This place was recommended to me by fellow coffee blogger Tyler of Commonly Coffee (check out his blog here) and it did not disappoint. Located in the charming town of Qualicum Beach, French Press is relatively new on the scene only having been roasting for a couple of years, but they have already developed an impressive following, and it’s easy to see why. Whether it be from the friendly staff, delicious food, or fantastic coffee (more on that in a sec), French Press is certainly worth a visit if you find yourself on Vancouver Island.
Walking in on that Wednesday morning, the place had the hum of a well-oiled machine. Despite the busy cafe, we were able to snag a couple seats by the window. The cafe itself had a very cozy feel to it, and just a great overall atmosphere. In addition, the staff were very upbeat, and genuinely looked like they were having a good time. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to meet Jeremy, the owner of the roaster (just another excuse to go back), but it was an all around pleasant experience!
I strayed ever so slightly from my measuring stick latte and ordered a flat white, and man was it ever good! I appreciated the fact that they let the espresso really shine through, because it was darn delicious. It had heavy, rich chocolate notes to it that gave it a good body, along with a nuttiness reminiscent of hazelnuts (boy do I regret not going back and buying some beans. Ah well, just yet another reason to go back to the Island). The notes lingered for an appropriate amount of time- not too long that it got redundant, but not too short that I wasn’t able to appreciate it. This highlighted it’s great staying power. Overall, a very solid flat white, I was not disappointed in the least.
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Coffee: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
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