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JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1188 Alberni StVancouver, BC V6E 4N5
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 254-3724
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
37 reviews for JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
Review Highlights
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"...people, good coffee, great people watching, Fancy chairs." In 3 reviews -
"the cappuccino and the bakery was delish." In 3 reviews -
"It has a very clean aesthetic, very modern black and white..." In 3 reviews
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Jean W.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2012
The place is usually full of Hipsters and Business people, but I'm not there for the people-gazing; I'm there for a damn good latte!
It's a bit more $$ for the coffee, but after working Five years in a coffee shop, it's completely understandable. Their lattes are amazing!
The staff are usually nice as well. -
Review from Paula P.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2012
I do like Starbucks, really I do. But then again, I'm not much of a coffee drinker. On the occasion when I do decide to have a coffee based beverage, I tend to enjoy a very well made latte.
JJ Bean does not disappoint. Their beans are roasted perfectly and the lattes are just hot enough not to burn. It's also a great location with loft style upstairs seating and a great view for people watching.
I also very much enjoyed a hilarious list in the bathroom of things not to flush down the toilet. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
3/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
In a land of Blendz and Starbucks, a girl would give an arm for a good cup of coffee. I wandered down to JJ Bean today to grab a cup of coffee and read while on my lunch, and boy was I ever glad I was.
The place is gorgeous and the coffee and treats what you'd expect. The staff were super friendly and the clientele were incredibly attractive. It's amazing the eye candy when you walk a couple blocks further than you normally do.
I really like the decor of the place, white and wood, open with a great little upstairs.
I'll go back, that's for sure! -
Review from Lisa Marie M.
Vancouver, BC
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was starving and en route to see a friend. I had wanted to go out to eat, but she had already had a burger, and suggested I do the same. On the way, I passed a JJ Bean. I decided a sandwich sounded good.
It was clean and not busy at all .
A girl who was sweeping the floor eventually came up to the counter to help me. ( I didn't see her wash her hands which didn't impress me )
I ordered a chicken pesto grilled panini.
It didn't take them too long to crisp it up and bag it for me to go.
The sandwich itself was nice and crisp, which I love ( hate anything soggy !!)
But, it had a bit too much cheese on it.
All in all , it was ok. But for almost $10 ( with tax) I thought it to be overpriced.Listed in: Downtown Vancouver, Yummmmm
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Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
3/14/2012 3 Check-ins Here
JJ Bean, great coffee and service, packaged into a even better location and atmosphere. I'm not interested in carrying tablets or notebooks into a coffee shop to do work, surf the web, etc. I'm there to enjoy coffee, conversation and trying to bring a little "gezellig" back home from Amsterdam.
I enjoy their darker roasts and espresso-based drinks; my wife loves their mochas.
So sit down, have a talk with a friend or loved one, and take a few minutes to relax at JJ Bean! -
Review from Mark H.
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sexy, minimalist design, the upstairs seating is the place to be.
Great for people-watching, the comfy but limited chairs provide a relaxing semi-private nook.
Staff messed entering my order, so I ended up with three Americano's but only paid for one. I'm hardly a coffee expert, but one cup tasted 'off'.
Come for nook, if there's space. -
Review from Emily S.
Vancouver, BC
7/13/2011
Do you have any outlets upstairs?
We don't have any outlets.
What? (I should be saying "Pardon" but I'm trying to be accurate here)
We don't have any outlets, I don't know why.
(Thinking: Self, this place looks new. Computers exist at coffee shops. Why no outlets?)
And I thought about it right out the door. And I told other people about it, who frankly don't believe me. WTF JJ. No business for you. -
Review from Allan-ester D.
Vancouver, BC
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
great location...service was just ok...product not too bad...didn't have a great experience at this particular coffee shop
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Review from Gina I.
3/4/2011
When I want a good strong latte or a machiato, I come to JJ Bean. Their coffee is consistently on par with what I like.
I do go to Starbucks and Artigiano, but sometimes I just want a simple good coffee that doesn't have all the sweet stuff in it. Just give me a nice frothy latte with strong coffee.
Thanks JJ Bean for moving in down the street from where I work. The staff at this location are sometimes airy, but they're nice and I like them. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
2/28/2011 2 photos
One lesson I was told upon landing in Vancouver was that the lifestyle pace here is less furious than where I came from. I should slow down enjoy my vacation and smell the Coffee. Vancouver is definitely caffeinated to an extreme with shops in every corner more so than Gas stations.
As I slow down this morning at this JJ Bean location enjoying a Cappuccino($3.40) that easily matches any Espresso Beverage I've had in Toronto. The local suits and BMWs drop by for their fast pace workday while I do the opposite in this Black on White furnished, Art Gallery(wood/whites) setting.
Note: I do NOT like the Cup/Plate here. Not ergonomic enough.Listed in: 4+ ****Stars****, Vancouver'ing for the Week, VanCOFFEE
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Review from Cara P.
