Blenz Coffee

I really like this place. It’s across the street from my office but we rarely come here because the drinks can be dangerous… They are yummy and high in calories. Haha. My favourites are the chillos — similar to Starbucks Frapps but about 10 x better. They are about 50 cents more than frapps but so much better tasting. Service is ok. It’s busy here and hard to find a seat.

I went in here around 8PM, not generally a time to get a cup of coffee but when you’re like me, anytime is a good time.
The only thing worth commenting on when reviewing a large chain coffee shop is the service so that is what I am going to do. I walked in and the two barristas were chatting and I stood there for two minutes without being acknowledged. I had a gift card and I wanted to check the balance; I was told that in order to check the gift card balance I had to purchase something, I was intending to do that so I did not mind; however, which place makes you purchase something before checking the balance of a gift card?
I would probably go to another coffee shop (perhaps another Blenz) but the service at this location is not good enough for me to return.

I’ve been going to this blend for years.
maybe the management or standards changed, because the service has become awful.
On two separate occasions I’ve went to buy a drink. and twice they were made wrong.
My White Chocolate Mocha… was just sweetened milk, there was no content of coffee…
My Mochachillo was watery and too sweet.

Surrounded by Simon Fraser and Alexander College, this is the place to go for a late night study marathon. It’s quiet, has free wifi, and open 24hrs. It is a place for respite if your roommate or neighbor is being too loud or you just want to chill with friends… that is what I’d make of it, although I’m no longer a college student! lol
I stopped over here twice. Once because my hotel was nearby. I didn’t get in until midnight and I was in dire need for a late night snack. Unfamiliar with the territory and menu, I just grabbed some hot tea, a muffin, and turned in. Secondly, we’d been walking around downtown all rainy day, I needed a pick me up. So I opted for the Belgian hot chocolate, which was delicious! I wish I could make hot chocolate with the same steamy consistency.
Four stars. Although I’m not a coffee drinker, I’m pretty sure other cafes don’t have the offer the same late night comfort. I’d say drop in.

New Year’s Day (or morning rather) at Blenz. NO FREAKING SEATS! All around are drunk passed out people or people on their laptops. Only half of them seem to have purchased something. I resorted to seating outside. In the cold. Whatever. This the reason why skytrain should operate ²⁴⁄₇.
I was going to give 3 stars, but you get an extra one for actually being open unlike waves.

you got me at «open 24hrs»! wish Starbucks would do that.
walked in here while desperate to hook up on wifi. coffee was good but didn’t really had the ooommpph like starbucks have. i picked up a couple of goodies (brownies) and tasted yummy.
nice spot for night owls that loves to hang out in decent coffee houses.

Dark Decaf… On hit! Nice that your open late, and your brewster not cranky LOL. Thanks.

Blenz I come here more than I should for a non coffee drinker (I go for the tea) to sketch. This place is expensive and everything tastes average but the people who work here are nice to me. So eh good enough.
However I’ve noticed even though the washrooms are designed to fit a wheelchair but, don’t bother coming one with in or even a stroller. The layout was made impossible for people to walk through let alone wheelchairs. Stupider yet the washroom key is super high up on a hook on wall. If you’re in a wheelchair how in gods name do you even reach that?!

So guess what? I was staring blankly at my screen *trying* to do work, needing some inspiration for the prose I was in the midst of writing, then I looked up…
WOW.
This is the nicest coffee shop atmospherically that I have been in! I mean other coffee shops might have better furniture, or better art but for sheer beauty this wins (only the top half though: D).
The high ceilings were a variation of moss and sage green, intertwined with pillars and detailing reminiscent of Romanesque architecture. Then I realized that the Italian consulate was next door. Anyways this Blenz is actually part of that building, and you obviously see the characteristics preserved in here which I like!
Almost always there is a sweet foreign barista who is serving me. But all the employees actually clean the store constantly (take out garbage, wipe down tables, fix furniture, et cetera). The drinks/​food are like all of the Blenz locations: overpriced with not much flavor. But stick to anything without coffee and you’ll be much better off. Good bets? Strawberry tea latte, matcha latte or dark hot chocolate. Food? Don’t try it unless you’re in dire need.
Sometimes there are less than a handful of people here, sometimes there are more than a handful, but it always seems to get packed with people later on in the evenings.
You will see some sketchies rolling in, but they won’t bother you. There is plenty of cozy seating, as well as counter height tables which I personally like more when I am doing work on a laptop or writing.
Also this is a 24 hour establishment in the case you need to get your Blenz on at 4am. ;)

