Nemesis Coffee Gastown — Restaurant in Vancouver

In something of a ghost town where many stores have been seemingly abandoned, and those that are actually open for business are not readily identifiable, Nemesis stands out as an urban oasis of a Café.

Located in a slightly more questionable area of downtown, the hip youngsters that frequent Nemesis are a far cry from the haggered homeless people milling around outside and just across the street at Victory Square.

While vagrants are congregating outside, inside, it's a whole other world of bustling energy, filled with cheerful people enjoying their coffee, breakfast, and a large assortment of mouthwatering baked goods that would rival any in a bakery on Robson.

I was persuaded to give Nemesis a try as I was in search of a dupe for 49th Parallel's Doug Breakfast Sandwich, and was told that their Bodega Sando was comparable in both taste and price.

Essentially, it's a bougie high~class version of an Egg McMuffin, at a staggering $14. And for a few dollars more, you can add avocado and bacon. It comes in the cutest box I've seen in a while, all eyes and a small little protruding tongue.

It is a very delicious sandwich, no doubt about that. However, it's not one that I can afford to have every day. The same goes for the baked goods, being that they really are more of a treat, not a daily necessity. I bought some of their cruffins for my coworkers, and they concur that they really are a sweet treat, not an everyday indulgence.

I do recommend you give them a try. But be warned, they don't take...

The queuing logistics here are shockingly terrible. I arrived before 10am on a weekend and there were maybe 20+ people in line despite half the seats in the store and the patio being empty. Many groups didn’t realize you had to order at the counter first before sitting down and the one person handling the cash had to leave the cash and escort people back into the line multiple times. There are no menus posted around the line so everyone has to make their choices on the spot at the cash. Because people obviously ask for recommendations, as did I, it just made the whole process offensively inefficient.

The online menu is also not up to date so don’t count on being able to order what you came for. The item I was looking forward to trying was no longer on the menu even though I saw it on their website, all after queuing for half an hour.

The wasabi yuzu hojicha ginger beer was recommended to me since the drink I wanted was already sold out two hours after opening. I have no idea what the vision of this drink is. It tasted like I was drinking a concoction made with the condiments for sushi (wasabi and ginger). Experimentation for the sake of going viral perhaps.

The french toast (which I ordered in place of the kaya toast that had disappeared off the menu) was extremely soggy and disappointing. Not only that but it was not even coated with egg, just a plain piece of toasted soggy bread, so it wasn’t even a french toast.

Absolutely not worth the time and money. Look elsewhere for...

The modern coffee culture movement has shifted in dozens of directions over the past several years--from small, hipster shops to large-scale, corporate-owned operations, the current era of coffee is both dynamic and unpredictable.

At Nemesis Coffee, in the epicenter of Vancouver's Gastown area, any coffee aficionado should consider a visit to be mandatory on their bucket list. The crew has, in no more than a few short months, delivered everything there is to be celebrated about high-end, artisanal coffee.

After visiting in April of 2017 and discussing a bit of Nemesis' backstory with owner Jess Reno, I walked away stunned by what the team had accomplished. Each and every shot is pulled to perfection on cutting-edge equipment. Baristas are skilled, personable, and top-notch at their craft. Whatever your inclination, you can be sure that the espresso shots, cold brews, and hot coffees will set your new benchmark for what coffee ought to be.

Beyond the main fare, it's worth noting that the food--crafted fresh in house, daily--is nothing short of sensational. Avocado toasts are sublime, complemented by some of the best pastries you'll ever try. Don't just get a drink--explore the menu to see what Nemesis truly has to offer.

In the last decade, coffee culture has seen a rebirth. It's worth celebrating that Nemesis Coffee sets not only a benchmark for Vancouver, but more importantly, a golden standard for all other shops to...