After the huge success of their Cambie location, cowdog have expanded to West 4th. But tbh I'm disappointed. Their drinks are on the pricier side, even by Vancouver standards. A regular Hojicha Latte is around $8, a Matcha Latte is $9. I ordered their signature Cowdog Coffee ($9.50), which combines espresso with hojicha and vanilla. The flavour is quite unique--the roasted aroma of hojicha pairs surprisingly well with espresso, and the vanilla adds a subtle sweetness that ties everything together. It's an enjoyable drink, but at $9.50, it does feel a little overpriced. The West 4th location itself is fairly minimal. Compared to many trendy cafés in the city, it doesn't really have that aesthetic, photo-worthy atmosphere. One thing to note is that they clearly state there's no Wi-Fi and no power outlets, so it's definitely not a place to work or spend hours on your laptop. One thing I really appreciated, though, is their no-tipping policy, which is refreshing to see. I have a feeling a lot of people come here mainly for the branded to-go cups--they've become quite iconic. If you're drinking in, however, the drinks are simply served in standard glassware, so the experience isn't quite the same. I will probably come to try one of their matcha drinks, since that's what they're also known for. Overall, it's a solid café with an interesting signature drink, but between the premium prices and limited amenities, I don't think it's a place I'd visit regularly. read more

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The drink sizes are smaller than expected but delicious! The cowdog coffee was great with the nutty flavour of the hojicha mixing with the bitterness of the espresso. The interior gave a nice cosy vibe with records and books to browse through and it was neat to see a shelf devoted to goods made by their team! read more

Cowdog Coffee - cowdog coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

By far one of my favorite spots for matcha whenever I'm visiting Vancouver! Cowdog offers both coffee and matcha and has a laid back interior with couch/minimal table seating options for those who want to study or do work inside the cafe. Everytime we visit though we opt for takeout since the cafe is always packed when we come. Ive visited both during weekdays and weekends but to avoid lines or any wait time, go right when they open or on a random week day! Even on weekends when the lines are long, the line goes by fast. My friends and I ordered both off the seasonal/non seasonal menu. My favorite by far is the strawberry matcha latte. It is so creamy and smooth and the strawberry syrup they use complements the umami of the matcha very well. My friends also enjoyed their earl grey matcha lattes from the seasonal menu when we had visited back in December as well. If you want high quality ceremonial grade matcha, and enjoy a creamy matcha latte, this is your spot! read more

Cowdog Coffee - Earl grey matcha - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Came here with my friend and loved it! I got an iced earl grey matcha and a cowdog cookie (hojicha cookie with white chocolate and walnuts). The matcha was really good. The matcha itself had a pure taste and was just the right strength. I could taste the earl grey essence but it didn't take away from the matcha. The cookie was also delicious with slightly caramelized edges but soft and chewy inside. I like the shop design. It's kind of minimalist, but they have a few interesting decorations like a record player and plants. It's a little narrow so it was crowded by the register. No problem grabbing a seat, even though we visited on Saturday, which I would guess is a busy day. The barista that took our order was friendly, and it didn't take long for us to get our drinks. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Cowdog cookie, croissant nest, iced earl grey matcha, hot matcha with milk - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Ive been watching Joe on tiktok since he was doing the half time shop at their first place. I never got a chance to go over there to try. I finally had to drive to kits for something and decided to try their 2nd branch. I like the aesthetics inside. Im also in full support of their business model of paying a living wage and no tipping. However, I think my expectations were too high from all the hype videos about their strawberry matcha. Don't get me wrong, it's good and is on par with many others. I just had in my head that it was going to blow my mind from all the reviews haha. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I was very underwhelmed with Cowdog. Matcha had no flavor; barely any strawberry puree/flavor. read more

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Love the vibes of this place--it's very cozy and I love the aesthetic they have going on. The drinks itself were ok. The matcha was a nice vibrant green, but I felt like it lacked a strong matcha flavor. The cookie butter latte was good, but not amazing. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This is the matcha ube slush I love Cowdog so when I heard they had an exclusive ube matcha for only one day I had to try it out. Unfortunately this was a miss because the ube was really strong and also left a bitter aftertaste. It would have been great if it had more sweetness. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

It was a bright, but rainy Saturday morning. My partner and I were having brunch nearby at Their There, but we wanted to grab matchas from cowdog, before our table, so we went over and ordered two drinks. They were solid but nothing spectacular. I do regret not getting the strawberry matcha latte as it smelt like they were making fresh jam there. Regardless, matcha was pretty solid and the cafe is very aesthetic. read more

