Canadian Coffee Snobs Strategy for Finding Good Coffee

[SweetAlex]

So we're Canadian, which means we have numerous issues, one of them being the fondness for good coffee and the difficulty of "settling" for the stuff they call coffee in many of the cafes in the parks (waaaay too weak and tasteless). Are there more options there now than there were a few years ago (please oh please tell me there are!)? Starbucks will do, if there are no other options but we find their coffee a bit on the bitter side.

There was a little coffee shop outside the Ramada that we discovered when we stayed there our first time and it was lifesaver but we're not staying anywhere near there this time so we need an alternative. Hoping for more "secret" shops like this.

Help! We need our coffee or bad things may happen...

 

[dizneefan13]

Do you mean just plain coffee? or coffee drinks?

I agree that most places don't have coffee that tastes good. If you are talking just black coffee, which I like with a pastry or dessert, I think Plaza Inn has the closest to what I would call good. Its strong but not bitter. I often went in just for a coffee.

The coffee at River Belle that I tried with breakfast was way too bitter.
Nothing else stands out for just coffee, so if I tried it I guess I didn't like it.

For coffee drinks (I love a good mocha) I say Ghiradelli's is great. Love their mocha's hot or cold.

 

[Escape2Disney]

There are now 3 Starbucks locations (Fiddler, Fife, and Practical in DCA, Market House in DL, and Starbucks in DTD). If you're looking for something better, Haagen-Dazs has Pete's coffee. Neither brand is perfect, but are much better than the swill that the parks serve.

 

[nannyz]

One thing I do is ask if the coffee is freshly made. At least then it may be drinkable.
On another note, I must share with the OP that I still dream of the coffee and cinnamon bun I had at Grounds for Coffee in Vancouver.

 

[SMD]

Joffrey's is the official coffee provider in the park. Other than the single Starbucks location in each park, all of the coffee in the parks is the same.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

The regular coffee in the parks is not good. You will want to order espresso (or Americano if straight espresso is too strong for you) from the places with espresso machines. Off the top of my head: royal st veranda next to pirates, coffee cart near frontierland entrance on main st., coffee cart near pier in dca. I know there are several more...those are quick walkups though -always smaller lines than sbux. Jolly Holiday has espresso too but line is long and coffee bar is often backed up with orders.

 

[SweetAlex]

Joffrey's is the official coffee provider in the park. Other than the single Starbucks location in each park, all of the coffee in the parks is the same.

Oh dear...

Yes, just plain old coffee, nothing fancy like lattes or mochas.

We'll give Pete's a try for sure. Haagen Daz is in DTD correct?

Looks like Starbucks will have to do. Honestly, you can never go back to bad coffee once you've lived anywhere near Vancouver and visited any of the 50 million coffee shops there. Even McDonalds coffee in Canada kicks butt. It's our favorite actually but the McDs in the states hasn't picked up on it yet. Bummer!

Disney should really consider changing coffee suppliers to something decent. The amount of coffee they would go through if it was actually decent would translate into so much profit for them.

Thanks everyone!

 

[SMD]

The places that PP mentioned serve espresso would have a latte, it's Joffrey's espresso.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Oh dear...

Yes, just plain old coffee, nothing fancy like lattes or mochas.

We'll give Pete's a try for sure. Haagen Daz is in DTD correct?

Looks like Starbucks will have to do. Honestly, you can never go back to bad coffee once you've lived anywhere near Vancouver and visited any of the 50 million coffee shops there. Even McDonalds coffee in Canada kicks butt. It's our favorite actually but the McDs in the states hasn't picked up on it yet. Bummer!

Disney should really consider changing coffee suppliers to something decent. The amount of coffee they would go through if it was actually decent would translate into so much profit for them.

Thanks everyone!

The coffee at Hagen Daz is Peets, not Petes. It's a chain from Berkeley.

Disney just recently switched from Nescafé to Joffrey's, so they are not likely to switch again soon. -- Suzanne

 

[keltiesmom]

Have you tried the new blonde roast at Starbucks? It's really taken off in Canada, I'm not sure if they will have it in the parks but it isn't bitter at all. It's quite good actually, I don't much care for Starbucks regular roast stuff.

 

[DLfan4]

We got our coffee from La Brea Bakery in DTD every morning we went to the parks.

 

[SweetAlex]

The coffee at Hagen Daz is Peets, not Petes. It's a chain from Berkeley.

Disney just recently switched from Nescafé to Joffrey's, so they are not likely to switch again soon. -- Suzanne

Sorry, I was just going by what the previous poster called it . I've never heard of it before. Is it decent? I wonder if we've ever tried Joffreys. Is it better than the Nescafe?

Have you tried the new blonde roast at Starbucks? It's really taken off in Canada, I'm not sure if they will have it in the parks but it isn't bitter at all. It's quite good actually, I don't much care for Starbucks regular roast stuff.

It's okay. I don't mind it but I prefer the Pike Place roast I think. It is less bitter for sure.

We can work with Starbucks for sure. Just wanted to see if there was anything else new.

 

[losfp]

Don't get me started on coffee. Us Australians love our coffee (though my wife doesn't for some reason. Maybe I should return her for a non-defective model? I digress) and it was an interesting 5 weeks in 2012 during our trip to the US. I ended up seeking out Starbucks as the best, most consistent option (I would normally not go to Starbucks for a real coffee here, but needs must). Even though I had to find an order that approximated what I was after, either a piccolo or a strong flat white. For those wondering, I would order a short, double-shot latte.

I actually didn't mind freshly made drip coffee, but all too often all that was available was stale stuff that had been sitting in the pot for hours.

