This was a very interesting one. This hole-in-the-wall on Clark has caught my eye over the last year located within Central Coffee Roasting, ander it's bright signage.
However, I was only able to visit recently as their hours are a bit restrictive. There is a little seatig inside and only a few seats large enough to
work at. The ambience inside is relaxed with smooth jazz playing and gentle conversation, unctuated by the roll of semi trucks heading to the Port of Vancouver outside. There are no baked goods.
Off the bat I have to ackgnowledge the price: $5.50 for a 8oz drink is steep. Scaled up to the standard 12oz I compare to other
cafes, this would come to $8.25 placing it at the most expensive latte I have ordered yet. Everything is made fresh and with care resulting in a very very nice drink. The scent is strong and attractive, and my for-here cup was the perfect temperature.
The flavour was a lot more acidic than I typically like, however without any of the astringency that usualy turns me away. I found a lot of interesting, creamy, and bright flavour in each sip, hollowed by a smooth nutty or chocolatey after taste. The texture of the steamed milk was almost ideal, just a little too seperated from the rest of the drink; more like a traditional european cappuchino. The scent is comforting and fruity. Despite the lighter notes and acidity, their lattes were still strong; no sense of being scammed for milk.
If you are one who loves a lighter, acidic coffee, or someone who has avoided them for their astringency, Yuan Coffee is a worthwhile stop; though be warned of the price! I throughly enjoyed my latte here, though the price and lack of food leave it hard to make this a regular stop. This is fine, as Yuan Coffee sets out to fulfill a different niche.