The Vancouver Foodster Signature Coffee Drink Challenge was a success featuring unique coffee creations at cafes around Vancouver. Each cafe featured their creation on their menu from January 11 – February 5, 2023 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: AJ Heraghty, Jacqueline Chui and Janzen Malabanan
The Winners are:
1st Place:
{111 points}
Beyond Coffee

Beyond Sunrise
Price: $7.50
Created by: Lawrence Low-nang
Description: First thing in the morning is no better than having a cup of strong coffee, a glass of orange juice and a toast with Nutella. We created a coffee drink that has all the above goodies…. in time for the SUNRISE !
Nutella flavoured triple Illy espresso shots with Orange coulis on ice, topped with freshly whipped orange flavour cream, in a Nutella-Pistachio rimmed glass.
Ingredients: Orange coulis, Triple Illy espresso shots, Nutella, Freshly whipped orange flavoured cream, Chopped Pistachio, Orange zest
Beyond Coffee
1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tel:(604) 697-5326
Web: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_coffee_vancouver/
Twitter @dine_at_beyond
Instagram @beyond_coffee_vancouver

2nd Place:
{105 points}
Vanilla Bean Bake Shop

Have your cake and drink it too
Price $4.50
Created by: Stephanie
Description: Dark Chocolate mocha infused with a wild amarena cherry syrup topped with real vanilla whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry on top!
Ingredients: Spirit Bear Organic Fairtrade Espresso, milk, dark chocolate sauce, wild cherry syrup, whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry on top.
Vanilla Bean Bakeshop
11900 Haney Pl, #101, Maple Ridge
Tel: (604) 463-0662
Web: https://www.vanillabeanbakeshop.ca/
Instagram @vanillabean.bakeshop

3rd Place (TIE):
{100 points}
Craft Café

The MariSchino
Price: $6.75
Created by: Mariia Vernigorova
Description: A twist on a classic – the Spanish latte. Hints of almond and cherry accentuate the nutty profile of single origin espresso while delivering a rich and fruity finish for a perfect winter treat.
Ingredients: Single origin espresso, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, maraschino cherry syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon, topped with cherry garnish
Craft Cafe
960 Quayside Dr Unit 115, New Westminster
Tel:778-655-8305
Instagram @craftcafe.ca

3rd Place (TIE)
(100 points)
Tru Cafe

The Solar Eclipse
Price: $6
Created by: Megan
Description: Tru Espresso combined with star anise infused liquorice syrup, activated charcoal and garnished with dehydrated raspberry! (Can be vegan)
Tru Cafe
1500 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 731-2508
Instagram @thetrucafe

In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Coffee Drink creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Tru Cafe

The Solar Eclipse
Price: $6
Created by: Megan
Description: Tru Espresso combined with star anise infused liquorice syrup, activated charcoal and garnished with dehydrated raspberry! (Can be vegan)
Tru Cafe
1500 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 731-2508
Instagram @thetrucafe
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Vanilla Bean Bake Shop

Have your cake and drink it too
Price $4.50
Created by: Stephanie
Description: Dark Chocolate mocha infused with a wild amarena cherry syrup topped with real vanilla whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry on top!
Ingredients: Spirit Bear Organic Fairtrade Espresso, milk, dark chocolate sauce, wild cherry syrup, whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry on top.
Vanilla Bean Bakeshop
11900 Haney Pl, #101, Maple Ridge
Tel: (604) 463-0662
Web: https://www.vanillabeanbakeshop.ca/
Instagram @vanillabean.bakeshop
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Craft Café

The MariSchino
Price: $6.75
Created by: Mariia Vernigorova
Description: A twist on a classic – the Spanish latte. Hints of almond and cherry accentuate the nutty profile of single origin espresso while delivering a rich and fruity finish for a perfect winter treat.
Ingredients: Single origin espresso, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, maraschino cherry syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon, topped with cherry garnish
Craft Cafe
960 Quayside Dr Unit 115, New Westminster
Tel:778-655-8305
Instagram @craftcafe.ca
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