On to the important part of the trip – coffee. Here’s the shocker – I had a free coffee at the hotel in Buffalo the morning we flew out, and didn’t have another cup of coffee until this morning. Seriously. I instead chose to partake, mostly, in lattes, and one Americano where it was recommended to me. It seems to be the way of life out there – in all my time in cafes there I never once saw someone leave with a “coffee”. It was lattes, Americanos, and mochas. And one disgusting thing called a Matcha Latte, which Wayne at the Laughing Bean insisted tasted better at his place but the prior violation on my taste buds wouldn’t allow me to prove him right or wrong.
Here’s where I went:
Seattle
Caffe Ladro
Macrina Bakery
Starbucks
Uptown Espresso
Vancouver
Alexander’s Coffee (Sidney/Vancouver Island)
Blenz
Salt Spring Coffee (BC Ferries)
JJ Bean House of Coffee
Laughing Bean, the
Take 5 Cafe
Best latte? Caffe Ladro. Best Americano? Only tried one, but I would imagine it was the best – Macrina Bakery. Worst? Surprisingly, Blenz or Starbucks. Blenz is like the Vancouver equivalent of Second Cup, but with actual decent coffee beans instead of the Maxwell House they serve at Second Cup here. Starbucks is still a better choice for me than, say, Tim Horton’s – but I’d definitely hit an independent cafe first. Unfortunately, now that I’m back in Bolton, indy cafes are few and far between. *grump*
Cheers!