The Pacific Northwest has a strange relationship with coffee. Just about three hours north of Seattle, Vancouver’s legendary mountains and coasts partially compensate for the city’s often grey, wet climate – while the specialty coffee shops in Vancouver give me that much-need caffeine buzz. More espresso, less depresso!
Now that I live part-time in this city, I’ve managed to get around a fair bit and try out a bunch of local cafes and narrow down my personal favourites. Here are my picks for the best coffee in Vancouver, Canada.
1. Propaganda Coffee
Propaganda Coffee feels like a bubble of calm in Vancouver’s jarring Downtown Eastside: this specialty coffee shop has been around since 2015, and is still going strong for good reason. Water filters sit discreetly in one corner of the wall, while the counter is lined with Modbar everything – including nitro cold brew.
The coffee: Pour-over (Johan Vergara Sidra – Colombia Natural – Monogram Coffee), flat white (Hartmann Family – Panama Washed+Natural – Phil & Sebastian)
Suffice to say, Propaganda served me my best pour-over coffee in Vancouver so far – though it certainly helps that Colombian beans are so intensely juicy. The flat white was also smooth and flavourful – but most importantly, the baristas were full of good cheer even when we pestered them for recommendations on which beans to buy. If you’re in Gastown or Chinatown, this is a must-visit.
2. cowdog
Confession: I was initially skeptical of cowdog’s TikTok hype. Can a coffee shop that opens only two days a week, boasts super-long queues all day, and serves over-the-top fancy matcha drinks really make great coffee?
Yes. Yes it can.
I was lucky: visiting on a Monday after lunch, the queue was only 4-5 people deep and moved relatively quickly. I ordered my usual, a 6oz white, which came to just over $6 after tax – the café doesn’t accept tips, which is a big plus in my book.
The coffee: José Angel Lopez Pacas – Honduras – Luna Coffee
The first sip – and really, the entire cup – was bliss. The coffee had just the right intensity to bring out its lovely fruity notes without being overwhelmed by the milk, and the finish was silky smooth with no bitterness or astringency.
I hope that cowdog will expand their operations with more days open or a bigger location; it’s definitely worth the hype. I haven’t tried their tea-based drinks yet, but it’s a great place to meet with friends who want more than just coffee.
3. KAHVE
Located in the gorgeous Kitsilano neighbourhood, KAHVE feels like one of those cozy coffee shops where you’ll want to be a regular. One wall of the store serves as a gallery displaying local artists’ works for sale, while large windows usher in plenty of light. Best of all, the staff were friendly and gave me a good rundown of the coffees on offer.
I had a nice flat white with beans from Calgary roasters Phil & Sebastian (and then a second), but some other Canadian names like Monogram and Detour also make cameo appearances here. If you like single origins, this is the perfect stop after a day at Kits Beach.
4. Oidé Coffee
Oide (おいで) is a respectful way of saying “come” in Japanese, and that’s what people do in this cozy, casual space. The team serves up beans from local and global roasters like Dak, La Cabra, Obadiah, and more, so there’s always something new to try.
I tried both the house blend as well as an Ethiopian from La Cabra, each served as a flat white + espresso flight. Oidé has since moved to a new location near Granville Island – click the link below to find your way there!
3. Revolver
I visited Revolver on my first trip to Vancouver; five years later, it’s still a top choice among Vancouverites thanks to its impressive selection of coffee, with beans sourced from roasteries around the world. If you only have time to visit the most touristy parts of the city, you can rely on Revolver for a genuinely good cup of specialty coffee.
4. Nemesis
Devotees of design will swoon over Nemesis Coffee. While the company’s roots are in downtown Vancouver’s Gastown area, it also has an eye-popping shop at Great Northern Way. The bright-red pavilion’s design is a means of “celebrating the organic forms of petal geometry”, according to architecture firm Perkins&Will, and it’s truly something to marvel at inside and out.
