The Vancouver Indy Coffee Scene

Arctic Aurora one of many image from Native Landscapes

In my former life I was a news photographer and I did a fair amount of travel around Western Canada covering the events of the day. So when Joe and Audrey asked me to show my work at the Bump and Grind I was more than happy (it is the closest cafe to my house).

This show was commissioned five years ago for the Bienal Fotosemana, which had photography exhibitions across Bogota, Colombia. I was chosen too as the international guest and showed at Universidad Nacional de Colombia Meseo De Arte, The National University Art Museum.

With the help of Vince over at 49th and Bump and Grind we will be serving the Colombia Timana during the event.

So here is the skinny:

Show: Native Landscapes
Where: Bump and Grind 916 Commercial Drive (map below)
When: Saturday, June 13 5:00 – 7:00 pm

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

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.

Geoff Howe arrived from the Island primed and ready to go for our little tour of Vancouver cafes, but with him having to be back in Saskatoon on Monday we had a lot to sample and not much time. What to do ? Well instead of making each cafe its own post I decided to make a table. A coffee table (sorry I have a horrible sense of humour).

But kids, don’t try this at home. After four hours, five cafes, six drinks and 12 shots of espresso, both Geoff and I were more than done. This isn’t something I would suggest or even do again, but as photographers who love coffee it was fun while it lasted. But much like any bender, it has some drawbacks. . . .

Cafe	Geoff	Robert	Notes
	12 oz Latte (2 shots)	12 oz Americano	Robert: Brandi, my favourite barista of all time is back!!! In addition to Brandi being back Prado set the tone for the rest of the day. Geoff: Overall pretty good, the extraction was a little bitter, but it hits the spot. Barista had a pleasant demeanor within the comfortable surroundings.
	12 oz latte (1 shot)	Espresso Macchiato	Robert: Turks, where is the love? Ever since Gisele left months ago, I have rarely been back and now I know why. My Macchiato didn’t have any foam on top. It was more like an 8oz latte, which any Starbucks monkey could have made without the proper training. Geoff: It is not of a calibre I was expecting. If I can make it at home better, then it is sadly lacking. If people are doing this for a living then they should be better at it than I. I come for the experience. The ambience is nice but the coffee lacks some quality
	12oz latte (2 shots)	12oz Cappuccino	Robert: Micro-foam of awesomeness, I have been back to Soma a number of times and enjoyed the cafe each time. Don Wilson usually tends bar on Sunday mornings and is quite the knowledgeable baritsa. Geoff: Perfect temperature, solid latte art.Aftertaste a little strong but overall great experience. Friendly barista, knowledgeable about industry and trends, willing to learn. Soup was fantastic.
	Clover 12oz	Clover 12oz	Robert: We tired the Colombian – Antioquia and barista Mathew Kolehmainen gave us some Kenya – Mwiria to try and true to form the Kenyian was better then the Colombian but also almost twice the price. Thanks for the sampling Matt! Geoff: My first time tasting coffee from a Clover. Pretty neat. A lot of body in taste, almost overwhelming, but it kept me wanting more. It tastes better following a slight cool down. Kenya is my favourite, although we didn’t try Ethiopia. The barista Matt knew of my favourite Saskatoon cafe – Cafe Museo, and it’s barista Jimmy. Small world!
	12 oz Latte	12 oz Latte	Robert: 49th as good as ever, and interesting to chat with barista Colter Jones about the green machine in Seattle, smart guy, I’d enjoy a longer chat one day. Geoff: Really impressed by the feel of the place. The modern simplistic, West Coast style feel. You can really tell they put everything into their craft just from the feel of the place. Meeting the Canadian Barista Champion Colter Jones who happens to be from Saskatoon, my home town. In terms of the coffee I honestly could not appreciate it. I was too buzzed by the morning I was gone. Let this be a warning, Don’t try this at home. . . I definitely want to go back!

• Afterwards we both felt a little like Kramer from Seinfield

Here are some more photo from the rest of the day

Geoff Howe Outside Prado

Geoff shooting the poorly made drinks at Turks. Where is the love Turks?

Blogging away at Turks (in better times)

Brunch and some sweet drinks at Soma Cafe

Some Clover action at The Elysium Room

Geoff getting a little Hyper outside the Elysium Room (There is no turning back after this)

49th Parallel Latte Art

Two boys from Toon town Colter Jones, left and Geoff Howe.

For this review I decided to say a little closer to home, in fact this is the closest café to my house on The Drive.

Bump and Grind is a saucy joint that has been open for a couple of years on the northern most edge of the Drive. The café is run by Audrey and Joe ( Christine sold the cafe in May, 2008 ) who are business partners and can usually see most days behind the counter.

Front of Bump and Grind

The surroundings of Bump and Grind give away that this is a little more counter culture then your usual fair. The café boasts a couch full of vocabulary one large table and a few smaller ones with art that changes on a monthly basis. The café has one of the most interesting art installations a while back where the entire café was covered in “2000 pages of handwritten study notes from a Doctoral Candidate” in political science. It was one of the best art displays in a coffee shop, I had ever seen.

DJ can now be seen in the cafe spinning vinyl on the turn tables in the back on the weekends and during the week Joe and Audrey seem to always have something funky playing in the shop.

There is wifi at the shop, but they had taken away all but one power plugins away due to abuse by some loitering customers.

If you just want to sit in a cafe for six hours and nurse one cup of tea go find a Waves.

Sleeves are for wimps

A while back I dropped in to ask if I could have a sleeve for my coffee, (I didn’t bring my own mug ) and it was a bit of a struggle to get one. Apparently Josh and Christine have something against sleeves of the world, Actually they are just trying to reduce the impact on our environment and they are pretty militant about it. But instead of just bitching about something they decided to do something about it.

At Bump and Grind if you want a sleeve you’ll have to pay a buck for one, and they’ll want you to keep it too. It is a cool concept and I wish them the best of luck with it.

Since selling the Cafe Audrey and Joe sell the Coffee Cuff

A little sauce with your coffee

What I really enjoy about the drive is the fact that you can a huge variety of people and viewpoints. I think it is what makes people come to the drive. Bump and Grind is no different. Just don’t ask for a sleeve. Josh and Christine sold the cafe to Audrey and Joe in May, 08. The coffee is still the same quality but is lacking the saucy and somewhat abusive attitude. Dam I will miss that.

Since purchasing the cafe last year Joe and Audrey have really captured the attention of coffee drinkers in Vancouver and it has become one of the top cafes in Vancouver, When some of the top Barista in the country go to Bump and Grind to enjoy an espresso you know they must be doing something right.

Faces and Places

Where this Blog was written: Bump and Grind
Drink ordered: 12oz Costa Rican Roast
Discount of own to-go cup: 10 cents
Barista Knowledge: Top notch
Barista Friendliness: Awesome
Café website : none

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