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.

Mazel Tov on the Matzah

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Saltspring Island Coffee Company comes to Main land

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

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

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

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

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.

A New Coffee Thought

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.