Coffee Things 'n' Stuff

Wheatberries: Welcome to the Sechelt Safe Haven

2010-02-14T21:02:00.001-08:00

When you walk into the Sechelt Wheatberries, you get the feeling that this is the nice cafe in the small town that locals take all of their guests to. It is probably listed as one of the top three places that visitors can go to if they are staying in a B&B nearby. It is still a locals cafe. It just happens to be conveniently located along the tourist route. The clientele is the real tell tale sign of the place. Everyone from the young college students on a study break to the spunky seniors in the neighbourhood seem to flock here. Everyone is friendly and is willing to talk to you about the sites that you have to be sure to check out nearby. Because the clientele here is so friendly - almost to the point of being a little bit too Stepford for my liking- the place has an instant homey feel which just reels in the tourists.

As the name of the place states, Wheatberries is a bakery. They make all of your many of your baked goods needs. On the display table, the food is packaged up and displayed in only the way a small town can: cellophane wrapped goodies tagged with raffia and a hand script font printed label or freshly baked loaves in baskets or on shelves carefully displayed. All of the furniture has that honey waxed rough pine look and there is a bright golden hue that seems to take over the place. It is in a sense the safe haven for those tourists who do not know any better after they have lost sight of the last Starschmucks or Timmy's. It has country style details with the artisan flair, and the clean cut teens working the counter could not intimidate even the shyest of shy violets passing through town.

The coffee here is from a Sunshine Coast local roasting company called Straight Coffee Traders. I thought the americano was decent with a tasty deep roasted initial flavour but then the flavour seemed to fall flat in the finish. The baked goods were tasty and the fact that you could get a panini or a slice of pizza for a little lunch break makes the place that much more inviting. There is plenty of seating for people to come on in for a cuppa and enough space for the line up of people who want to get there caffeine fix to go.

As much as I think this cafe fits the small town of Sechelt very well, and is great sanctuary for the weary coffee deprived traveler, I feel like it is a great place to visit, but I certainly wouldn't want to permanently drink there.

Out of 5 Tourists

Grub: 4 You can't beat freshly baked goods. The fact that they offer something outside of baked goods to fill the travelling lunch void, makes what they have to offer even better.

Scene: 4 To clarify, I would give it a four as a tourist. It is a great little place and is conveniently located for the people. It has a few locations I believe (Sechelt, Gibsons and Langdale) and it seems to have a neighbourhood following. If I was a resident, I'd give it a 3. I would still go there, but because I feel there is no edge to the place or that the design is just too country cabin with no other real option, I think I would be convinced to start roasting my beans at home and drink my coffee in the solitude of my own dwelling.

Coffee: 3 The coffee was good. It wasn't great. It didn't blow my mind away. It did however, fulfill my caffeine fix and it was a notable step above utilitarian coffee.

Not a Fair Trade: Tim for Jim

2010-02-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

Once again it has come up in conversation: The UnFair Trade of Main Street. Which trade am I talking about? Timmy for Jimmy. This past November, a fire broke out in Kishu Island Restaurant on Main near Broadway and took out the neighbouring businesses. These businesses included Slickity Jim's, a hipster hangout where we enjoyed lovely breakfasts like the Mean Teen Queen and the Cheesy Fungi, Zokalo's, The Militant Penguin and our Canadiano mugs at Lugz.

Whenever this fire is brought up, the banter usually begins with, "I hear a Wendy's and Tim Horton's is going into the old Bank space on the corner." This is usually followed by groans, disgruntled protests and a whole lotta cryin' shames. No, it's not fair that our choice of coffee houses will be traded from our beloved Jim and all of its eclectic mounted collectibles to sterile fluorescent backlit signs with all of the calculated packaged consumables from Tim. We will be going from being called darlin' at Slickity Jim's or being given a coffee inferiority complex by obnoxious service from the coffee freak at Lugz to being called sir or madam with indifferent service by the 15 year old who is anxiously waiting to get back to texting her friend under the counter. Sure we will be able to access all of the food we expect on a cross Canada Road trip right in our own backyard, and yes we will include it on the coffee rotation when you really only have time to get a double double, and perhaps we may be able to have some indie Main street movie maker come up with their own hilarious version of a warm hearted Sidney Crosby commercial. However, the fact that we are trading all of that for places that helped make Main Street the cool part of town seems like a major rip off. Having Tim and Wendy move into town is like having a gateway from the westside where timid kids from Kits pop out to see what it looks like on the other side of Ontario Street.

Perhaps that is the real crime. The dilution of cool from a place where a coffee doesn't come in the form of an espresso, but rather a drink that is an express-on-the-go.

Aeropress: the other way to espresso

2010-01-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Last summer a friend of mine gave me a gift. When I opened it, I saw a package which contained what looked like to be a giant syringe. After thanking him, he took one look at me and he realized that I had no idea what the apparatus was. He told me it was an Aeropress - as if that meant anything to me. He went on to explain that this little device was the latest trend in the world of coffee connaisseurs. Groups of coffee loving experts walk around tasting different coffee beans at coffee conventions toting their little Aeropresses under their arms. These folk no longer take the standard coffee brew. Instead, all they need is about half a cup of boiling hot water, fresh medium ground coffee and two minutes.

You can youtube Aeropress and watch a demonstration, but let me try to explain it to you. Within what one would imagine to be the chamber of the syringe, you would place your coffee grounds. The grounds are held in by a plastic mesh lined with a paper filter. You then add your hot water to the labeled amount. Taking what looks like a small mixing paddle, the grounds and water are stirred together for 10 seconds. You then remove the mixing paddle and insert the plunger which creates an air tight chamber. As the plunger is pushed further in, the increased air pressure within the chamber forces the coffee goodness through the paper filter and into your cup. To clean, simply remove the plastic mesh cap, and pop out the coffee puck in a single push. The inside of the chamber is clean, the paper filter can be reused, and your espresso is ready. You only need to determine how much hot water you want to add to make an Americano. The Aeropress can make up to 4 shots in one press.

The Aeropress essentially makes an espresso shot using drip grind which means those relegated to drink standard preground coffee can enjoy the luxury of espresso anywhere. The taste is surprisingly flavourful. It is far superior to drip coffee and even French press, but it is still not the perfect device. You still have to have boiled water on hand which means that along with the Aeropress, you need a kettle and heat source. Because you pour, mix and press your hot water through, a lot of heat is released which means that if you like your espresso hot, you may have to drink it immediately. Someone also needs to work on the design of the equipment because the mixing paddle, the coffee scoop, and the funnel do not fit neatly into a single self contained unit. And lastly, not unlike a stove top espresso maker, the Aeropress does not make that lovely crema.

The Aeropress makes an impressive shot of espresso. If you were to perform this little ritual in public or amongst friends, you really would look like a caffeine addict which may raise a couple of eyebrows, but if that doesn't bother you I would say get it. I would take this over a stove top espresso machine any day of the week and twice on Sundays because you can control the amount of water used, the coffee grounds can't be burnt and the ritual is far cooler.

The Bamboo Cafe - Panda or Tiki or Both?

2010-01-26T21:17:00.000-08:00

When I think of the Bamboo Cafe I can only think of two things: a panda bear sitting quietly in the corner of a room surrounded by people sipping on some hot beverages, or a tacky restaurant lit up bit tiki torches where people wear serve food in floral patterned hawaiian shirts. I don't know why, I just do. However, just as those images are puzzling so is the direction of where this little cafe is headed. It is located across the street from the Joyce Sky Train Station and has an eclectic collection of individuals who frequent the place. Over the years, it has been undergoing a bit of an evolution. It started as a coffee shop where people could run in, get a coffee and perhaps a baked good and head out on the next bus leaving the station. It then turned into a cafe that served hamburgers and french fries. Now it is a licensed cafe where locals can hang out, watch a bit of the game on the ol' tube and start up a tab. The food is fair enough considering that it is a restaurant by a skytrain station where people want their food by the time their bus is scheduled to leave. I sometimes see the place in the evening as I drive by, and there are still people passing through the place.

But what about the coffee? Since the beginning, the coffee seems to have been lost in the mix. Yet it is still hanging in there. The coffee is a better alternative to the drip coffee that I suffer through at work. They still make an americano with too much water no matter what I say. Some people just don't understand the concept of too much water in an americano.

Despite its scattered focus on what it is, the place still seems to be able to do brisk business. Perhaps it has actually found its niche. For the number of different people in the Collingwood Neighbourhood and the types of folks who flow through the station, perhaps The Bamboo has answered their calling: A cafe that does a little bit of everything. It's not my idea of a great business model, but hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Out of 5 Faresavers

Scene: 1 I find it difficult to be in there. You get everyone from neighbours to commuters. The lay out is a little bit better since they've expanded but somehow I find it a bit more on the tiki side of things rather than the panda - and I mean this not in a good way. I still go every once in a while, but I try not to linger.

Grub: 2 The food is fair, but it does feel a little bit like highway robbery. You pay for the convenience of being able to get something while in transit.

Coffee: 2 The coffee is at best inconsistent, but I will still go there because it is still better than the utilitarian coffee I am slugging back around the corner.

Agro Cafe Not so Agro

2010-01-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

Typically when I see the colours of brown and orange in any decor I can't help but think of A&W restaurants in the early 80's. However when you throw in a few paper light fixtures and spot lighting into some cleaned up industrial venting and some exposed wood, mix in some stainless steel appliances and some white tile, you get a rather stylish little cafe. Agro Cafe located on Granville Island is tucked away in Railspur Alley. It has a great industrial loft feel with an open kitchen concept. There is a steady flow of people coming and going, but strangely you feel like you have escaped the busy crowds of the market place. The crowd ranges from False Creek residents to young families to artsy students who actually have money for a fancy coffee.

