Prototype Coffee

This place definitely nails the environment, it's pretty much exactly what I'd ask for in a place to sit down and do some work. The natural lighting in here alone is fantastic, massive windows on the front of the building combined with skylights mean that the whole place needs basically no artificial lighting at all. We actually tried to come here once before and it was completely full, on a weekday. This time we came back at 10am on a Sunday, and by 11, same thing, packed. The seating though is well spaced, doesn't feel overcrowded at all. Acoustics are good, doesn't echo too much, wonderful environment really. It passes the ANC test, my airpods pro are able to eliminate about 90% of the noise. They went with a modern aesthetic here which I really like. It's pretty played out, but there's so much natural light, everything being such a light color just makes sense. The thing I love the most: The benches are the right height for the desks. The solid ergonomics are very much appreciated. Also the wifi is stupid fast, I was getting 400mb/s even when the place is packed. Now, to the coffee: The flat white: Coming in at $5.50 at the time of writing was solid. It's refined, not overly flavorful, but honestly not the best I've had. It's just a little lacking. I'll take Elysian or Great dane any day of the week. The Drip Coffee: Actually pretty fire. At $4.00 it's not cheap but coffee around here isn't. Love the flavor, and it's on par with the better cups I've had. The wife factor: Worked productively, when asked about the mocha and cinnamon waffle, her response was: okay. Conclusion: Very, very solid coffee shop. Especially if you're looking to get some work done, you really cannot go wrong. I'd get coffee from here in passing, and I'll definitely come back when I want to do some writing when I'm sick of my studio.

A great variety of options for pour over coffee. Price is great for their high quality aromatic coffee. I’ve been here twice and I think they have the best coffee in town. Staff is also very friendly and if you can’t decide which coffee to choose from, they will explain what are the notes and flavours to help you better choose a coffee that matches your preference. Highly recommended!

My first visit to Prototype was outstanding and I’ll definitely be back. The coffee is some of the best I’ve had in Canada, and the service and atmosphere are just as impressive. The open-concept espresso bar is a joy to watch, and Sam and Sam were fantastic baristas. This place is on another level; I might never want to get coffee anywhere else again.

Very one of a kind coffee shop. Drinks were immaculate. Perfectly curated. Very atmospheric with the wooden interior and darker lighting, giving off a cozy vibe.

Summer in Vancouver feels like a fresh brew — warm, vibrant, and full of character. And today, it all came together at Prototype Coffee. With the long daylight and perfect weather, I stopped by in the afternoon and was surprised to find every seat taken — even at 3:00 PM on a Thursday. The shop isn’t small, but with only a few tables and chairs, I ended up enjoying my coffee on the bench by the wall. That said, it’s clearly a favorite — people just kept streaming in. As I walked around, I was struck by their commitment to quality — from high-end grinders to instant-heating water taps that ensure precise, consistent brewing temperatures. They roast their beans in-house daily, and it shows. I ordered the Kenya Rungeto Kii, and it was stunning. Every flavor note listed on the menu was present from the very first sip — bright, layered, and beautifully balanced. The staff are not only friendly but impressively knowledgeable. If you’re curious about coffee or want to dive deeper into brewing or beans, it’s well worth striking up a conversation — you’ll walk away learning something new. Prototype isn’t just about good coffee. It’s about passion, precision, and a community that truly appreciates the craft.

Loved the atmosphere, the coffee and decor! Top 3 coffee shops for me in Vancouver. Will be back for sure.

The coffee are small and expensive. No pastry only waffle that don't look too appealing. The place have lots.of seat, but the middle aisle seats are quite close together. The barista not too friendly. And have to pay parking.

So glad I stopped by! The baristas are very well versed and experienced with beautifully pulled shots. Very knowledgeable in their coffee beans and processes. I tried their tonka bean latte with freshly shaved tonka bean on top - delectable. Must try! As the barista had described - very vanilla bean adjacent with a more spiced note. Thank you!

