Vancouver takes its coffee seriously, and the city has more good cafés than you could work through in a month. We’ve pulled together our favourites, from specialty shops and roasters to spots that are easy on the wallet, so you can find the right cup wherever you are in town.
Independent and Specialty Coffee Shops
Revolver (325 Cambie Street) in Gastown is one of the most talked-about cafés in the city. The menu is small but carefully done, the drip is brewed fresh to order, and they run pour-over flights if you want to taste how the same coffee changes across brewing methods. It’s closed Sundays.
A few blocks away, Nemesis Coffee (302 West Hastings Street) pairs well-made coffee with a serious pastry case and a popular breakfast-sandwich menu, in a bright, busy room that’s worth a sit-down. Estratto Coffee (336 West Pender Street) is smaller and quieter, with espresso that regulars rave about, and they’ll grind beans to match how you brew at home.
For something more minimal, Oidé Coffee (1548 West 2nd Avenue) keeps a short, quality-first menu in a clean, concrete-walled space, with seating downstairs. And Prototype Coffee (883 East Hastings Street, with a second shop at 222 West 5th Avenue) roasts on site and carries one of the widest pour-over selections in the city.
Local Roasters Worth Seeking Out
If you want to take beans home, a few Vancouver roasters stand out. Timbertrain Coffee Roasters (311 West Cordova Street) in Gastown is known for a smooth, consistent drip and very good cookies. Foglifter Coffee Roasters (3590 Main Street) roasts organic beans and opens early, with sandwiches and baked goods to go with it. 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters (2902 Main Street) is one of the longest-established names in the city, with a busy café attached and beans that a lot of other local roasters get compared to. Honest to Pete Coffee Roasters (2109 Alberta Street) is a small roaster and café tucked into a creative space off Main Street. And JJ Bean (locations across the city) is the long-running local roaster, with beans for sale at every shop.
Something a Bit Different
Not every coffee run has to be coffee. Mink Chocolates (863 West Hastings Street) downtown is the place for a thick, rich hot chocolate, and they do chocolate fondue if you’re settling in. East Van Roasters (319 Carrall Street) roasts its own coffee and makes bean-to-bar chocolate in the same room, so a spiced hot chocolate there is about as fresh as it gets. It keeps short weekday hours, so check before you go.
Best Cafés for Working or Meeting Up
For settling in with a laptop or a friend, Prototype Coffee is a favourite, with big windows, plenty of natural light, and long communal tables. JJ Bean shops tend to have the most seating, with fireplaces in winter and patios in summer, which makes them easy for a longer catch-up. cafe & life co. (511 West 7th Avenue) is another comfortable choice, with a warm room and a solid food menu. One thing to keep in mind: some of the smaller specialty shops are tight on space and discourage long laptop stays, so they’re better for a quick cup than an afternoon of work.
Budget-Friendly Coffee
Specialty coffee in Vancouver isn’t cheap, but there are ways to keep the cost down. Drip or filter coffee almost always costs less than espresso drinks, and most shops will refill it for a small charge. Local chains help too: JJ Bean and Blenz (a BC chain, with a location at 695 West Broadway) are reliable and reasonable, and theVenti (509 Dunsmuir Street) is a Korean chain downtown known for oversized drinks at lower prices than most specialty shops. A loyalty card at the café you visit most adds up faster than you’d think.
Common Questions
Which coffee shop is the most popular?
Revolver in Gastown and Nemesis Coffee are two of the most consistently busy and highly rated in the city, both worth the wait. Popularity isn’t everything, though, and plenty of smaller neighbourhood shops pour just as good a cup with shorter lines.
How can you tell if a coffee shop is good?
Look for freshly roasted beans with a roast date on the bag, baristas who can tell you where the coffee comes from, and a steady stream of regulars. A short, well-run menu is usually a better sign than a long one.
Are local coffee shops better than chains?
Independent shops often roast in smaller batches and dial in their espresso more carefully, so the cup can be more interesting. That said, a good local chain like JJ Bean is consistent and convenient, which counts for a lot on a weekday morning. It comes down to what you want from the visit.
Where can I buy locally roasted beans in Vancouver?
Most of the roasters above sell beans by the bag, including Timbertrain, Foglifter, 49th Parallel, Honest to Pete, and JJ Bean. Many will also grind to match your brewing method if you ask.