Agro serves up their own house roast. It has a deep full bodied roasted flavour and your coffee is usually served the way you ask for it. Agro serves up a variety of baked goods (usually organic and sometimes vegan friendly. Agro also has a light lunch menu but everything is made when ordered which takes a little longer but you know it hasn't been sitting in a display case for a few days.

Out of 5 Papa Burgers

Scene: 4 The location is great and the decor is tasteful. There are just enough chairs to seat people although they need to figure some things out with managing the line up entry and exit people flow.

Grub: 4 The food is quite good, but it does take a little bit of time to arrive, and for the time you wait you would expect there to be just a little bit more.

Coffee: 4 I do enjoy the coffee. They do serve a nice americano and will make it to your specifications, but the flavour still doesn't blow me away. It definitely gives me a nice little buzzy feeling that makes one warm inside, but just not that full blown crackling campfire complete with marshmallows and a blissful starry night kind of coffee.

Elysian Room: doesn't necessarily mean exceedingly delightful

2010-01-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

The Elysian Room can be found right around the corner from the 5th Avenue Cinemas right on 5th avenue off of Burrard. Many movie goers frequent the little cafe before or after their movies. Whenever I have gone there off show time hours, I have noticed that this little cafe attracts a more mature and quieter crowd that is there more for a little afternoon tea than anything else. Even the decor kind of screams out to a certain crowd: large cloths draped from the ceiling that look like they were bought from a street vendor in a foreign country; a colour palette that seems like it was made to match terra cotta; lighting that might have once been very cool around 1995; and furniture that kind of forces you to sit properly and not linger too long. I am not slamming this place by any means. It serves some tasty coffees (fair trade and organic), it has a nice variety of loose teas (although inconsistent in leaf shred and includes some small twigs and branches), and even serves clover coffee and a couple of other coffee preparation alternatives. The baked goods are tasty even though the prices seem to be set to a bit more of an upscale market.

This is not a place that I would frequent often, but I would go there if I was waiting for someone to see a movie. I don't know if this place would be very kid friendly. It's kind of like going to that aunt's house who is more mature and who likes to have everything the way she likes it, and there is certainly a particular way of doing things when visiting her place - if you know what I mean.

Out of 5 Movie Review Stars

Scene: 2 I would rate this higher if I had guests coming into town and didn't want to scare them with to many hip folk. There really seems like there is a " no lingering" feel to the place.

Grub: 3 It is the taste of the goods that saves it here. I just don't know if the taste matches the value. It really is more of a cafe. Light pre-portioned meals available.

Coffee: 4 It is good coffee, and the fact that you can get your coffee prepared in more ways other than an espresso machine is also something to look forward to if you want to experiment. I am still a little bit leery of having them add too much water to my americano, but as long as you say so, it is good to go.

Kicking Horse Coffee Beans

2010-01-20T22:27:00.001-08:00

I am still learning about the different coffee beans from around the world, and how they are roasted. I once saw an article (in MacLeans, I think ) on how coffee fiends were buying unroasted beans and trying their hand at roasting beans by altering an old school air blowing popcorn makers (the kind you could probably find in your parents basement stored away in a dark corner) and plugging it into a fifty foot extension chord. It told you to listen for the first and second cracks, how to adjust the heat and how you could change the flavour by adding different ingredients to the roast. It sounded so easy, but I have yet to try it. Until that point, I am stuck buying whole beans like everyone else.

My favourite bean without a doubt is from 49th parallel. It is the bean to beat so to speak in Vancouver. It has a beautiful full bodied flavour with a smooth finish. The crema is thick and lovely shade of honey brown. In short it is a beautiful thing. It is sold in many locations around Vancouver but at about $15 a pound, I can't help but look around for a more economical option. There is no way that I would go so low as a supermarket name brand at about $7 a pound. I have tried several supermarket brands and I have thought that the flavour was flat, bitter or burnt. The beans were old and stale and probably pretty unevenly roasted.

I have tried other beans that could be considered the micro-roasters of coffee beans. The brand I most commonly buy is Kicking Horse Coffee.It is an independent company roasting since 1996 from Invermere BC and uses Fair Trade Organic coffee beans. My favourite roast is the Espresso roast (followed closely by the Kick Ass - and that not just for it's name either). The flavour is a little bit tangier and sharper and has a deep roasted flavour in the finish. It is still about $14 in stores, but can often be bought for $10 when on sale.

If you get a chance buy a bag, grind it up and pull it through your machine.

Kicking Horse Espresso Roast whole bean coffee - 4 shots out of 5 not just for the flavour but also for the value when you get it on sale.

Crema from a Stove Top?

2010-01-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

That's like asking can I get real Turkey stuffing from Stove Top without actually using a turkey. You can simulate the taste and you'll be satisfied, but I don't think it's actually going to happen. Crema appears after the oils and complex flavours from the espresso grind are extracted during the process of making a shot of espresso. It is a lovely golden brown foam that sits on the top of the shot. Some roasters brag that their crema can last for up to 17 minutes!

A friend of mine recently asked me if she could get crema through her stove top. I don't think so. There are some things that can maybe get that tiny hint of crema, but the effort doesn't seem like it is worth it when I look back at all of the suggestions:

1. As someone put it, scare the bean. Start with everything super hot (except the bean. Keep that at room temperature). Have the stove top expresso apparatus hot, the element hot, and use piping hot water.

2. Practically use turkish grounds. The tightly packed grounds will help more air pressure as the water vapour works its way through the grounds.

3. Using a expresso stove top that has no collecting reservoir, but a spout where you can watch the expresso come out. This is more for pulling the shot away from the nozzle when you see that the espresso coming out has lightened in colour to a beige or white. When you see this come out, it means that you are extracting the from the dregs of the grind, and when added to your shot makes the shot more bitter or tasteless. Bleckh!

4. If you can, buy a stove top expresso maker that has a control valve for when the water pressure is ready. I am not even sure if this is on the market. If it isn't someone needs to get on that.

I think she needed to throw out her stove top. Who are we kidding? When you want the crema at home, you are ready for a real espresso machine.

New Spring for Saltspring?

2010-01-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I actually like Saltspring anymore than I did from when I first started the blog, but what I did notice is that it really is more suitable for parents who bring their small children for a cuppa coffee. The inside is still tough to maneuver a stroller in there, but there almost always seems to be room to sit down. So where would the little kiddies go? Because Saltspring is located on a corner, with a large east facing window with tables and chairs outside, parents sip lattes while their strollers are parked on the sidewalk the same way testosterone drenched young men park their crotch rockets outside their favourite watering hole. Aside from the crazy - and perhaps unintentional - expression of stroller status, the cafe does lend itself to be a decent meeting place for parents with infants. For this reason Saltspring Island Coffee Company Cafe has moved a little bit up the ladder for me.

Having said all of this, the coffee remains to be acceptable and the service indifferent. The baked goods, although limited (despite all of the different labels displayed) are good. They also have clover coffee available. Unfortunately, it appears as though they pre-portion the beans, leaving the bean dry and stale and the clover bland and tasteless.

That was a heck of a coffee break

2010-01-16T09:04:00.001-08:00

It has been a LOOOOONG times since I posted anything. I think my need for everything to be witty was killing me. I felt like I couldn't keep it up anymore. I just need to go back to writing about the coffee shops that I like to hang out at and perhaps re-visit some old ones. In the past year, my view on coffee shops has changed slightly. I am looking at coffee shops in a new light. Since my baby came along, I feel like I have had some cafe's look at me differently as soon as they see me with a stroller or wearing a baby carrier. I feel a bit like Ruth Reichl (a previous New York Times food critic - Read Garlic and Sapphires, you will never regret it if you love foodie books are are interested in human behaviour) coming into different restaurants and having the same people react to you differently because of who you came with or who you are.

In short I am going to make a better effort in making more comments on some new places, a few comments on different beans, even make comment on some of the different ways some places prepare coffee. In short this will still be a coffee blog, but it will be served with more of the options.

Don't go Brekka-in' my Heart

2008-10-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

Brekka Bakery on Fraser is the other coffee shop in my scope of view that has been under consideration. Breka Bakery looks like a place that is so close to having it right for a cafe. They are close but for some reason it still has not hit home for me. They do serve espresso - I mean really, what self respecting European bakery claiming to be a cafe wouldn't? - but again they are using Lavazza style beans which is very European, but I still find to have too much of a burnt smokey flavour for my preferences. The baked goods are wide in selection, but truly when I have one, I always expect it to be better. I see these creamy desserts that could balance the smokey coffee taste and then I pop the baked good in my mouth and...It's baked but really not that good. I must give it credit for the breads that they create. They do produce some tasty breads that look good and come in a variety of densities and flavours which they will thin or thick slice for you on the spot. Perhaps they should just stick to Brekk-in' bread with friends.

Out of 5 slices of European style baked bread

Scene: 3 When you look around the options you have on Fraser - Starschmucks not withstanding -it is slim pickin's. This place actually has some decent seats and there is a variety of people who go there from families, hipsters, locals and students. Perhaps it is developing a bit of a following after it renovated a couple of years ago. Who knows? Maybe they will evolve into the neighbourhood establishment where people will actually head to as a destination. Ahh, who am I kidding?

Grub: 3 Mostly because of the bread. The place does serve the odd counter dish like Mac and Cheese for kids but it really is a bakery, everything from cakes, tarts, buns and breads. All of them baked. You judge which ones are good.

Coffee: 3 It's okay. I would almost say 2 but I know there are those people who love the flavour of Lavazza and the coffee is not necessarily utilitarian. If you are looking for a place to sit, have a coffee or read the paper, see the odd neighbour and maybe have a brownie, this could be your place.

