The Edge - Sharp, But Could Be Sharper

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.

Tastes of Prada; Looks like Prado

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.