It's very hip inside. Instagram worthy! Took bunch of selfies in the mirror lol and their interior design! I tried their matcha lemonade and my partner got latte. Coffee tasted great and lemonade was refreshing. I would come back.

Came for lunch on a weekday. Got the red pesto chicken sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was juicy and nicely grilled. The red pesto, tomatoes and arugula worked so well together. Would eat this again, and wanting to come back to try their other menu items and of course, their coffee!

Just great. Favorite coffee in Vancouver. Pretty much everything is great -- I usually get an iced Americano as my standard at any new cafe (like how one would judge a patisserie on its plain croissant or a pizzeria on its margherita), and it was so delicious I had to order the seasonal honey orange latte as well as a cold brew to go. Both were immaculate. The waffles are a nice touch! Nothing too crazy, and perhaps a bit stale, but I prefer a real cafe focus on it coffee.

My favourite coffee shop in town, unfortunately it is somewhat hard to reach via transit. They have amazing pour over selection, really enjoyed the geisha I tried. They also sell a variety of different waffles. We got the lemon bergamot one, which was a pretty unique combo. Could be a bit crispier and we felt like the lemon could be stronger, but overall it was nice.

This place is somewhat unassuming with a minimalistic exterior, but once you walk in, it is a very aesthetic with a sleek design. There is offering of waffles for food and bottled coffee, lattes, and an extensive pour-over menu. This place is most known for their pour-overs, which we got one of them (Kenya Rungeto Kii - dried pineapple, bergamot, grapefruit, black tea) along with a bottled oat milk flat white and lemon bergamot waffle. The coffee and food here is pretty solid. The pour-over has a fruity note as the description suggests and is served at the right temperature. The oat milk flat white is fairly flavorful, though harder to decipher the specific coffee bean flavor profile because the oat milk dominates the flavor. The waffle is more cake-like texture as FYI, but I still enjoyed it, despite it being on the sweeter side.

Coffee was AMAZING. Did not try their waffles but they make them fresh and they looked and smelled so good. The service was fast.

I can't believe I didn't make a review for Prototype because my friends and I were fans of their coffee beans. I had done research on the recommended coffee shops and this seemed like a good fit. AND it was close to the train station because we came up from Seattle via the train. But we quickly learned that it was not that easy to walk over (and our train arrived half an hour late...) so admittedly, we did end up taking a Lyft to it. The area didn't look the most inviting. My friends were kind of confused because the entrance was tiny. But the shop inside IS spacious. First of all - they have SO many beans from around the world. I was a bit overwhelmed because I know very little about beans and I was trying to buy a bag for the coffee snob in my life. The only thing I knew was that Gesha was considered the best variety of beans. I ended up picking a bag of Gesha from Ethiopia? My friends also picked up individual bags of beans. The barista was really informative. I got the blue london fog, which was aesthetic and not bad. My friends got a pour over and said it was really good. S and my friends who actually made coffee from the beans said that the beans were really good. S said it was actually his favorite variety of beans that he had in a while. I saw that they have since opened another store. I've recommended this coffee store to friends who are visiting Vancouver because I think their variety of available roasted beans makes them unique.

My friend and I made it specifically to this coffee shop because of the high ratings overall. I would say they have a great iced vanilla latte with oat milk that I had that day, and my friend loved her iced honey orange latte, which I believe is a seasonal drink. The flavors all worked together really well, and this is definitely one of the better coffee shops in Vancouver, in my opinion. The surrounding areas of this coffee shop is quite questionable and feels unsafe. I did not feel unsafe walking with my friend in broad daylight, but around it often feels like the Vancouver of Skid Row in Los Angeles, CA. Be vigilant of course. Once my friend and I stepped into the shop, it was safe and clean. Service was efficient and friendly enough. Our drinks came out pretty fast. There's parking available on the streets and nearby businesses. It is worth stopping by this place for coffee.

