Vancouver’s Boutique Coffee Hotspot – Unmissable Flavors Part 3

Text and photos byThe Flight Attendant’s Coffee Journey

Aperture coffee bar

Aperture, which means camera aperture in English, and as the name suggests, the owner is also a photography enthusiast. Many of his own photographic works are displayed in the café, and in one corner, I even spotted some boxes of camera lenses. As soon as you walk in, you’ll see many people hunched over their laptops working—probably because there are plenty of power outlets and free Wi-Fi. On the other side, guests are leisurely browsing the bookshelves. The space isn’t very large by international standards, and the seating can feel a bit close together, but there are large tables suitable for group meetings. The overall design has a warm, homey feel.

The espresso is made using the relatively rare lever machine in Vancouver, the Victoria Arduino Athena Leva. I really enjoy the flavor of espresso from lever machines—it has a smooth and rounded taste. The V60 pour-over stand, made of exposed metal piping, paired with an antique-looking hand grinder, is quite unique.

The advantage of hand grinders is that the coffee beans aren’t subjected to the heat generated by electric grinders, which can affect the quality of the coffee grounds. The pour-over coffee is prepared using the traditional pulse pouring method with a V60.

The café serves beans from Intelligentsia, a well-known American specialty coffee roaster. Michael Phillips, the only American to have won the World Barista Championship (WBC), comes from this shop. The owner is handsome—no explanation needed; just look at how many photos I took of him to know that for sure.

http://aperturecoffeebar.com/

243 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Y1P5
Tel: (604) 620-8065
Mon - Fri: 7AM - 6PM
Sat - Sun: 8AM - 6PM

Elysian Coffee

Elysian is considered one of the pioneers of Vancouver’s specialty coffee scene, established in 2000 and now with 15 years of history. They roast their own beans locally, source directly from origins, and offer some organic coffee options. Their coffee is highly rated, which is why many independent cafés in Vancouver use their beans. They are also the Canadian distributor for Synesso espresso machines and the North American agent for Clover.

The Broadway branch is located in a busy commercial district, so during my several visits, it was always bustling with both dine-in and takeaway customers. There isn’t much flashy or excessive décor, but their commitment to direct-trade and organic coffee reflects their dedication to quality.

The café also sells related coffee equipment, which is available on their official website. The product range is diverse, including everything from filter paper to grinders. Note that they do not offer Wi-Fi.

Last year, they opened another branch focused on roasting, located at the intersection of Ontario Street and 7th Avenue. It’s equipped with a 22-kilogram German Probat coffee roaster from 1950. Although roasting is their main focus, the space is extremely spacious and perfect for relaxing over a cup of coffee. There’s also a dedicated classroom for cupping and training.

One of the things I really love about Vancouver cafés is their use of large floor-to-ceiling windows that let in an abundance of natural light, and this place is no exception. It’s worth mentioning that this year’s British Columbia AeroPress Championship was held here.

Such a creative Lego AeroPress poster !

Elysian Coffee
Broadway & Ash
590 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E9
Open Daily 7am - 7pm

7th & Ontario
2301 Ontario St. Vancouver, BC V5T 2X5
Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm
Sat-Sun 9am - 4pm

Fifth & Burrard
1778 West 5th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6J 1P2
Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

The Flight Attendant’s Coffee Journey
Exploring specialty cafés around the world through the lens of years of flying and a professional barista’s perspective.
Author: Current flight attendant, certified SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) Level 1 Barista, SCAA & CQI Q Grader for coffee quality evaluation.FB、Blog、Instagram: world_coffeeshop