Euro Breads, Bakery and Cafe

2008-10-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

This is one of two cafés on Fraser that one can go to for an espresso that I know of. It is around Fraser and 27th Avenue and could be easily missed if you were not looking for it. The cafe is a decent size but appears small because there really is not too much to it. It has a few chairs and tables inside and out, but for the most part the cafe saves its room for the stand up glass door fridges and display cases. The people in there are friendly but are not really interested in having you stay, nor go. They are there to bake the goods and maybe serve some coffee. I would say out of the three things that they claim to be, they are definitely a bread place. They have an entire corner dedicated to breads they make which area combination of wheats, seeds, gluten and gluten free breads. They also have a Georgian flat bread that is worth noting. I have to say that one of the things I do like having when I go there is their Borscht. It is hot with a dollop of yogurt, and served with a piece of flat bread. Yum! The rest of the baked goods are okay by my standards (actual baked goods not including cakes) but I couldn't say that there was anything other than the breads that stand out in my mind. Kind of the same way the store front blends in with the rest of the neighbourhood.

Out of 5 European Slices of flax seed gluten fee bread
Scene: 2 pleasant enough and not disruptive. The people are very unobtrusive mostly because they don't really care if you are there or not. The people who go are usually locals or the odd person who happened to be on Fraser and found themselves needing a coffee. It's actually not a bad place to go and quietly escape to read a book or do a crossword.

Grub: 3 There are good select items, but for the most part the baked goods are inoffensive, and you know that they make it one the premises. I only sometimes wonder about the freshness and turnover, since the place doesn't always seem very busy.

Coffee: 3 I'm not crazy about the grounds. I think they use the Lavazza or something similar. The beans always taste a little bit over roasted and a bit burnt, but they serve it the way you ask for it. It isn't the fastest service in town either, so don't think you are going to be able to et out of there in under 10 minutes if you think you are just passing through - and that's if you are the ONLY one in the store.

Cafe Hermosa Needs Menos Cosméticos Y Mas Café

2008-10-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

Along 7th near the bike path there is a little coffee shop on the corner that would seem like a great little place to stop, get your coffee and be off to where ever it is you are going. In fact I did just that because it was on my way and seemed so convenient. I should have known better. It actually is not as easy as one might think if you were not on you bike or on foot, but that wasn't the problem. I went in hoping for a little perk me up in the afternoon with a little snack thinking that this might be just what the blood sugar ordered. When I ordered my coffee, I thought that it was poorly made. Made close to the specifications, but for the most part tasteless. I also ordered a couple of baked items which they were out of which relegated me to a muffin. I thought, "Muffins aren't a bad thing-" unless of course you are going to be slapped for twoonie and handed over a Costco Blueberry Muffin. Hello!? How could a cafe with all of the packaging of somewhere that had their act together get the important stuff so wrong? I don't know if I want to risk having to go back to see if they got it right. Maybe in time I can go back and try to see if they can make it up to me but for now I wll travel that extra block and a half to Main street and go to Gene, where they got the coffee to taste good and look pretty.

Out of the five cups of starch found in a single Costco Muffin
Scene: 1 No one was in there at the time which should have said something to me in the first place. Secondly the person who was working there looked as though she didn't even want to be there.

Grub: 1 No selection. No more with the Costco muffins.

Coffee: 1 It wasn't good. It just wasn't good.

Turks West

2008-10-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

I happened to be walking along 8th Avenue when I realised that Turks from the drive had opened a Turks on the West Side. The Co-Hosts decided to try it on for size and I have to say it was a nice fit. The cafe could easily be missed from the street as it is tucked in from the sidewalk and on a second floor. However, when you walk in you realise that you have stumbled upon a great little cafe that has floor to ceiling windows that look on to a nice little deck over looking the park, mountian views and a nice little section of the city. The place is quite cozy with its wall sofa style seating and its little tables. Strangely the majority of the people we saw in there were men who either work in the area or are just passing through to get their caffeine fix. You can get your little baked goods from the cafe but nothing more. They sell their classy coffee travel mugs and bags of Milano beans but for the most part the cafe is just that. A cafe. The purpose is clear. They are there to serve coffee and you are there to drink and enjoy it.

Out of 5 Travel Mugs
Scene 4 - The place actually doesn't feel like there is any kind of "scene" per se, but rather a great unobstructed view of scenery that highlights some of Vancouver's best features. Aside from that the staff seem very friendly and the place is comfrtable enough to talk in and hang out.

Grub 3 - It has your standard baked goods that go well with coffee. You pretty much couldn't go wrong with your choices. They even have yogurt and granola if you really wanted it.

Coffee 4 - It was actually quite yummy and it looked good. I thought the espresso was pulled a bit too long evident by the white crema on top, but for the most part, the barista wanted to make sure that the coffee was made to your liking. They use Milano beans which you can purchase straight from them.

The Edge - Sharp, But Could Be Sharper

2008-10-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

I was recently accused of not having a cup of coffee for 5 months. On the contrary, I have been searching out some new coffee shops to explore. One of those coffee shops is the Edge on 8th and Yukon. When you enter it is laid out like a sleeker Bread Garden of old. It has display cases but in the background you can see a grill menu which serves breakfast and lunch in a little seating area to the side. The place has huge front windows and has a deck out front. It also has a little coffee bar stool counter that you can sit at if you are just darting in. I liked the fact that despite the dark modern colours used in the design, the place is relatively bright. I wasn't too crazy about the half service: order at the counter, you take a number and then they bring it out to you. The people are friendly and easy going, but the half service thing makes it feel a little bit like a cafeteria. It is a great place to sit down, read a paper, meet some friends and prepare to do some serious shopping at any of the box stores down the street. This place is a "I need to get a coffee and maybe a bite with my people before we head out" kind of place.

Out of 5 coffee grinding blades

Scene: 3 The locale is kind of funny right now because of all of the construction that is going on, and the box stores nearby. But as my Co-Host pointed out, the Olympic Wa-h-illage will be opening nearby so this place could be getting in early to season the edginess a bit before the games. The ability of bevies on the deck in the summer time could also amp up some scenery points. the staff seem cool but I think the place still needs to step out of a bit of the contemporary minimalist and get some art up on the walls.

Grub: 3 It has decent choices for the food, and what is served is good. The Edge Breakfast is the 2 eggs, choice of meat, hash and toast for $8. Not bad but could be better.

Coffee: 4 When I took my first sip I knew that it had that familiar flavour. I was pleased to find out that the shop served 49th Parallel beans which are my favourites! They even sell them whole bean by the pound.

Sunshine Diner Remains on the Sunny Side

2008-05-31T17:26:00.000-07:00

The Sunshine Diner is one of those places that people love when they find it, and it soon becomes a destination spot when one thinks of breakfast or an old fashioned milkshake. The place is set up like a 50’s diner that sticks to the theme of Elvis, Marilyn, Coca Cola and American cars. It has a little patio area, tables and booths where people can meet and eat comfortably. Despite the fact that Sunshine is located in Kits and is frequented by people in the neighbourhood, it does get play from all kinds of folks. Everyone from construction workers to business people will go there. It kind of looks like Sesame Street when they sing the, “These are the people in your Neighbourhood” song.

The food is good, not profoundly terrific, but it is a diner after all. It serves up all the usual breakfast goodies served as a dish or a la carte. You have your picks of Eggs Benedicts, omelets, and assorted breakfast specialties. Our favourite is the 2 BIG Pancakes, if not for the ability to fill but the fact it has a fun name. Mind you, in our minds Bert’ still has the most buttery Pancakes to date. The servers are nice to you even if you loiter as long as they are not too busy.
If you haven’t already tried the Sunshine Diner, then you had better make your way over. Even though they moved into their newer fancier building up the street from their old location, they have still managed to maintain their feel good friendly neighbour appeal.

Scene: 3 – Despite the range of visitors who are there and that if you live in Vancouver, you have to know that this place exists, there really isn’t any good people watching. Ultimately you are in a diner with 50’s décor, which would be great if you were filming a scene from Happy Days. Unfortunately there is no Arthur Fonzerelli to provide that level of cool.
Grub: 3 – The food is diner food. It’s greasy but it’s good. I wouldn’t say that I would go there if I were a vegan or on a Weight Watcher’s – unless of course you were going for the high score.
Coffee: 2 It’s utilitarian with no chance of an espresso – I don’t think. Even if they did, the servers ain’t no baristas. The coffees, however, are bottomless.

Not Much to Roar About at the Lion's Den

2008-05-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

The Lion’s Den café can be seen behind the little pie piece median from the intersection of Fraser and Kingsway. It is a little hole in the wall with a big personality. I couldn’t help but be constantly surprised once I stepped through its doorway. At first sight, you cannot help but be accosted by the Jamaican Bob Marleyesque décor which is literally crowned with a taxidermy lion over head. The person behind the counter was, I believe, to be a wildly outspoken Japanese woman who told us that we had to serve ourselves our own coffee, because she could not take care of us all day because she was by herself and she was hung over. As we served ourselves coffee from the eclectic thrift store mugs, we couldn’t help but notice that the menu was a fusion of your diner breakfast, Jamaican dishes nicely rounded out by your option of Japanese delights. We opted for the standard eggs, hash and bacon (which we were promptly told that there may be too many of us in the café and that there may not be enough bacon for everybody!) to set at least a baseline for food. To our surprise when we looked past the dumbwaiter window, we couldn’t help but notice that the kitchen was a kitchen one might find in a rental suite with about the same quality utensils. While we waited, we noticed a steady flow of people until the second staff member arrived. The actual breakfast was a decent enough home style breakfast and the wait wasn’t nearly as long as expected. It actually appeared that the place, despite it quirks, had a steady routine of abuse customers, take their orders and give them enough service that they might come back. Would I come back? Would I be a regular? Not on your life. But it’s kind of like after being hit in dodgeball. You are briefly stunned when it happened, you realize it was fun while it lasted, but everyone’s gotta have a turn.

