DINER: First Look Inside The New Kitsilano Digs Of 49th Parallel & Lucky’s Doughnuts

The new 1400 sqft combo/location of 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters and Lucky’s Doughnuts is opening – fingers crossed – this Saturday in the old Kits Coffee Company spot (2198 West 4th). In other words, the staff at the original 49th Parallel cafe down the block will lock up for good tomorrow evening and then unlock the new doors the following morning (again, fingers crossed). The new high quality coffee and doughnut joint will offer 45 indoor seats – that’s bench seating along the windows with tables and chairs – plus another 45 on the expansive patio that should open later this summer (hopefully within a month). Like the popular Main St. location that opened a year ago this week (see our shots of it here), all of the doughnuts will be made fresh on site, and we all know the coffee as some of the very best in town.

Bonus: there will be a kitchen window looking out onto the street. “When it’s open you just know this stretch of Kitsilano is going to smell terrible,” said nobody at all.

ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

Matchstick Coffee Roasters

DETAILS

639 East 15th Ave. | Vancouver BC V5T2R6
Telephone: 604-558-0639
Web: www.matchstickcoffee.com | Twitter | Facebook
Hours: 7am-6pm, Monday – Friday | 8am-6pm, Saturday – Sunday

Gallery

About Matchstick Coffee Roasters

At Matchstick Coffee Roasters, we believe that all too often we place common things into categories that they need not belong. Too many of us go about our daily routines, experiencing daily products and services, while subscribing to the underlying premise that that which is familiar must also be mundane. Common becomes status quo. Common becomes trivial. Common becomes commodity.

At the core of Matchstick is our desire to take that which is common, like a daily mug of coffee, and produce it with the highest level of care and attention. We believe that something familiar can still be special. Perhaps we would go so far as to say that it must be special; for it is the everyday, simple, common experiences that tie together the rest of our hectic, fumbled, and unpredictable lives. We celebrate the craft of common products, for the very reason that they are common. If the one thing we can offer as a company is a brief escape from the chaos, to an everyday, commonplace, predictably outstanding mug of coffee, we believe we’ve done something worthwhile.

We have a very simple, and yet impossible goal: we want to serve the absolute highest quality coffee that we can imagine. And we have big imaginations.

An essential component in achieving this goal is to roast our own coffee. Roasting allows us to control and influence a level of production that most companies cannot. It gives us an avenue for experimentation, and room to push the envelope, where others cannot. We are constantly striving to elevate each coffee’s roast profile to one of the highest calibre.

We brew each coffee by the cup, simply because it’s the best coffee we’ve ever tasted. We have more control over when and how the water is introduced to the coffee, and this gives us a noticeable advantage in ensuring a quality extraction. The coffee is freshest this way too. Brewing by the cup also gives us the ability to offer a broader and more diverse range of single origin coffees, rather than having a large vat of “coffee of the day” behind the counter.

Finally, we believe in establishing deep roots in our community. Coffee has an outstanding capacity to connect people. We value this connection as much as we care about the quality of coffee that facilitates it. We are proud to play a part in this.

PRESS

Clean Hot Dry | Dieline | ACQ Taste

——————————————————————-

HEADS UP: Motorcycle Lovers Will Soon Score “The Shop Vancouver” In Chinatown

by Andrew Morrison | Chinatown will soon be home to another cafe, only this time it’ll be a retail hybrid with a motorcycle fetish. “The Shop Vancouver” is the work of T.J. Schneider and Brett Beadle, two young locals who met at a bike event in California last year. The fast friends very quickly envisioned a place where they and fellow bike-lovers could hangout, have a couple of snacks, drink good coffee, check out some custom parts, browse some curated merch and talk about life and presumably bikes. What they’ve come up with at 432 Columbia St. (yes, it’s that block) will seat 12 and offer a range of retail items for those deep-steeped in motorcycle culture. As you can see from the shots below, it’s still something of a work in progress, but they’ll be doing an open house this Sunday while Duchesse Vintage next door throws down with their grand opening shindig. Expect them to open properly shortly thereafter with full stock and espresso blazing.