I had no idea Vancouver was big on waffles but I'm here for it! We got to see them make their waffles and dip them in different flavors. I had the orange cardamom and it was phenomenal! I have also never seen a coffee shop that tracks their beans. I'm amazed at this place and they do flights! Didn't realize that until after the fact but I would love more places to be like this one. You can choose your own beans for your coffee too, which can be hit or miss but it's pretty neat!

Friendly and fast service, waited for 3 minutes for my iced latte and it was delicious!

Went to prototype coffee on Monday morning! The only reason why I would give the coffee shop 4 stars is for the lack of seating! Other than that. The aesthetic is amazing (all black with some wood and moss green). Unfortunately when I went, there weren't many flavors of waffles left but they were making new batches right there (i was just too impatient to wait!) We ordered a Brazil Esperanca Peaberry / Chocolate, Hazelnut, Caramel Originally came to the coffee shop because someone on tiktok had recommended it and hyped up the waffles!

After braving a walk along Hastings and what is effectively Vancouver's Skid Row to get here, my thought was, "This better have been worth it." It was. First, Prototype is on a solid block--the first really decent one--of Hastings, with several other upmarket businesses, but west of it, it gets a little (sometimes more than a little) dodgy. I never felt unsafe (it was daytime) on my walk, and nobody bothered me, but I wouldn't say I was "comfortable." Easy solution: Walk along a different street (either north or south of Hastings) until you get close, then cut over. But I wanted the full Hastings experience once. Once you get inside, however, it's a totally different world. It's a super hip (but not in a pretentious way) interior, with an awesome contemporary design. It's not huge when it comes to seating, but the friendly and EXCEPTIONALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE baristas made room for me at the counter, sort of on their side, which was very cool of them. While I was there, I got to check out some of the equipment and learn more about the roasting process, which was a pretty awesome perk. Of course, I got my usual mocha. But first we talked about what kind of coffee I liked for it (there were, if memory serves, four options depending on my preferences). Nobody's ever done that before, and I kind of loved it. And the mocha itself was outstanding--right up there with some of my all-time favorites. My buddy, who is a coffee fanatic, would love this place. I sure did.

The best pourover I have ever had! I can literally taste the tasting notes listed from the pourover! First time ever! I bought the same beans and tried to replicate the pourover at home. Not the same! I simply don't have the skills. LOL =/

I have come here many times when my husband and I crave for good coffee. Their coffee or coffee beverages never disappoints us. We ordered a Colombia latte and new Yemen pour over. So good! The Yemen pour over has so much complexities in it. So hard to explain. The latte is a bit fruity. Overall their coffee is very good. This coffee shop is the no. 1 go to on our list.

In my never ending quest to find coffee perfection I was finally able to make it to Prototype. It's not the greatest location but for good coffee I will travel! Yes, the coffee was as close to perfection as one can get. I had a latte (they don't do cappuccinos ) and I had a few slurps of coffee from my husband's coffee flight. They are very knowledgeable about their coffee and can answer all of your questions. They'll even roast some beans for you! The space is tiny but nice! It's not as hard to find as others have claimed. Will definitely return!

Never done a flight of coffee until today. It was a lot fun. Most coffee shops don't offer 20 different beans on the same day so Prototype offers an unique experience.

Really unique coffee shop from the machines to the drinks they serve. Must visit for any coffee nerd! Displayed are micro roasters, individual dosed bean vials, and minimalist pour over, steamer, and brew heads. Wonderful environment to enjoy a delicious drink and watch the expert baristas practice their art. If coming from Downtown, I would avoid walking down East Hastings and take the bus instead.

A gorgeous and aesthetic experimental coffee shop in Strathcona specializing in a large variety of coffee beans from around the world. When Im in the mood for a quick coffee tasting, I head to prototype. I know for a fact that no matter what I order here, I'll always be left with a full bodied and delicious cup of joe that will fuel me for the rest of the day. They specialize in a variety of pourovers and espresso beverages as well. They also serve unique dipped waffles to pair with any cup of coffee ordered. I always enjoy the calm ambiance of Prototype, whether it's to read, work or just ponder.