Out of 5 Jamaican Lion Roars Mon

Grub 2: The food we had was alright but I have to say that everything else looked pretty sketchy and peering into the kitchen didn’t instill any sense of reassurance.
Scene 3: It was kind of interesting who went in there. There were workers, a couple of people who appeared to be tourists, and a few other random folks who were in and out. Strangely t seemed like it was mostly men in there. I doubt you would see any Kits types in there.
Coffee 1: The coffee was terrible. I think they had an espresso machine in there. In fact I am pretty sure it was a Saeco Barrista from Starbucks that looked like an alley cat after a night out with the Feline Fight Club.
Note: If you every have a hankering to play two person head to head table top Pac Man from the early 80’s, this place uses one of those exact machines as their tables by the windows.

One of the farthest coffees the show has tasted.

2008-05-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

We have a special over land and seas correspondent, Anna Williamnova, in Moscow who is giving us a feed, or shall I say a slurp, into the Russian coffee scene. This is our first international review, but certainly not the show’s last. Na zdorovia!

1792, Moscow
This corner restaurant/coffee shop is named after some historical event, which might have something to do with a German poet or the French revolution. The décor is simple with dark wood tables and some comfy chairs at lower tables. The coffee is also simple, you have a choice of espresso or Americano only. No cappuccino. No latte. However, coffee is included with all of the very tasty breakfasts, ranging from blini with sweet or savory fillings, omelets, and steak and eggs.

Grub: 5 revolutionists. Tasty, not too filling, and lovely looking, especially the ricotta griddle cakes (pictured).
Coffee: 4 German poets. Espresso shots have a creamy foam on top and are very smooth. If you ask for milk with your Americano, you'll get a small personal pitcher of hot milk.
Scene: 2-3 historical events. You can sit forever, but like almost everywhere in Moscow it's smoky. The music ranges wildly from techno, to Nina Simone, to Phil Collins. Sometimes perfect, sometimes grating.

Metro: Sportinaya

Mazel Tov on the Matzah

2008-04-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

If you’re feeling a little fress and are searching for a place to fill the void, head out to Solly’s. I can’t say that I have ever thought, “Hey let’s go there for a breakfast show.” It’s more like, “Do you want to go for a soup and sandwich and pick up a babka and a half a dozen bagels for tea later?”

Solly’s offers a scrumptious soup and sandwich offer, and for a little bit more they add a beautifully tart kosher pickle. Solly’s also offers a comforting bowl of matzah ball soup that sooths even the most restless of tummies. For dessert there are a variety of sweet baked goods. I prefer the mini babkas and the cinnamon buns. As for the coffee, they use Seattle’s best. It is all set up as a self serve utility station. You have to pay for refills but if you are there more for the baked goods and need to have that second cup, I guess you’ll just have to ante up. The shop seats about a dozen people inside and about as many outside, but the place always seems to have a line of some kind - people running in to pick up their favourite goodies, and then running back out before they are busted for their illegal parking job in the neighbourhood. One other note of interest is the shop’s support of youth art. Children are able to display a small number of pieces in the shop and people can comment on the work. The kids can even have a little art opening where they can invite family and friends to their art opening.

Out of 5 Matzah Balls floating in chicken broth
Grub: 5 - Yum! The food is delicious. You only need to be there early enough so your favourite treats do not run out.

Scene: 3 – Everyone in the ‘hood knows Solly’s. It’s an establishment. It has its stream of regulars. The people watching is fine, but you do have to wait a little while to get a decent seat.

Coffee: 2 – Seattle’s Best is okay coffee, but let’s face it. It’s utilitarian. It’s self serve. And you have to pay for refills. Not high on my list for going for a coffee. Lunch, yes. Coffee, not so much.

La Petite Patisserie Francaise Avec Saveur

2008-04-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

This little Café along the Arbutus corridor has that little flavour of a French Patisserie where the bakers are French and the flakey pastry melts on your tongue like warm buttery snowflakes. We ordered a couple of coffees and pain au chocolats and sat down to take in the people watching We witnessed several people wander in, who were obviously French, ordering away their daily baked breads and sweets, bien sur en francais. The coffee was a deep dark roast with the right amount of water, but what made this coffee special was the cream. When asked if I wanted cream the lady behind the counter reached into a refrigerator and poured out a dollop of cream into a small creamer. As I poured the cream into my coffee, the cream was slow and smooth and swirled in my coffee like a white mist creeping through a midnight sky. I dipped my finger into the creamer and a tasted a buttery goodness that made me wonder why anyone would have ever imagined of making margarine. The coffee was good, but the cream made it better.

Out of 5 Dollops of Cream

Scene: 3 – It is a location that is made for the locals which does make it a little bit more difficult to visit if you are driving to it. The décor is plain and the seating is not that conducive to lounging for very long, and the people watching is sporadic and brief, but the French language does give a slight feeling of pretending you are in a foreign country.
Grub: 4 – Everything looked tasty and tasted even better. Everything is a little bit pricey for a bakery but I suppose that is the price of having everything made by a Boulanger Francais.

Coffee: 4 – It was the cream that made it. Need I say more.

Great View. Shame About the Coffee

2008-04-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

They say that every cloud has a silver lining and the windstorms of 2006 that eliminated a large portion of the trees around prospect point made way for a 270 degree view over looking Burrard Inlet. Absolutely beautiful. The point that you used to have to wheedle your way through the crowds in order to take in the view has just been expanded into a glorious place to sit and enjoy a coffee. It’s just too bad that the real devastation that has taken place is the fact that you can’t get a decent cup of coffee up there. The coffee that we found came from the bar associated to the Prospect Point Café restaurant in the little tourist complex. The coffee came from one of those machines one might find at a self serve gas station. The coffees are tailored for someone who doesn’t know what coffee is and wants to drink something that is bland enough not to offend, but can say that they had “a coffee”. The restaurant inside seemed to have a pleasant décor with smatterings of wrought iron, vintage stain glass windows a whole whack of wood surrounded with eye candy views. The food was a bit pricey but listed something that could satisfy almost any tourists. It’s just a shame about the coffee.
Out of 5 blown down trees

Grub: 2 – The baked goods sold at the counter were pretty borderline. They had your packaged chips and cookies and the actual “baked goods” were probably a couple of days old from a wanna-be Bread Garden.
Scene: 5 – Great for people watching and when you get tired of that you can take a look at the view from a top of the cliff point. If you get tired o that you can walk away and make your way down to the Seawall. Just be prepared to walk, and either pay for parking or park outside of Stanley Park.
Coffee: 1 – Do your self a favour and don’t drink the coffee. It’s an experience you can’t give back. There might actually be another place up there that is a little independent. Just make sure you stay away from the auto coffee machines.

Polly Wants A Coffee

2008-04-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

The Blue Parrot on Granville Island offers a wide selection of sandwich bar items to have with your coffee. It probably has some of the best spaces to sit and enjoy the views on Granville Island, however, there are very few spaces ever available. If you are lucky enough to find seating and have the time to wait for your order, then you can sit down to some mediocre sandwiches (taking into consideration the fact that you are on Granville Island and have the choice of many different foods) and some coffees that you were misled to believe that you custom ordered. Despite the coffee, food and service, there is no denying that they have some prime real estate in that little locale. You almost forget about what you are putting in your mouth and become fixed on the people watching.

Out of 5 Parrot Feathers

Scene: 4 – How can one argue that when you have kick ass seating on a beautiful day on GI, with people streaming around you that you are in a bad place. The seating is old school wood chairs, some of which are those 70’s captain chairs that so many of us had growing up. The only problem is that because there are so many people who are looking for seating, one cannot help but feel that you cannot linger for long. The people are hit and miss. Mostly tourists, but it just means that the scenery is always changing.

Grub: 3 – The food is actually pretty good, but it does pale in comparison to everything in the market that you almost have to pass in order to get to the Blue Parrot. The fare is nothing out of the ordinary but there really isn’t anything that you can turn your nose from.

Coffee: 3 – Not quite utilitarian, because it does offer espresso. The people behind the counter probably have the best of intentions when they make your coffee, but they slump miserably in the delivery. Everything seems to be served in a pint sized mugs with either too much water, too much milk or both – despite your requests. However, although I have not tried it myself, I have been told by several people to try their hot chocolate. Some advice I think I will take up the next time I’m in the Blue Parrot’s cage.

The McDeal on the McCoffee

2008-04-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

When I kept hearing strange murmurs about McDonald's having great coffee, I had to try it myself. It seems as though Mickey D's has taken a page out of Timmy Ho's by asking what you want in your coffee before you receive it so they can given you a false sense of having a custom made coffee. I took cream with no sugar and waited for my little morning liquid supplement to arrive. When I first tried it, the thought of McDonald's "Too Hot Coffee Scandal" ran through my mind. "Will I burn my tongue immediately and be unable to taste the coffee or will I hate it right off the bat?" I have to say my pessimistic views tainted my perspective before The coffee hit my lips. I peeled back the lid and took my first few slurps.

At first I thought the coffee was too hot and too bitter, but as I started slurping down a little bit more my opinions started to change. Perhaps it was some caffeine kicking in, or maybe the cream was finally mixing in with some of the coffee, or I secretly really wanted to like the coffee. Whatever it was I found myself enjoying the little cup of joe. The taste mellowed out and the little cup of coffee that could did it for me.

I actually picked the coffee up in a Bacon and Egg McMuffin with a hash brown for about 5 bucks. The McDonald's on Main near terminal is sketchy at best but serves your McFare the way you McExpect it.