I think I actually cried real tears of joy when I found one espresso stand in DCA that had a barista who knew what a caffe macchiato was, and could make me one.

We'll be visiting for 6 weeks next year. This should be fun.

 

[bumbershoot]

Looks like Starbucks will have to do. Honestly, you can never go back to bad coffee once you've lived anywhere near Vancouver and visited any of the 50 million coffee shops there. Even McDonalds coffee in Canada kicks butt. It's our favorite actually but the McDs in the states hasn't picked up on it yet. Bummer!

I just looked on mcdonalds.ca; it's Mother Parker's brand up there.

It's Seattle's Best here at McD's. Seattle's Best is owned by Starbucks, but they still have their own coffee.

I go to Waves or Blenz when in Vancouver. Or Starbucks if we must. Because Tim Horton's, um, bleah.

Sorry, I was just going by what the previous poster called it . I've never heard of it before. Is it decent? I wonder if we've ever tried Joffreys. Is it better than the Nescafe?...

Just wanted to see if there was anything else new.

When was the last time you were at Disneyland and had coffee? It's been about the last year that the "something new" was Joffrey's coming into DLR and booting out Nescafe.

And yes, it's better. Unless you liked Nescafe like my cousin. Who is now upset with Joffrey's. And Joffrey's is a roaster based out of Tampa, Florida. And they work with the nicer restaurants to make special blends, which you can buy, here.

You might want to try it, at least at the table service restaurants.

And the Peets at HD (which is, yes, in DTD) is great. Peets first opened in 1966, and it's what my mom made special trips to buy when she could, as she was a serious-coffee drinker (and a serious coffee-drinker!). ALTHOUGH it's possible that their plain old cup of coffee coffee is not Peet's. Ask before ordering! I know their espresso drinks are, though.


And if all else fails, bring a travel french press and your own beans, run some hot water through the in-room coffee maker and make your own?

 

[SweetAlex]

I just looked on mcdonalds.ca; it's Mother Parker's brand up there.

It's Seattle's Best here at McD's. Seattle's Best is owned by Starbucks, but they still have their own coffee.

I go to Waves or Blenz when in Vancouver. Or Starbucks if we must. Because Tim Horton's, um, bleah.




When was the last time you were at Disneyland and had coffee? It's been about the last year that the "something new" was Joffrey's coming into DLR and booting out Nescafe.

And yes, it's better. Unless you liked Nescafe like my cousin. Who is now upset with Joffrey's. And Joffrey's is a roaster based out of Tampa, Florida. And they work with the nicer restaurants to make special blends, which you can buy, here.


And if all else fails, bring a travel french press and your own beans, run some hot water through the in-room coffee maker and make your own?

Awesome! Yes, it's been longer than a year since we tried the coffee. I think we only bought it the first time we went, obviously oblivious to the nastiness to come , three years ago. Last trip 1.5 years ago, we stuck with starbucks. We'll give it a whirl and see how it goes. Thanks for your help!

 

[disneychrista]

It's Seattle's Best here at McD's.

Are you sure about this? I thought Burger King sold Seattle's Best. I thought McDonalds had its own branded coffee.

 

[redoctober25]

What you need to do is jump coasts... I believe that the Canadian Pavillion in Epcot has Timmies for sale. Not sure if it is only ground (for brewing in room) or if it is at the kiosks though. Anyway, for DLR, I'd say you bring your own as Disney has never had good coffee in general.

 

[ButterflyKisses77]

I am sooo happy to know they have Peet's in DTD! I love Peet's - its so much better than Starbucks and i too dislike the coffee in Disneyland

 

[belle'ssister]

I just looked on mcdonalds.ca; it's Mother Parker's brand up there.

It's Seattle's Best here at McD's. Seattle's Best is owned by Starbucks, but they still have their own coffee.

I go to Waves or Blenz when in Vancouver. Or Starbucks if we must. Because Tim Horton's, um, bleah.




When was the last time you were at Disneyland and had coffee? It's been about the last year that the "something new" was Joffrey's coming into DLR and booting out Nescafe.

And yes, it's better. Unless you liked Nescafe like my cousin. Who is now upset with Joffrey's. And Joffrey's is a roaster based out of Tampa, Florida. And they work with the nicer restaurants to make special blends, which you can buy, here.

You might want to try it, at least at the table service restaurants.

And the Peets at HD (which is, yes, in DTD) is great. Peets first opened in 1966, and it's what my mom made special trips to buy when she could, as she was a serious-coffee drinker (and a serious coffee-drinker!). ALTHOUGH it's possible that their plain old cup of coffee coffee is not Peet's. Ask before ordering! I know their espresso drinks are, though.


And if all else fails, bring a travel french press and your own beans, run some hot water through the in-room coffee maker and make your own?

My daughter works at Peet's in Vancouver, Wa and will be so excited we can get some on our trip to Disneyland in a couple of weeks. She bring's a travel drip coffee maker for the room but good to know where we can get a good cup of coffee in DTD.

 

[McNs]

I have the same issue as losfp. I have travelled a bit to the US through work so got used to resetting my expectation on what as going to be a good coffee. I got to a similar point with replicating flat white, small latte, double shot, half the milk. It showed up how bad the coffee was to start with.

One of my worst coffees was a tom hortons in Victor, NY. Someone brought it in to the office for me, he was from Toronto and wanted to show me how good it was. It was huge, at least a pint, and had vanilla flavour added.

I only ever had one coffee at DL and that was from the espresso cart by fantasy faire while waiting for the fireworks one night. I got a cappuccino, but forgot it was going to come in a huge cup. No matter how good the shot may have been (and I don't think it was) it was drowned by milk with a bit of foam on top...