Prototype 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!