Revolver Coffee - Gastown
It seems there are as many coffee establishments popping up in Gastown, Vancouver as there are Top 40 songs featuring the human whistle. Three years ago Starbucks was your best bet, but now, any coffee snob worth his beans can frequent six or seven worthy locations within a two block radius, and Revolver Coffee is the most recent, and possibly the best (typically non-committal).
This excellence is partly because they rotate, or revolve, through their favourite roasters from around the continent at different times. At the moment they feature Phil & Sebastian (Calgary), Coava (Portland), and Ritual (SF), all of whom take their beans seriously, and Revolver offers five different brewing techniques. The experience is also due to the aesthetics of the shop. The interior, done by Craig Stanghetta of Meat + Bread fame, features weathered woods, exposed copper piping, a nail atlas, glass tumblers, and thorough old world charm.
The final piece of the puzzle is behind the long working coffee bar... Revolver is run by four delightful brothers. John, Matti, Chris and George Gianniakos come by coffee honestly as their parents own a coffee shop in West Vancouver (Crema), and their traditional charm and politeness only add to the experience. (Interestingly enough, another fab four's album by the same name had no influence on the shop's name... even though they have their very own John and George.) They definitely don't do Eggnog Lattes etc, but unlike some holy coffee spots these days they won't show you the door for asking.