The Vancouver Indy Coffee Scene

That's a Wrap

As this was the first coffee trade show I have ever been too, I have to say I really had a great time. I got to meet a lot of people in the coffee industry who provide the tools to the cafe’s.

I also got to see the Barista Competition live for the first time and it is impressive. The pressure the bar tenders are under to get every drink down is pretty amazing.

Swiss Family Piccolo

I finally met the lovely and equally knowledgeable Andrea Piccolo at the Swiss Water Booth. Erica and I both took the Swiss Water Challenge which provided two cups of french pressed coffee one decaf on not. Both of us could barely tell the difference between the the decaf and the caffeinated brew. We really enjoyed our chat with the gang at swiss water and hope to find out more about their unique decaffeination process.

A Greener Show?

At 50 cents a piece for this IKEA Älmhult stonewear mug, it is a cheap reusable option.

From the Aardvark paper drinking straws to the Baskets-n-bags burlap coffee trays to a hand pump portable espresso maker. This show had a number of booths focused on recyclable, biodegradable and greener products. We fully support the use of a greener more sustainable product, but the other side of the trade show we saw a whole lot of waste.

What we also saw was a lot of sample cups being offered, sampled and then being thrown out. I found it to be a lot of waste with some exhibitors wanting to give us 10 to 12 oz cups of coffee with sleeves etc.  While we were impressed with the marketing venture some of the new producers were trying to accomplish, we felt there was a lot of waste as well.

While I totally understand how hard it is to be a little more green The Salt Spring Coffee Co showed why they were leaders in sustainability. Their coffee samples were given in reusable IKEA Älmhult stonewear mug. After being used they were washed in the clean up area that was provided and brought back to the booth.

According to Banks Thomas, roaster for Salt Spring, he brought the idea to the Island Roaster, but he can’t take credit for it.

“When I was at counter culture they had reusable cups and I took the idea from them,” said Banks.

Salt Spring first introduced the reusable cups at the EPIC Sustainability convention last spring.

This is a win win, one the cost of the cup is only payed out once and then reused, and two the samplers will stick around to finish the coffee and you have a captive audience to make your pitch until they are completed. So I hope Salt Spring doesn’t mind me letting the cat out of the bag on this one and I hope the trend continues!

5 seconds of Fame

I ran into Sophie Lui from Global Television and with one look at my name tag she had me in front of her camera asking about Far Coast coffee, the just named official coffee supplier of the 2010 Olympic Games. I wasn’t surprised seeing that is the hot beverage arm of the Coke-a-Cola company. Sophie asked me to taste the coffee and give it my impression. The coffee was about an hour old and kept in stainless steel vacuum flask.  I thought it was over extracted and  and slightly higher in acidity then body.

I made the news on Thursday night (Yup you can watch it here go to the 11:00 minute mark), but as TV goes, my quote was slightly cut. I didn’t mind, I know the seconds count in a news cast and just so you think I am not a complete snob, I said

“Is this olympic worthy coffee, it certainly wouldn’t get a gold metal in my book, but I have drank far worse.”

The Barista Championship

Kyle Straw, second from right, and the finalist of the Canadian Barista Competion

It was the first time Erica and I had both seen the Canadian Barista Championships competition and in every sense of the word we were impressed with the competition. The timing needed to prepare everything to come out in a certain order, the judging involved with each and every moment is completely rehearsed and practiced over and over again.

Kyle Straw from Caffe Argitano Hornby location came out the top Canadian Barista and will be heading the London England in 2010 for the World Barista Championships in June.

But something that I saw in person that you never really see on the u-stream of the event is the support system that is there for the barista, from sample testing during the set up time to making sure the barista is completely set up. Once the competition starts the barista is on their own.

After the competition the barista goes over the their scores with the judges.  While getting feedback is par for the course, I was really impressed with the amount of detailed feedback that was given back to the barista. This wasn’t just a 30 second, you did well.  Both judge and barista when through the comp in fine detail.

Fine Example

I came to the obvious conclusion that this consultation is the true gift of the barista competition and that it is a shining example of why they are important. If baristas of national caliber spend weeks training for this event and then after the competition spend 5 to 10 minutes going over their scores with one of the judges, the trickle down effect to every cafe must be significant.

Hey, how’s it been going? Are you new around here let me show you around…

No I am not trying to pick the average reader of my coffee blog, but what would you say to a caffeinated consumer who was new in town and wanted to know about the great little places, the hidden gems? Well, hopefully I can serve for all your coffee needs.

