Cafes
The Remarkable Bean
The Remarkable Bean turned my Saturday afternoon from a thumb-twiddler to something more special than I had bargained for. If the name is a boast, I'll go ahead and condone it - two thumbs up with a smile full of cheddar broccoli savoury muffin.
The day was gorgeous, so the line was long - most stepping in and out for a coffee on the go, although there's a nice amount of seating inside. I couldn't resist the aforementioned scone ($2.52), looking so sassy by the cash register, and paired it with a cappuccino ($2.67 for a small). I took a seat and stared at the gorgeous old Leonard Cohen photos on the wall. A host to art shows every couple of months, Remarkable Bean displays the art and photography for continuing enjoyment (or creepy staring, a la me).
The place, open for 15 years, has somewhat has of a cult clientele in the Beaches, and for several valid reasons. One, they bake everything on location. When any of those babies come out of the oven, you can smell it on the street and WHAMO! Instant lineup. Two, they serve fair-trade, organic brews and wear their social conscience on their sleeve, acting ethically, being environmentally responsible.
The third (and best!) reason is that The Remarkable Bean roasts all their coffee on site. As in, right in the store front. As in, the owner gave me front row access to the roasting process, opening up a bag of raw beans and demonstrating the process in intriguing detail. They import fair-trade beans from numerous countries including Colombia, Ethiopia and Papa New Guinea, and prepare new batches every 1-2 weeks (after that, the oils in the beans start to go rancid). The process takes about 10 minutes from raw to toasty, and the room fills with an amazing aroma as the beans turn a chocolaty brown. Once the beans are cooled, they're either sent to the front for daily consumption or divided into bags for selling in shop. The leftover mulch from the bean is used for composting. Everybody wins!
After that amazing display, I walked out to the sunny sidewalk to see a crowd of pleased coffee drinkers socializing outside. If The Remarkable Bean is a landmark in the Beaches, there's a reason - they're serious about their brew.
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To the coffee. I seem to like mine stronger than others. I would not agree that I like my coffee strong. What does that mean? I just want to be able to taste it. I don't need my head to explode. Maybe drinking it black, except for the odd macchiato or cappuccino, has something to do with it. I've tried a few coffees here, but the only one I can drink without feeling like I've spent money on hot water, is Rocket Fuel. It's billed as 'super strong', but it just isn't. It's not even strong. But it's strong enough that I can taste it and it's a fine dark roast. And there's few coffee shops where I can find simple, regular brewed coffee that I enjoy.
I do think the place needs a limited reno. The seating might be... interesting, but it's not terribly comfy. And if you're single and just want to read a paper, not all of the spots will allow you to easily do that. Lighting is a problem, for reading, for much of the store.
But the positives for RB are many. The people who own and run the place are friendly. Everyone I've ever dealt with here has been friendly. The coffee is great (although I'm not ready to recommend the espressos and espresso based drinks). The eats are awesome. The jazz station on the radio, not cranked up to distracting levels, is a big bonus. The nabe is another bonus. Grab a coffee and walk through the cool old residences to the lake, which isn't far away, Or just stroll up and down Queen St and window shop, perhaps selecting one of the many restos to stop at for your lunch or dinner. RB is a winner.
The folks at Prana know their coffee and it shows. Plain coffee over ice tastes great not edgy and that's with no cream or sugar. Gotta love the panini sandwiches there too. Prana's roast makes the likes of "Henri" seem bitter not better. Belgian Croissants at Prana are feather light and buttery not overbaked and dry.
Prana's wide openness at front of house is a plus too.The set up to get take out coffee is user friendly trumping the congestion and cramped set up at the 'Bean'.
For my money, i've "Bean" there and done that. My feet are walkin on over to Prana.
Love your coffee, and always a great spot to relax and have a chat.
Nice people (both behind the counter and in the comfy seats) and GREAT coffee at both.
Marisca, Brandon & staff at Prana, and Susan, Micah, Marianne, George and their coffee-drawers, each stand on the merits on what they do, with no need to put anyone down.
Prana hosts great events month-to-month, The Bean has amazing home baking.
Choose what suits you at any given time.
The habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut… must
be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive.
~ Edith Wharton
My partner and I stop in before we catch a movie at the Fox and I always get a slice of the quiche and a homemade brownie... the best damn combo you can imagine!