Walking into prototype coffee is like walking into the coffee house lab of sorts with a modern vibe and minimalist aesthetic. The battery of mini roasters behind the counter are a cool thing to behold and I imagine this ensures small micro batch quality. It also gives this place a high tech vibe with all the sleek looking coffee brewing, grinding devices in use and in full display. I went with a lovely single origin ethiopian bean pour over which was quite delicious. Keeping to their sleek streamlined MO they only serve glazed hand portable waffles as their only baked goods item. Trust me they are to die for. I got the jasmine glazed and the vanilla glazed waffles. Not too sweet and hand portable for on the go snacking! Definitely check this place out!

We went here for the first time craving for a coffee break in the afternoon midst chores and a long day! I've heard such amazing things about this place and decided to check them out on DoorDash! I ordered online and picked it up. Let me tell you, this place is such a vibe! It's very modern and contemporary. The place along with its aesthetic was stunning! The service we received by the two people behind the counter were so kind and easy to speak to!! We WILL BE BACK!! If I was looking to cut cold turkey on my coffee again, I'd go for their almond blue London fog and call me happy! Thank you guys for having us!!!

First time here and it's really nice inside and super comfortable. Lots of wood used in the interior that gives it a very homey feeling. Latte was SO GOOD!!! However, 2 things I wished: 1) more seating 2) 30 minute seating (I think it's cause of Covid). But overall really good!

The staff were so friendly. They answered my questions about pourovers and gave me a recommendation. They even chatted with me after I ordered, you can tell they care about sharing their coffee knowledge and good customer service. I believe I got the Columbia Juanambu (mango, melon, cherry), you can't go wrong with anything here.

Really great coffee here! Tried a unique steamed cold brew and a orange honey latte which was delicious! I loved that they take the time to taste each batch of coffee to make sure they get the grind size and flavor profile right. I dont know many establishments that do this. Also, to go cups are an extra 25c here so bring your usable cup if you remember!

It's such a lovely cozy hip place to enjoy specialty coffee! Staff also very friendly to give expert advice on their beans. Highly recommend!

In my opinion, this is the best coffee roaster/cafe I've tried worldwide. This place is really really academic about coffee and all the notes of the espresso were crisp and prominent. My favourite was the Ethiopian blend with notes of honeysuckle like bees dancing on your tongue. Tip: get the set with double espresso split into a single shot and a milk drink

Wow...I REALLY like what this coffee house is doing!!!! Amazing micro roasts (each machine in house roasts only about 2-ish bags of coffee ready beans per machine but they have 4-5 machines lined up ready to roast), super sexy waffles being hand dipped in sugary flavors first thing in the morning, an amazing oat latte where the espresso cuts through the milk in perfect fashion, and a hit list of pour over flavor profiles to explore for days... Don't sleep on the pre-pack coffee drinks which they have in a fridge and ready togo either! The 2 team members were super nice and took time to geek out on coffee with me, even though it was first thing in the morning (I was the first customer on a Sunday at 9am), and patiently answered all my questions about brewing, water weight, dosing, oat milk selection, and beans! Tucked into a corner of east Hastings, closer to Clark than Main, and right in my neighborhood this is a go to spot. If you are into coffee-coffee-coffee, go support and enjoy what they are putting out!

We came here early on a Saturday to pick up a coffee and were thoroughly impressed! There is a one way direction in the cafe due to covid. Their space is quite small but the coffee would surely make any coffee snob smile. Would recommend!

I don't give out 5 stars often for coffee shops, so you know this one deserves it. I ordered a flight of drip coffee and the staff was very helpful with questions/comments. The coffee was amazing as well as the presentation of the coffee. The vibe of this place was very modern, which is also a plus for me. Only issue might be the area- but I do love that its a little out of the way from the tourists.

