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Milano Coffee Roasters
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
36 Powell StVancouver, BC V6B 2J1
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
21 reviews for Milano Coffee Roasters
21 reviews in English
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Review from Jana D.
Ottawa, ON
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Since we are visiting my sister for her birthday week, we decided to spend time by going for a walk through Gastown. She recommended this coffee shop (as well as others - we decided on this one as it was at the right place at the right time). This was a great break from the rain. The servers were friendly and they offered wonderful coffee! They make it a variety of ways, such as "pour over", or expresso, and they offer the usual Lattes etc. I really enjoyed my Milano coffee. The names of their coffees is also fun: my sister had "Friday the 13th"! We got a couple of treats to go with our beverages, and we were happy to see that they offer gluten free alternatives. We sat in a window seat and enjoyed watching the pedestrians and traffic outside.
Like in the rest of Canada, we seem to have two seasons: Winter, and Construction! So it's no surprise that there seams to be a lot of work to rejuvenate the neighbourhood rigtht now, and there's a lot going on. It's an historic neighbourhood so I'm glad of that. Besides, it's very touristy. every few minutes, the steam operated clock hoots, whisltes and steams, which is fun. -
Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
4/30/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I think of coffee flavours like different types of dessert:
Sometimes I crave cherry pie (sweet, tart, fruity.) You can think of that as a Rwandan bean.
Other times I might like a simple bowl of fresh berries and a cup of tea (tangy, sweet & light) That's a little more like an Ethiopian bean.
Once in a blue moon I like key lime or lemon meringue pie (zesty, fruity & sour) That's a bit like a Kenyan bean.
Often I crave something decadent like chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream (rich, creamy, heavy.) That's like a Guatemalan bean.
Mmmm. How about chocolate mousse with a strawberry on top? (rich, tangy, sweet.) Maybe a bit like a Mexican bean.
How about pumpkin pie. (sweet, rich, and maybe a little spicy) Sometimes Columbian beans have these flavours.
And one time I burned a batch of cookies and one fell between the stove and the counter. When I fished it out it was covered in dog hair and lint. That's would be your Starbucks roast.
Now what do you suppose would happen if you took the lemon meringue pie, chocolate lava cake, pumpkin pie, the mousse and the burnt dog-hair cookie and put them in a blender? You'd probably be reminded of the TV series Fear Factor. Now what would it taste like if you then proceeded to burn the flavour out of it until it was dried out, bitter and smelled like an ashtray?
Welcome to the whacky world of coffee blending.
Here's what I suspect is going on. If you buy some cheap Rwandan beans, they may be cheap because they have been rejected by other roasters. For instance, maybe they lack sweetness. The cheapest and easiest solution is to just add a few sweeter Guatemalan beans. If an Ethiopian bean is too light, the theory is it can be "fixed" by adding some cheap low grade but much richer beans from Columbia.
'Some' roasters even include Robusta beans to give their blends more body. Robusta are the cheapest beans in the world. They are inferior beans that are used primarily in instant coffees like Folgers and Nescafe. These beans are a different variety from Arabica and come from Asia. They are able to flourish in more inclement conditions and are undesirable, bitter, truly vile and rejected by most coffee roasters as unusable.*
I think the blending of different beans is done for economic reasons. It's a cheap way to produce coffee. If the beans are undesirable, adding other beans to fix them is a crutch and might just be an attempt to disguise the true characteristics of inferior beans. After all, if the beans they sourced were primo quality and tasted amazing on their own, adding beans from another region to the roast would be guilding a lily.
Now how do you get rid of the impurities in these inferior beans? Well you're going to have to roast them away. That means burnt beans. I compare coffee flavours to different desserts but I think of roasts as toast. I personally prefer toast that still resembles bread rather than a shriveled lump of coal.
Milano offers the pourover method of brewing coffee but they're just going through the motions. Even if they made the extra effort to grind the beans just before brewing and carefully time and weigh the grounds to water ratio (they don't bother with any of that stuff) it wouldn't matter to me because I think the coffee here is absolutely horrible.