Out of 5 McStars

Scene: 1 - Stay out of there if you can. There is a swanky McDonald's higher up Main around 30th, but the McD's on Main and Terminal is a semi convenient locale for commuters and a great place to go if you have collected enough cans and bottles to buy a McMeal.

Grub: 2 - Okay. It is a bit of a guilty pleasure but I know the food is not good for me which is why I can only rank it as a 2 at its McBest.

Coffee: 2 - Utilitarian. But, as far as brewed utilitarian coffee went, this wasn't bad. In fact it was better than the utilitarian swill I have at work which makes it a really high two. However, let's face it, a 3 means it has to be as good as a mediocre Americano. So until the McAmericano comes along this McRating stays.

True Confessions of True Confections

2008-04-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Cake and Pie. What more is there? Why would there have to be? True Confections offers a smorgasbord of mile high cakes and deep dish pies. There are the odd assortment of other desserts but I don't really know why they bother. I have to say that I am a pie person. A Chocolate Banana Cream pie to be precise. The layered creamy goodness over a layer of bananas topped with chocolate shavings. Yumness on a plate. The cakes and pies can eat like a meal so if you decide that your are going to visit the join on Broadway and Alma or their downtown location, make sure you eat light dinner. Something to note with the Alma locale is to bring a sweater in the event that you sit near the windows as it can be quite cool in there. It's pretty hit and miss with how busy it is in there. It can be filled with anyone from university students to a little family outing. The place is plainly set up with the display case as the main focus of decoration.

Out of 5 Layers of Cake

Scene: 2 - I have to say that I never really go there for the atmosphere or to even people watch. It's great for the catch up time with a friend, or just to eat a slab of pie.

Grub: 5 - When it comes to this kind of food, there are few dessert places that offer this kind of quality and variety. It has found its niche.

Coffee: 3 It serves up all the regular coffee types, but don't really make it to order. Their coffee is too watery, the milk seems scalded and they charge for refills. In other words stick to serving the cakes and pies. They do however, serve a nice variety of teas, and they can't go wrong with boiling water.

Salt and Pepper Needs More Spice

2008-04-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

From the outside it looks like a part of the Best Western Hotel Restaurant, and for the most part, it is. The inside has that “family restaurant” feel but with less style. It is pretty sterile inside and the front deck faces Kingsway. I thought that I might be able to sit there a while, pick up a wireless signal and do a bit of work. However, not only is the décor not something to look at, but the furniture physically doesn’t allow you to sit there for long. I sat on the bench near the front door and I have sat in church pews that were more inviting.

The food was actually pretty good. It was your $6.50 breakfast with 2 eggs, bacon (3 strips) or ham, pancakes or toast and hash browns with a cup of coffee. The coffee was utilitarian, but the bacon crispy and the eggs made to order. The service was also commendable. The lone waitress appeared to run a tight ship. The food arrived promptly, the coffee refilled quickly and the service unobtrusive. If you are in a hurry and want to stop in for a quick breakfast to get you going this is definitely the spot. It is definitely better than a drive though, but not quite a sit down and stay a while.

Out of 5 Dashes of Salt

Scene: 1 – Some locals- and I don’t mean Main street hipsters – perhaps a hotel guest maybe two and aside from that dead zone. Next door there is a little pub type of area but I can’t imagine it being much of a place to hang out. I overheard a couple of people trying to figure out why the place doesn’t draw in a lunch or dinner crowd in spite of the menu options. Anybody could look around and see that this place some character, and I don’t mean the kind you will find in Best Western chains across North America.
Grub: 3 – Pretty good breakfast stuff for a fair price - shame about the locale. The portions are modest but what they lack in quantities, they make up in service.
Coffee: 2 – Utilitarian. I have to say it is actually closer to a one because it was a little bit watered down.

Sorry, it must have been another Barney I know.

2008-03-07T09:30:00.001-08:00

Deja vu? And I'm not just talking about seeing a second Bean Around the World on Main street just off Broadway. I'm talking about the fact that BATW is right next to Cafe Barney just like the BATW location on South Granville. The two joints took over the restaurant and cafe formerly known as Monsoon and Soma (Soma has a new location which opened fall '07 in the old vegan bistro formerly known as Hatch).

Cafe Barney has a clean décor like a Pier 1 showroom. It's seemingly more spacious and airy than its predecessor. The staff seem like it is going for hiring the Main street kind of gals and it is serving up a lot of the same fare that it has at its Granville location. To be honest, although the restaurant has history on the Granville strip, I wasn't all that impressed with this Cafe B. In the huevos rancheros I had,it claimed that it had fresh salsa but it was jarred salsa with some tomatoes cut up and added in, and my co-host seemed to be a little bit overwhelmed by the amount of sausage in her omlette. I know that I am treading in areas that I don't normally go but I have to say that my first impression of Cafe Barney was a little bit disappointing.

Will I go back again? Of course I will. The food was not so bad that I was repulsed into never returning. I just won't get the huevos rancheros again. The place has just opened in the past couple of months so they must have a few kinks to work out just like any other joint.

As for the coffee? I didn't actually have any. It looked just like any other utilitarian coffee I've ever had, even at Barney's on Granville. I'll just have to come back and have a second look at the cafe I thought I recognized.

Out of 5 soft poached huevos

Scene: 3 Very nice people. Our server was accommodating and attentive. As far as the rest of the staff? After working in restaurants when I was younger, I was always told having conversations about your social life out amongst customers while doing prep work was tacky. I can now see why.
As for the clientel, the people in there seemed mostly like the people who I mentioned who would search for this kind of food. Maybe they were people from South Granville who were playing tourist in the SOMA area.

Grub: 2 Like I said it wasn't repulsive. The menu had some variation but pretty straight up like a Pier 1 showroom. If you are looking for your up front no surprises, non vegan, non obscure vegetable prepared on a regular stove, then this place would be great.

Coffee: TBA – I'm going to assume it's utilitarian. I doubt that I will go with an americano the next time I go there even though it is probably offered on the menu. If I feel like an americano, I would rather walk the extra ten meters and go to BATW next door.

Gene, Gene the Coffee Machine

2008-02-22T16:32:00.001-08:00

Gene is one of the latest little coffee shops to open on Main... or is it Kingsway? It can be found on that little pie wedge of a block that points north and overlooks downtown framed by Main and Kingsway. It is actually the ideal little location for those who are waiting for that #8 Fraser bus or for those who have just made their latest purchase from Pulp Fiction a few doors up.

The folks we saw in this place were young hipsters sipping their straight espresso shots and working on their Macs. They went well with the decor of 180 degree view through the super tall windows, the minimalist industrial feel of the pipe fixtures and the institutional furniture - and by that I mean the chairs and stools that can be found in any elementary school. All of the accessories had very clean lines (I actually really like their saucers with the off center cup well). It appears to still be a work in progress, but it is shaping up to be a very cool place. We are hoping that they will be able to get a permit for the steel tables and chairs outside to create that Euro feel.

The Americano I had was smooth (there was a potential danger of the barrista adding too much water which was quickly averted) with a little bit more of a bitter taste than what I usually go for, but very good nonetheless. I don't know where they get their baked goods from but the 'power muffin' that I had was filling and tasty filled with a variety of nuts, dates and chocolate. I am sure that there will be more food items on the menu once th place has finished up a bit more and got its feet wet. Maybe they should star getting baked goods from the people at Re-Entry? Hmm?

Note: I had to laugh as we left the cafe. If you remember to go out the Main Street exit, check out the little handle sign. It has a clipped out picture of Sean Penn with the caption "Don't push me!"

Out of 5 Sean Penn Punches

Scene: 4 - It has great potential to be a very happening place and not just because a community center is opening across the street from it. The views are spectacular, the people are almost too hip but the place is still shaping up.

Grub: 3 - There really wasn't a whole lot to offer but what we had was great. Hopefully, as I mentioned before, the place is still in the midst of getting its act in order.

Coffee: 4 - The coffee was great. However, indicate how much water they put in the americano if you are particular. The coffee was a little bit too cool when it was served which can kill the coffee if you're not careful. Otherwise I would definitely go back again. In fact I know I will when they get a little bit get a bit more grounded.

Coffee@home with the Saeco Barrista from Starbucks

2008-02-17T21:26:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas I was given two huge bags of coffee from an Ultimate Frisbee team that I mentor appropriately named the Icecaps. I have been using these beans for the past two months making my own espresso on a Saeco Barrista or Rio Profi - yes, the espresso machine found on the shelves of every local Starschmucks. I have been experimenting with the long and short espresso, the milk steamer, the facility of machine use and, naturally, the beans.

Overall the machine has been consistent in pressure and ease operation. The downsides to the machine are the cheap accessories: the wimpy little coffee scoop, the absence of a tamper, the wimpy drip tray and this faux drawer that they think you will store stuff in. If you can accept the cheap periferrals because you will are planning to buy more quality accessories from Starschmucks, then you'll be fine. I actually take the whole tray set out to make room for a proper cup when pressing the espresso to minimize the loss of any crema. It means that my coffee won't necessarily look pretty, but the taste is preserved.

The mlk frother is adequate but the steam pressure doesn't always keep its strength for very long. If you don't clear the steamer well in the beginning, you may fill your milk with an extra shot of water that will dilute the flavour in your drink. I actually picked up the 'cheating' trick from my wife who throws the milk in the microwave to help warm up the milk (she likes her coffee hot) to alow the frother to froth and not just to warm the milk up. The draw back is the little milk skin that forms with higher fat content milk and that ever precarious point of scalding the milk. When frothing, choose a container that allows for the milk to swirl around to avoid splashing, and start the frother deep for even heating. If you are trying to froth the milk slowly pull the conatiner lower until you hear that sound created when you are hocking a loogey while clenching your teeth - an unappetising description but an accurate one.

