Review

It's been nearly two months since I started this blog, so I figure I'd review my old posts and than pick the best overall coffee, best overall service and best overall ambiance. Let's start with the most important one, best coffee...

Best coffee: My pick for best coffee/cafe is Prado. Prado is located on 1938 Commercial Drive, just on the corner of 6th. At the end of December 2011, Sammy Piccolo, who started Caffe Artigiano, took over Prado and revamped it. Before he took it over, I was a casual fan of Prado and only stopped when I was in the area. Their coffee was average to me and nothing stood out. However, that all changed when Sammy made me my cappuccino. It was love at first taste. The smooth, clean taste was thoroughly enjoyed by my taste buds. It was the perfect matrimony of milk and espresso. With the exception of Kafka's, I find that most cafes make a cappuccino that are too strong (too much espresso) or too subtle (the taste of milk overpowers) but Prado has the perfect blend. I'm also a fan of their Americano Misto's, Mocha's, Espresso Macchiato and Latte's. And don't get me started on their raspberry crumble bar. It's like biting into a taste of heaven. The fresh raspberry taste is the perfect compliment to the crumble texture. And best of all, their raspberry crumble bar is made there. Talk about local. It's nice knowing that the pastries I buy are made in store and not shipped in frozen from some random American bakery or store. I highly recommend pairing the cappuccino with their raspberry crumble bar. Your tastebuds will thank me and thank you.

Best Service: I didn't have to review my old posts to figure this one out. The best service title goes to Kafka's Coffee and Tea. Located on 2525 Main Street, Kafka's is on east Broadway and Main. Kafka's is fairly new, just over a year and half old. Whenever I need somewhere to go to get some writing done, I go to Kafka's and after the first sip of their cappuccino, the spark that gets my inspiration going lights up. It feels like a home away from home, a place where my imagination is born. I also give huge credit to the barista's for making me feel welcome. I must give a shout out to a barista there by the name of  Genevieve. She is the sweetest, most kindest person that I have ever encountered recently in the service industry. She serves each coffee with a smile and makes the effort to get the names of the regulars. Her small talk is welcoming, not annoying or overbearing. If you ever go to Kafka's, I hope you're lucky enough to have her as your barista because not only is she really kind, but she makes great coffee as well. The rest of the barista's are kind as well. Nothing is worse than barista's who make you feel like you're intruding on their time. That certainly is not the case for Kafka's. It's impossible to get a bad coffee or bad service there.

Best Ambiance: The best ambiance title belongs to Caffe Artigiano. Located on 4539 Hastings Street, this is the only Burnaby location. As soon as you enter this Caffe Artigiano, you feel like you stepped into a cafe in Rome, Italy. Seeing how Caffe Artigiano was started by Italian-American Sammy Piccolo (yes, the new owner of Prado) it seems fitting that the cafe has a European feel to it. The decor was atheistically pleasing, a real pleasure to the eyes. The cafe is very spacious, with lots of lovely lighting. Your eyes cannot help but fall upon the floor and tables. Instead of cheap seating arrangements that you may find at other cafes, you'll find a classy, upscale decor. However, it's not over the top or overbearing but it certainly is a welcome change. It has a warm, inviting vibe that makes you sit down to enjoy every sip of your beverage instead of taking it to go. Having the barista's dress all in black gave the cafe a professional edge too, which shows that management care not just about the coffee they make, but the people who serve it.

So if you ever find yourself in North Burnaby or East Vancouver, be sure to go to Caffe Artigiano, Prado and Kafka's. And make sure to go those cafes when you have time because really, how can you enjoy the best coffee, service and ambiance when you're on the run?

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/