bobbyg Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Saskatchewan Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Oct 19, 2004, 11:08am Subject: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
We will be in Vanc. for a few days and need to know the best place to pick up home roasting supplies. Living in Sask. I have only been able to get green beans through the mail, which leaves much to be desired. We have bought from Birds and Beans and received good service, but would like a more hands on approach. Suggetsions would be appreciated. Thanks.
UnkyDon Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Smithers, B.C. Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: rituale, la pavoni... Grinder: mazzer mini Vac Pot: cona Drip: melitta Roaster: i-roast, freshroast+,...
Posted Tue Oct 19, 2004, 12:00pm Subject: Re: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
Home roasting is such a tiny part of the market that nobody caters to it other than mail order suppliers. Whole Foods, a new high end supermarket, just opened in West Van, featuring a roaster and a large assortment of green beans that are not priced, so it looks like you can only buy them roasted. I wouldn't buy them anyway, except that I was out of Brazil stock at the time, so I was looking... The beans were quite generic looking, maybe one step up from Safeway. Your best chance would likely be to ask a small roaster like JJ Bean for some green. They have a roaster at Granville Island market and also somewhere in Gastown. Better still, I would recommend Sweet Maria's website; nobody comes close to the variety and quality, and the descriptions and roasting suggestions are informative and well done. Starting with top grade fresh beans will eliminate one of the variables, and help enable you to get started easier. Happy shopping and good luck driving!
coastroast Senior Member Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 81 Location: canada Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Oct 20, 2004, 5:49am Subject: Re: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
JJ Beans on East Pender and Victoria(east side of Vancouver) is where they do all their roasting and sell green beans. Quite a bit to choose from. I just picked up a lb of Peru and Guatemalan on Monday. Very helpful and neat to see the big roasters in the background of the counter! Good luck and welcome To Vancouver!
OOPs, sorry, I meant Powell and Victoria. Also, I'm a born and raised Saskatoon boy, hope you enjoy Vancouver...
snoboy Senior Member Joined: 4 Jun 2004 Posts: 452 Location: Rossland, BC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: famous Silvia... now PID Grinder: modded Rocky SD Roaster: SC/CO
Posted Wed Oct 20, 2004, 9:18am Subject: Re: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
JJ's roastery is actually at 1904 Powell St, that would be Powell and Victoria. Phone 604 254 0169
They are very helpful and have a large selection of green for sale - maybe 15-20 varities?
They have run a custom roasting session on Fridays in the past at there Commercial Drive location with there sample roaster there. Maybe give them a call if you are interested in that. I have still not made it to one.
greencoffee.ca is located in Delta, just south of Vancouver, and has told me it is OK to pick up orders. I have not dealt with them yet. Anyone here know how they are? Service/quality??
Posted Wed Oct 20, 2004, 9:45am Subject: Re: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
On Fraser highway, close to Langley, there's a cafe called "Coffee King Espresso" that has a Deitrich roaster in the shop and roasts upwards of 20 or 30 varieties. They sell green beans as well.
Coffee King Espresso 18394 Fraser Highway, Surrey, BC V3S8E7 (604) 574-2223
Interesting shop - give them a call about the beans.
bradinvancouver Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 172 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: LM GB5 Grinder: E-Robur Drip: Clover/Fetco Roaster: Gothot from afar
Posted Fri Oct 22, 2004, 10:46pm Subject: Re: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
Yoka's on West Broadway, somewhere west of MacDonald sells quite a large variety of green beans at pretty good prices. They have an ancient roaster there and have been a minor fixture for something like 30 years. A pretty cool little shop.
bobbyg Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Saskatchewan Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Oct 31, 2004, 6:27pm Subject: Re: Where to shop for green beans in Vancouver
Thank you so much for your assistance in my bean search. The only location that we had an opportunity to visit was the JJ Bean location on Commercial Drive, and fortunately arrived there on Friday for the sample roasting. Somewhat informative. They have a neat brochure detailing their green bean offerings and they had most, bot not all, on hand at that location. The prices are good and they appear to be truly interested in promoting the roasting business, so things are looking up. Thanks again for your help and I hope to check out the other options on future visits.
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