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS

DINER: 49th Parallel & Lucky’s Doughnuts Opening Tomorrow Morning At Main & 13th

by Andrew Morrison | Good news. The new location of 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters at 13th and Main passed all of its inspections earlier today and will open ahead of schedule tomorrow at 7am. I took a quick look at the hive of activity this afternoon, and it’s looking especially sharp. The coolest thing about it – other than the fact its packaged together with Lucky’s Doughnuts (OMFG!) – is the long, communal table with its bespoke, swing-out tools. It even has a hand crank that elevates it to bar height for special coffee lectures/cuppings. I’ll have more on the new cafe in the Westender next week, so in the meantime, feast on the shots below and head down tomorrow to welcome them to Main.

ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

DINER: 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters & Lucky’s Doughnuts Opening At Main & 13th

by Andrew Morrison | We’ve been sitting on this for a while (construction began three months ago), but with the new neon sign going up yesterday, the cat’s out of the bag. 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters is opening a new location on the southeast corner of 13th & Main (formerly Pinky’s Drycleaners). Does Main St. need another coffee shop? Sure it does! And one with Kees van der Westen machines, a 16 seat cupping table, 2 garage doors leading out to a patio, a fireplace, a wrap-around booth, and plenty of tasties aside from coffee (namely 13 different ringed wonders from Lucky’s Doughnuts). It’s a big space – much bigger than the original in Kitsilano – and D-day is penned in for the first week of June, with crossed fingers. Here’s more from a press release that will be making its way into the media ether next week:

FORTY NINTH PARALLEL COFFEE ROASTERS TO OPEN NEW MAIN STREET LOCATION

May 2, 2012; Vancouver, B.C.: Local boutique coffee roaster, 49th Parallel has announced that it will open a second café location next month, located on Main Street at the corner of East 13 th Avenue. The new café will also be home to a Lucky’s Doughnuts counter, representing the company’s first foray into food.

The 2,800 square foot café joins the company’s original West 4th Avenue location in showcasing 49th Parallel’s own range of small-batch roasted coffees. In addition, the much bigger new location will include expanded space for single-cup preparation, a 16-seat communal table that can be used for group cuppings, a 30-seat patio on the East 13th Avenue side, and garage-style doors that create an open-air space during warmer weather.

“It feels good to get back to our East Vancouver roots,” says owner Vince Piccolo, who grew up not far from the new café location. “We’re really looking forward to the extra space giving us the ability to offer cuppings and educational sessions for the general public. We’re excited to share our passion for coffee with the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.”

Bringing together the classic pairing of coffee and doughnuts to the Main Street café is the launch of Lucky’s Doughnuts. Authentic, hand-crafted and genuinely delicious, Lucky’s Doughtnuts are made fresh throughout the day using the highest quality natural ingredients. With all components made from scratch including jams, glazes and fillings, the company also strives to source locally and seasonally. A selection of 13 different doughnuts—six yeast varieties, six cake varieties and a French crueller, will be available each day, with varieties changing with the seasons. More information about the doughnuts will be available at www.luckysdoughnuts.com.

The new 49th Parallel Café is located at 2902 Main Street (@ East 13th Avenue), and is slated to open during the first week of June. Hours of operation will be Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 10 pm; and Sunday, 8am to 8pm.

ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters

Details

Forty Ninth Parallel Café – Kitsilano Location: 2198 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Forty Ninth Parallel Café – Mount Pleasant Location: 2902 Main Street, Vancouver
Roastery and Office: 6741 Cariboo Road, Burnaby – 604-420-4900
Web: www.49thparallelroasters.com | @49thParallel @49thGreen @49thCafe | Facebook

Gallery

KEY PEOPLE

Vince Piccolo – Owner
Mie Hansen – Green Coffee Buyer
Barrett Jones – Sales
Colter Jones – Lucky’s Doughnuts
Kyle Straw – Barista Training and Quality Control
Nic Witzke –  Sales and Quality Control

ABOUT 49TH PARALLEL

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters endeavours to source the world’s finest coffee beans and roast them to satisfy discerning palates. With a true passion and dedication for specialty coffee, we are committed to offering only the freshest, highest quality coffee to our customers. Every batch of green coffee is carefully roasted to bring out its preeminent qualities. Our buyers travel around the world to meet directly with the farmers at their coffee farms in order to develop relationships that create a better future for everyone involved. We set ethical standards with our direct relationship program and pay a special premium that is above the Fair Trade price standard. The resulting discoveries from our efforts are proudly brought back for you to enjoy.

