Coffee + Vanilla Café

2023 Edit: This review is from 3 years ago. I have updated it from 4 stars to 5 stars (their wonderful quality returned and has remained consistent) but left my original review below.

4.5 stars actually, I cannot stress how much I highly recommend this place.

I would like to start with the positives, and not the one very minor (recent) negative. My boyfriend and I fell in love with this place about six months ago. We were new to the Coquitlam area and everything from the decor to the friendliness of the staff to the quality of the coffee just blew us away. It became a weekly ritual to pop in and get our coffees from here.

Only once was a mistake ever made (and it was so miniscule I can't even remember what it was) and one of the staff (I believe it may have been the owner, a dark haired middle aged gentleman) compensated me ridiculously. I mean ridiculously in the best possible way. I worked for many, many years in customer service and stuff happens. He went above and beyond to be kind to me when I wasn't even upset. Many times it's the belligerent customers that get such above and beyond service. To be treated so wonderfully when I said I didn't mind at all was absolutely unreal and a testament to the quality of service this business delivers.

However, recently there is a new staff member who isn't quite upholding the coffee standard. What was once a constant perfect cup has become less than sub-par over the past few weeks. Today the new staff member made my coffee while the gentleman I believe to be the owner made my boyfriend's. The espresso grind had been too fine and the owner corrected this but the new employee seemed to be defensive over the gentle constructive criticism.

My coffee was burnt, which was unfortunate but has been quite the norm lately. My boyfriend's cup was perfection once again. The difference was so striking he took a sip and immediately commented: "This is the first time in a while since I've had a good coffee from here."

We love this place and we want to support it but our weekly, weekend visits have turned into a "will it be good or will it not be good?" game of coffee roulette. Perhaps it's just the weekends that have gone downhill?

I would highly recommend this place in every single facet except for our recent weekend experiences. Perhaps visit during the week? It's such a gem of a place I'd hate for someone else to be disappointed when I know the real standard Coffee + Vanilla usually sets.