The Vancouver Foodster Signature Coffee Drink Challenge was a great success featuring unique coffee creations at cafes around Vancouver, Richmond and North Vancouver. Each cafe featured their creation on their menu from January 12 – February 5, 2017 and their customers voted for their favourites throughout the challenge.
Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Alyssa Dawson, Nick Ng and Zahra Alani.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
Cafe Orso
Orso Macchiato
Price: $6.00
Description: We are a European inspired cafe and so we wanted to do a twist on a traditional drink keeping it simple and pure but with our Cafe Orso touch. In most of Italy and most of Europe a little sweet is normally served along side your espresso macchiato so we wanted to celebrate a well pulled espresso shot put into a simple drink paired with one of our famous liege waffles. But rather than just a waffle we wanted to triple the sweet treat by creating 3 tiny dolce de leche dipped bites that would work well with the taste of our 49th Parallel espresso shot. Combining the flavours of the 49th parallel old school espresso and a creative version of our liege waffles we think this drink is a delight to any coffee lover.
Created by: our talented Baristas and kitchen staff, Luca, Mike, Danielle and Mia.
Offered: daily, all the time.
Cafe Orso
4316 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver
Web: http://cafeorso.ca/
Twitter: @CafeOrsoDeepCov
Instagram: @cafe_orso
Luca (centre) and the team
2nd Place (tie):
Faebrew
Nutty French Toast
Price: $17.50
Description: Sweet and creamy reminder of warmth!
Created by: Vincent Wong
Offered: Daily, all the time.
Faebrew
140-4328 No.3 Road, Richmond
Web: https://faebrew.com/
Twitter: @faebrew
Instagram: @faebrew
Vincent Wong
2nd Place (tie):
Platform 7 Coffee
African Sunset
Price: $5.00
Well aren’t you a spicy little exotic concoction? Made with the rare and exotic Grains of Paradise, a spice out of Africa, our barista Drew scoured the city to bring it here. The spice is crushed and blended with a bit of water, adding a smoky flavour. Our base is Stumptown’s East African single origin Ethiopia Nano Challo brewed on the AeroPress. Shaken over ice and served with an orange twist. Let it take you to a place far, far away – where the sun always shines.
Created by: Drew Powell
Offered: Daily, all the time.
Platform 7 Coffee
2300 West Broadway, Vancouver
Web: http://platform7coffee.ca/
Twitter: @Platform7Coffee
Instagram: @platform7coffee
Barista Drew Powell (r) and Owner Marke McNichol (l)
3rd Place (tie):
Aer Cafe
Salted Dulce de Leche Latte
It is a dulce de leche on the bottom, topped with steamed milk. Espresso shot is then poured over top with a sprinkle of shaved chocolate and maldon salt.
Price: $4.00
Offered: all day, everyday
Aer Cafe
2263 E. Hastings Street, Vancouver
Web: http://aercafe.com/
Twitter: @AerCafe
Instagram: @aercafe
Pui Lee (owner)
3rd Place (tie):
Milano Coffee
Canadiana
Price: $4.00
Description: A twist on a Milano favorite, the stovetop.
Created by: Declan Carroll
Offered: Daily, all the time.
Milano Coffee
156 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
Web: http://www.milanocoffee.ca/
Twitter: @MilanoRoasters
Instagram: @milanoroasters
The Barista team Declan, Kelly, Areong
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Coffee creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Aer Cafe
Salted Dulce de Leche Latte
It is a dulce de leche on the bottom, topped with steamed milk. Espresso shot is then poured over top with a sprinkle of shaved chocolate and maldon salt.
Price: $4.00
Offered: all day, everyday
Aer Cafe
2263 E. Hastings Street, Vancouver
Web: http://aercafe.com/
Twitter: @AerCafe
Instagram: @aercafe
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Milano Coffee
Winter Zest
Price: $4.00
Description: A seasonal orange peel infused milk chocolate latte
Created by: Taketo Mizue
Offered: Daily, all the time.
Milano Coffee
36 Powell Street, Vancouver
Web: http://www.milanocoffee.ca/
Twitter: @MilanoRoasters
Instagram: @milanoroasters
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Milano Coffee
Canadiana
Price: $4.00
Description: A twist on a Milano favorite, the stovetop.
Created by: Declan Carroll
Offered: Daily, all the time.
Milano Coffee
156 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
Web: http://www.milanocoffee.ca/
Twitter: @MilanoRoasters
Instagram: @milanoroasters
Thank you to the baristas and cafes that accepted my invitation and featured the coffee creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning cafes to try their Coffee creations! See all the Coffee Challenge entries here.
By: Richard Wolak