Every coffee is precisely cupped and carefully evaluated. No exceptions. No short-cuts.

With two locations, the 49th Parallel Cafés in the heart of Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant showcase our own range of coffees, prepared expertly. Even the best coffee can be ruined if it’s not fixed correctly, and we strive to make every cup meticulously, whether you’re enjoying one of our single origin drip coffees or a drink based on our Epic Espresso. Consistently, hands-down, the best cup of coffee you’ll find.

The 49^th Parallel Café in Mount Pleasant is also home to Lucky’s Doughnuts. Authentic, hand-crafted and genuinely delicious, our doughnuts are made fresh throughout the day using the highest quality natural ingredients. With all components made from scratch including jams, glazes and fillings, the company also strives to source locally and seasonally.

————————————————————————————————————-

Seen In Vancouver #338: Cool “Matchstick” Getting Its New Grind On In The Fraserhood

by Andrew Morrison | I really like the look of Matchstick. It’s a recently opened cafe and coffee company in the Fraserhood from former JJ Bean, Crema, and Elysian hands Spencer Viehweger, Annie Viehweger and Aaron Braun (639 East 15th, just a few doors down from Les Faux Bourgeois). The 1926 space, which had previously housed a hoarder for some 17 years, was – if my notes are correct – once upon a time a Bank of Montreal (I could see the massive vault door still in place). It has clearly undergone a top to bottom spruce, the clean effects of which are being beautifully amplified by lots of natural light. The minimalist design was done in house and put together by the same construction folks (Tetherstone) who did the awesome Revolver coffee house on Cambie. It’s a looker, for sure.

Matchstick is setting up to start roasting beans in a couple of months (as evidenced by all the equipment in the back), but the coffee is pretty damn fine as it is (from Calgary’s excellent Phil & Sebastian). Ancillary offerings include an array of sandwiches (meats supplied by Save On Meats) and baked goods, including fresh baguettes (from Baguette & Co). About 25 seats all day (no patio yet), with the majority being communal. Wireless? Plenty and quick.

The branding is superb. They’re aiming for quality everything, from bean to bread, with the name symbolizing the significance of a single, high quality matchstick in a world of plastic lighters (so take that, Starbucks). If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should. They’re open every day from 8am to 4pm, and killing it.

—————————————————————-

EVERYTHING SEEN IN VANCOUVER

GOODS: Gastown’s “Revolver Coffee” Selling Curated Book Bundles During The Holidays

Revolver is located at 325 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC | 604-558-4444 | revolvercoffee.ca

The GOODS from Revolver Coffee

Vancouver, BC | As of this morning, Revolver will be carrying bundles of used books comprised of classics and modern classics.  The bundles, curated by Sons & Lovers Books, are a set of five books that were found scattered across the city of Vancouver; chosen based on content and aesthetic. In other words, these books look as good as they read.  The bundles come with a custom-made library card checklist and a to-and-from tag, all wrapped in twine. Priced at $35, these “instant libraries” will make great gifts, or be the perfect companion to your coffee. Read more

“Ethical Bean Coffee Company” Launches Fair Trade Certified Organic Doughnuts

Ethical Bean is located at 1315 Kootenay Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-431-3830 | www.ethicalbean.com

News from Scout supporter Ethical Bean Coffee Company

Today, Ethical Bean will begin serving the world’s first Fair Trade Certified Organic doughnut. Canadians consume more doughnuts per capita than any other country in the world, and British Columbians can now dunk, dip, and enjoy this latest offering from Canada’s second largest fair trade coffee company. Read more

Old School Pricing, New School Ordering at Ethical Bean

Ethical Bean is located at 1315 Kootenay Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-431-3830 | www.ethicalbean.com

News from Scout supporter Ethical Bean Coffee Company

Vancouver, BC | The coffee counters of old may be gone for good, but for the month of December, all Ethical Bean coffee ordered by smartphone will only cost a dime.

