The Vancouver Indy Coffee Scene

You don’t need verification to be classified as fair trade or organic, but it can help. If you just put fair trade on your roast, without giving any information about where the roast is from or who has farmed it, then it is much like lying on your resume.

“Verified” gives you that little bit of information to say “OK, a third party has checked into this and what they say is true.” A lot of the confusion comes from fair trade being closely associated with organic. Although the two are usually marketed together it doesn’t mean that what is a fair trade roast is automatically organic and what is organic is automatically fair trade. Fair trade certification doesn’t even measure quality or taste all it does is

Take Starbucks for example, it says it has a fair trade roast, but only by its own accord, and the information is very limited to the consumer. It gives you almost no knowledge about what you’re drinking, so their is no paper trail about this coffee, the plantation, or the process the farmers uses.

Also, some roasters do not support third party verification because it takes money away from the farmer.

An example is Victrola. Which doesn’t have any third party verification, but does participate in the Cup of Excellence Competition. Cup of Excellence celebrates the achievements the farmer has made in cultivating the best bean using the best practises and then it is auction off to the highest bidder.

What a lot of educated roasters do is direct trade coffee, a number of them also participate in the Cup of Excellence as well, but what these roasters do is provide information about who it purchases from, who the owner of the farm is and usually pictures of the plantation and how the crop was picked. What these two roasters and many others do is called direct trade coffee 49th Parallel affectionately calls its relationship coffee.

It is not an exact science nor is it fool proof and is a some what controversial subject. But if you have an educated roaster and an educated barista, you will get an educated consumer.

Amendment April 09 :

The Fair / Direct Trade Coffee List has been discontinued until a better way of listing roasters is found.

I was lead down Railspur Alley in Granville Island by graphic designer Andrea Rodgers. She wanted to show me Agro Cafe. Railspur Alley is one of the hidden jewels of Granville Island. It wasn’t too busy when I was there, but according to Andrea it can get quite busy on the weekends.

Walking into the open, wood-frame interior gives you a real nice, open feeling. I ordered an americano, it was almost too hot for an afternoon coffee but since this was a new cafe I had to give their americano a try. It was going to be a bit of a wait (busy place, four-shot machine) so we grabbed a seat on the patio and enjoyed the busker across the lane.

My americano arrived and just from the crema on top I knew it was going to be a good cup. Although, just a fair amount of crema on top does not make a great americano. The first sip was bold, but not bitter with a full body and a good aftertaste. A seemingly perfectly pulled off shot. I must return.

I went back a few days later to try their lattes. The 8 oz. free pour had some nice art to it and was sweet to my soul. The key to a great latte is not to over heat the milk but provide adequate foam. It sounds easy but few do it well.

The food was a bit on the pricey side for a student but is worth it, as it is all made in house. I did try the homemade potato soup, which satisfied my afternoon hunger. Weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends so the environment changes when the place fills up.
Agro is also fair trade, organic and roasts its own beans in small batches upstairs in the cutest little roaster.
The Cafe has Wifi and provides a mellow mood for your enjoyment. I highly enjoyed both visits to Agro and will make it part of any visit to the Island.

Update May 2009 ~ I recently went back to Agro Cafe and found my Americano decent, great crema but some what depleted finish. I still quite enjoyed my Americano and my time in the cafe. I didn’t try the food this time around though.

Faces and Places

Where blog was written: Agro Cafe
Drinks ordered: 12oz. americano & small latte
Discount of own to-go cup: med priced at a small
Barista Knowledge: quite good
Barista’s friendliness: intelligent & swift
Website: www.agrocafe.org

Address: 1363 Railspur Alley, Vancouver, Canada

The Elysian (pronounced E·ly·sian) Room is one of the great homes for coffee lovers in Vancouver. It is home to one of the best traditionally poured cappuccinos in the city.

The Elysian fields in Greek mythology is the final resting place for the gods’ chosen ones. It is not a far stretch to see why Alistair Durie named his cafe after it. The free pour cappuccinos are to die for and the mellow mood of this cafe plays a mix of Zero 7 and Thievery Corporation in the background.

The Cafe is located just behind the Fifth Avenue Cinema, strangely enough on Fifth Ave. It is tucked into a corner of the building and has a very warm feeling once you enter. I love coming to this cafe just before a show to sip a nice americano before attending a flick with a good friend or partner.

Seating is limited as it is barely the size of a one-bedroom apartment, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in quality with 49th Parallel beans. There is also free wireless, but because of size don’t make it your home office.

I felt horrible for guys like Alistair Durie who put time and effort in to perfecting and marketing the Clover, only for it to be sold out to Shultz and the green machine.

What I also love about this cafe is that it is inset from Burrard Street. It fits the mellow mood of the cafe. It could almost be missed if you don’t go looking for it and it contrasts most cafes. I rather like that this cafe is arms distance away from the hubbub, much like the Elysian fields themselves.

Faces and Places

Where blog was written:The Elysian Room
Drinks ordered: Traditional Cappuccino and 12oz Americano
Discount of own to-go cup: large for price of a small
Barista skill: Top Notch
Barista’s friendliness: Cool cucumbers
Website: http://www.elysiancoffee.com

Address: 1778 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver

While waiting for the Ferry to Victoria I had the opportunity to check out the Tsawwassen Market which has a host of shops and cafes and food kiosks. On one end I found Starbucks, and found it odd that most shops were not part of chains except for Starbucks. . . the only other coffee other then local is Starbucks on BC Ferries, but even Starbucks is an improvement on what they use to serve in the late 80′s . . . So I went on a search for the alternative. . .