When dealing with the pressure when pressing the espresso, the machine is able to draw out decent flavour. You just can't over pack the grounds in the filter holder, nor can the grounds be ultra fine. Either one can throw off the water pressure leaving you with lifeless watery espresso with no crema and a mediochre taste, not to mention 10 minutes of your life you will not get back. When the pressure is turned on and the water is making its way through the grounds, a smooth darth caramel coloured stream should flow steadily in two thin lines. The trick is to pay attention to when the colour starts to fade which indicates when to shut off the water pressure. You can try to milk the crema but the flavour starts to deteriorate when the crema turns from caramel to a vanilla white. The white just means that you are pulling water through dead grounds. Unlike higher end models of Saeco Machines, this one leaves it up to the "barrista" to measure the length and the quality of the pull.

I guess my overall impression of this machine is a good one. People love to come over and have a coffee and talk about the minutia of the espresso machine.

Out of 5 Starschmuck accessories
Quality of Machine: 4 People I have spoken to who have this machine swear by it. It's a good one. You pay a bit more but if you make coffee from it consistently it wil pay itself back quickly. I've had mine for over a couple of years and it remains as good as when I got it. Watch the handle on the filter. If you try to tap out the grounds after pressing your espresso, the handle may come loose. You can't really do that big banging thing they do it cafe's. This is afterall the "home model".
User Friendliness: 3 It is easy to use but you have to do some experimentation to get good quality coffee out of it. Once you know how you like the espresso, the more likely you will be able to make better customed coffees for you and your loved ones. If people don't really pay attention, but they think they know what they are doing, you just get watered down espresso that doesn't really qualify as an espresso drink.
Overall design and look: 3 Like I said, the little drawer is cheesy, the accessories are lame, and the water resevoir is a little bit awkward to fill. The look is nice because you can get it in different colours, mine is black which is neutral enough to go with most decors.
Overall satisfaction: 4 Despite the quirks in the design the machine is decent. Good quality pressure is what you should care about, and getting to know the machine is half the battle. Although the machine is not prefect I love that little kitchen appliance just the same.

Our Town Ain't no Bean Town ...Yet

2007-12-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

Our Town is the kind of coffee shop that I would have thought I would enjoy hanging about more in. Inside there is a multilevel seating which provides a nice perspective for people watching. There is also a nice little couch area in there and they serve coffee there! However, it isn't really the first place that pops in to mind when I think I want to go somewhere for a cuppa. There is no weakness in the strength of their coffee, they serve baked goods and sandwiches, and there seems to be a steady group of people who flow in and out out like any corner coffee house. The main south wall is a giant window that lets all kinds of sun in and yet, it still doesn't do it for me. Although from a coffee business standpoint it has some excellent qualities, I still feel that it is lacking some character of some kind. The Little House on the Prairie Oleson's General Mercantile meets the New Hampton decor just doesn't do it for me. Yes, it is still another puzzle piece in the eclectic Main Street style, but for my personal tastes it seems to fall flat. It's not that I dislike it, I just don't love it. If you are looking for a blow your head off and keep my body twitching for hours four shot Americano - which I made an absolute mistake in doing one day - go for it. I think I did it because the price difference between a 2-shot and a 4-shot seemed so minor at the time, and I thought, "Hey, why not?" I'm better now. It took a little self hugging and rocking and someone to help talk me down, but I'm good.

Out of Five Oleson's Mercantile licorice whips

Scene - 2 Sorry all you regulars, but it did nothing for me. There didn't seem to have that buzz one kind of gets when you walk into a coffee house. Everyone seemed like they were too sedated or over caffeinated despite the 4-shot Amercianos available.

Grub - 3 The baked good I had there was so-so, but they did have a some variety. If I am not mistaken though, it seemed to me that things were all wrapped up in cellophane which tells me it's at least a day old, or they close up early.

Coffee - 2 better than utilitarian, but there really wasn't anything extra special about them. I remember there were blended drinks and they seemed either too sweet or not sweet enough. I think they need a little training on maximizing crema and reducing bitterness as well. It's like I said, the place has potential but there are just a few things that haven't been solved yet.

Tastes of Prada; Looks like Prado

2007-12-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

Commercial wasn't exactly on the hit list of Coffee Houses, but when I was invited to taste the coffee, it had to make it on. Upon first appearances, the actual coffee house is pretty bare bones. It kind of reminded me of one of those old brick buildings that has been converted into a studio or gallery space where everything is sparsely decorated so that it doesn't take away from the art work. For this coffee, I would say that the decor was on target. It has the exposed support beams, the power washed fire brick exterior, the bone paint colour with the stainless steel accents on the counter. Most tables are meant for two, the chairs are a dull aluminum and the place is almost all windows. All of the people behind he counter were the friendly cool Commercial cats, each with their individual statements pronounced by the asymmetircal alternative haircuts. While I was there, there seemed to be a diverse clientele, all of whom were representatives of the neighbourhood (Strangely enough, there were many people on laptops and all sitting in the same direction. From what I gathered from a couple of people who have also been there, they all noticed that same phenomenon.) Based on some pretty loose research, Prado gets its coffee from 49th Parallel, the home-bean-base for Artigiano. At first glance I could tell by that thick smooth brown crema frothing at the three quarter level of my mug that I was going to drink the Prada shoes of coffee beans. If they weren't from 49th Parallel, then they were another fine roast. Along with my Americano, I opted out of my usual banana loaf and tried their pear and almond loaf which I thought was a tasty little slice of moist nuttiness. Although I didn't stay long I would go back in a moment, knowing that the place served a smooth cup of coffee.

Out of 5 Brunette Assymetrical Hairdos

Scene: 5 Very relaxed atmosphere, where everyone seems welcome. There is something about the neighbourhood coffee house that brings people together. There were families in there amongst the tech heads, but I knew the place was a real 'hood' coffee house when the barista said to me, as I was holding the kid of a friend of mine, "He's really looking more and more like his father everyday." Either this is a place that knows it's customers, or my friend goes there too much.

Grub: 3 What was there looked good. I really only had the one thing but there didn't seem to be that much more. If there is any low grades , it is only because of the lack of variety.

Coffee: 5 I have to say that I just love that bean, and the barista knew how to draw out the crema. I even watched her as she did one of those Artigiano signature creamy leafs in a kid's hot chocolate. That's some coffee skills. A little note to the coffee debs out there. I was told that they have a tendency to make a traditional cappuccino a little on the wet side, and when I did specify to them that I wanted the mug to be filled three quarters full, I sensed a whiff of the "Buddy, we are not Starbucks with the special orders" kind of attitude. They still did as I requested and made the coffee, but I think if I pressed the issue, I think I would discover what kind of no-nonsense baristas they were.

Big 'C' now stands for Crave

2007-11-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

One of the favoured brunch spots, Big C, about four years back turned into a new restaurant of a forgettable name which then turned into what is now known as Crave. After visitng Crave a couple of times now, I have had the pleasant surprise of delicious food, almost over the top polite service, and delicious food. The restaurant has a beautiful little patio in the back that has a pleasant little zen-ish garden thing happening there. ( I actually think that they have speakers in the shape of rocks so that the speakers don't interfere with the theme they have going on back there.) I recently visited the place for brunch and found the food to be quite good, and with healthy portions. I wouldn't say that I would rave for Crave but I certainly wouldn't direct people away from it. They had a couple of things that I thought looked good. It had these crazy large pancakes that came in a triple stack that looked very fluffy and came with an in house fruity compote. I don't know how these flap jacks stacked up to Bert's but I may have to revisit the place just to taste these. The second thing that caught my eye was the panatone french toast. The person I went with said that the panatone toast wasn't "quite as 'eggy'" as he would have liked them, which I can appreciate, but they weren't bad. I don't know how they stack up against Seb's banana bread french toast but I can bet they aren't nearly as rich. As far as the decor and ambience goes, I would say that it is a little more Pier 1-ish than the other eclectic- artsy places on Main. It has big black and white prints, contemporary smashed glass designer dividers, a roll up garage door to the outside front patio, and the little zen patio out back. It filled quite quickly, and maintained the old school Big C brunch time line up - so go early.

Out of 5 sweet and juicy turkey sausages

Scene: 3 The scene was good. The service was great. The people who were there seemed like they were the "just west of Ontario Street, but liked to venture to the east side to take in the action". It did seem a little out of place for what one might expect on Main, but if Main is about a mixed bag of style, then throw this one into the mix.

Grub: 4 I had the standard 2 eggs any style, toast, hashed brown potatoes, and these delicious turkey sausages. I had no complaints, but I know that I could get the same thing somewhere else for less - everything but those sausages. However, the specialty breakfasts mentioned above did pique my interest for yet another visit.

Coffee: 3 Well, the friends and a nice place to chill was fulfilled, but the coffee is yet to be desired. It seemed pretty utilitarian, but then again, they served an americano but keep in mind it was served at a restaurant which is not really made to any particular specification.

Saltspring Island Coffee Company comes to Main land

2007-11-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

Once Saltspring Island Coffee Company took over the locale of the old Coffee Cow, I have taken SSICC into consideration of places to go for a brew. Although I have deep respect for ex-Canuck Cliff Ronning #7, previous owner of Coffee Cow, the name Coffee Cow was a terrible name. (Are you calling customers cows? Are you calling the servers cows? Are you saying that the coffee comes directly from a cow and we are practically drinking directly from its teets for the freshest brew making all of us calves? I don't know if I am insulted or grossed out.) SSICC has an excellent locale where they have wisely made almost all the walls into glass on a lovely corner next to a crosswalk with the long side of the shop being a row of south facing set of tables and chairs. The baking seems pretty standard, as is the other food, and the coffee is acceptable when you get what you want. If anything, the way you get your coffee, much like the service, is a little bit hit and miss. There are times when the coffee and service is exactly as you had hoped, making the coffee experience lovely. Then there are the times when you ask for your americano three quarters full in the smaller size cup and you practically get an extra water americano in a large cup. If only the coffee and the service was a little bit more consistent, I think I would frequent the place a little more. With so many coffee shops on Main where I know I will get what I want, what is making me stop out front aside from the crosswalk? I would say that the real coffee felony about this place is just how it is so average. It's got a good locale. It's bumped up some of the decor. Now let's see about the food, service and personality.

