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.