Slo Coffee Fraser St. — Restaurant in Vancouver

Finally had a chance to check out Slo Coffee, but overall, it was a disappointment.

Ambience: The space curates a unique modern design, matching the vibe of a neighborhood coffee shop. The limewash like effect on the walls and floor, paired with reddish-brown wooden tables and chairs, creates a unified aesthetic. It’s quite photogenic, and the color tones are well-balanced.

The coffee preparation area adopts an open design, which superficially makes the space look minimalist and tidy. However, this setup demands high cleanliness standards from the baristas. Unfortunately, I witnessed some chaotic moments, like spills during extraction or syrup accidents. The tools were often left in disarray, making the overall presentation feel messy.

Coffee (core product): Disappointing. Very disappointing. The latte had overly thick foam, resulting in separation: the foam stayed on top, and the rest was very watery, making the latte texture terrible. The brand markets itself as a niche coffee shop, setting high expectations, but the actual product quality was disappointing. When I asked the barista about the beans they were using, she said she didn’t know. After asking two more staff members, I finally learned they were using beans from Agro Coffee Roastery. Personally, I’m not a fan of those beans, but it was shocking that the staff were so uninformed about their own products.

The pour-over was even worse. There were three options, and I chose the beans with floral scent (from Ethiopia if I remember correctly). While the initial floral notes were present, that was all it had — no complexity/ surprises in the mid or aftertaste. I couldn’t tell if the problem was with the beans or the brewing process.

Food: I ordered the staff-recommended roast beef sandwich, and it was honestly terrible. It tasted like a day-old supermarket sandwich that had been reheated. The seasoning was basic, the beef was mediocre. But the baguette is quite crispy. Together it still makes a bad sandwich for $10

Service: There was no real service. You place your order at the counter, and when your coffee is ready, they call you to pick it up yourself. However, you’re still required to tip, with a minimum of 15% set in their machine. I initially assumed this would at least mean they’d bring the drinks to your table, but no.

For food, they give you a table number sign, and someone (possibly the cook) brings it out to you. Another strange detail: when I asked for more napkins, the server handed me the entire paper dispenser. That felt a bit unprofessional and awkward.

Conclusion: This is not a coffee shop I’d return to. The product quality and service don’t live up to the expectations set by its branding. A nice ambiance alone isn’t enough to make it worth...

I had high expectations for this place and was not let down! I ordered a sundried tomato (vegan) ricotta toast, a slice of matcha basque cheesecake, and an iced hojicha with pandan cream. The vegan "ricotta" spread on the toast was very good, with a similar flavour and consistency to hummus. Topped with juicy roasted red pepper, lots of arugula, and hemp crumble. I always appreciate a vegan option that's a little creative. The cheesecake was creamy with just the right amount of matcha, which works really well with the burnt exterior. The iced hojicha with pandan was very interesting! Honestly, I would never have thought to pair hojicha with pandan even though I really like them both, but it worked really well! I felt like the pandan brought out the more floral/herbal notes of the hojicha. The vibe was excellent - the barista that took my order was so friendly! As many before me have pointed out, the design is very interesting with the curved ceiling. The choice of furniture and layout also gives the place a really cool and unique look. I got a comfortable chair in an alcove...

I gotta say, that’s some damn good coffee. I got an Oat Milk Cortado and it was very balanced. Both bitters and sours were present and pleasant without any overwhelming after taste you might get in a lot of other cafés. They really know what they are doing here.

Not only that, when I came in with my partner, the person at the cash took the time to chat a little bit while taking our order to strengthen the idea of taking it SLO. I find this fosters the idea of creating a community and making each customer feel special.

I can’t say enough about this place. Regretfully I wasn’t hungry so I didn’t try any of their menu options.

I only have one piece of feedback. I’m very lactose intolerant so I was hoping for a vegan or dairy free option for pastries but unfortunately they don’t offer that. Yet. Here’s hoping for something to be added in the future🤞🏽

Keep up the awesome work. I can see SLO being a staple in the community for a long time.

Oh and don’t mind the photo of empty mugs. We were too eager to try before I realized I shoot take a...