Out of 5 Coffee Cow Teets

Scene: 3 - Only because of its south facing row of table and chairs. It make the place warm and the extra space makes it stroller friendly for those Main Street parents to park out their pimped out prams.
Grub: 3 Average to really average. You'll get what you are looking for but I doubt anyone will write home about it.
Coffee: 3 Average. Like I mention up top, it's hit and miss. Hope you get more hits that misses.

Starbuck's: An Ahab, not a mate

2007-11-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

Starbuck's. According to readers of Moby Dick, Starbuck was Ahab's first mate that relied on reason and his profound respect and reverence for nature that tried to deter Ahab's monomaniacal obsession with dominating, what Ahab perceived as, an embodiment of evil. When I think of Starbuck's the coffee chain, I think, "We have a new Ahab in the house." Starbucks may not be evil in itself, but the perception that Starbucks is trying to take over the planet by caffeinating everyone into a zombie like state does make one take pause. Personally, I don't mind Starbuck's coffee. I must admit that there are some franchises that are better than others, but for the most part I don't mind their beans, the americano and the way that they have made things just so convenient! Admittedly I do have a Saeco Espresso machine at home bought from a Starbucks and I love it. Starbucks does have some tasty baked goods and can I just say how much I like their peppered bacon breakfast sandwich? There are some days when price and calories be damned! I just want to chomp down on one of them breakfast goodies. Each locale has good seating, decent (if not completely commercially customized) music, and a better than average understanding of how to take an order for coffee.

There are days when I pan Starbucks for the conglomerate that is taking over the planet and then there are other times when I recognize their contributions to the coffee society. Their product and brand has now created a new standard for those citizens of the CaffeiNation. One must admit that when it comes to needing the coffee fix with a little munchy on the side, everyone at one time or another has been a Moby Dick lashed to this Ahab's Pequod.

Out of 5 Green Barista Aprons

Scene: 4 - There is a standard that has been created whether people like to admit it or not. The consistent decor, the kitcshy Starbucks paraphernalia and that music is able to draw in even those who don't drink anything caffeinated. It is so welcoming that it makes those who know better to run in and yell, "Get out while you still can! Save yourselves!"

Grub: 3 - I can't remember where they get their baking from, but I do remember someone telling me that they started making steady orders to their place of work and cut out the Starbuckian middle man. Of course, there are those breakfast sandwiches which one must try. If it wasn't for those prices!

Coffee 4 - Like I said, I feel like they made a standard for coffee. People can argue the whole coffee culture all they want. they can talk about Commercial and their long standing coffee houses, Timmy Ho's and how most of Canada drinks their double doubles, and the maybe even the Sev and how their large brewed coffee for cheap is the real standard, but let's face it people. Stop lying to yourselves. Starbucks has been ingrained into people's life styles as a coffee house that is accessible where someone secretly feels special. You know it.

Feeling at Liberty

2007-11-20T18:55:00.000-08:00

Liberty's little bakery on the corner of Main and 21st is a sweet little place that has an artsy decor furnished by one of Liberty's children, I think. You can enjoy the bright little corner shop's baked goods unaccosted by people. This, however, includes service. It is owned and operated by Liberty and she hires some of the local kids to fetch the displayed items and make the required brew. The rate of service that takes place makes me think that the correlation between teenage memory and attention to detail to the speed at which the more aged move would make for one perfect candidate as an Olympic kettle watcher or one who may actually be witness to seeing grass grow. (It is rumoured that Liberty has actually walked a marathon and someone else told me that she was a crazy walker who would walk out to Mission.) I think that this place has some of the slowest service. If you are ever in a rush, don't come here. If you have time to read the paper, chat with a friend and want to enjoy a little somet'n-somet'n then make your way over. If you are in the need of a little caffeine fix while on the go, head across the cross walk and go down about 200m north to BATW.

Out of 5 birds nest cookies

scene: 3 - it is a nice little place with a south facing sidewalk on a sunny day. This is not so much a hipster joint so much as it is a nice neighbourhood bakery that serves coffee. Perfect for taking the parental units out for a coffee or some of the more conservative out of town visitors.
grub: 4 - baking, good. sandwiches, good.
coffee: 2 - slow and there is that lack of attention to detail when you require a little something in particular to be down with your coffee.

It's a work of Artigiano

2007-11-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

Artigiano to me is the perfect Americano. Thick rich crema from beautifully roasted beans pressed through your top of the line expresso machine and facilitated by a barista who is one with the caffeinated universe. It is this Americano that, if I was braver, would drink it black. It's not that I won't drink black coffee, but I am afraid of losing the dream of what I have built up my expectations to be. When it gets to the brass tax of coffee this is where alchemy begins. I don't know exactly how they make it the way they do, but I have been tempted to take on a part time job to find out just how they do that thang. Not only are their Americanos a thing of beauty, but if you are not really a coffee drinker, then may I suggest that you start off with a latte? Their latte is not only wonderful to drink but it is beautiful to look at. They are known for taking their frothy thick steamy milk and creating patterned designs on the surface of the drinks, usually in the shape of palmate leaves. Their work is art. As for food, they do provide the equivalent to high end salad, soup and sandwiches along with the usual dessert style baked goods. A bit on the pricey side, but not disappointing. All sorts come through their various locations - perhaps the same reason why different people go through BATW - the dreaded chain. As beautiful as the coffee is at Artigiano, it is not without its criticisms. This place is almost packed and because people are usually eating something, it is not as though they are loitering in this place. Get your coffee to go and head off for a nice walk about if you can. The decor is in the roman pinkish tumbled tile which is great if you like that kind of thing, but after a while it gets to be a bit much to look at for my tastes. The place is also lacking in some serious art work. Granted, the Hornby street location has nice photographs of coffees made in the past , but the Kerrisdale location has these gawdawful paintings that looked like a poor attempt at colour by numbers. The rest of the decor holds a definite Artigiano theme but it can be a bit much if you plan to go to it on a regular basis. Bottom-line: Go in. Close your eyes and order your coffee. Leave locale with coffee. Open your eyes, drink and enjoy. Repeat if necessary.

Out of 5 floating coffee leafed swirls

Scene: 3 Not too much to look at. The people watching is good, but the place itself can be taken in small doses.
Grub: 4 Good food but I feel it is a bit pricey. But then again, it is not what I go for.
Coffee: 5 What can I say that I haven't said already? Do it already.

Enter Re-Entry

2007-11-18T19:30:00.000-08:00

This is my latest teacher's pet coffee shop. I count my lucky stars about being told to go here. Re-entry is a cool little coffee shop higher up Main - around 27th Ave. It has a 'space ship' themed cafe where all of the little details fall into place to create this beautiful little capsule to sit and enjoy your favourite caffeinated or decaffeinated rocket fuel. The cafe's crew is once again cool Main Street hipsters and seems to be piloted by one woman in particular who seems to take the controls of the baking. And while I'm at it, can I just say that the baking is superb? That's right, superb, en francais parce que les croissants, les brioches et les pullaparts sont formidable! Along with the assortment of baked goods - which are baked in house everyday - you can enjoy a smooth brew. They actually make a decent Americano there. (I realize that the cups and saucers go along with the whole space thing but the large brim of the cup tends to cool the coffee down a bit too soon which is a cryin' shame for a good espresso.) Re-entry does not only attract the hipster kids but also the hipster Main street neighbourhood families, in particular the AlternaDads, that join in after playing their parts as their dreaded alter egos - the soccer parents. All little kids seem to have the obsession of exploring the space ship shaped garbage cans while their parents try to sneak in a little countdown of their own with their beverage and baking. I really do like this little part of the universe.

Out of 5 turbo thrusters of coffee fuel

Scene: 5 Great for everyone. The turn over is pretty high but nobody there really makes you feel like you need to move on. While aboard, you can sit and enjoy the lo-fi tunes playing in the atmosphere. There is limited seating in the place although I have never had a problem trying to find a place to sit as the majority of the Main Street crowd probably get caught up in Lower Main.
Grub: 5 Tasty. Tasty. tasty. I don't think you can get anything more than the baked goods which barely make it to the table but what you do get is goodness. (According to their website, they get their pastry dough from Thomas Haas, which is the business when it comes to Pastry.)
Coffee: 4 If it weren't for those wide mouth cups I would consider the 5. But aside from the wide mouth, the coffee is good but doesn't really make me shoot over the moon.

Rhizome, the diner formerly known as Hatch

2007-11-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

For some reason Hatched shut down and then re-hatched into Rhizome. It looks the same, feels the same, and the main menu difference is that Rhizome now serves meat. Perhaps, they served meat before but when I went there when it was hatch it seemed to only have the strictly vegetarian, vegan friendly, organic, wholesome, all natural, grain fed, free range, wild vegetables on the menu. Perhaps that is why they changed. Perhaps their target market was too small because those people probably wouldn't go to a restaurant for fear that the chef was using oil from caged canola plants. Regardless of the change, the food there is mouthwatering. The portions are healthy and the people are friendly. The place has an enclosed front patio which makes for a comfy little solarium. The decor plain and has a bit of the watered down urban industrial feel. The restaurant obviously supports local artists as it has large format paintings on display. They seem to have an assortment of politically correct coffees that are decent in flavour. However, I think that I would be motivated to go here for the food rather than the coffee. It could actually be a nice alternative to the ever popular Slickity Jim's and it's 45 minute line up. Rhizome is along Kingsway a couple of blocks east of Main. A bit off the beaten track from the Main Street Strollers but those make their way will not be disappointed.