From today until December 31st, Ethical Bean Xpress cafés that receive mobile orders via smartphone will only charge ten cents for any sized coffee including lattes, cappuccinos, mochas and traditional drip. The cafés, located at the Granville and Commercial Skytrain stations as well as the company’s flagship roastery in east Vancouver all take remote customer orders thanks to technology from Vancouver-based Mobio Identity Systems Inc.

The Mobio® app, available for free download in the iTunes App Store and Android Market, gives customers the freedom to order coffee on their iPhone or Android. Ethical Bean is currently the only coffee company in Canada to offer the Mobio® ordering option. Read more

“Ethical Bean” Xpress Cafés Go Digital With Cool New Mobio App

Ethical Bean is located at 1315 Kootenay Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-431-3830 | www.ethicalbean.com

News from Scout supporter Ethical Bean Coffee Company

Vancouver, BC | Beginning today all Vancouver Ethical Bean Xpress cafés will be accepting mobile orders via smartphone. The cafés, located at the Granville and Commercial Skytrain stations as well as the company’s flagship roastery in east Vancouver, will receive remote customer orders thanks to technology from Vancouver-based Mobio Identity Systems Inc. The Mobio® app, available for free download in the iTunes App Store and Android Market, gives customers the freedom to order coffee on their iPhone or Android and the ease of picking it up piping hot from their nearest Ethical Bean Xpress café… Read more

Packaging & Design Go Hi-Tech At Ethical Bean Coffee Company

Ethical Bean's new tech improvements supply coffee drinkers with unprecedented behind the sip experiences

News from Scout supporter Ethical Bean Coffee Company

Vancouver, BC | On June 15, 2010, Canada’s second largest 100% Fairtrade Certified roaster, Ethical Bean Coffee, will launch the latest technology in coffee packaging and design, enhancing the level of transparency and information available to its customers. Each bag of Ethical Bean coffee has been equipped with its own 2D barcode that can be scanned in-store using a free Ethical Bean iPhone app or entered manually on the company’s website.

This revolutionary new feature gives consumers the opportunity to watch interviews with farmers, look up cupping notes and roast profiles, and Google map each bag’s beans down to the exact field they were grown in, all while standing in the grocery isle. Ethical Bean’s new bag also combines a zip seal for freshness and ease of use with clean, modern graphics that engage coffee lovers with more roast and taste information than ever before.

The new packaging reflects the company’s commitment to producing the best tasting, freshest coffee for consumers while providing a just and better approach to coffee roasting. “At the end of the day, we want people to love our coffee, not just because it makes them feel good,” says Bernhardt, “but because they know they’re getting the absolute best cup of coffee that we can provide.” Read more

Ethical Bean To Revise Project After Intense Debate On Scout

Passionate, informed debate at Scout Magazine sparks change to local coffee company's new pilot recycling project

News from Scout supporter Ethical Bean Coffee Company

Vancouver, BC | Two weeks after the announcement of a pilot recycling project, Ethical Bean Coffee CEO Lloyd Bernhardt has decided to revise the company’s bag-return program so that empty coffee bags will no longer be sent to incinerators. Instead, Ethical Bean will store the empty coffee bags at their roasting facility until a more environmentally friendly solution is found.

“After further consideration and a lively online discussion with both local environmental leaders and our customers, we have decided that incineration of empty coffee bags is not our best solution,” says Bernhardt. Much of the debate took place on Vancouver’s Scout Magazine, which became a forum for opinion on the pros and cons of waste energy, incineration and recycling. “Our mandate at Ethical Bean is to continuously work towards being both just and better. Scout’s readers took it upon themselves to respond, educate and work with Ethical Bean on an answer to empty coffee bags that does not include incineration. It is my belief that open conversations such as this one can lead to change.” The full debate can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/cT3LKm. Read more

Next Page »