. And if you get really lucky, you won't have to say your order because they'll have it memorized with your name. Just show up and they'll do the rest. These barista's care about you just as much as they care about their coffee. If you're unsure what to get or you want to try something new, let them know and they will give recommendations or sometimes, they'll suggest what to try. And you just might be lucky enough to get a free coffee.

If you value friendly ambiance, a welcoming and inviting vibe, fantastic coffee and also, fabulous service, than I suggest you head on down to Kafka's. Whether you need a caffeine pick me up or want to grab a coffee before a shopping adventure or dining adventure on Main Street, than stop on by. The only downside about Kafka's are the hours (if you need a late night java fix to satisfy your coffee craving, Kafka's cannot help you on that) & that the cappuccino comes in only one size. However, it provides just as much flavour and caffeine punch as a 16 ounce cappuccino.

If you're ever in the area, swing on by. Just make sure you have enough time to stay and enjoy your first ever sip from Kafka's coffee and soon enough, it'll be your favourite cafe as well.

Kafka's address is 2525 Main Street. To get there by transit, take either the #3 or #99 bus and get off at the East Broadway stop. Their website with their hours and more details is http://kafkascoffee.ca/

Welcome!

Hello!


Welcome to my blog. My blog will be dedicated to the greatest invention ever, coffee. When people think of coffee, they think of Starbucks. Well, I want to change that. Vancouver has a great coffee scene & scattered throughout this world class city, numerous wonderful coffee shops and cafes exist. They will no longer remain a secret. I want to introduce you to them. I want to share my experience & I want to tell you why you should go there. There's more to coffee than that jolt of caffeine. So say goodbye to burnt and poorly roasted coffee beans and say goodbye to awful office coffee from that cheap pot that's older than the company itself. You're about to be introduced to some of the best cafes and coffee shops that this city has to offer.