Out of 5 free range organically raised eggs

Scene - 3 You get a little bit of the quiet alternative crowd. I think the place is in part a community shared space in that it seems to hold a calendar of events that promote cultural, social and educational events. You'll just have to check it out for yourselves.
Grub - 4 -They do have some delicious menu items. Just make sure that you come with an appetite.
Coffee - 3 Although they have an assortment of coffees, the brew is just your straight up percolated. Don't expect to get any kind of high maintenance non fat decaf traditional cappuccino either.

JJ Bean Coffee Scene

2007-11-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

The location of JJ Bean on Main is a very cool one. Who knew that an old bank branch would turn out to be one of the trendier coffee houses on Main. Aside from the modern decor which includes a 180 degree viewing area at the front of the cafe, a chimney up the middle and a lot of glass, the coffee there is tasty. I find their Americano has a rich crema, with a smooth finishing taste. One of the consistently better coffees I've experienced in Vancouver. People from all walks frequent the coffee house, but the people who work there are once again those cool hipsters that create the Main Street feel. One can walk in there and see some of the local regulars almost everyday. In fact I know someone who practically uses JJB as her office space. Speaking of which, JJ Bean offers a back room in the event that you want to hold a little meeting there, where you basically have a quiet and controlled space while you are served up some coffee and treats.

Out of 5 pounds of coffee beans

Scene: 4 - It's a great place to meet friends, old existing or new. It is a great locale on the corner and during the summer they roll up the garage windows, and during the winter they crank up the fire place. Nice!

Grub: 4 - It's delicious baked goods and panini type sandwiches. Everything you might want to snack on with a coffee. A bit pricey but tasty.

Coffee 5 - Smooth. Tasty. They also serve it the way you want it. One friend who can be described as somewhat of a coffee deb, says that JJ is one of the only places that actually knows how to serve a 'traditional cappuccino'. That's goodness.

Bean Around the World? Yea, been there.

2007-11-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

Bean Around the World seems like a bit of an institution on the Main Street scene. It is located on one of the seemingly unlikely popular locales. But its huge windows, its simple decor and the corner space with a long South facing sidewalk patio, makes for an ideal place to meet friends for a cup of brew and some baked goods or a panini. It seems that to work there you need to be early twenties and have that cool "Main Street" hipster attitude. The crowd there is as varied as it gets.

Perhaps because there are several BATW locales around the city people feel like they are going to a place where they know what they are going get every time - almost verging on being the dreaded "chain". The actual coffee there is actually mediocre. I find the coffee at times almost too hot - if that's possible - and when they make their Americanos, I find that they water it down too much even when you request the smaller size cup filled three quarters full. The Banana bread (I prefer the B-bread with chocolate chips in it)is great. All of the baking is quite tasty - they have some creative and scrumptious muffin creations you need to try. The cookies are good, the danish kind of rounds are sweet and tart, and if they have the pie available, you might want to treat yourself.

On a rating out of 5 banana bread slices

Scene: 3 - It is sometimes too busy to find a seat so you have to wait around and shark or be sharked for a seat. The line up can run the length of the counter which means that if you are sitting by the line, your conversation is open to all those standing beside you or vice versa. The main bonus is that south facing window and patio on a sunny day. The mix of the people who go there kind of makes it a little unclear about the target market demographic. Of course one could argue that based on how busy it can be, the target market is coffee drinkers. While you are there, enjoy the fact that there seems to be countless plain clothed and uniformed police officers.
Grub: 4 Baked goods are good.
Coffee: 3 Better than utilitarian but still not good enough to say that I drink it to enjoy it.

Hocus Locus

2007-11-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

If you are going for brunch and feel that being caffeinated at the end of the brunch is an important thing to you, then go to Locus on Main and King Eddy. The standard coffee there is a strong bottomless Americano. The food there is good with hearty portions. One of the little details I like about his place is the side bread that comes with your meal. It's homemade foccacia or some other special artesan loaf sliced up with a flavoured butter, cream or jam. Just make sure that you leave room for some of their desserts. The owner is a man who always has a smile on his face and seems happiest when the place is hoppin' - however, hoppin' times can also mean slower service, and I am talking s-l-o-w. A couple of caveats that I have for the place is the entrance. The entrance starts outside where you may be inundated with the smoking pit. Of course, if you don't mind this then make yourself at home. The second is the long wait that can take place during the busy brunch time. Lastly the hours for the place aren't always conducive to the early breakfast or even brunch.

Rating of 5 shots of Americanos

Scene: 4 An alternative decor using mangrove like tree roots growing our of the ceiling, dark gothic colours, with the interesting art works (usually for sale) adorning the walls. I would recommend sitting on the front platform of the old storefront window. The back can be a little bit dark, but if that's your scene, knock yourself out.
Grub: 4 Alternative ingredients, creative combinations. Remember to make room for the desserts.
Coffee: 5 bottomless Americanos. 'nough said.

Slickity Jim's - Chattin' and Chewin'

2007-11-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

One of the favourite brunch places for weekends. It's where you can be called "love" or "dear" while you order yummy goodness. The menu is full of delicious hearty creations that you can enjoy surrounded by the mismatched eye candy collected from the left over bins of garage sales. As an added bonus, you can also revisit your favourite transit seats if you were a BC Transit rider during the 80's as these 2 seater chairs form the booths of the Chat n Chew. It's difficult to paint a complete picture of the restaurant without going into great detail about every single item in place. You just have to experience it. Go with a friend. Maybe two. Just watch the line ups if you go on the weekend. However, it is worth the wait. The caveat on days like this is that service can be particularly slow so just make sure you don't have to be anywhere soon. Perhaps while you wait you could go a couple of doors down to Lugz and get yourself a Canadiano.

Out of 5 lumps of sugar

Scene: 4 lumps - not a 5 because it can be a bit squishy in there if it is really busy. I mean think of yourself in the 80's being squished in a full bus. Now picture a table with food on it in front of you. Squishy.
Grub: 4 can I suggest the Cheesy Fungi. If not for the mushroom and cheese, then for the waitress to ask, "Who's the Cheesy Fungi?"
Coffee: 2 Utilitarian, but because it always seems like there is such high turn over you know you will have fresh utilitarian.

The Mugs at Lugz

2007-11-12T21:12:00.001-08:00

Ah, the Canadiano. Lugz's answer to the Americano. I don't know if they let the coffee run a little bit longer when pulling the espresso, but it does have nice taste. Some of those people in there really know what they are doing. In fact there have been a few occasions when the people behind the counter spontaneously share their knowledge about the different coffees worth drinking. To accompany the Canadiano is the delicious cinnamon bun from Grounds for Coffee. The rest of the baking is pretty standard coffee sides. Lugz has a very down to earth kind of feel to it. It could do with a bit of a make over to the interior, but I think it suits the clientele just fine. It has Internet access (I think you have to pay to use the terminals), and displays local artists' work amidst the countless pamphlets and billboards that crowd the entrance. Lugz is a great place to grab a coffee, do a crossword, or wait for a seat to get into Slickity Jim's on a busy weekend.

Based on the espresso shot scale out of 5

Scene: 3 shots - of course it kind of depends on the definition of scene now doesn't it?
Grub: 3 shots - and that's because the Cinnamon Bun is holding up it's fair share
Coffee: 4 shots - the Canadiano 2 shots three quarter full. Not a bad little Mug. Not bad at all.

Creamy Pancakes at Berts

2007-11-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

Whenever I go to a restaurant and order the pancakes I used to find myself with that displeasurable baking soda burn in the back of my throat. I guess the baking soda is something that helps the pancakes look a little fluffier for the people but in the end it just looks good but tastes horrible. You end up having to use extra butter or syrup to hide that awful taste. My feelings changed when I had them at Berts on Main and 14th. They must throw in an extra egg or two to make their pancakes creamier, hanging dangerously on the fringe of being a crepe. Their breakfast special more than fills the void and does it in a pleasant way. The decor almost reaches that 1980's Bino style of decor using less brown scattered with random artifacts found at garage sales (It does have a rather impressive collection of Bobble heads at the front counter). The staff is friendly and the service is good but I would not go there expecting any ambience. To be truthful The Show hasn't been there for much else other than the breakfasts but the menu looks like an eclectic mix of meals that will pacify any person truckin' through town.

Rating out of 5 packets of sweet n low
Scene: 2
Grub tasted: 5 (how wrong can you be with bacon, hash and eggs over easy with their delish pancakes?)
Coffee: 2 (Utilitarian and there's always lots of it)

Purpose: quick morning show with friends or a place to just chat with little disturbance

A New Coffee Thought

2007-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

Although we have a Facebook page, I thought that I would make the executive decision of recording different reviews and reports of the different coffee houses that we visit for our own purposes and those of our viewers. Coffee, Things 'n' Stuff will enter a coffee house, order a caffeine beverage and a tasty looking treat and then proceed to the immediate seating area and discuss anything and reviews the week or anything that comes to mind. In that time the hosts then take in the ambience and decide what they like, and sometimes what they don't like, about the place. Sometimes it takes a few visits to really give the coffee house a fair shot at the frother. The show is always open to guests, family and friends. Each episode takes place on Fridays, however, the secret location is determined at the last minute. We at CTnS hope you like the reviews and if you feel compelled to add a post and tell us your opinion, please feel free to do so. Enjoy.

Goodshoweverybody.