Coffee Culture

[jay]

Been to the Waterloo location a couple of time. I like it.. Decent food.

I hope that second location is Bauer Lofts.

[Spokes]

I've been to the Kitchener location a number of times and it's always quite busy. Not sure I've ever seen it empty.

[Spokes]

Was in the Kitchener location on Saturday and couldn't even get a seat! Business is good!

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

You know, I honestly think a Coffee Culture location would do extremely well at the Bauer Lofts (where Williams was supposed to go). I was at the Uptown location Friday night, couldn't get a seat (as usual), and noticed that they brought out collapseable card-table chairs to accommodate more people. Business is indeed good!

[Spokes]

I've been someone who's been saying it won't happen. My original feeling was that, not that it couldn't work, because it definitely could. The Uptown location is great, as is the downtown location, and the majority of coffee shops at the base of residential buildings do well. Originally I didn't think it would happen because Coffee Culture wouldn't want two locations in such relative proximity to each other. If you look at their locations, they don't have many cities with multiple locations let alone multiple locations close to each other. But with the success in KW that could indeed change if there was someone willing to open a franchise.

[Spokes]

Coffee Culture has a promotion on now. If you buy one of their travel mugs ($15) you get a free coffee that day, and then 5 more free coffees. Plus I'm pretty sure, after that you can buy a small coffee and they fill the mug completely. Good promo.

[arm_clean]

Apparently Coffee Culture is now running the Rum Runner pub as well. I'm hoping that they can do some good with that space, as I've always thought that it had a huge amount of potential.

[urbandreamer]

But is the coffee any good? Coffee snobs in Toronto claim their coffee is bitter...basically like Tim Ho's. What do the locals think?

Obviously, a CC would never open in the Bauer Lofts location--when you get a franchise, you're assured exclusive rights to a territory. From Bauer Lofts to Uptown location is what, a five minute walk? So it's a time vs. money debate--$5 for a strong espresso at Bauer Kitchen, $1.50? for a drip coffee at Vincenzo's or that cake shop, or $2.50? for a blah coffee at CC. Then there's Sbux, about a 3 minute walk from Bauer Lofts. And a Tim Horton's in K-W hospital, iirc. And in Waterloo Town Square, yet another (imho the best coffee I've had in Waterloo) coffee shop/cafe! So BL is surrounded by coffee options!

Iirc, Regina St used to have a funky indie cafe/coffee shop in an old house, not certain if they're still around.

[Ktown4ever]

But is the coffee any good? Coffee snobs in Toronto claim their coffee is bitter...basically like Tim Ho's. What do the locals think?

.

The coffee is good. The sandwhiches are nice too. My only complaint is sometimes the music they play is a little lame. The location downtown Kitchener has a very euro vibe to it.

[jay]

Urbandreamer-

I agree that there is a lot of coffee shops around but most of them other than Starbucks are somewhat far that most people would have to drive to. Coffee Culture in Uptown is like a 10 minutes walk if not more. Timmys is 10 minutes, etc...

Any coffee shop would do well. Everyone in the building is drinking the drip coffee from Vincenzos, and everyone was upset when Williams pulled the plug.

[Spokes]

But is the coffee any good? Coffee snobs in Toronto claim their coffee is bitter...basically like Tim Ho's. What do the locals think?

Obviously, a CC would never open in the Bauer Lofts location--when you get a franchise, you're assured exclusive rights to a territory. From Bauer Lofts to Uptown location is what, a five minute walk? So it's a time vs. money debate--$5 for a strong espresso at Bauer Kitchen, $1.50? for a drip coffee at Vincenzo's or that cake shop, or $2.50? for a blah coffee at CC. Then there's Sbux, about a 3 minute walk from Bauer Lofts. And a Tim Horton's in K-W hospital, iirc. And in Waterloo Town Square, yet another (imho the best coffee I've had in Waterloo) coffee shop/cafe! So BL is surrounded by coffee options!

Iirc, Regina St used to have a funky indie cafe/coffee shop in an old house, not certain if they're still around.

Are you talking about Seven Shores?

