A gorgeous Douglas fir coffee bar that Mitch and his father built is the centerpiece. Natural light saturates the place through the large windows that run along the space. In homage to the original shop on Broadway, single tables are bolted to the wall near the entrance. For those who like to be out in the open, a long wooden bench wraps along the length of the room. Small and large tables are dispersed through the space and a trio of comfy chairs sit in a corner.
The opening day coffee menu was similar to the original Relevant — espresso drinks, chai, a hot turmeric drink, drip coffee, hot tea, cold brew and nitro tea. Two types of espresso were available (Ethiopia Alaka and Colombia Tello) and a filter coffee (Guatemala Chaquito). On tap was a nitro cold brew from Central America, a single origin cold brew from Ethiopia and a cascara nitro tea. There were squares of Ranger Chocolate, pastries from Baron Patisserie, and vegan and gluten-free treats from Shoofly Bakery.
I tried the two types of espresso. The barista brought them out with a small glass of sparkling water for each demitasse of espresso. I enjoyed sipping the contrasting flavors from the two espresso shots — the Colombian bright and tropical and the Ethiopian full of dried fruit and chocolate. After I left, I walked down the street and I saw a painting of a watershed on the ground with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi — “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” It reminded me how local business owners, such as Mitch Montgomery, create community one shop at a time.
Rachel Pinsky can be reached at couveeats@gmail.com. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook @couveeats.
If You Go
What: Relevant Coffee.
Where: 1703 Main St., Suite A, Vancouver.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Contact: 971-319-5773 or RelevantCoffee.com
Information: Relevant’s Founders Club is accepting members until the end of May. For more information, go to RelevantCoffee.com/founders-club