1/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I realize that the space this cafe inhabits is odd but why fill it with huge, awkward chairs that take up space that could be used for more useful seating?
And the staff not clearly announcing drinks is confusing. I order a non fat vanilla steamed milk I want to hear the barista call a non fat vanilla steamed milk - not just vanilla steamed milk. This was confusing to the group in front of me too who were also at a loss as to whether the drinks sitting at the bar were theirs or not since the barista didn't offer info on the milk type, and also didn't know the answer when they asked for clarification.
Otherwise, delicious, busy, great people watching, good location, beautiful space (if awkwardly filled). I'll be back for sure. -
Review from K C.
12/30/2011
It's hard to criticize perfection. This is the best coffee I've ever had. The staff are perfectionists through and through. One slight drawback, the decor and the size is too small for this location which is the reason for only four stars.
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Review from Curtis R.
Vancouver, BC
11/29/2010 31 Check-ins Here
The newest JJ Bean location does a good job at catering to its specific urban surrounding demographic. Same products and service but a more contemporary decor. Designer white walls and Nelson Coconut Chairs gives it a fresh look and really is appropriate for this location.
Another good job by JJ Bean at evolving with the times. The various seating options also creates a bit more of a lounge effect that urban customers are wanting and is hard to find.
Good job.Listed in: Best Coffee & Tea Houses
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Review from Jenna L.
11/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I absolutely love this place since it opened. It has a nice clean look, and a good window seating perfect for people watching on Saturday afternoon (except the panhandlers outside the liquor store next door...). The seats are good, except the upstairs seatings are only a few so you maybe out of luck for seating.. Is the chair/sofa?? meant to sit two? I am still confused.. Are they supposed to encourage couples to sit together?
Anyways, their coffee is solid, good beans, no drip coffee, all french pressed individually and cute staff from time to time. Also have huge muffins that I looooove. For the same price elsewhere you get a muffin half the size and half the yumminess. I love to chill here whenever on the weekend afternoon. It also helps that all the staffs seem to enjoy working everytime I come here, never had a bad service day! -
Review from Sabrina T.
10/25/2011
All the workers here were super friendly. I tried the earl grey, a cookie, and took some nibbles off a sandwich. Everything was pretty decent-good, but nothing memorable. The place was cute, but there wasn't much seating. If you're looking for a caffeine fix, it'll get the job done.
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Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great coffee and even some gluten free treats too! (I tried the GF coconut bliss bar, which was yummy and very moist, as opposed to the usual cardboard-like GF baked goods.)
Add in the fact that it's basically right across the street from my office and the ultra-hip and modern decor, and you have a coffee house destination to rival the dozens of others on or within a stone's throw of Robson Street. -
Review from Karen R.
7/30/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Yes!! I love JJ Bean and finally finally we get one in the middle of downtown! The space itself is gorgeous, in the new renovation/addition to the building on the corner of Bute and Alberni. It has a very clean aesthetic, very modern black and white colour palette. There are orchid plants scattered about and there are lots of seats on the sidewalk and it's 2 levels inside.
The coffee is strong, the girls at the counter were really friendly and the iced latte I ordered was smooth and silky - no chunky pieces of grounds in there. -
Review from Sanaz J.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2011
I don't really consider myself a coffee snob but this location has a great ambiance. For the best view order your coffee and go sit on the cool and funky chair upstairs.
I went with a friend and we both agreed that it reminded of us all the great coffee shops you'd see in Soho in NYC.
I had a latte and tasted some of my friend's London Fog, both good. Also we couldn't resist the sweets so snacked on a Pumpkin muffin, a great choice and not too sweet. -
Review from Tod M.
Vancouver, BC
No wifi.
They have a sign up explaining that it's on purpose, because they want it to be more like an old-fashioned coffee shop.
Um, okay. Enjoy.
I'm going to somewhere I can check my email.
kthxbai. -
Review from Christie S.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2010
In my 9 years as a Vancouverite, I have never found a "favorite" coffee shop... until JJ Bean opened up this coffee house on Alberni Street.
All the others were too dark, too woody, too rude, too cold, too boring or too small. JJ Bean on Alberni is my Goldilocks Coffee Shop: Just right! Great coffee, friendly service, yummy sandwiches that appear somewhat less processed than other places. Bright and open - love the second floor!
Seating is exceptionally comfortable but limited. Otherwise I'd have awarded 5 stars. -
Review from Joe L.
Vancouver, BC
7/24/2010 1 photo
The cafe recently opened in July 2010. Both levels of the restaurants boast a very clean line modern minimalist decor. The second level is more like a catwalk around the perimeter of the restaurant overlooking the service counter to the inside and the streets through the 2 storey glass windows. There are also sidewalk seating outside the restaurant.