And as for the coffee...I like it. I haven't found any of their things that I haven't liked yet. And I love the new Kitchener location.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

I don't think opening another Coffee Culture location in the Bauer Lofts would be infringing on territorial rights as urbandreamer put it. Both locations are always packed and finding a seat at any time of the day is a challenge. In fact, I know some people who won't even go to either of the Coffee Cultures in KW, especially the one Uptown because they might not get a seat. They don't want to lug their laptop and books or schedule a meeting with colleagues there - they just go somewhere else like Williams where they have a higher chance of getting a seat. Therefore, I think a third location would do well somewhere in between the two locations, and Bauer is a perfect fit IMO.

Another point is look at Cambridge - according to the website, there will be 2 Coffee Cultures opening soon there.

Seven Shores is still around too. Although I've never been, I was given a coupon for a coffee there a short while ago.

[Spokes]

Ya I don't know officially about territorial rights and infringement issues, but I do think they're a bit close. But if we've learned anything from Starbucks its that locations can survive close to one another. (No Waterloo Region examples for Starbucks - Tim Hortons on the other hand haha).

Only time will tell. I do think a coffee shop could survive here. Just think once the 188 residential project is done, add in 144 Park and 133 Park to the people already living in Bauer. Thats a lot of people within 2 or 3 blocks.

[urbandreamer]

No. I didn't mean Seven Shores--can't say I've heard of that place before. It was in a house on same side of Regina, with a nice front and back porch. It may be an art gallery or hair salon now, judging by google streetview. (I was last there in summer 2003, so maybe I'm too old for you kids....)

Matter of Taste puts CC to shame. As for walking 10 minutes to get a cup of coffee? In Toronto, I consider anything up to a 45 minute walk to be within my reach. (Waterloo, even "urban" is really car centric I guess.)

[Spokes]

(Waterloo, even "urban" is really car centric I guess.)

Haha its kind of true!

[uptownfoodcritic]

You are likely thinking of the Moody Blues Cafe which closed years ago and the building was bought by Donovan's Insurance which they now use for office space.

Seven Shores is well worth visiting with very tasty sandwiches, excellent coffee and a locavore appeal.

Coffee Culture exemplifies everything that is wrong with chain coffee shops by having below average coffee, below average food and not much else other than setting.

They are a slight step up from a Tim Horton's and are at least Canadian, unlike Starbucks, but if you really want coffee in Uptown, Matter of Taste, The Princess Cafe, Vincenzo's and Seven Shores are all far superior in all regards. Even Cafe 1842, which just serves Seattle's Best Coffee is better than Coffee Culture.

Yes I am a food/drink snob and yes I do believe that this is the kind of thing that genericizes the Uptown so that it, like Coffee Culture's menu, lacks flavour or distinction. I consider it a blight upon the core.

Having said that, the shop is usually full. Sigh.

[jay]

I tried to goto Seven Shores this past Sunday but it was closed. I've never been before but you have sold it well so I think I'm going give it a try. IMO they should be open Sundays but that's just me. But Vincenzos is also closed Sundays so..

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Yes I am a food/drink snob and yes I do believe that this is the kind of thing that genericizes the Uptown so that it, like Coffee Culture's menu, lacks flavour or distinction. I consider it a blight upon the core.

I disagree with you here. Sure Coffee Culture is a chain coffee shop, but I like their mandate. They aim to preserve and enhance historical/older buildings which they have done quite nicely in their Uptown and Downtown locations. They also choose to open the majority of their locations in urban areas rather than on the suburban fringe. Coffee Culture does not look like your typical fast food chain coffee shop. It is a huge step up from the Zacks store that used to be here, which was one of the discount liquidation Zacks stores that barely anyone went to.

And again, Coffee Culture does bring a lot of people into Uptown. More than the Zacks store ever did.

[Spokes]

I disagree with you here. Sure Coffee Culture is a chain coffee shop, but I like their mandate. They aim to preserve and enhance historical/older buildings which they have done quite nicely in their Uptown and Downtown locations. They also choose to open the majority of their locations in urban areas rather than on the suburban fringe. Coffee Culture does not look like your typical fast food chain coffee shop. It is a huge step up from the Zacks store that used to be here, which was one of the discount liquidation Zacks stores that barely anyone went to.

And again, Coffee Culture does bring a lot of people into Uptown. More than the Zacks store ever did.

I agree. And while their food/coffee isnt the absolute best out there, I don't think its near the worst at all.