Cafe Hermosa Needs Menos Cosméticos Y Mas Café

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

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

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.