R Ki Coffee Lab — Restaurant in Richmond

Our family wanted to check this place out.

Unfortunately, R Ki Coffee Lab is very difficult to find. We hard time finding them and we were using Google Maps!

We finally found them, but with much frustration. We tried calling the number that Google provided, but nobody picked up. So we thought maybe they were busy. When we did finally arrive, the barista greeted us, and asked us for how many and we said a party of five. He said we could meet upstairs if we wanted to, or we could remain on the main floor. I checked upstairs, and we could have been accommodated there, except there was a group already there (a small group of 3) that took the large table that could have accomodated us.

So we decided to remain on the main floor. Once we started getting settled, we realized that they did not have any desserts left, and that's what we came to R Ki Coffee Lab for! So then we decided to just leave.

They do have a warm and amazing ambiance that greeted us when we entered inside. A lot of thoughtfulness, at least it seemed, went into the ambiance and atmosphere.

I wanted to give a 3 star rating, but our experience there would not allow for it. I would be open to giving R Ki Coffee another chance. But please step up your service!

At least have a working phone number where customers can reach you.

They also close quite early at 8pm on Sundays. In my opinion, that's prime time for many people to go and look for places for dessert and maybe some tea/coffee with their desserts. If you're closed at 8pm, your missing out on prime time opportunities for your business.

We cannot recommend R Ki Coffee Lab. Not at this moment anyways.

Perhaps we come back in the future. Maybe.

My breakdown: Location 2/5 Price N/A (didn't buy anything) Service 2/5 Ambiance...

It looked very promising and had such great reviews online. The sign out front warned customers that they just do coffee. No snacks, nothing else. Excellent! Inside the layout was cozy but a bit haphazard. Honest, it wouldn't take much work to re-arrange things and make more room for the customers to sit and have less stuff getting in the way. The first warning sign ... where's the smell of freshly roasted or ground coffee? I see the barista measuring out the beans and grinding to order. We went with the more basic items, espresso and piccolo. As I lifted it to my nose, there was ...well, aroma, but not a strong coffee aroma. Piccolo was ... I'm going to say reasonably bitter, but it wasn't exactly bitterness, just strong flavour that is close to bitter, but not nice. Plus a very noticeably sourness despite the milk (not the most sour coffee I've had). The espresso was just sour and bitter. My partner in crime reported that it was worse than drinking herbal medicine. We agreed that it was most definitely not a pleasant drinking experience. Afterwards, the bitterness lingered in my mouth for quite a long while afterwards. I noticed the rest of the customers were having the relatively large cups (so definitely the enhanced drinks) or iced latte so maybe all that stuff covered up the basic coffee taste here? I can't imagine it being a pleasant coffee experience otherwise. We've been making the rounds in Metro Vancouver, trying out all the coffee places we can find and this is not near the top of the list. Sorry, cannot recommend, will not be...

This coffee lab isn’t just a coffee shop—it’s a bloody sanctuary for caffeine connoisseurs, and I’m not mincing words here. I sampled their pour-over brew, crafted from beans hailing from a singular, exquisite origin, and it’s a revelation that could make a grown barista weep. The flavor profile? A masterclass in rich fruit acidity that demands your full attention. Picture this: a bold burst of ripe berries—think juicy blackberries and tart raspberries—dances on your palate, followed by a cheeky zing of citrus zest, like a perfectly peeled yuzu. Then, a subtle tropical whisper creeps in, mango or pineapple perhaps, leaving a finish so refined it’s practically aristocratic. Every sip is a meticulous symphony, coaxed out by baristas who wield their pour-over craft like culinary wizards.

The roastery itself reeks of sophistication—sleek design, the heady perfume of freshly roasted beans, and an ambiance that screams “coffee is art.” If you’re a coffee snob, this place will have you on your knees, worshipping the grind. Newbies? Learn your damn coffee ABCs first, or you’ll miss the brilliance in your cup. This isn’t some pedestrian brew—it’s a journey through terroir and technique that redefines what coffee can be. Five stars? Hell, it deserves a constellation. If you crave a caffeine experience that’s leagues above the ordinary, this roastery is your holy grail....