Coffee in Montreal on par with Intelligentsia, Stumptown, etc...?

[kindofabigdeal]

I'm looking for small roasters producing very high quality coffees, preferably the kind dealing directly with their farmers.

[carswell]

There are no local roasters on the level of those you mention. You can get artisanally roasted beans from Intelligentsia, Zoka, Terroir, Metropolis, PT's, etc. at Caffè in Gamba on Park Ave. and 49th Parallel beans at a few places around town, most notably Café Myriade, which also has beans from other roasters from time to time. Among local roasters, Café Rico on Rachel specializes in fair-trade beans, but they're not as quality-obsessed as some of their US and western Canadian counterparts. Word on the street is that Montreal may become home to a new artisanal roaster with its sights set on world-class coffee but, for now at least, we're stuck with looking outside our fair city.

[seaville]

Where does La Vieille Europe on your show up on your scale?

[carswell]

Don't have a lot of experience with them, seaville, but based on a couple of purchases my impression is that, like the better other local roasters (e.g. Union; Terra; Brûlerie St-Denis; Aux 2 Marie; Café Rico; Toi, Moi et Café), they're competent but unexciting and simply not in the same league as the cutting-edge US and western Canadian roasters.

[NickMontreal]

I’d heard so many good things about Vieille Europe coffee, so I went and bought a batch of Cuban Brown beans (a decision based on a very high recommendation from another poster). Have to say I was a little disappointed – I just found the coffee lacked body and richness. I wonder if perhaps their turnover isn’t all that great. They have soooo much coffee but it doesn’t seem to move much.

I’m a big fan of Faema’s home blend – but I’m not sure its on par with the artisanal roasters of which you speak so highly.

[Mr F]

It's been a few years since I was a Vieille Europe regular, so this may not still apply, but there used to be certain roasts that moved particularly well and seemed to be at their peak at certain times.

For example, French Roast + Saturday morning was and may still be a good bet. It also can't hurt to ask what's freshest from the roaster...

[seaville]

My experience is limited to a once a year visit., but I've been doing it for over 10 years. I buy the roast I like (dark Sumatra) and then some of whatever the guy in front of me had. Usually, that's whatever is on sale. Never been disappointed, but then I can't rave either,

I'll never stop going though. I introduced my family to this place, and now our first stop on the walk up Saint Laurent is La Vieille Europe, There's no discussion. For us, we haven't arrived in Montreal until that sharp, rich scent of aged cheese and fresh roasted coffee hits us in the face.

BTW, this is the place for dried herbs. Herb de provence? cheap! wonderful!

[torontrealais]

Gamba will definitely have a bigger variety, but if you're interested in tasting Metropolis, I know Cafe Neve on Rachel East now serves their espresso, and perhaps their brewed coffee also.

[sparky11007]

I would recommend Aux quatre vents at Jean Talon Market. They do all their own roasting and I've found the quality to be great.

[seaville]

Will try this year.

[carswell]

There's no disputing taste but be aware that not everyone share's sparky11007's high opinion of Brûlerie aux Quatre Vents:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/98712#2106619
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/9871...