I know a lot of people like the philosophy of blended roasts and the Turko family is well respected but personally this type of coffee is not for me and I think Milano is taking all kinds of liberties and shortcuts with their brewing and roasting methods.
I prefer single origin small batch roasters who understand how to respect the bean the way mother nature intended.
*I don't know if Milano uses Robusta or not, but I thought I recognized their distinctive bitter taste. I can't be sure.Listed in: Coffee. The Good, The Brewed &…
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Review from Stephan M.
Vancouver, BC
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
The coffee here is not as good as they make it out to be.
The milk in the cappuccino I had was over steamed and I nearly burned my tongue. This might seem trivial and some would say that complaining over hot coffee is counterintuitive. BUT when you call yourself a 'boutique coffee roaster' it means you know what you are doing. Obviously these people don't!
Save yourself the disappointment and go to Revolver or Coffeebar instead. -
Review from Roanna Z.
What are your expectations from a cafe? Mine include; good customer service, very good coffee, clean, comfortable seating and nice environment to enjoy it in which should also include an available wireless network.
What I never expected is what we had the good fortune to experience on Saturday evening;
A free musical performance by some astoundingly talented musicians that call themselves Cadabra, a sincerely lovely and appreciative audience of some of the friendliest and classiest folks Vancouver is home to including the cafe designer and both the owners Linda and Brian Turko. Brian has been roasting coffee for 30 years.
On offer for the event was a choice of wines sold by the glass as well as the hot beverages one expects to find plus some foods. Attendance numbered just under 60 people and I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed the night. My face hurt from smiling so much. If you're interested in attending one of Milano's weekend events, keep posed on their Facebook page.
Long tables and a plush leather bench and chairs in the back of the cafe offer very comfortable seating and plenty of space to spread out. Very good for business or social meetings.Listed in: Connect the dots on a coffee…, It's raining... get inside…, Best cafes & small shops in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/1/2011
I love Milano's luscious Cappuccino's, this is great coffee but this new location takes a prize. I'm… Read more »
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Review from Kristen M.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've loved Milano since there was only the one location on 8th. So I was pretty excited to see the new locations popping up all over the city.
The decor is great in the Gastown one, and the same yummy roasts are available.
A good Sunday morning place to visit, but I don't think I'd take clients there.
All in all I am always a Milano fan, and no matter how many locations open up I think 2 out of every 3 Milano visits by me will still be to the location on 8th! -
Review from Robin M.
1/23/2012 10 Check-ins Here
It sure is purty in here. Raw concrete, variations on the colour grey dotted throughout, strategically placed backlit photography, suspended glass counters, thick wooden beams, high ceilings -- and yes, those pretty little Thomas Edison lights too.
The seating is ridiculously uncomfortable and the overall aesthetic will surely date itself in a few years, and it's absolutely not a place to meet with a client or hang with friends -- but I really, really like it here. It's the perfect work space: free wi-fi, excellent coffee, never too busy, never too loud... and those uncomfortable chairs? They keep me upright. Just what a working kid like me needs.
BUT: something should be done about the music situation. For real, what is this, 1997? -
Review from Melissa R.
Vancouver, BC
2/6/2012
You won't be disappointed with the coffee. Milano's minimal ambiance doesn't make for a comfortable place to visit with friends or meet with potential clients.
I like Milano for their chai tea latte's, the staff is friendly and the decor is unfussy and simple. I prefer a window seat for people watching, if you had a gaggle of people and wanted room for everyone, there's more than adequate seating at the back. It's not cozy and lacks ambiance. If you like to snack with your coffee, they have a boring selection of treats. There is street parking out front - good luck. The better option would be to park on Powell east of Columbia $1/hr or in the parkade on the corner Cordova and Columbia. Otherwise it's walking distance if your in the Gastown neighborhood. -
Review from Trudi C.