This Blenz is next to my work so I come here all the time when I have a break. I like the carrot cake loaf. Also, there is usually a lot of tables and the seating is comfortable.

Had a medium ice mocha latte. It was way too sweet. Starbucks version is defintely better with more mocha and espresso flavor and less sweetness. The free wifi is only for 2 hours. Its also very slow when I tried it out. You need to get a code from the counter. Nice roomy layout though and never too crowded. Ample table space and power sockets. Wide screen TVs. Open 24 hours.

It’s nice. It’s spacious. They make nice soy chais and their samosas are decent. It’s not their work, but it was cool viewing the cup art on the columns. And the lighting at night is mood-​setting. It’s also across the street from Waves Coffee.

— nice high ceilings
— open 24 hours
— easy going and friendly staff (never been pressured to buy more food/​drink if I stay for a few hours)
— good WIFI internet connection
— samosas are good
— all in all better than waves… yuck
could have
— better lighting
— fresh food (e.g. homemade soup like bonchaz or brioche, freshly baked goods, … yeah i know its hard in the middle of the night to provide that)

2 stars = meh. i’ve ex better.
the better is the waves at main and cordova.
the people, the staff, everything.

Blendz… you have good marketing tactics but actions speak louder than words. and your words tricked me (and the green balloons attached to the sign).
I wanted Green Tea latte for St. Pattys day… I walked to Muzi Tea bar and it was CLOSED. so i walked all over looking for GTL but ended back at Blendz. Their advertisement was pretty so I decided to go with Blendz although Waves offered it too… and I didn’t want to get it from S.Bucks.
So I’m picky — non fat, extra hot, no foam, half sweet, with a student price card for a free upsize… and their matcha green tea is the most expensive of their tea lattes so it must be good right?
I waited as the barista filled his cup with the matcha powder. then washed it out and restarted over… then watched him steam the milk. pour it in my cup… and had to steam more milk … I got my drink… and went to the counter where i scooped out ¼ of the cup filled with foam. Finally… i saw the milk in my cup and I filled it with the canister of soy and by then, my drink is no longer extra hot… not to mention that the drink was B-​L-​A-​N-​D. I felt like I was tasting flavoured water.
I must’ve been in there for 10 minutes for a drink with no line up. half the time, I was trying to make my drink better because it didn’t taste what I had hoped it to taste. At that price point, I don’t want to be serving myself.

I think I may have encountered the same girl as Rachel T.
In desperation for coffee on Sunday morning (okay, but this time it was afternoon) I wandered in needing a caffine fix real bad. I ordered a sweet (almost a 2 star based on the one thing I could eat) and an Americano.
Cashier: «Is this to go?»
me: «Yes»
(Cashier takes my boyfriend’s order I go to pay)
Cashier: «This is to go yes?»
Me: «Yes.»
My debit goes through la-​ti-​da… and the cashier hands me my sweet on a plate.
Me: «Umm… to go?»
Cashier: «Oh you said for here.»
Okay, I can get over it. We’re all out of it sometimes. Being the only ones with a current our the Americano be ready quickly. Nope. Five or 10 minutes later I get my Americano (yay)… and I promptly scalded the crap out of my mouth. I have never been served a beverage heated to such a temperature. It actually took 30 minutes before I could drink it, and I love super hot coffee. I it was overfilled, so I ended up spilling it all over myself as I walked around and burning my hand (through my mittens no less!!)
Urgg… Blenz we are officially broken up, and it’s not me — it is totally you.