Discovery Coffee — Restaurant in Victoria

Seems you discovered my review. Allow me, dear aficionados of caffeinated delights, to share a tale of my visit to Discovery Coffee in Victoria, BC. As I wandered the concrete jungle in pursuit of a brew to tickle my taste buds, fate guided me to this oasis of liquid magic and culinary wonders.

Upon entering, the aroma of roasted beans welcomed me like a comforting embrace after a long day's journey. My gaze fell upon the menu, and there it was, the sweet siren calling my name: the blended ice mocha. Behold, a concoction of caffeine and frostiness, perfect for a day where the sun had overachieved in its temperature-setting duties.

One sip, and oh, the angels sang a harmonious symphony of joy. The ice mocha danced on my tongue, an intricate tango of espresso and chilled cocoa. It was like a caffeinated hug for my soul, a drinkable masterpiece that had me questioning why I ever dabbled in the realm of non-caffeinated liquids.

But wait, there's more! A chocolate mousse cake thingy of indescribable delight graced my presence. Its name eluded my memory, much like a fleeting dream upon waking, but let me tell you, it was damn good. The layers of chocolatey ecstasy melted in my mouth like a soft symphony of dessert nirvana.

The staff, dear reader, were not mere mortals; they were purveyors of caffeinated cheer and culinary expertise. Their friendly demeanor made me feel like royalty on a coffee pilgrimage, and their recommendations were nothing short of genius.

In a world where every coffee shop claims to be unique, Discovery Coffee truly stands out as a beacon of flavor enlightenment. It was a pit stop, a pause in the hustle, a moment of sheer bliss amidst a demanding day. So, my friends, if you ever find yourself in Victoria, BC, seeking a dose of liquid inspiration and delectable sweetness, Discovery Coffee beckons you with open arms.

Please note: This review is a testament to my own personal encounter with Discovery Coffee's blended ice mocha and the mysterious chocolate delight. Other patrons may embark on different taste...

We had never been to a discovery coffee before today. We were in the area in James Bay. We had masks on ( of course because that's the "law" these days) but apparently the girl behind the plexiglass shielded counter felt that mine wasn't on to her approval. It was covering my mouth and nose, however I feel she was targeting me because my mask says "forced to wear this". Now of course my mask will be pulled up properly because I want the message visible!

She asked me to pull my mask up. As I said, it was covering my nose and mouth. I stated that. We ordered our coffee and doughnuts. I was sitting down waiting. She came to give us our drinks. Again she asked me to pull up my mask! It was up. I said, actually I'm sitting down and your sign says you can take your mask off while sitting or sipping so I took my mask off and stated her sign to her. She said " please don't yell at me for doing my job". Well the last time I checked, her job was to serve coffee and doughnuts not nit pick at customers who are WEARING MASKS! Then she said if we sat we have to show a vax pass?? Are you kidding? Vax passes are for sit down table service that serve food only!! Discovery coffee has caffeine and doughnuts! Not even sandwiches! We WILL NEVER RETURN to a discovery coffee shop again. Even when covid is done and restrictions are gone, we won't forget how we were treated. We will also be sharing this experience with many people. I'm sorry that your company is so loyal to the illegal government mandates that you are making up your own rules and disregarding human...

Okay coffee, great donuts and usually less than personable service but here are the real rubs for me...

Why is Discovery Coffee still not accepting cash when the overwhelming evidence is that COVID19 is air-born and the Bank of Canada specifically asked retailers to continue to accept cash.

Additionally, and this is the big one for me, why are Discovery adding a 12% gratuity and having me subsidize your staff's wages? If your staff deserve the additional money you say they deserve due to the their hard work through the pandemic then shouldn't Discovery pay them more? It is the responsibility of a (competent) business owner to price their menu items accordingly so they can pay their staff a living wage and cover your other operating expenses not hiding the cost of your goods in the form of a "gratuity". Increase your menu prices if you need to pay your staff more than you do, don't hide it in the form of a so-called "gratuity" added at the end of my transaction.

Finally, DO NOT make me go through the discomfort of asking your staff to remove the gratuity as you have suggested previously to other critics on here. Put on your business person pants, do an analysis and charge more for your product(s)/service(s) if your staff deserve a better income than Discovery are paying them as you seem to be suggesting by implementing an automatic 12% Discovery Wage Subsidy tax calculated on top of applicable PST/GST no less. Your clientele can then decide if the experience is worth the cost like they do with every other business BEFORE they decide to transact with...