Nestled in the heart of Railtown, Harken Coffee’s forest green brick exterior and large-format window offer glimpses of the lantern pendant lights within, emitting a warm, welcoming glow.

Inside, the wraparound design of the bar and serving area gives customers a 360-view as the barista works carefully to create the orders. The interiors utilize a warm colour palette throughout paired with the a red brick wall characteristic of Gastown and Railtown’s historic architecture. A dried floral centrepiece hanging above the bar is a design focal point drawing your attention to the middle of the space.

With the open design, I could observe as the barista slowly grounded the Hojicha and Peruvian black maca root with a mortar and pestle to make my Hojicha Oat Milk Latte.

The resulting taste and texture of the latte is a smooth and aromatic beverage that feels like a warm embrace for your body; the earthy flavours of the Hojicha and the nutrients from the oat milk are a rich combination to lift your spirits for the day.

After consulting with the staff, I decided on the Chocolate Chip and Pecan cookie made with miso butter because of the interesting sweet and savoury combination.

How tasty are these house-baked cookies? They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so you’ll have to zoom in below to get a close look at all the deliciousness embodied in these cookies made with miso butter. My mom tells me that to bring out the sweetness when cooking (or baking), you actually add salt, so the savoury flavours of miso help bring out the chocolate's sweetness.

The cookie is crispy on the edges and soft and chewy on the inside with an abundance of cookies and pecans, satisfying both types of cookie lovers — those who love the crunch and those who love eating cookie dough (you know who you are). Finished with just a sprinkle of sea salt on top, you never know which bite will give you an extra punch of salty flavour, which to me is a lovely surprise.

What else is on the menu?

For those serious about their coffee, there is an extensive list of pour-over options as well, featuring options from Santa Barbara Honduras, India, Columbia and Ethiopia. To view the options available, view the online menu.

For those feeling adventurous, there is always the Coffee of The Day, hand-brewed in batch size. The flavours err on the classic side, with selections that are more chocolate and nutty.

I have already made my selection for my next visit. The Blue Tea, made from flower petals of the butterfly pea plant and blended with earl grey, has both the presentation and taste I am looking for. I look forward to when indoor dining is permitted again, so I can enjoy the aromatic coffee in the beautiful interior.

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Harken Coffee

(604) 661-1142

338 Powell Street, Vancouver