And Alternative I found!

Salt Spring Coffee has a shop at the other end of the marketplace. The two girls behind the counter could have used some more training behind the bar, and it looked like they were just frantically trying to get through their Saturday afternoon shift, can’t blame them for that it was beautiful outside.

They don’t have wireless or even much of a sit down area, but most shops are a kiosk format so they followed the trend.

I wasn’t in a coffee mood, so I had vanilla steamed milk and checkout out some of the wears.

Brewer all in one

I found this to go mug that also had a French press built into it, I was amazed, it even gave you step by step directions on how to make the drink and if that wasn’t even and you wanted a second cup, well a secret compartment at the bottom would be able to hold enough beans for a second cup. This truly was a multi-tasking cup. I also found these at Uprising Breads Bakery at 1697 Venables just off The Drive.

An Example Accountability

I also saw a sign that read that SaltSpring Coffee was the first Carbon Neutral Roaster and after a little bit of research well they are right and they have the data to back it up. They started a site called www.carboncool.ca

I was impressed with the amount of data they had on their website and how they even brake it down to where their energy usage is going to.

But for it’s faults and lack of knowledge or prowess this shop still gets nod in my book just look what the alternative is.

Faces and Places

Where this Blog was written: Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Drink ordered: 12 oz Vanilla Steamed milk
Discount of own to-go cup: 15 cents
Barista Knowledge: Somewhat confused
Barista Friendliness: Very courteous
Café website : www.saltspringcoffee.com

Address: Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Quay Market, Delta

Just because I’m leaving “The Drive” doesn’t have to mean I have to give up on good independent coffee does it?

Not in Coquitlam. I had the opportunity to check out Cornerstone Coffee.

Walking in your met with tastefully painted concrete floors that look like title, wood tables and chairs, and the most comfortable leather sofa chairs I have seen in any coffee shop.

Drinking my vanilla chai I got nice and comfy and realized these sofa chairs were much too enjoyable for doing any type of homework. This was true I barely got a thing done.

Twice baked, once enjoyed

Like an olive in a martini, or a drink umbrella in a mai tai no specialty drink is complete without a small biscotti. I have seen this as not much more then a gimmick at other chain shops, but at Cornerstone I welcomed the addition, it was a real biscotti, and tasted dam good.

The walls are decorated with quotes and photos about coffee and cafes. Again I have seen this done very poorly elsewhere as marketing ploy but Cornerstone has a nice collection that doesn’t pat themselves on the back, these phrases are also duplicated on their website.

Beans are provided by 49th Parallel coffee roasters and were not just chosen for their quality beans, but because Cornerstone is social conscience about their affects on the developing world.

Afternoon Tea?

What surprised me the most was the 39 different varieties of organic tea you could choose from. They are supplied by not one, not two, but three different tea companies:

• Cuppa Joe
• Numi Tea
• Two leaves & a bud

If this selection leaves you overwhelmed, ask the barista behind the counter. I found Leah bel to be extremely knowledgeable about the teas and coffee served.

After seven years in the business it is no surprise that Cornerstone has stood the test of time and carved out a niche for itself. I’d highly recommend anyone in the area check out this jewel of a café, it will certainly be worth it.

Faces and Places:

Where was this blog written: Cornerstone Cafe
Drink ordered: Vanilla Chai
Quality and swiftness of service : Excellent
Barista Friendliness : Excellent
Café website : cornerstonecafe.ca

Address: 3003 Burlington Drive, Coquitlam

Prado, which means open spaces in Spanish, hangs out on at 1938 the drive (right on the corner of east fourth) it’s has a minimalist appeal too with it’s all wood tables, metal chairs and a simple chalkboard menu with brick columns reaching to the ceiling. But don’t let this laid back appearance fool you. This place is all business behind the counter, with coffee from the local 49th Parallel Roasters and loose leaf tea from the very hip Metropolitan Tea company of Toronto. Their barista’s are also some of the most knowledgeable around, but this jewel of a café never seems to be too busy but yet busy enough that it sees a cast of characters through out the day. It is owned and operated by Amy York who is the delightful blonde (brunette?) behind the counter most day. Ask her anything and she’ll fill your head with coffee knowledge. The only suggestion I would currently make about Prado is that their washroom could be more attended to through a busy shift.

This place is also awesome local for some scooped dry cappuccino’s. Ask Leaf to make you one!

Faces and Places:

Where was this blog written: Prado Café
Drink usually ordered: Americano
Discount for own mug: 20 cents
Barista Knowledge: Top notch
Barista Friendlyness : Excellent
Café website : www.pradocafe.com

Address: 1938 Commercial Dr. Vancouver

Here is my first entry to my first ever blog. I am a Vancouverite and I live just off coffee central. . . Commercial Drive. (known henceforth as” The Drive”)

Ever since my mother said I could make coffee in the morning for me and my father, I have been addicted to the stuff. I love it, nothing wakes me up more or gets my ass into gear come 3:00 pm or 3:00 am depending what I am up to. . . .

Since that time I have become a bit of an aficionado and revel in how it is made and what taste good and bad.

In future episodes of this blog you’ll read my rant’s and rave’s about different coffee shops and chains, and any industry information that tickles my fancy. I’ll also write reviews of cafes I have been to recently and if they have wireless internet. I will be adding my reviews to Caffeinated and Unstrung which is apparently back up and running, Aug, 09.