So what’s new here at Van Indy Coffee Scene 2.0:

Better Cafe Reviews
Over the past two years of this blog, living on Commercial Drive and being generally interested in the coffee scene I learnt an awful lot. The whole essence of this blog is to pass on the most accurate information I can. I’ve done some minor editing of archived posts but only to keep information current as some of those old posts are damn popular.	Cafe Reviews
Interactive Map
I always liked maps especially when they are interactive so now you can find a visual representation of the great cafes ( in my humble opinion ) via this map. Just click on the icon to bring up the review of that café.	Interactive Map
Our Mantra
I really like to show people where I am coming from when I write a review or give my opinion. This page is after two years of coffee knowledge, what we at the Indy Coffee Scene and what I rate on. Also a code of ethics for users to see where we’re coming from and what we look for, and once advertising appears on the site, what type will be allowed.	Transparency of Reviews
Coffee Terms
When I first started in coffee a number of years ago I found the amount of rhetoric and marketing surrounding the coffee vocabulary baffling. What some call one thing, others call something else. Well I decided to stake my claim on this lexicon and collect over 100 coffee terms that are currently used in Vancouver. Two of these will be released every Tuesday in something we like to call Terminology Tuesday.	Stove Top Espresso Maker
Resource List (aka the blog roll)
This is where you can find links and resources that we think showcase good coffee knowledge and other helpful sites.	Coffee Beans and Clover Coffee Brewer
Social Media
We have also joined twitter so you can follow us at coffeevancouver. We have a flickr group called ( Vancouver Indy Coffee ) where we’re posting some awesome coffee photos.	Our Flickr Group
And What’s Coming:
User Generated Coffee Terms
Don’t find a term that we have made? Then submit your own, (a very short sign in will be required). We’re still working on the details to make your submission painless and easy and while that is happening please enjoy ours. Plenty of news, reviews and general musing about coffee in Vancouver. Stick around, this is about to get interesting…	Double Shot

Well… I really didn’t go anywhere, but I had graduated school found a real job (and was layed off due to the economy four months later). I got kicked out of my Starbucks loving roommates apartment because he wanted to live with his new wife, the audacity, I thought!

What has happened coffee wise in the last couple months?

• Bump and Grind excels in quality and has a monthly coffee cupping hosted by Mr. Coffee Geek himself Mark Prince.
• Fare trade not so fare at all?
• Interviewed by The Point on CBC about the poor man’s latte (help me find it online)
• Cafe Luna gets a Smartmouth and a new owner.

Ya but what about the blog?

Q: Are you ever going to post more stories, reviews, rants?

A: Yes

Q: Can we get added to your fair trade list?

A: No, but not because we don’t like you. The fair trade list isn’t very fair and it never really became what I wanted it too.

Q: When are the improvements coming to the site?

A: I hate to give a wrong time line but any major improvement won’t be made until the new year. (Updates have launched March)

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.

Tim Hortons comes to the DrivePlease do you part and Boycott!

Yet another chain on the drive. Tim Hortons has decided to take over three stores in the mall and create a behemoth of coffee shops almost the size of Wazubee’s. This also comes at a time when Magpie magazine and Eastside Art Supply and Stationary are both closing its doors due to lack of sales.

The best cappuccino ever

Meanwhile, Magpie’s closing has more to do with the laptop culture of cafes. It signals a change to the drive. I have been know to frequent Tim Hortons on numerous occasions, but is ‘the drive’ really a place for Tim Hortons?

Bump and Grind Sold:

Bump and Grind was sold to Audrey and Joe. Christine needed a break from running the cafe and to focus more on her dance instruction.

Audrey and Joe are new to running the cafe. They are certainly no strangers to coffee, glad to see the old haunts are still in good shape. I will miss Christine’s cappuccino’s she had made some spectacular ones.

Direct Purchase Colombian:

My parents were recently on a cruise and had some shore leave in Cartagena, Colombia. They brought me back a pound of roasted coffee. It is a light roast with mellow body.

Audrey and Joe Smelling freshly ground coffee

Cuppings:

I have been using it with my cone filter at home, but I was talking with Audrey and Joe at Bump and Grind and they wanted to put it up against 49th Parallel Colombian.

We put it to the French press test and had some fun in a cupping challenge. Without going into excessive detail we found that although the Colombian did have a nice body after it had been poured, it lacked the overall quality of the 49th parallel roast. Was it really a fair comparison? No not really. . . was it a fun thing to do on a boring cold and rainy afternoon in June. Oh yeah. . .