Looking for good roasted coffee in Vancouver

by **nixter** on Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:21 pm

I live in Vancouver (Canada) and I'm trying to find some different beans to try out. I generally switch between Black Cat and 49th Parallel's Epic blend. Can anyone suggest some different beans I can find locally? I don't want to order them. I want to be able to go out and buy some whenever the urge strikes me.

Thanks!

by **tlo** on Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:15 am

Here are a few that I've purchased beans from:

1. JJ Bean has a few different espresso blends. The roaster is on the Powell street location but all their locations sell beans. My favourite is Espresso Palomino but I am not sure if they still sell this blend.

2. Ethical Beans on Kootenay St in Vancouver. They roast at the back of their cafe. Whatever they sell in the supermarkets don't have a roasting date. If you go to the cafe you can ask for freshly roasted beans.

3. Agro Cafe roasts and sells fair trade beans. Two locations. One on Hamilton Street in Yaletown and one on Granville Island.

Hope this helps.

by **thefly** on Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:52 am

I posted a reply to your question on coffeegreek:

Have you been to Elysian Room? There is one on 5th Ave just off Burrard (there is also another one but I cannot recall the address). Their beans are roasted by 49th. If you like BC and Epic you should also like this blend. In terms of flavour I find it more chocolately then both. It is $18/pound so a bit pricier.

There is also JJ Bean. I haven't tried them in a while and a few places on Commercial Drive that you may wish to check out. I've attached a link to a guy in Seattle that recently did an espresso tour of Vancouver - Mark Price had mentioned it somewhere. I am definitely looking at trying out the place on Davie Street and on Commercial.

http://ineedcoffee.com/09/vancouver-espresso-vacation/

The only other kind I have tried (other then Saltspring and Kicking horse from stores - usually on the stale side) is Moja. There are in North Vancouver. I found their blend to be more bright and acidiy (citrus) then BC, Epic or Elysian. As it ages (4-6 days from roast) it tends to get smoother but still not in the same league (at least for me) of the above 3. It is $15/pound.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you try anything new that you like

http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/blends/429793

by **thefly** on Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:55 am

tlo wrote:Here are a few that I've purchased beans from:

1. JJ Bean has a few different espresso blends. The roaster is on the Powell street location but all their locations sell beans. My favourite is Espresso Palomino but I am not sure if they still sell this blend.

2. Ethical Beans on Kootenay St in Vancouver. They roast at the back of their cafe. Whatever they sell in the supermarkets don't have a roasting date. If you go to the cafe you can ask for freshly roasted beans.

3. Agro Cafe roasts and sells fair trade beans. Two locations. One on Hamilton Street in Yaletown and one on Granville Island.

Hope this helps.

Good to know about ethical - I have often thought of buying some, had in the past but was often stale. Maybe will check them out the next time I am going to Bosa.

Never tried Agro. Are they in the public market?

by **bgn** on Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:01 am

Find John and Bronwyn at Granville Island. Hindz, I think is the name they use. They are in an artists studio down near the Granville Island Hotel on the L. hand side. Frankie at the La Marzoco dealership on Boundary and 1st always has some interesting local stuff as well.

by **tlo** on Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:39 pm

thefly wrote:Never tried Agro. Are they in the public market?

I've never been to the Granville Island location. I don't think they are in the market though.

by **nixter** on Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:53 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

I had tried Argo but Have had freshness consistency problems with their beans, same with JJ. I even find the Black Cat bought from Wicked Cafe seems to have a short shelf life, and that's while storing in my vacu-vin container. I keep going back to 49th not because of the taste, (which is good mind you), but for the consistency and seemingly long shelf life. I only make espresso for myself so it can take me a while to go through a lb. I will have to try the Elysian seeing as they are the same roaster. I did notice ECM (or Frankie), has a nice selection of beans. I picked up a few different bags a while back but again found most of them were not so fresh. Maybe my Oscar is just unforgiving. Maybe it's me!

by **thefly** on Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:28 pm

Try separating the bag into a day or two portions and freezing them. I use ziplock bags and double bag them. I remove a bag and let it warm up (still sealed) for a few hours before using.

There is a thread here that discusses an informal study done whereby it was determined that this does not negatively affect the coffee. What will kill the coffee is storing a large bag in the freezer and opening and closing it - this introduces condensation.

As for BC - the best days are 4-8 days past roast. Wicked gets their shipment on Thursday. Hits the shelves either Thurs or Fri. At this time it is 1-2 days past roast.

by **nixter** on Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:35 pm

Thanks fly. I used to do the freezer thing before I got the vacu-vin. I may try separating into 2 lots, one in the vacu and one in the freezer. My issues with BC weren't with initial freshness, just that it seems to go downhill rapidly compared to 49th. Perhaps storing some in the freezer will help this.

I have read the many threads on storing beans

My laziness often gets the best of me.

by **thefly** on Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:44 pm

I have experienced the same thing for BC. As such I just have 2 days worth opened at a time. I am then usually drinking it at its peak.


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