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Perhaps I'm being influenced by the hype, but I really like the concept of this place. It is expensive, but the fact that they pay liveable wages, they don't accept tips and don't charge for oat milk is a different model that most (if not all) of the cafes I've been to in Vancouver. Got a: Frozen matcha (9.5$): My favourite thing. Loved the texture. It was creamy, yet I believe dairy-free (I think it has an oat-milk base). It seemed to have a hint of vanilla. But it wasn't watered down at all, and had a strong matcha flavour. It was also the perfect amount of sweetness (it was significantly sweeter than the matcha with milk). Would 100% recommend this, and may even go back for it. Matcha with milk (sub oat milk) (8.5$): Perfect for matcha purists. Definitely not on the sweeter side (which I can appreciate depending on what mood I'm in, but I think for personal preference I would want it a tiny bit sweeter). Espresso with water (4$): Tasted a bit acrid. Would personally probably stick to tea options. Cowdog cookie (6): Made with White chocolate, hojicha roasted tea, walnut. Not my favourite (thought it was a bit too sweet, and the flavours were all quite subtle, so they sort of blended together into just one buttery flavour). I appreciate the creativity of it though. Not many spots to sit, and the way it's laid out seems to promote conversation rather than studying (which is fair), so I wouldn't recommend it as a study spot, but rather somewhere to go with friends. Additionally, I wish the menu weren't only located next to the till. It makes it so when there's a line, you have to wait until the front and ordering to see the menu (or you could pull it up on your phone). TLDR; would go back again for the frozen matcha slushy. read more

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I finally got to try this cafe after seeing it all over tiktok! I really like their cute cow dog design and inside is so simple but still very well put together with modern decors. I didn't know that they had more than one location because it turned out we were at their newer one. Anyways, the staff is friendly and actually took their time to have a conversation with you. I know it's not a big deal, but I find that interaction to be very friendly. Not a coffee person, so I got the matcha sub with oat milk, and my friend got their hojicha. I really like both our drinks. They didn't skimp on the matcha, so you can really taste it in your drink. It's subtly creamy. Although, I do think the hojicha oat was too strong and overpowered the hojicha taste, and she just wishes she could taste the hojicha more. That's all. There wasn't a line when I went, but it was still pretty busy, with people hanging out both inside and outside. Overall, I really like the vibe here. No tipping, no oat charge, and is a living wage cafe. What's not to love!! read more

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Before visiting this location, I had only been to Cowdog when they were still a pop-up at Dear Gus Snackbar. I was impressed by their matcha and wanted to check out their other locations (also seeing how popular they are on social media)! This time, I ordered one of the drinks from the soft opening menu, the Vanilla Cold Foam Iced Hojicha. The vanilla cold foam was absolutely delicious. However, the drink as a whole was a bit too sweet for my taste. I also anticipated to sip my drink rather than using a straw because of the layers, however, the cups are NOT equipped for sipping and it ended up being awkward. So I gave up and got a straw. This is definitely not on the cafe but just an observation I had I will definitely come back to try their other drinks in the future! I really love the idea of the no tipping culture and paying the workers a fair wage so I will gladly keep supporting in the future! read more

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Really nice vibe Friendly staff Original and delicious drink I look forward to trying more from them. Be forewarned there will probably be a line. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Strawberry matcha (w/ oatmilk) - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I'm so sorry yall but I did not like this coffee shop at all, to me it was very over hyped. I liked that it's in a decent place where there's parking close by. The line goes by quick. It is a small shop so it's hard to find a place to sit, their cardamom bun was amazing. I was surprised that there are no specialty syrups except for their vanilla. They have their special which is the strawberry matcha but even that I didn't like the matcha flavor. I was looking forward to a latte but since there were no new syrups to pair with espresso I opted for the matcha. Overall was a little disappointed, a lot of people love it but it was definitely not for me. read more

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finally made it to cowdog after seeing it pop up all over social media, and yes, it absolutely lives up to the hype. this particular location on west 4th nails the hipster coffee shop aesthetic: raw concrete floors, clean lines, exposed ducts, and that ideal blend of industrial and mid century modern. textured walls, a vintage console with speakers and a record player, dried floral arrangement, potted plants, and neatly curated merch all add to the carefully considered (but casual) vibe. dropped by around 2:16 pm on a tuesday. the line wasn't bad, the crowd here skews young, the a/c was blessedly strong, and the staff, including the barista were friendly. i ordered the strawberry matcha with oat milk, and it was pretty good. the lightly sweet strawberry purée paired beautifully with the earthy matcha and creamy oat milk. the ratio was spot on, making it easy to sip without feeling weighed down. no baked goods at this location, at least none that i noticed. what's unique is that cowdog has a no tipping policy, doesn't charge extra for oat milk, baristas are paid a living wage ($26.50/hour), and they have plenty of support from the community. sunlight pours through the front windows, casting a soft glow over the front lounge, an inviting spot to settle in, catch up, enjoy the ac, and/or people watch. nelly furtado's "i'm like a bird" can be heard in the background. this is the kind of place you want to linger, especially if you're into good vibes and even better drinks. read more

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We ordered an Earl Grey matcha and loved it so much that, after walking around the city, we came back for a strawberry one. One of my favorite spots in Vancouver! read more

I appreciate the staffs being paid a fair wage, however, I thought the frozen matcha was mediocre at best and not worth the high price. Service was average both times I visited. read more

