The Vancouver Indy Coffee Scene

A cafe in your kitchen.

This is one of the best home setups I have ever seen for a cafe set-ups and Geoff Howe certainly did his homework before bringing pulling out the plastic. (Click on the picture for a list of items)

After Geoff Howe’s and my adventures in the Espresso-thon, Geoff just couldn’t take the bad coffee other than Cafe Museo. So he took matters into his own hands and purchased his own espresso gear, but he didn’t cheap out on the gear either. Good thing for mail order from 49th or he would be up the South Saskatchewan River without a paddle.

I can only applaud Geoff for taking the bull by the horns to tell me he has had quite the learning curve getting the precise grind. He tells me living on The Drive has certain advantages, one of them being “I don’t need an espresso bar in my kitchen to have a great latte. I can just walk down the street.” Let’s just hope he hasn’t broken the bank on this little venture. Can a small cafe be far behind?

Marketing a brand…

A fridge magnet only a connoisseur could love

I have developed a fridge magnet for the coffee blog that kind of pokes fun at one of the biggest misconceptions in coffee at home. Keeping your beans in the freezer.
I have about 30 or so of these magnets left (Sold out! Look for more soon.)
After leaving them around town and if you want one for your very own fridge, you’ll have to try Ebay. . .  and I’ll send one off in the mail to ya (postage is on me, unless you want hundreds or live on Mars, that will be subsequently more).

Monkeying around with my brew

Apparently 49th has brough some India Devon Estate SL-795 Arabica that brings out sourcing to a new level (just joking). The bean is picked by a monkey and only the ripest cherry that encompasses the bean is picked by the little dudes. Subsequently this brew has caused a bit of a stir. So much so that vancouveriam did a story featuring Colter Jones about the stuff.

The Future of Vancouver Coffee.ca

This blog has become more than I ever thought it would be and was started as a class project almost a year ago. But I totally love writing this blog, it has been a true education for me and some future improvements will include:

• Moving to a self-hosting blog (done! if your reading this welcome)
• Coffee Glossary of terms (done! check it out)
  
• Interactive map integration(done! check it out)
• More research into fair / direct trade to educate you and me.
• and as always, a bunch more reviews, rants and hopefully a cupping or two.

Caffee Artigiano Granville Location

Walking along Granville there is a lot of sushi joints, clothing stores and stationary shops, but what has excited me most about my frequent Granville strolls is the opening of a new Caffe Artigiano.
I have found the Hornby location all too busy some times and found the surroundings of this new cafe a well kept secret. It was fast, friendly and I dare say the latte was better than the one from the Hornby crowd.
On my second trip to Artigiano, I met Sammy Piccolo who told me that they were looking for a few good barista’s for there new Burnaby store. So if you want to learn from one of the best in the world, here is you opportunity.
He also promised a tour of the 49th Parallel Roastery and I am looking forward to that!

Take two

Almost across the street from Trees Organic Coffee is Take 5 Cafe and they were advertising the $2 latte of any flavour. I have never been a fan of these promotions because I believed it also lowered the quality of the product. But feeling adventuresome, I walked in.
I must admit that is wasn’t the very best latte I have ever had, and I have had far far worse. The point I am trying to make is that if you put effort into a quality product regardless of the quality of your roast, you will notice a vast improvement.
This isn’t a full review of Take Five, but with a good barista and the right knowledge price does not always equal quality.

Starbucks short lived campaign

Best Starbucks in the Neighbourhood?

Starbucks have another piece of spam advertising on the doors of their establishment, proclaiming the best expresso in the neighbourhood. Well on who’s authority? Again this is a smooth marketing campaign for Starbucks, because it is all a matter of opinion. But I think it just looks funny. They are trying really hard to get the perception of quality once had when an automated machine hasn’t improved what a properly trained barista can do. . .

5, 4, 3 . . . and we’re live.

I have started another blog:

blog.robertdall.com

This is more a personal blog that is about my web design and photography skills and anything that isn’t coffee.

In addition to the new blog I have also re-launched a brand new website for web design and photography. This site has been rolling around in the back of my head for years, but it was only until now that I had the technical knowledge to do it. Please check it out.

We now return to your regularly scheduled program.

One of the reason I love Prado Cafe so much is the sense of community that is shared there. I also really enjoy the service I receive. Hence what happened on Tuesday afternoon. I walked in and asked for the girls to surprise me with anything on the menu, (except chai, I was in a coffee mood). Olivia eyes lit up and said “Really?”

So I left them to do their dirty work and found a seat. Brandi was working the bar and they were both waiting patiently for my response. I saw some nice latte art on top, but knew it wouldn’t be that easy to figure this out. I was dealing with trained professionals here.

A first sip and it was mocha in origin.

“Do you like it” was Olivia’s question
“Is it too sweet” was Brandi’s
It was quite good, but what was it? I am calling it a Americano Mocha Misto.

Ingredients (in order of appearance):

Pouring of the Mocha Misto at Prado

• Chocolate sauce
• chocolate power (to help bring out the latte art)
• Double short shot espresso
• Hot water
• Steamed whipping cream
• Latte art in the shape of a heart.

If I walked into any chain store and asked for them to surprise me I would have gotten a strange look back, but these girls, who enjoy their craft decided to have a little fun and creativity on the job. It is one of the reason why I go and check out coffee shop and do this blog. I am not sure how the girls are going to top this one. . . .

I, shockingly, didn’t take a photo of this masterpiece but I will next time I am in.

Announcing the first annual:

Americano Smackdown. . .

A fellow classmate, Michael Breuer has taken me up on the Americano Smackdown Challenge. We have both chosen a cafe, His will be Starbucks on the Drive, mine will be Prado and we will face off in the Americano Smackdown. . .

Stay tuned this could get ugly. . . .

My Starbucks Roommate

I’ve lost my roommate to Starbucks

First I have some horrible news, my roommate and his girlfriend, confessed to me that they still go to Starbucks, he goes there quite often and can’t stop going, this after he joined my Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks group on Facebook.
“I can’t live this lie anymore…I enjoy going to Starbucks…and I like some of their coffee too. It’s not you, Robert…it’s me.”
But I was always suspected him as a Starbucks junkie, He would hide his frappuccino plastic cups in the bottom of the trash or give them to his girlfriend to conceal his real habit.

Can A&E do an “Intervention” on him?
What about SA (Starbucks Anonymous)?

Suggestions, I need suggestions people, I am at a loss, he is the best roommate I have ever had. He doesn’t leave any dishes in the sink nor has his parrol officer phoned, so I guess if that is his only fault I can deal with it. . .

Are you a Caffeine Geek?

If you love science, caffeine and need a new set of coffee cups for your office, kitchen, check out these cups by Think Geek with the caffeine molecule. They also have T-shirts and to go mugs.

Think Geek Caffeine T-Shirt

Think Geek Caffeine Mug