Short answer.. YES!
The surging price of coffee beans during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how essential a warm cuppa has become for billions of people around the world. Nowhere appreciates caffeination more than in the dark and rainy pacific northwest. The region is home to some of the world's most popular global coffee chains and in downtown Vancouver alone there are more than twenty Starbucks outlets.
Coffee in the city has evolved from the mammoth North American 16oz 'pick me up' to a more diverse offering these days. You will now find Australian-snob flat whites and Euro-style espressos dotted in pockets across the metropolitan region. For most people drip coffee still remains the affordable standard.
In the last ten years the controversial practice of tipping for takeaway coffee has become a standard and can be confusing for new arrivals. It might seem counter intuitive to tip a barista for a take out order before you have received it.. but that's the reality with the cost of housing in BC these days.
Some interesting and notable mentions include:
Greenhorn cafe: my favourite coffee in the city, a small shop buried deep in the West End, baked goods and weekend brunch too.
Pallet coffee: multiple location with a clean aesthetic with reliable service.
Dalina: newcomer with a great china town storefront, good for working on laptops.
Elysian: cutesy logo and fantastic smooth coffees, go around 10am for the incredible walnut cookies, Broadway store is the best.
Parallel 49: best downtown coffee option with co-located donut store.
Delaney's: north shore based community coffee house with heart and soul, great for chats.
Breka: 24/7 coffee fix across the city with large European baked goods selection.
Here are two fantastic websites listing the best coffees around: Vancouver Coffee Snob & Daily Hive Vancouver Coffee List.
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