Thursday, January 09, 2025

Hide + Seek Coffee



Location visited: Fairfield Road, Victoria, BC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Few cities allure me more than Victoria, and one of the reasons is the variety of coffee shops the area boasts. One that is truly tucked away down an alley is aptly named Hide + Seek Coffee. With two locations, both with amazing patios for nice weather, I was in the neighborhood of their Fairfield Road location one beautiful summer day and was able to stop in.

Saturday, January 04, 2025

Artbean Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Artbean Coffee
Location: Manhattan, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While one does not easily access NYC from outside the city, once you're in Manhattan, there are few places like it. The odd infrastructure boasts lots of quizzical streets and offbeat nooks that offer lots of gems to those that seek them out. On one such recent visit to Chinatown, I managed to find such a gem at a cafe and roastery dubbed Artbean Cafe. 

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Camber Coffee


Subject: Camber Coffee
Location: Bellingham, WA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I love taking my family on road trips. With a packed minivan filled to the teeth, I would far rather take a long pilgrimage with my wife and kids versus a solo trip. But on these wonderful excursions, one lovely feature that has grown over the years is a tradition that some mornings, everyone asks to sleep in and I am permitted to wake up at sunrise in order to hit a nearby coffee shop or two. 

Propaganda Coffee


Subject: Propaganda Coffee
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

A good late afternoon coffee is sometimes a telling litmus test. While the afternoon is usually slower, so the baristas can take their time more than in the morning rush, the afternoon can be prone to aging coffee in the pump pot, fatigue or simply a desire to get the shop closed a little early. Some shops fare well in this test, and others not so much.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Vibrant Coffee Roasters


Subject: Vibrant Coffee Roasters
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Sometimes it's nice not being invited. My aunt recently treated my daughters to a show in Philadelphia and (mostly for price purposes) did not extend the offer to take me, her grown nephew (the audacity). While some folks would have taken issue with this snub, I was actually delighted to have reason to finally make a proper visit to Vibrant Coffee Roasters.