We love us some independent coffee shops here in Vancouver. 2014 was a great year for newcomers on the scene, established shops opening up more locations, and excellent coffee at excellent bakeries and cafes. Let’s raise our mugs of locally-roasted pour-over coffee in honour of a few of the new Vancouver coffee shops of 2014.
The Freshman Class
Opened their first shop in 2014.
Timbertrain
Photo by Ryan Cooke
One of the first to open up in 2014, Gastown’s Timbertrain is a great place if you’re in a rush…or you’d rather relax. They’ve got a “Fast Bar” and a “Slow Bar” (pour-overs) for coffee service. For those warm days, they launched a “coffee on tap” offering, serving up a nitrogen-powered foamy cold caffeinated brew.
Address: 311 W Cordova Street, Vancouver
Phone: (604) 915-9188
Website: timbertraincoffeeroasters.com
Pallet Coffee Roasters
Exterior of Pallet Coffee Roasters (Photo courtesy Sharif Sharifi/Pallet Coffee Roasters)
Riffing on the notion of the humble wooden pallet as a tool by which coffee is shipped worldwide, Pallet’s cafe has a direct view of the roasting process on the level below thanks to a glass wall. This roastery and java joint is giving the East side (some may dare say the East Village) a nice jolt in the indie coffee department.
Address: 323 Semlin Drive, East Vancouver
Phone: (604) 255-2014
Website: palletcoffeeroasters.com
Greenhorn Espresso Bar
Photo by Rebecca Coleman/Vancity Buzz
Coffee from North Van’s Moja, barwear from Portland, and a welcoming vibe, the West End’s Greenhorn Espresso Bar has already become a neighbourhood favourite. Greenhorn has a menu of tasty sweet and savoury eats, served up in a warm space with eclectic vintage and re-purposed touches.
Address: 994 Nicola Street, West End
Phone: (604) 428-2912
Website: greenhorncafe.com
No Way Cafayfay
Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz
Blink and you’ll miss this teeny tiny little coffee shop on Main Street in the space that formerly (and so briefly) was 247 Main Coffee. Grab a coffee, and one of the few seats, or enjoy a smoothie, or even a bowl of cereal. It’s a fun, funky little space that has the rough at the edges can-do attitude of cafes from 15-20 years ago.
Address: 247 Main Street
Phone: (604) 612-5612
Website: facebook.com/nowaycafayfay
Expanded the Brand
These established coffee shops opened up additional locations in 2014
Elysian Coffee Roasters – Mount Pleasant
Photo by Kenny Louie/Flickr
This is the third location for Vancouver’s much-loved Elysian Coffee, and they opened up the doors to their biggest space yet in December. There’s a roasting room, and an on-site bakery, though seating is a bit limited. Lighter fare, like baked goods and grilled cheese sandwiches are served up alongside their hallmark single-origin beans brewed in terrific espresso drinks.
Address: 2301 Ontario Street, Mount Pleasant
Phone: (604) 559-0510
Website: elysiancoffee.com
Matchstick Coffee Roasters – Chinatown
Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz
Located in a roomy, bright space on that tiny arm of East Georgia Street in Chinatown, Matchstick’s second location is bringing the buzz to this burgeoning neighbourhood. And, as a marvelous bonus, if you aren’t looking for coffee, you can enjoy a beer, too.
Address: 213 East Georgia Street
Phone: (604) 336-0213
Website: matchstickcoffee.com
Bump N Grind (South Granville)
Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz
Commercial Drive’s Bump N Grind opened a second location mid-December 2014 in South Granville, giving the area a much needed jolt in the category of independent coffee shops. The narrow, bright, minimal space features a large communal table, and the baristas are serving up brews of beans from Bows + Arrows, Timebertrain, and Fernwood, among others. Their limited food menu includes croissant sandwiches at lunch time, and in the morning you can nab a breakfast burrito.
Address: 3010 Granville Street, South Granville
Phone: (604) 558-4743
Website: bumpngrindcafe.com
More than just coffee
Bakeries, cafes, and even a general store with great coffee service.
Danica’s Baked Coffee Bar
Photo by Danica’s Cafe/Facebook
Wine, scratch-made baked goods, and food they call “healthy European countryside cuisine” is what has made Danica’s instantly popular after its December 2014 opening. Danica’s is in the old Cafe Medina space–big shoes to fill, but luckily their brunch has quickly become one of the standouts in the city.
Address: 556 Beatty Street, Crosstown
Phone: (604) 336-3554
Website: danicascafe.com
Basho Cafe
Photo by The Food Gays for Vancity Buzz
This little East Village gem is one of the city’s best cafe-style restaurants to debut this year. Basho has a distinct Japanese flair, serving up things like mochi brownies, mini gomai cookies and a stellar matcha latte, along with fresh-made bowls and lunch sets.
Address: 2007 E. Hastings Street, East Vancouver
Phone: (604) 428-6276
Website: bashocafe.com
Lukes General Store
Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz
This Calgary import pop-up shop has gone permanent with a West Hastings storefront where you can find not only a selection of foods, but also shampoo, clothing, records, and stationery. Lukes General Store brews Four Barrel coffee, and has doughnuts from Cartem’s in their light, cheery, simple space.
Address: 49 West Hastings Street
Phone: (604) 428-0700
Website: lukesgeneralstore.ca
Small Victory
Photo by Jess Fleming/Vancity Buzz
Small Victory offers a range of tempting sweet and savoury treats, in addition to perfectly poured espresso and drip coffee, making it a welcome addition to the Yaletown food and coffee scene. Plus, their full menu also features a selection of hearty sandwiches and green salads.
Address: 1088 Homer Street, Yaletown
Website: smallvictory.ca
Purebread Bakery – Gastown
Photo via Purebread Whistler/Facebook
A familiar name (and taste) from Whistler, and Vancouver-area farmers’ markets, Purebread took to crowdfunding to help them open their permanent downtown location this year. They’ve got the most tantalizing display case of breads, cakes, brownies, scones, and cakes around, and you can sit down in their cozy space and enjoy Stumptown coffee.
Address: 159 West Hastings
Phone: (604) 563-8060
Website: purebread.ca
Follow Channels and Categories