1/28/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Another good coffee shop near my work! A friend took me here during our coffee break, describing it as 'posh', so I was mentally prepared for the interior when I arrived. Concrete slabs on the walls and floor posing as chairs, a table that was suspended from the ceiling...Definitely not a cozy place to come hang out. And for me, that's what coffee shops are all about! I'm not quite sure who does enjoy sitting on a cold slab of concrete as compared to a nice big soft chair, but there ya go.
The latte here was exceptionally strong for me, I couldn't actually finish it, though it tasted nice enough. So yes, very trendy, did look nice, but there are other places I'd sooner choose in Gastown. Sorry! -
Review from Charly J.
Vancouver, BC
2/11/2012
The Chai tea was great, the environment was ok, the seating sucked, but luckily had some great company. The staff were ok, but a little short with our group even with no line.
Close to gastown which was nice, stayed in side for a bit, then did the stroll thing.
Will visit if in the are, but might try a few other coffee shops in the area next. -
Review from Novalina N.
Cool modern decor. A lot of collective seating area with couches, stools and long tables.
Got a large cappuccino ($4). It's not as creamy as I prefer. -1 star.
Ambiance makes up for a lot. Hence +4 stars. -
Review from Scott H.
11/21/2011
Coffee is coffee. Doesn't matter if you find some "new" way to brew it. Milano has individual drip per glass...whatever, I take it black, and you're wasting time.
That said Milano is a very nice space in a sketchy area and they have Erin Ireland's banana bread which borders on retarded it's so good. It's worth a stop for a morning brew, or drip... -
Review from fred e.
West Vancouver, BC
7/13/2011
After having dinner in Gastown went for a walk and bumped into this new cafe. Was craving a nice espresso to finish my evening.
This is really a beautiful looking cafe. Very nice tables and chairs, and wonderful pieces made of rod iron, industrial lights and reclaimed wood. Pleasant surprise.
Saw a lot of grinders and I ordered an espresso. The barista didn't ask me which espresso I wanted ( I assumed I would have been asked since it looks like they offer many blends with all the grinders full of coffee) but she carefully went to one of her many grinders and prepared me an espresso.
The coffee was very pale which is a sign that its probably stale. i.e. lots of grinders with lots of coffee in them. The coffee tasted stale and tasted like coffee you would have in an old Commercial Drive cafe like Joes or Caffe Calabria. Not impressed with this style of coffee, Its much more bitter and smokey compared to some of the other North American coffees I enjoy.
Long story short. Beautiful looking cafe. Terrible coffee. -
Review from Roni L.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2011
I've been to Milano Coffee a few times for their banana bread and pour over coffee. I have to say that I love the look of their room, it's very large, very well designed and inviting to work in for the professionals in the local area.
I also love their pour over coffee, which is essentially the freshest drip coffee you can have.
If the service was good, I would have given them five stars, but unfortunately the very first time I was there, the service was terrible and that is forever the impression they made.
I went their on a weekday morning the first time. There were two people behind the counter, the owner and a girl who was making sandwiches. There were three of us waiting at the counter for a long time to even get any sort of acknowledegement.
The owner, while dressed nice but looking tired, spend a long time making an elaborate coffee drink and the other girl had her back to us making sandwiches. I can understand that making the coffee took some work, after all good coffee means good process must be followed, but the girl at the counter did see us, but spent the entire 20 minutes+ we were at the counter ignoring us.
Terrible.
Then the owner came and took my order for the pour over and two slices of banana bread. He gave me the two small ends from the display and then forgot to make me a receipt.
Now, I don't know how much training or how far they thought it through, but I would have expected them to give the two larger/middle loaf slices and then go to the smaller ends when they have to. It's customer service and common courtesy, but I guess Milano doesn't go the extra mile.
As well, when I asked for the receipt, he said that he couldn't give me one as it was too late (??? my order was still in the POS as the latest one). So I asked him if he could just write one for me.
He ended up printing it for me after all.
