Espresso Con Panna is a rarely ordered drink and “con Panna” is Italian for “with cream”. It usually consists of two shots of espresso (2 oz) with a dollop of whipped cream.
Author’s note:
Rarely ordered in Vancouver, but seems to be on every cafes menu.
An espresso bar comes from the term “bar,” a specialized counter on which drinks are served. It is usually home to the espresso machine, refrigerators, coffee grinders, syrups and a knock box.
Author’s note:
Unlike bars where alcohol is served many espresso bars in Vancouver don’t have seats off the bar for people to sit at and enjoy their drink.
The PNE doesn't lack crowds on a sunny day
With the end of summer upon us there has always been one event that my family looks forward to, the opening of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE). Co-author Erica Hill arrived and it was important to get her up on a trip that everyone makes at least once in their Vancouver lifetime.
The Superdog show, the pig races and those little mini-donuts are all tried and true traditions of the PNE, but can you find a good cup of coffee on the grounds of Vancouver’s longest running fair? To be honest, we weren’t all that hopeful about finding a good cup of coffee but thought, “Hey why not?” With the free admission on the first day we’d have some extra cash to do something else while walking between shows and events.
We decided to rate coffee on PNE’s grounds an out-of-10 scale. Please note that we are grading our experiences against other cafes on the grounds only.
We totally enjoy the PNE
So, we joined the long line of people to get in. Once we were first checked in we ventured to the show mart to look for any coffee retailers that might have a few things to sell us. We saw lots of sham-wow knock offs, ginzu knives and more than a few locations that sell fudge. But, no coffee.
We thought, “Hey, let’s ask guest services”. . . It was the first time I have been back since the demolition of the food pavilion.
“Ahh, there is coffee near the Coliseum and a bunch of concession stands, but I don’t know where the good coffee is. I don’t drink the stuff,” a very nice attendant said.
So we decided to stroll the street leading to the Coliseum and it wasn’t long until we found Jimmy’s Lunch, which proclaimed Good Coffee. How could we not try it?
We heard this place was the one to come for burgers, but came for the coffee.
We didn’t order lunch we were only here for the coffee, so we were never given a order slip but every employee, all 15 of them, asked, “Where is your slip?” But at the end of the line we were laughing about the lack of a slip. We got the coffee and all we could smell was the fried onions on the grill, something we hear Jimmy’s was famous for. They have been at the fair since the 1920s.
Well at $2.50 a cup we found Jimmy’s Lunch coffee burnt, devoid of any flavour and it could not be improved with any amount of cream or sugar. It could be said that the quality could only go up from there, and was horribly expensive for what we actually got. Neither of us even finished half of a cup. On the plus side, it had a really nice grassy seating area behind the stand. Just remember, do not lose your slip.
| Erica | Robert |
| 3 | 2 |
As we continued down the walkway to the Coliseum we found a very busy kiosk powered by espresso according to the side wall.
Cheyenne Coffee has the only drinkable coffee on the fairgrounds
They were really moving behind the counter of this kiosk and four people were constantly running out to serve people.
“This was much more than I thought we would find here, they have an espresso maker and not the push button automatic machine I was expecting,” noted Erica.
Although I was concerned by the lack of crema on my Americano, I also wondered if the hot water was on top of the espresso, which dissipates the crema. We couldn’t see what was going on behind the counter.
“It lacks a real punch of flavour, which is only a result of under extraction, but really better then I was expecting to find at the PNE,” noted Robert.
After the coffee had cooled a bit it was a little more enjoyable and had some subtle notes and a sweet acidity. Erica enjoys more of a full body coffee than I, so she felt a little less satisfied. We did actually drink most of the beverages from this location as they have two locations on the grounds.
| Erica | Robert |
| 6 | 6 |
We then toured Hasting Race Track and sadly found Hastings Deli and Cappuccino bar closed. Erica really enjoyed the view from the grandstands and hopes to return to lose her money to the ponies. . . .
Continuing into Playland we thought we could find at least one coffee stand amongst the Hellevators, Rollercoasters and Midway Game. We did find a concession stand that sold coffee along with burgers and fries but the 15 person line up and the $2.75 a cup kept us at bay.
We basked in the warm goodness that is the PNE mini-donuts and we walked back to the PNE section of the fair only to find this cute little booth advertising independently home-roasted organic coffee. Needless to say we got our hopes up!
Earth Club Factory Kiosk, we should have kept on walking
We showed up and found a three-group machine and everything at this cafe other than the unknown roaster said this was going to be a great cup of coffee. But once again our hopes were dashed in a big way. First there was a price difference between a 12 oz. cappuccino and 12 oz. latte by .25 cents. Why? The other thing was we saw the shots running very slowly but yet got our drinks extremely quickly. This proves that just because a coffee shop offers organic, fair trade, small batch roasted coffee doesn’t mean it is any good.
“This cappuccino has no taste. It is watery milk and the milk is burnt,” concluded Erica.
Although my cappuccino was slightly better tasting espresso there was barely half an inch of foam on either drink.
| Erica | Robert |
| 3 | 3 |
Hopes dashed we threw out the drinks and went to watch some pig races, which were quite popular. With barely an inch of space to be found, after the pig races we went to get some real food and found a French crepe’s place near Jimmy’s Lunch. It was the best crepes we have ever had and the best value bar none at the fair.
Full of junk food, legs weary from scouring the entire grounds and tired from the crowds of people we left the 99th annual PNE and came to the conclusion that although they had some definite room for improvement Cheyenne Coffee was the only place to go once on the ground of the PNE.