Super tasty frozen matcha. Nice green tea taste and creamy. Perfect for a summer Vancouver day. Some seating available inside and outside. Quick service. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I've been following COWDOG on social media since their early days. I've been hoping to visit for years and today I finally got the chance! I ordered the hojicha with milk and a tart. My other got the slow cooked strawberry matcha. All of it was PHENOMENAL! The hojicha was nutty & bright and the matcha was very smooth. Both lightly sweet which I prefer. I see reviews noting the sizes are too small but I thought they did a rather great job making well portioned offerings while balancing cost & quality. The store was warm and calming. The woman that helped us was truly wonderful in helping us choose drinks and offering fun touristy things to do while we are in town. I'm going to try and visit as much as I can before I go back to the US. I love cowdog read more

The coffee and match here are absolutely unreal! The coffee is so good and the vibe in here is so nice. I definitely would recommend checking this place out if you're into good coffee or match. The frozen matcha slushi is 10/10! read more

Cowdog Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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came for the $5 frozen matcha special! usually this drink is $9.50 which is lowkey kinda crazy. we added strawberry in it and it definitely overpowered the matcha. maybe we didn't mix it enough but it just tasted like the smuckers strawberry jam, with matcha as a lingering aftertaste. i think halfway through we drank all the strawberry so it was just matcha and i liked it so much more! they use some fine matcha there read more

Cowdog Coffee - frozen matcha ($5) with strawberry - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Popped in to try this highly anticipated 2nd location! It was actually my first visit to Cowdog, I got their classic iced matcha latte and a cookie (i believe it was hojicha with white chocolate chips and sea salt). The iced matcha latte was amazing and one of the best in the Kits neighbourhood. The cookie was massive and I shared it with my partner within 2 days. The staff are extremely kind and friendly and make an effort to get to know you. Beautiful interiors and super cozy space. Overall a great place that I will frequent again! read more

Cowdog Coffee - iced matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Much prefer this new w 4th location! It's larger, with ample seating and outside space to accommodate a line in a safe/organized manner. I love their hojicha white chocolate cookie, it's delicious and a must-try! I'm still not a huge fan of their matcha, as I don't find their lattes strong enough for my personal preference. I also tried the frozen version and my friend and I both agreed it had a funky aftertaste that we didn't prefer. I do wish there was a little more variety in coffee, as well as sizing of drinks. But I understand this is more of a boutique coffee shop with a minimalist menu/aesthetic. And although the price point is high, I do appreciate the efforts towards ethical wages/no tipping. read more

We came across the café on social media and walked by the Oak Street location a couple of times. When we learnt of the recently opened location in Kits, we thought we should give it a try. We had an expresso + water, a hojicha + milk, a hojicha white chocolate cookie. My husband said his expresso was good but would ask for less water next time. My hojicha was rich and the cookie was soft and chewy with a very good not-too-sweet white chocolate filling. The best thing about the café is their stated no-tip expectation as living wages are paid to their employees. While their foods and drinks are worthy of repeat visits, their living wages and no-tip policy is probably my top most reason of patronizing the café again. PS. I've been looking a for fun but not-too-loud sticker for my laptop. They sell their branded sticker sheet and it's exactly what I've been looking for. I didn't see any at the Kits location this morning so I might have to pay a visit to their Oak St location. read more

2 words Cardamon bun! As I was on a mission to indulge in an authentic Cardamon bun as the buns I had at HJEM Kensington, legit Danish bakery in London, have to say this one was delicious. As I am not Danish, unable to speak to the legitimacy of it, but I got it on the 3rd try as they sell out daily so if you can brace their long lines for the matcha, highly encourage trying it. I love all things cardamom so glad I found it but as this location is dangerously close to me, perhaps it's best they tend to sell out as this cannot be good for my sugar intake as it's a treat. Enjoy supporting places that pay their workers a living wage. read more

Great place good baked goods. The matcha looked really yummy. Place was full with a really nice vibe. But No WiFi??? Good to hang out but not a place to stop and get your bearings. read more

Cowdog Coffee - Front entrance and street - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The service was quick and the cafe was cute! Unfortunately, the strawberry matcha was just ok. The strawberry syrup tasted fresh but was a bit hard to stir in, and despite getting the drink with whole milk, the rest of the drink was watery with less matcha flavor than I would have wanted. read more

Cowdog Coffee - strawberry matcha latte w whole milk - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I love the tip-free concept. The drinks are more expensive than your typical coffee shop (e.g., a matcha latte will run you $9, including tax). But that is worth it considering the living wage/no-tip option. It's the goods, straight and narrow, and I like that. I do think they need a few tweaks before they are ready for prime time though. My $9 matcha latte, while really yummy, should have come off the line (much) hotter (they also handed me the wrong drink, then assumed I made the mistake by asking for an iced strawberry matcha - and I don't even like strawberries!). Also, for a higher end coffee shop like this, you expect the option for non-plastic/plastic lid drinks (i.e., real mugs - environment first, right?!). The limited menu is fine. But also don't love how you only hit the menu once you're at the cash (and with a long line behind you - at least at the Kits location). So it's those little things they need to work on before they're ready for the big leagues. It's always the little details that make the difference between the really good places, and the great ones. In the logistics business, we call this the last mile. If they fix their last mile, this coffee shop will truly be epic. read more