The first coffee I had (at the Gastown location) was too fresh, but the second at GNW was fine. Nemesis also serves upscale café grub that – given their presentation and flavour – is great value if you’re looking for places to eat in Vancouver. My only gripe is that their coffee beans are sold at eye-watering prices, even by local standards.
5. Prototype Coffee
I’ll admit, Prototype Coffee intimidated me. The sleek dark interior of the space, the roaster behind the counter, the neatly arranged equipment at the bar, and the serious faces of the baristas. So I let James do the ordering, and he got us our usual flat white.
They also serve these absolutely luscious glazed waffle donuts; my lemon bergamot one had the perfect balance of sweet and tart and definitely could have gone for another! You should definitely sample a few different cups here if you have the time and capacity for it.
6. Sweet Barrel Creamery & Coffee Roasters
With its raw-edged communal table, industrial vibe, and coffee roaster sitting in a corner, Sweet Barrel immediately reminded me of Toby’s Estate Coffee in Singapore, albeit smaller and cozier. It may not have the fancy branding of the other coffee shops on this list, but it’s got the substance.
I tend to lean towards Central American and Colombian coffee, so I ordered a Guatemala – I can’t remember the exact bean – on V60. If you’re visiting as a group, this café is perfect for families with kids and those who dislike coffee(?!) because, as their name suggests, Sweet Barrel also sells their own house-made ice cream and crêpes.
I also bought a bag of Ethiopia Guji for brewing on Aeropress since it was the only natural processed bean on the shelf, and it was my favourite morning coffee for weeks. Sweet Barrel has extremely wallet-friendly prices for their single origin coffee beans and they’re fantastic if you like brighter, fruitier roasts that are dated for freshness.
7. Pallet Coffee Roasters
Pallet feels like the Vancouver edition of a reliable go-to specialty coffee spot in any city. It’s unpretentious, it’s got outlets in a few areas, and it’s consistently above average. I tried their Benchmark (Brazil/Colombia) and Top Shelf (Ethiopia/Ethiopia) espresso blends, and the latter’s relaxing floral notes had me finishing every last drop.
Downside? All the outlets close really early except for a few that close at 5pm, like the one downtown at West Hastings; be there before lunchtime ends if you want to have food with your coffee.
8. Elysian Coffee Roasters
The first coffee I ever had in Vancouver was at Elysian Coffee Roasters, so I might have been influenced by jet lag – but it was a lovely uplifting house blend that tasted like granola and set the benchmark for the city’s coffee scene.
When I visited another of their outlets downtown, however, I found the coffee to be over-extracted. Still, they’re a reliable choice and have been in business for years, so do give them a shot!
Also try…
Forecast Coffee: Founded in Whistler BC, Forecast Coffee’s Main Street location is a cozy place to chill out and people-watch through generous full-height windows. Location & Hours
Foglifter Coffee Roasters: Another British Columbia establishment, Foglifter Coffee is a family-run roastery and café with roots in Vancouver Island and a classy-looking storefront on Main Street. I’m a sucker for calligraphy and linework so their logo was a big draw – and the coffee is equally smooth and satisfying. Location & Hours
Vancouver’s specialty coffee scene: tips and insights
Is coffee expensive in Vancouver?
Vancouver is generally an expensive city to live in, and the staggering inflation of the past few years hasn’t helped. I’ve found coffee prices in Vancouver to be a hair cheaper than in Singapore (both currencies are on par at the time of writing.)
- 5oz flat white (Vancouver): $4.50-$5 +5% GST + tip
- 5oz flat white (Singapore): $5-$6 +8% GST (depending on store) +10% service charge (depending on store)
How to find coffee shops in Vancouver
With so many well-liked cafes and coffee chains around the city, it’s hard to know which places serve specialty coffee just by looking at Google Maps. I found the recommendations from Vancouver Coffee Snob, Th3rdwave, and of course my local friends to be the most helpful, so check out the sites above if you need more coffee shops to try!
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