So, all in all, I do go back for the coffee and the atmosphere, its the little touches that keep this at a 2.5 start rating (I am generous with the 3 stars). -
Review from Larry L.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came looking for a coffee and found it.
Nice place reminds me of somewhere I've never been before but in a movie.
A When Harry Met Sally or a Sleepless in Seattle or a You've Got Mail scenario tossed in with some Bogart, some rain and a raincoat.
All that was missing was a beautiful woman.
Coffee was very good. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I walked in and ordered my coffee, she told me it was the best coffee in town. Oh, really? Well. I tried it, and yes, it was good, but not the best in town. Still a neat place to go and working in Gastown I hear rave reviews about the coffee all the time. Maybe this place is a biiiiit full of itself.
Listed in: Coffee & Tea
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Review from Curtis R.
Vancouver, BC
Update: Have now been 7 or 8 times and the coffee beans are consistently good and the cappuccinos are always well prepared in a more traditional style - rather than the now common latte poured foam decorated style. They obviously know their bean roasting and have a long history of roasting. The filter's for drip coffee is much better than a perculator option.
Not really sure about the decor. It is designer generated with some interesting elements but not sure if it works as a place to hang out. Seating arrangements are more for looks than comfort. The high ceilings are nice and the room had great potential.
Service is quite good. The food and pastries are predictable but decent quality. They have several selections from Butter on Dunbar. The sandwiches have an Italian flavour which would make sense given their name and roots.
Overall I will give them a 4 out of 5 primarily for their coffee quality. Still not sure if I like the room yet as a place to sit and get out of the house for an hour. It is a bit cold but music is not bad and it fits into Gastown as another coffeehouse option. -
Review from Doug F.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011 10 Check-ins Here
Consistently good Americanos. Every time.
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Review from Daniel L.
6/8/2011 1 photo
Great addition to the ever trending Gastown, just a few steps from Gassy Jack himself, Milanos Cafe brings a beautiful space of concrete and old wood floors super high ceilings this interior as one would expect in Gastown, the staff are the same nice & trendy... The bean taste is in the name as it is from italy an old world brew, the roaster has been doing it for 27 years and knows his stuff with a few other locations in Vancouver.. Wifi included, They also serve the standard Vancouver cafe pastries not a good selection as they are focused on coffee and a real cool space.
Listed in: My morning coffee crawl
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Review from jen c.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011
I recently discovered Milano Coffee Roasters, which is owned by the Turko family. They own the Turk's Coffee House on Commercial Drive and the Mount Pleasant location.
My girlfriend and I wanted a coffee and discovered Milano's. Our first impression was this coffee shop is trying to create an upscale atmosphere, yet lacked cleanliness in the bathroom.
They are trying to create a visual show with how they make coffee and might impress some people. For those who are in a rush this place is not for you based on that. The process is way too long and not enough staff to facilitate proper customer service.
It looks like the son is coming in to get the business off the ground. He should just have employees running the store and should collect the money and stay behind the scene. He was rude, sarcastic, and patronizing towards both of us. Surprisingly he was uneducated on temperature requests for a coffee and made way too many degrading comments towards my girlfriend who at the moment was in the bathroom.
If I wrote down play-by-play of what this owner said to us you would Not Enter this Coffee shop It was utterly disgusting, absolutely unnecessary, appalling and just Wow...
We have to admit that Gastown has its issues. The sketchy neighborhood street people have obviously clouded this guy's head. If he treats every one like trash like he did with us... he Is Not going to be in business for very long at all. My guess is this business is in the wrong area, wrong business district and wrong attitude. Not a great start Turks.
Yours Truly... Never To Be Seen Again -
Review from Craig S.
Vancouver, BC
9/1/2011
I walked in and said wow, well done , a great big ,world class coffee house , with first rate machines and great beans means great coffee. Gastown is lucky to have these guys move into the area.
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Review from Chris T.
Vancouver, BC
6/24/2011
Best coffee I've found downtown. Great people behind the counter. Nice space. Still has something of the Blinding Light! in there.