I should have gotten a coffee. I don't know what I was thinking... They have a great selection as well as cold brew flights options. As for the blue matcha latte. I didn't get much flavour of matcha nor did I get any flavour of the butterfly tea (which is supposed to be subtle). So all in all, my drink tasted like steamed milk (also 'cause I didn't add any sugar/honey). It's a cool setup but not many seats if someone decides to take up on of the tables. I'd say it's a grab and go situation.

If you read my reviews you will see how hard I've been looking for a great cup of coffee. We moved from the Hudson Valley and drove across the continent and I looked for a decent coffee everywhere. Our little town had a specialty roaster and I got used to the many flavours of coffee from different parts of the world. I'm jumping in to add my review of the coffee I bought online after I visited. The Oddo from Ethiopia is absolutely blowing people away. It is the difference between a 1929 Armagnac - the perk of dating into a fabulously wealthy family way back in the 90s - and whatever plonk gets sloshed down at The Hole in the Wall Bar and Grille. But back to the shop itself... ...I was reminded of Gail's perfect coffee machine from Breaking Bad, not that the technology was fancy or that Prototype doubles as a meth lab, but the coffee is made at a uniform 97 degrees, served in a glass carafe and drunk from a crystal glass. (If' you don't know Breaking Bad Gail was the lab assistant in the state of the art meth lab and was a total science wonk who created the best coffee maker. Alas, poor Gail was doomed...but that is a spoiler that has nothing to do with Prototype Coffee) This one-ups my old Black Cow Coffee company in that these coffees were from specific estates. I had an Ethiopian and an Indonesian coffee served much weaker than I normally like. It looked like tea but the tastes were wonderful. Ethiopia grows a sweet coffee. You don't need sugar when you drink great coffee. Add to that the music was great and the staff sweet, knowledgable and friendly. The decor is simple but elegant with beautiful wood tables and chairs custom built to fit into the wonky, tight, diagonal space. Go, but beware: you may not be able to drink at most coffee shops after this. I forgot to buy a few bags of coffee as we don't live in Vancouver. (The one I rave about above came by mail $20/125g!)

Had an awesome experience at Prototype Coffee! We started off with a "coffee flight" to try 4 different origins and get a sense of the different profiles then decided on a "waffle donut" followed by an additional pour over. Left with some beans for home. Really appreciated the excellent hospitality by the staff. They're more than happy to share their knowledge and current favorites! Can't recommend enough.

Amazing, modern style coffee. A lot of great cafes still don't do pour overs, not Prototype. They're masterful at making a proper pour over. They roast all their beans in house and in small batch. It's fair to say they are obsessed with quality and it shows. The staff is always welcoming and friendly. Definitely one of my go to cafes. If you like coffee on the fruiter side, modern style, pour overs, etc, no one does it better than Prototype!

Just really good coffee. Interesting single origins. I like the minimal design. Limited seating, especially with covid restrictions. Worth a visit for coffee fans.

Decent coffee, but very pretentious. Default options for tip was $1, $2, or $3 on a $5 latte. Depot (Timber Train) a few blocks away is better and 1000% less pretentious.

Really liked the coffee, the employees and the modern design of the place. It wasn't overly crazy on a Sunday, but there was a nice flow of customers that wasn't overwhelming. Visiting there for the first time, I had a bunch of questions, and the people behind the counter were very patient and answered every question I asked. It was a really nice experience to spend time drinking great coffee in a nice setting. Definitely recommend!

Impressive selection of different coffee varietals/beans. I understand it might be very different and intimidating to walk in and place an order but the staff are friendly and willing to answer any questions. Again I think you have to go in knowing Prototype provides a different coffee experience/service compared to quick-service 2nd wave places.

One of the best pour overs I've ever had. Fantastic bean selection. Knowledgeable staff. Definitely a go to for a fantastic coffee experience if you're a self-proclaimed coffee snob like me.