I have no idea how the food vending application process worked for the PNE or what type of revenue sharing occurs, but if JJ Bean, Salt Spring, 49th or Wicked ever decided to put a kiosk in the PNE they would certainly give the current vendors a run for their money!
Footnote: I was riding home and saw a number of people walking from the Starbucks on Kaslo with trays of drinks to the fairgrounds, understanding that yes that is certainly your second option.
The most common use of this verb in Vancouver is when ordering a dry cappuccino. The drink is made by first pouring the espresso and then adding a layer of mirco-foam with little or no steamed milk.
Author’s note:
A foamy latte is not a dry cappuccino and visa-versa, but is often confused.
The dry process is the oldest method for processing coffee beans. Ripe cherries are first dried in the sun, after which the dried skin, pulp and parchment are removed from the bean. The process takes about two weeks and the cherries must be raked weekly to avoid mildew. Dry processing produces coffees with less acidity and more body compared to the wet process. Dry processing is done in growing regions with a naturally hot climate where water for the wet process is prohibited.
Brewed coffee made from water heated in the coffee maker and dripped through ground coffee in a filter basket and directly into the cup or carafe. Many have timers and glass or metal carafes with warmers and are made for convenience.
Author’s note:
Filter-drip coffee makers are the most popular type of coffee brewers used in the western world today.
An espresso drink with two shots (2 fluid ounces) of espresso in it. Some chains call it a Doppio, which means double in Italian.
Author’s note:
Many Vancouver cafes have a double shot of espresso (2 oz) in a 12 oz Americano or latte. But as common as the 2 oz double shot is there are many variations of this will all produce differing tastes, intensity and flavour.
I have been commuting by bike as much as possible this summer, and with this weather I have totally enjoyed it too. Living in East Van and needing to get downtown I would often take the Adanac Bike Route downtown. It is a super quick route and at one point you come across a green space that you need to navigate in order to continue along Union Avenue into the Downtown core.
If you’re a bike commuter and live in East Van you’ll know exactly where I am talking about and if you don’t bike please refer to exhibit A to my left.
Exhibit A - The Adanac Bike Route
What does this have to do with coffee? Well it is at this curve in the road that I was told by Kathy Sinclair of the VACC that I should make a right turn instead and check out the Wilder Snail Neighbourhood Grocery and Cafe. From the outside it looks like your stereotypical corner store you would find in any community across Canada. But don’t judge this book buy its cover, because it is part coffee house, part corner store and somewhere in the back there is a bit of a bike shop hanging out.
Is this cafe trying to be all things to all people? Well no, I don’t think so. I think it is serving the changing community of Strathcona and all of its needs.
I had checked out this place three times, and I love finding these out of the way places, so I thought to myself “time for a review”. Also this review coincides with the introduction of Erica Hill to the coffee blog and we have just been too silent for our own good.
The Wilder Snail
Walking into the Wilder Snail you are greeted by a large wooden bar, some great red cupboards and large red globe lights that Erica wanted to make special mention of. The name is a humorous poke at unusual British pub names.
The owner Boyd Thomson, is an avid cyclist and has a small collection of tubes and bells and other bike knick-knacks that may help you out should you ever have a flat near the shop. I have found Boyd behind the counter every time I have been in the shop, and he runs the shop from behind the bar. The name is a play on words.
It has that coffee shop feel but it has got some other stuff to it also – A gem in the middle of the funky neighborhood, with a park right next door. I could just sit here and read my book on a Saturday afternoon. said Erica
Boyd uses JJ Bean for coffee and a 3 group LaMarzocco Linea for the extraction. Erica had a 8oz cappuccino and found her cappuccino a little on the hot side. My 8oz capp had some great stiff micro foam, just the way I love an old skool capp. Although I have had great macchiatos there before, I also found my second drink which was a macchiato a little on the hot side as well.
Espresso Macchiato at Wilder Snail
The Corner store offers wireless starting a 2:00pm everyday, the cafe is on Hawks just south of Hastings and just two blocks north of the Adanac Bike Route on the other – a well placed cafe for locals and non-locals alike. I would have passed by this cafe for months just because I didn’t know it was there. But I certainly won’t next time I am looking for a quiet place away from the Drive but close enough to home. Both Erica and I applaud Boyd and his Wilder Snail for being one of the coolest corner stores around and hope his niche market of bikes, groceries and coffee is around for a long time to come.
Where this blog was written: Wilder Snail
Drinks that was ordered: 6 oz. Macchiato and 8 oz Dry Cappuccino
Discount on to-go cup: 15 cents
Barista Skill: Decent
Barista friendliness: Very friendly
Website: www.thewildersnail.com
Address: 799 Keefer St, Vancouver
Erica Hill moved to Vancouver for a new career, a change an scenery and more then likely the coffee! Since she has arrived we have hired her on as a co-author of the blog. You might call her the senate of the coffee blog.
“The Senate was to be a place of sober second thought so that legislation would receive proper, careful consideration before finally becoming law.” ~ Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister.
Co-Author Erica Hill
And while I don’t think I drink as much coffee as Sir John A. Macdonald drank alcohol having a regular second opinion will improve the quality of the blog. It also is a lot more fun and Erica can be a great devils advocate when she feels the need, providing some good debate over the coffee table at times.
Erica has a degree in anthropology, was once a barista, and is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan.
Direct trade is when the roaster trades directly with the plantation or estate. When a relationship between the roaster and the estate has developed and sales are made without the use of a wholesaler or of an International Coffee Organization’s daily rate.
Author’s note:
One of the best ways I have found to see if a cafe / roaster has direct trade coffee is to see if the roaster has information regarding the plantation or estate. The process that the beans are picked and then dried and the altitude of the plantation, and who manages and owns it.