Coffee, tea and pastry items are standard. A great place to chill out and people watch. -
Review from Cynthia F.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2011
The staff at the JJ Bean Alberni location are great. Biggest asset (besides the coffee!!). Staff sincerely care about their customers (hence the loyal customer base.) I keep returning to Alberni also because of the people watching, and car watching is awesome too. Park your wheels one block west for cheaper meters. Or lock your bike on the mega racks. Cafe is one block from Robson Street. The cafe layout is poor, but the ultra-hip silver and black decor makes up for it.
Gotta go. Gotta get to JJ before they close for the night!! -
Review from Mike P.
11/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
More impressive from the outside than the inside. They seemed to have spent a bunch of money on the decor but ran out when they got to the guy's washroom (seems unfinished). No wifi keeps the loiterers away, but will also keep me from going back.
Delicious coffee!! -
Review from Allen W.
7/31/2010 1 photo
Such a nice cafe and seemingly quite busy since it opened just a couple weeks ago.
The place is styled is a super sleek modern style with seating outside, inside, and upstairs. Yes, two levels -- the upstairs offers a nice street view and is a great spot to kick back with some coffee and a sticky, sweet pastry.
Staff was quick and friendly, so no complaints there. Signage seemed to be lacking so wasn't sure if there were any specialty drinks to be aware of as I'm not that familiar with JJ Bean. Tried the carrot cake and wasn't disappointed -- rich, moist and worth getting again. -
Review from Jim S.
10/2/2011
Great little cafe with small but good food selection. Coffee was great and so was the atmosphere in this stylish little coffee shop. So glad I did not have to resort to a Starbucks!!!!
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Review from Adam G.
Edmonton, AB
9/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
While all JJ Bean locations are customized to their surroundings to some extent, this Alberni Street spot, the newest, is a marked departure from the other, "earthier" locations around the city. Inside this shiny, new Coal Harbour building (is there any other kind?), the décor borders on pretentious, but it's still a good spot for people-watching -especially from the funky second-story loft.
The coffee is consistently good - as can be expected from Vancouver's second-best (IMO) coffee chain. It was here that I was introduced to the "Fresca medici" - an amazing espresso-based concoction that went down especially well in the summer. -
Review from Jenny l.
Vancouver, BC
1/27/2011
The baristas are always friendly, and the coffee and pastries are the best!! I'm addicted to the breakfast bun! Feta, spinach, and onions melted into a soft,buttery,golden bun! Yum yum! The chairs are comfy and the atmosphere is contemporary chic! Took off a star for lack of wifi and space to sit.
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Review from John W.
Richmond, BC
8/9/2011
excellent mocha, probably the best in town. Comparable to 49th parallel
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Review from Kevin M.
First off...I love JJ Bean Coffee. This is a brand new location (Aug 2010) and is stunning from the street. It is decorated in a very clean modern minimalist way and almost has a feel of a Spa.
It's a great place to have a biz meeting and the outside seating is very cool and has great street appeal.
There is an upstairs area that is like a catwalk and has a very modern cool feel. You feel cool just being here.
I travel a lot and have to say this is one of the coolest places to have a coffee. They have great healthy sandwiches that If you order to eat there you get a side salad as well. The sandwiches go for about $7-$8 not cheap but very delicious.
I always have the dark blend coffees here as the taste is very good. -
Review from Irena L.
2/28/2011 7 Check-ins Here
After Artiggiano coffee, this one would definitely be my second choice for awesome coffee! Cool, hip place, nice selection of treats, and a great cappuccino!
Listed in: My cup of Joe
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Review from derek s.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2011
It's 2011. The internet exists. WIFI is part of the deal if you want my cash for coffee. Even if your coffee is good coffee, I'm never coming back, and to me that's a pretty ridiculous business decision when I spend so much money and time in coffee shops.
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Review from Jena J.
Vancouver, BC
4/24/2011
These guys are the best. nice people, good coffee, great people watching, Fancy chairs. no wi-fi, who cares? The only down fall is the mixing station set up, way too tight.
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Review from Jacob R.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2011
This is a lovely new space and the coffee is always amazing! ill be back for sure.
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Review from Mandy R.
12/14/2010 2 Check-ins Here
There's a billion coffee shops in the Robson Street area, but this is the only one with genuinely impressive decor. Also a strange oasis of hipsterdom in the middle of an Ugg-And-Lululemon neighbourhood. Great coffee, great muffins, and within stumbling distance of my apartment for hangover Sundays.
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Review from Lyn R.
8/13/2010
Really. Good. Coffee.
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Review from james p.
7/27/2011
beautiful cafe. two story coffee shop with floor to ceiling glass window. the cappuccino and the bakery was delish. try the butter tart and raspberry tart. these two tarts were to die for!
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Review from E L.
Vancouver, BC
7/17/2011
Would return for a cookie or coffee. Great service and clean, nice, spacious womens bathrooms. Had to return my hot choco as it the choco was too bitter, was given excellent service, no hassles at all. Oh also has changing table for babies and mums, a welcomed detail.
